Colden’s birth story👼🏼🤎🧸
11/08/2024
I woke up around 2:30am feeling very uncomfortable. I was having a lot of lower back pain and just could not sleep. Around 4, I couldn’t stay sitting down. I was pacing and starting to having contractions consistently enough to be timed—about 7-9 minutes apart. I was able to talk through them, but they were focused in my back and that was miserable. My sister is a labor and delivery nurse, so I was texting her and she recommended getting in the shower to see if my body would relax and if the contractions would go away. They didn’t and at 5am, I woke my husband because I didn’t want to be going through this alone while he slept peacefully🤣 The contractions started to become for frequent, some even being 3-4 minutes apart. At that point, I decided I wanted to go to the hospital. We called my in-laws to start driving down from Kansas to hopefully watch my son, and headed to the hospital.
Noah dropped me off at the entrance around 7am and I headed up to Labor and Delivery by myself. When they got me all checked in, I was 5-6 cm dilated and the back contractions were excruciating. I asked for the epidural right away and was thankful to finally have some relief from the pain. I started to get worried when Noah told me his parents wouldn’t get to the hospital until after 1pm because things were progressing quickly.
At 10am, I was dilated to 7-8cm. My nurse was a godsend, and she said that we could bring my son to the nurses station and they would watch him so that Noah could be in the room with me and be there for the birth. So Noah loaded up Colter and came back to the hospital. (important note: Noah was 3weeks post op. from his foot surgery, still on crutches) He arrived to the hospital at 11am, getting to the room just in time for the nurses to have me start some practice pushes. I did 2 practice pushes before they told me to stop and wait for the doctor because his head was RIGHT there. Once the doctor arrived, it was 3 more pushes and Colden was born at 11:25am.
After being induced with Colter and having a very long labor process with him, this time was such a different experience and was a relief to have happened so quickly. The nurses brought Colter into our room shortly after everything settled down, and my in-laws arrived around 1:30 and came to him up. He wanted nothing to do with me and the baby and just wanted to play all over the hospital room. We were released the next day and have been home ever since.
The recovery this time has also been drastically different than my first birth. I felt like I could move and get around much easier, and also just had the drive to do more. The immediate change from pregnancy tired to newborn tired is noticeable and also so nice because while yes, you’re tired, it’s just not the same.
I am so grateful for my healthy baby and for the birth experience I was able to have✨
One thing I truly learned from Colden's birth, especially as a second-time mom, is how different every labor can be! For those of you wondering about early labor signs, my experience started with intense lower back pain. It wasn't the typical 'period cramp' feeling I expected, which was a surprise, but more like a deep ache that just wouldn't let up. If you're nearing your due date, pay attention to subtle changes: sometimes it's back pain, sometimes it's a sudden burst of energy, or even just feeling 'off.' Learning to differentiate between Braxton Hicks and real contractions can be tricky too – for me, the key was consistency and intensity that built up, even if they weren't super close together at first. Before heading to the hospital, finding ways to cope with those early contractions at home made a huge difference. My sister, who's an L&D nurse, suggested a warm shower, and honestly, that was incredibly soothing for my back labor. Other things that helped me during my first pregnancy, and what I recommend to friends, include walking around, using a birthing ball, or simply trying to relax in a dark, quiet room. It’s amazing how much your mental state can influence your pain perception. Trust your instincts on when it's time to go to the hospital; for me, when contractions became too frequent and talking through them became impossible, I knew it was time. There’s no shame in going in and being sent home if it’s not time yet – it’s always better to be safe! The speed of Colden's arrival, especially compared to my first, was mind-blowing. Many moms of second babies experience faster labors, and I definitely did. It felt like my body remembered what to do, making the dilation process much quicker. This also meant less time to overthink things, which was a blessing! After birth, seeing my newborn baby Colden wrapped in his blanket, right there in the hospital bed, was the most surreal and beautiful moment for this new mother. The immediate postpartum period, even with a quick labor, still brings its own set of challenges, but knowing what to expect this time around made the recovery feel smoother. I focused on gentle movement, staying hydrated, and accepting help from my loved ones. Every child birth journey is unique, but sharing these personal insights, especially about birthing and welcoming a newborn baby around 40 weeks, can hopefully offer some comfort and preparedness to expectant mothers out there.
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