harry's birth story is something that i've wanted to sit down and write about for 2 weeks now but time has just gotten away from me. as i was just thinking about him being 2 weeks new, i realized that i've already forgotten so many details from his birthday. so i thought now is good time as any to reflect on that amazing day.
harry was born on friday, april 26th at 7:01 am. i was 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant. he came not a moment too soon.
we visited lucy, our midwife, the thursday before. i hadn't done anything but gain a gazillion pounds since the last time i was checked at 36 weeks. while lucy was checking me she asked if i wanted her to strip my membranes. i was only concerned with pain so when she told me it might be a little uncomfortable i told her to go ahead.
we left lucy's house a little disappointed. i just knew that i was at least in the early parts of labor. i had been having contractions that week, and was feeling so different. i googled "stripping membranes" and read that unless your body was ready for labor it wouldn't make any difference if it was done or not. so i honestly thought my body wasn't ready for labor since i hadn't progressed any in 3 weeks so i didn't expect anything to happen and i was so sure i would be seeing lucy in a week.
we went to our niece's soccer game and to dinner afterward and when we got home, i went straight to bed because i was feeling sorry for myself. 39 weeks pregnant. super miserable. and showing no signs of imminent labor.
2:45 am (or sometime around then) friday morning i woke up to extremely strong contractions. i have had strong contractions in the night like this, but this was definitely different. so for the next hour i soaked in the bath and started monitoring my contractions. they lasted about 60-80 seconds and were every 2 to 3 minutes. i texted lucy at 3:45 what was going on and she replied that she was on her way. my mom was also on her way to pick up elle. she decided to wait around before waking elle up to see what lucy had to say. in the time that my mom got to the house and before lucy and dana, her apprentice, arrived my water broke. i then knew i was in labor. the contractions were so intense and starting to get extremely painful and i was having serious back pain.
lucy and dana arrived around 4:30 (i can't really remember exact time). she checked me and i was at an 8. i could not believe it. it was going so fast. which i am incredibly thankful for.
mom woke up elle and they left.
the only sitting position that was comfortable at this point was sitting on the toilet. i also started having to use the restroom over and over and over. after a little bit of toilet sitting and being checked we decided it was time to fill the birth pool.
that took a little bit, because we were a little unprepared. i'd say it was filled by 6:00 and i hopped in. the relief i felt was instant. but at the same time the contractions were right on top of each. not a second between them to rest. i was quickly becoming so fatigued.
i labored for about 30 to 45 minutes in the pool and then started getting the urge to push. it was such a powerful feeling that overcame my body and there was no "breathing my baby down". my body needed to push.
i'm not going to sugar coat it. the pain was real. it was intense. and i was hurting. but as time has gone by i have forgotten just how bad it really was. i remember being in the moment and thinking to myself that i just could not do it any longer, but today i really can't remember the pain.
i told lucy and dana "i will not soon forget this"....but i have. thank you, sweet jesus, i have.
i started pushing. and i think i pushed about ten times. and he was out. at 7:01 am harold milo was born. the pushing was so hard. it hurt so bad and that "ring of fire" that people talk about is real. i had read how after laboring, the pushing feels so good to some women. not to me. it hurt so bad.
my cousin, amiee, was also with us at the birth and i remember her saying "i can see him", "he's almost here". those words were all i needed to hear. i was so ready to see him. and when he was born and he was laying on my chest it was the most incredible feeling i have ever felt.
harry laid on my chest for a good while and we just looked at each other and aaron was right there with us. but then it was time to for the clean up. harry was weighed and measured. 6 pounds, 12 ounces, 20 3/4 inches long. long and lean. after the pool water was drained elle came home (i wasn't ready for those questions yet). her meeting her brother for the first time was so sweet. i'm not quite sure she knew what to expect, but it was a sweet interaction.
after elle met harry, our visitors started pouring in. it was such an amazing day. one i hope to never ever forget.
every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
