Fox's Birth

I thought that I would go into labor at least a week before my due date, because that's exactly what happened the last time I was pregnant. My midwives told me it was a high possibility that I'd have him early. My due date was December 28, so I was counting on having my baby before Christmas. Christmas eve came and I was a little nervous that I'd go into labor that night and have a Christmas baby, my "worst fear!" (LOL) Christmas came and went, and I was now nervous about having a New Year's baby, haha.

The day after Christmas I woke up to a weird movement within my body, kind of like a "thump!" My first thought was "I've never felt anything like that yet!" So I went to the bathroom. After peeing I sat for a little bit, waiting for something to happen, I guess. I wiped myself again and saw that I had some bloody show!! My mucus plug was coming out! I was very excited, and honestly a little surprised to be excited because the day before I was panicking a little thinking about being in labor. I went downstairs to my mom and Ryan and said, "I think we're having a baby today!"  I told them the details and we were all smiles. We had a midwife appointment scheduled later that day and I was so excited to tell them about my bloody show, haha. (p.s. My mom was visiting us from California for the holiday and to help get ready for baby's arrival. She was with us for a week and was a huge help!) 

We went to our appointment at noon. My midwife, Jamie, was very confident that I would go into labor late that night. She told me to make sure and take a nap when I got home so that I wouldn't be completely exhausted once things got started. I was also instructed to eat and stay well hydrated. When we got home, I happily took a nap. After my nap Gwen came to my room with a puzzle. As I helped her put it together I realized that this could be her last day as an only child! I savored the moment as we played together.

Savoring this last day (or two!) with Gwen as an only child. 💘 #toddlerlife #39weekspregnant #prelabor #childhoodunplugged #motherhoodthroughinstagram

A photo posted by Beverly Houpt / What A Day (@bevhoupt) on Dec 26, 2016 at 2:52pm PST

The rest of the day my mom would ask if I was in any pain yet. I felt a few random, mild contractions while napping, but nothing really picked up. 

Once we were sitting down for dinner around 7/7:30, I felt them a little bit more intensely and regularly. I wasn't interested in timing them at this point. I joked with my mom that I might throw up the dinner she made later that night if my labor with this baby was anything like it was with my last one. 

After dinner Ryan and I went upstairs with Gwen for her bedtime routine. Once books were read, teeth were brushed, and a prayer was said, I went downstairs while Ryan rocked and sang to Gwen. I watched Toy Story 3 with my mom and noticed my contractions were becoming persistent. I decided to download an app to time my contractions. Once Ryan came downstairs I showed him the app- my contractions were 7-8 minutes apart.

Once the movie had ended and I asked my mom to sleep in our bedroom while I labored downstairs with Ryan (she had been sleeping on our living room couch during her visit). She hesitantly agreed, after I expressed how much more comfortable I'd be roaming the first floor of our town house while laboring, rather than being upstairs in our small bedroom. I can't remember if I had Ryan call the 24 hour midwife before or after I sent my mom upstairs to sleep. But I talked with one of the midwives (Sarah) and she advised me to try and get some sleep. She also let me know that the on-call midwife will take about 30-40 minutes to arrive at the birth center, so to keep that in mind. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep, but I tried anyway. Ryan brought down our extra twin, foam mattress and we both snuggled on that in between contractions. He almost fell asleep a couple of times, poor guy, but was awoken and helped me out when he heard me breathe and moan through a contraction. As I lay there, my contractions were pretty consistent, but as soon as I'd change position, I'd seem to get another one. So they were a bit irregular in that way.... I labored while on my hands and knees, leaning against my exercise ball, sitting on the toilet, leaning against a kitchen counter or the kitchen table, and at times squatting with support from the bathroom sink. As long as I was moving, my contractions were pretty close together. 

It was getting late so we called the midwife knowing that it would take the on-call midwife 30-40 minutes to get to the birth center. It was after midnight by this point. We left for the birth center around 1:30 am. For Arizona, it was pretty chilly outside!! I felt like the cold was affecting my contractions- I didn't seem to have a contraction until my body warmed up a little in the car. The drive on the freeway was a breeze, compared to the crazy drive we had when I was in labor with Gwen! And unlike that time, I felt pretty sane in between contractions on the car ride. While at home, too, I felt more calm and collected in between my contractions.  

We arrived at the birth center close to 2am. We walked back to one of the birthing rooms. The first thing I noticed was that they were diffusing lavender oil, as per my request. That made me feel comforted. The student midwife, Alyssa, checked my blood pressure and baby's heart beat. All good. My midwife, Jamie, said, "This is the point where I'm supposed to ask to check you." As in, check how dilated my cervix is. I tried to answer, but then I got another contraction, haha. I didn't really want or need for her to check my cervix, but she's required to ask. (This is one, among many other things, that I love about having my baby at a birth center- they don't need to unnecessarily check your cervix if they can see how far into labor you are. My midwife trusted that I knew my body.)  I labored while kneeling and leaning against the exercise ball, just as I had at home, while waiting for them to fill the birthing tub. 

Once the tub was ready, I stripped down and got in. The water felt only lukewarm to me. I started shivering! I was in for maybe a few contractions and then I asked to get out because I was just too cold! Maybe a water birth in the winter is just not my thing, haha. They wrapped me in a thick robe and gave me a heating pad to warm up. 

I spent more time on my knees leaning against the exercise ball. I remember noticing a clock on the wall, and I avoided it for the rest of my labor because I didn't want to be fixated on time or exactly how close my contractions were becoming. Although I had padding under my knees, they began to hurt after a while. I moved to the bed where I thought I would resume the same position. Instead, I lay down on my side. Jamie put some pillows behind me for support, and I believe she put a blanket over me, too. I just lay there with Ryan for a handful of contractions, glad to be resting somewhat. I felt like I needed to use the bathroom so Ryan walked with me down the hall to the restroom. I sat on the toilet and gush! My water broke! I hadn't felt that before because Gwen was a water birth and my water broke in the birthing tub. I'm glad I was sitting on the toilet for it because I had already peed on the floor in the birthing room, haha! I threw up a little in the toilet after that. So glamorous. 

Immediately after my water broke the contractions got even stronger. I felt the urge to push. Without me verbalizing this, Jamie recognized my body language and said I could push. I didn't want to have my baby in the bathroom, so we walked down the hall back to the birthing room. We took a little break on our walk so I could concentrate and moan during an intense contraction. Things were getting REAL! We entered the birthing room and I decided to sit on a birthing stool while pushing. That got tiring after a little while. I requested my handy exercise ball once again and continued to push while on my knees, leaning on the ball for support. Ryan sat in front of me, the ball in between us, and told me how well I was doing in between surges. My cheerleader! I felt so grateful for the small moments of rest in between contractions. I could feel my baby moving down my pelvis. At one point I got a cramp in my left leg! I freaked out a little, half yelling that my leg hurt! Not knowing which leg I was referring to, Jamie began massaging both my thighs from behind me. The pain seemed to instantly disappear. I pushed some more, and then I really felt the baby. I expressed how much it hurt! I felt like I was in transition then, wondering how the heck I could do this! Feelings of wanting to back out overwhelmed me. Ryan says that I pushed the baby out pretty quickly after Jamie said she saw the head. I don't waste time, I guess! I just wanted it to be over and to meet my baby! I screamed and grunted like crazy! 

My baby was out and I forgot about the pain I was in seconds before then. He was born on December 27th at 3:57 in the morning. Jamie told me to pick up my baby. I was in complete awe. It felt like I was moving in slow motion as I struggled a little to pick up his slimy little body. 

He was very slimy since my water broke so late in labor- he was surrounded by a lot of fluid until the very end. The first thing I remember saying after he was born is, "He's got stuff. He's got stuff." Referring to the liquid I could see in his mouth and hear in his cries. Alyssa suctioned his mouth and nose. We moved to the bed. Ryan cut the umbilical cord. I delivered the placenta after getting out of bed and sitting on the birthing stool. Pushing out that placenta is always annoying to me! It always takes a little longer than you'd expect. 

After that we tried breastfeeding and my (then) unnamed baby boy seemed to be a little pro! According to Jamie, he suckled for 20 minutes! And it was completely painless, compared to my very first experience with breastfeeding. (Later I tried feeding him from the other side and it hurt like heck! It took a few days for us to get comfortable, and now he's a pro again.) 

Afterward, Ryan held the baby skin to skin and Jamie prepared to give me stitches. Yes, I tore a lot more than I would have liked. While I was being stitched up, I was also getting cramps! Cramps from all the suckling baby did. If you didn't know, breastfeeding helps your uterus shrink/get back to its normal size. So I had terrible cramps that felt like being in labor all over again while I had to be stitched up! It was definitely the worst part of my labor, haha! Like, I had to breathe and moan a little with each contraction/cramp. I mentioned to everyone how this experience was kind of haunting because I had literally just gone through labor, but the pain was back! 

Sometime after that was over, we texted our families with pictures of our new baby. Name still undetermined. Jamie then suggested that I take a shower. The best shower of my life! I took my sweet time in there just letting the hot water warm me up. I felt amazing after my shower, even though I was now wearing an adult diaper. (Depends are the way to go after giving birth, I tell ya!!) I also felt very empowered. I had done it again- I had successfully given birth without medication or intervention. I feel very fortunate to have had two pregnancies without any complications. I also feel like giving birth this way is the most feminist thing I have done. Not to say that other women who may choose an epidural can't be feminists- this is just my own personal feeling for my circumstances. I can elaborate a little if you really wanna know why I feel this way. Just ask in the comment section. 

Me in all my puffy glory with Jamie. 

We all made guesses on baby's weight before Jamie put him on the scale. I guessed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was right on the money! She did all the other measurements and observations, which I can't remember, but he's perfect. We chose Fox as his name and I chose Nolan as his middle name. We napped with our baby (well Ryan napped and I just lay there, too excited. So many good endorphins and hormones!) and later, my mom came with Gwen to meet the baby. 

Poor Gwen had a pretty traumatic morning that day! She woke up to find her parents missing! She's not very close with my mom since we live a state away, so she cried a lot that morning. When she came into the birthing room, she ignored me and the baby at first, 1. because she was in a new place and wanted to explore the room, and 2. I think she was a little mad at us for "abandoning" her. But she finally noticed Fox and we were able to capture some sweet moments. 

Gwen is still having a hard time sharing her parents with a new baby brother. And her parents are still trying to figure out how to manage it all, too, but we're happy! Overwhelmed and/or annoyed for like 1/3 of the time, but happy. 

Thanks for reading our story! I love reading other women's birth stories and watching birth videos. It gives me a thrill, to be honest! (Pun intended...) I love how they are all different, but the same emotions are felt. I am pleased to support The Honest Company's Moment's Campaign! This promo is just beautiful. I love how they portray different births, whether it be in a hospital, birth center, or in a home.  

I'm also a big fan of Honest products for my kids.  Specifically their diaper rash cream. It beats the rest, in my book! 

Gwendolyn's birth

(I've finally posted it! Just a little warning- I'll be talking about gross blood and guts and feces stuff. Birth is beautiful and also really gross.) 

I was feeling more fatigued than usual the weekend before Gwen was born. Standing and walking became a little unbearable. It was the first time during the pregnancy that I felt absolutely done with it all. Saturday was the Arizona blogger conference and many people commented on “how soon she’ll be here!” The same happened on Sunday at church. One member even said, “I better see a baby here next week!” With which I replied, “If I have the baby soon, I won’t be here next week!” I felt like I had started to dilate late Saturday/Sunday, and some of my mucus plug had started to come out. I kept in mind this wasn’t necessarily a sign that I’d go in to labor soon, as I remembered all the stories I heard of women being dilated for weeks before giving birth. So I relaxed on Sunday. (I usually take the bump update photos on Sundays, but as you can tell, I was much too tired and achy to even consider it, which is why I never documented week 38.)

I went to bed pretty late, as usual, and lulled myself to sleep scrolling through my phone (Typical.). It was around 1:30 am when I rolled over to get in a comfy sleeping position when I heard it start to rain loudly outside. I then felt the urge to use the bathroom, accompanied by cramps. I had diarrhea, oh boy. And bloody show, from the mucus plug! I was still a little hesitant as to whether this was the beginning of labor or not (again, because of all the stories I’ve heard). After my second trip to the bathroom I asked Ryan if he was awake, to which I already knew the answer since there was a heavy, loud storm right above our apartment. I told him what was up and then went to the bathroom again. I was sure this was it by that time. My phone beeped with a flash flood warning until 4:45am. I tried laboring while lying on the bed and could only stand that for a few contractions. I opted for the toilet again. The bathroom really is a pretty good place to labor! When I wasn’t on the toilet, I “slow danced” with Ryan. It felt so nice to lean into him for support and sway from side to side through each contraction. I threw up at one point after Ryan tried to feed me a cracker. I was all kinds of glamorous.

I heard my phone beeping again with another flash flood warning, this time until 6:30am. I had no concept of time; all I could think about was moaning through the next contraction and letting the pain take over my body instead of fighting it. Each contraction meant that my baby would be here sooner. I remember my transition, where I felt absolutely defeated and wanted to quit. We were taught that this transitioning usually happens near the end of the first stage of labor, so I was surprised for having those feeling “so soon” and fought to shrug it off.  I remember saying, “This is so hard” and “It hurts so much” to Ryan by this time. I believe that it was important for me to admit how much pain I was in- I knew that I was no hero.

 I was back on the bed when I just felt like pooping, a sign that my body wanted to start pushing. This scared me a little because I felt like I just went into labor and I was expecting it to be an all day event, anywhere from 12-24 hours. The contractions were closer together and I just wanted to be in the birth center. I urged Ryan to page the midwives. Mary called back within the same minute. She talked to me for a bit and I can’t really remember anything I said. She heard me having a contraction and advised us to get on the road. There was another Emergency Alert on the phone- “avoid flooded areas until 10:30am.”

Ryan began to load the car. We were so unprepared, we hadn’t installed the car seat yet and there were a few things that still needed to be put into the bag. I remember being in the bathroom alone with the contractions and absolutely hating it. I didn’t realize just how much I needed Ryan with me until he had to leave my side to get everything in the car. Ryan walked back inside, drenched, with bad news. He said that Mary had called again saying that we might want to go to the nearest hospital instead of the birth center (the birth center being a 20-25 minute drive via the freeway from us) due to the rain/flooding and depending on how far into labor I thought I was. I was devastated. I had absolutely no birth plan prepared for a hospital birth and we never took a tour of any hospitals.  Ryan informed me that the flooding outside was bad, but I still thought it would be best to head over to the birth center and maybe just avoid the freeway. Ryan continued to load the car and that’s when I decided to look out the kitchen window. The tires of all the parked cars were hidden beneath the water. I just stood at the window feeling betrayed by the weather.

We still decided to head to the birth center. Ha, we crazy, but that’s how much I wanted to avoid an unplanned hospital birth. Ryan informs me that each time we’d try to leave, another contraction would start and I’d stall.  We finally got in the car, after walking through a huge puddle, and after maybe 20 minutes (again, I had no concept of time) of awful traffic (it was so terrible!!) we went ahead and braved the freeway. I barely remember the ride, my eyes were mostly closed as I concentrated and moaned through each contraction. I know that we took the carpool lane the whole way. It took about an hour to get there, and what a relief it was to exit the freeway and pull into the parking lot of the birth center! I was so happy that we made it!

We walked in but had to stop in the entryway due to another contraction. I hung on to Ryan, so grateful that he was there, and I remember both of us simultaneously saying, “I love you,” which gave me a boost of confidence. Mary appeared and led us into the suite. I stripped down so she could check my cervix (ouch). I was 7-8 centimeters dilated!!! That was so exciting to hear. Mary started filling up the birthing tub and Ryan changed into his swim trunks. I got into the warm tub (the best feeling) and they turned on the jets. I ended up denying my black tank top that I originally planned to birth in- it’s completely true that you lose all sense of modesty by this point. Mary knew that I haven’t eaten since labor started so she made me a smoothie while Jacqueline (one of the birth assistants) tended to me. I labored in the tub for the next 2-3 hours, reluctantly sipping on smoothie and water all the while. That smoothie was delicious, but I wasn’t interested in food by this point.

I listened to my body and started to push whenever I felt the urge. I began on my hands and knees, but Mary suggested that I changed my position to make my pushing more effective. While pushing, I was able to touch baby’s head with my fingers a couple of times before she came out. The pain was more intense by the time she started to crown. I remember hesitating because it started to sting and Mary told me that I needed to expect that pain. Once I accepted that, I went ahead and pushed, pushed, pushed, remembering to do it at my own pace. The “ring of fire” is intense, but I hear that water births are less painful in that aspect, so I guess the pain could have been worse. I looked down at my misshapen belly in awe. It was so cool to see how it had changed now that the baby and I were working together to get her out. I thought to myself that my screams with each push must have sounded so unearthly, but later Ryan reassured me that I wasn’t as creepy as I thought, haha.

And Gwendolyn was born(!) at 10:44 in the morning. She was plopped onto my chest, screaming. Ryan was right behind me, saying how beautiful she was. I don’t remember what I said- I may have just said “Oh, baby” over and over again as I studied her little body. The water surrounding us was pretty icky- I was losing a lot of blood. I was told to hold tight to my baby as Mary and Ryan carried me to the bed. Ryan cut the umbilical cord and to my surprise, Mary explained that she was going to give me a shot of pitocin to help with the delivery of the placenta and to stop the bleeding. After delivering the placenta, I had to get some stitches, which seemed like took forever to get taken care of. All this time I held Gwen close to my chest. I was given lots of water and orange juice and postpartum tea afterward since I was dehydrated. Then I was fed breakfast- waffles, strawberries, and eggs- yum. Ryan held Gwen while I was resting but I couldn’t really fall asleep- how could I?? I was so excited and nervous and overall happy that everything went well. I knew that I was capable of a natural birth, as I believe most women are, but it was still pretty magical and surreal that I had done it. I had accomplished what I set out to do and was praised and supported the whole way. Ryan did such a great job at coaching me through labor. He was always so nervous about this big day, but all I really needed was for him to constantly be by my side. He gave me so much strength. 

(First selfie on her first day on the outside) I loved this moment of laying in the bed with Ryan and our baby. 

It was such a whirlwind experience, you guys. I was so grateful that it all worked out, mostly according to plan. We were not expecting Gwen to be born a week early, hence the unpreparedness on our part. We left the birth center around 8pm, after all the paperwork and instruction on breastfeeding was given. I couldn’t believe how fast it all happened. I was so nervous on the car ride home- she was outside of my body, in the back seat! I now had to focus on feeding her every two hours and keeping track of diapers and remembering to take it easy and lay down as much as possible so I could heal. After that initial shock, a visit with the lactation consultant, and Ryan home to take care of me all week, I felt a little more confident about motherhood. I still have no idea what I’m doing, but I’ve been told that’s A-OK.

Here's a puffy-faced/swollen photo of the both of us shortly before leaving the birth center. Can you believe that little girl was inside of me?? 

Ah! I’m a mom! Now take a look at these cute pictures. 

For even more baby spam, follow me on Instagram.