Evangeline's Birth Story

I love reading birth stories, but always feel like mine will be lame. Lame or not, I am going to share Evie's birth story. Read ahead at your own risk - not necessarily for the weak of heart, er, stomach. 

I can't remember exactly how things started - I think I woke up with a really awful, different kind of contraction. Then I had to go to the bathroom. That was at 8 on Monday morning. Once I got back in bed I had another contraction. Something told me I needed to get Zach up, so I whispered, "I need your help...I think I'm in labor." When he asked me why I told him I had had two contractions from hell, and wanted to shower so that I could get in the birth pool. (That is a major indication of where I was at - before I was really uncomfortable, but didn't NEED to get in the pool. It was not optional this time.)

I woke my Mom up when I got out of the shower and promptly went to the porch and got in the pool. The water definitely helped, but there were a couple of times when I thought, "Boy, I could go for an epidural right about now!" Internally I was laughing at myself for that and thought of the one mom in What To Expect When You're Expecting who after planning on a natural birth, starts yelling at her husband to "get the juice!" I knew I had to be near the end to be having such crazy thoughts.

Around 8:50 Zach called Deb to give her a heads up that I had gotten in the pool, but my contractions were between 5-10 minutes apart, so not a huge rush.

In the next hour Zach and Mom were in and out, setting things up, praying with me through contractions. The Hail Mary's and music on my birth playlist were so helpful for keeping me motivated. The Piano Guys instrumental version of "A Thousand Years" and Josh Groban's "Falling Slowly" were two that really resonated with me.

Deb got here a couple of minutes before 10, and my first contraction after that, I felt the urge to push. I told her and she said we would see what the next one was like. The next contraction was really mild, so Zach ran inside to set the couch up for me to use when we were done outside, and my Mom went to put the fan in the kitchen window because the sausage had made it smoky. No sooner were they gone than another contraction started and I knew it was time for the baby to come out. I am a really quiet birther - quiet as in silent, but I couldn't help letting out low pushing sounds. Mom heard through the open window and dashed out. I don't know if she made it before Evie crowned, but her head was already out when Zach got back onto the porch. It felt like one long push and she was out. Mom said it was probably 3 pushing contractions, but I never stopped pushing. It seemed like an eternity, but in reality maybe a minute? The cord was around her neck, and her chest was wider than her head so Deb helped wiggle it out, but she made it out smoothly.

I knew she was a girl without being told. Deb was suctioning her behind me and without thinking I asked if she was okay. A second later she was in my arms. My sweet, vernix covered little girl. Tony came out and met his little sister. His face was so precious.

At one point he reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. 

We stayed in the pool until the cord stopped pulsing and we clamped it. Then we took up residence on the sofa for the rest of the afternoon. 

A few of the blessings I am counting: Minimal blood loss. Deb said I lost less blood than anyone she's ever seen. No tearing. I was praying to get away without a tear this time, and it has been awesome. That my Mom was here. We kept joking that I would end up having the baby one of the times she wasn't here, but God had other plans, and I'm really glad. My milk has come in already. It came in quickly with Tony, but you never know. Evie has nursing figured out, too, which is fantastic.

Evie has been such a good baby so far. She is a great snuggler. Tony is still in love with her. He runs into my room when he hears her crying, "Baby EBIE!" It makes me so happy!

The birthday buddies. We wondered if she would end up sharing a birthday with someone in the family, and she decided to join Cora on her first birthday. Sweet girls.

Love,

Jess