The Tweetest Thing: A Birth Story

Here is my confession: I don’t like reading Birth Stories. I love the actual story, but when written down they tend to get long and wordy before they start getting interesting.

While I’m at it, I might as well admit something else: After going through hours of labour, the memory of my birthing experiences always seem to meld together, and I often find myself asking my husband to clarify those unsure events.

Still, I’m a Mommy Blogger. I just had a baby. Recording his birth is something that is important to me. Even when a story isn’t easy to read, it doesn’t mean the story isn’t meant to be told.

Gavin’s birth story will be told, but it will be a little different from what you’re used to (unless, of course, you read Cameron’s birth story).

Before we get started though, I need to admit one more thing: My husband and I? We’re kind of geeky. So, it didn’t bother me at all that we each spent most of my labour on our respective cell phones tweeting away (although I do wonder what the nurses thought of my need to keep my cell phone next to me the whole time). Tweeting throughout my labour was more than just a way to pass the sixteen hours. It was our way of sharing our story while recording the events. If you were following along on Twitter a month ago, keep reading, I am sure you will find out a little more of the story. And if you weren’t on Twitter on April 28th and 29th, buckle up – you’re in for a Birth Story like you’ve never seen…

Still Pregnant

When I went into labour with Cameron, I woke up first thing in the morning to my water breaking. The day started and Boom!, I was in labour. From that point on, this is how I pictured labour. One day you’re in labour, and one day you’re not. But the reality is, it can hit at any time. In fact, apparently you can spend the first part of your day complaining that you’re still pregnant and then spend the second half of your day rectifying that situation.

I was 11 days overdue. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions pretty consistency for weeks. I was feeling like I would be pregnant forever…

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And then, Suddenly…

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Just like that, it happened. We had just put the two-year-old down for his nap, my visiting parents had taken my younger sister to meet her date a friend, my husband was napping, and I decided being 11 days overdue warranted a nap. As I eased myself onto the bed, I felt a pop and I knew there was no way I was getting a nap in.

Ready, Set, Go!

It was action time. I texted my parents and asked them to come home at their earliest convenience to take care of Cameron. I convinced Dan that he should probably pack a hospital bag. I wrapped my arms around my boy for the last time as our only child. And just like that, we were on our way.

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We Arrived! annnnnnd We Wait

With my first pregnancy, we went to the hospital three times before being admitted. So when we left for the hospital this time, we didn’t know if we’d stay or if we’d be sent home.

 

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At this point, we returned to the nurses to get checked out. My contractions were closer together – about 2-3 minutes, but they wanted my contractions to be stronger, so we were sent back walking. At least we were given permission to get me a snack!

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By this point I had walked for nearly 5 hours. 7 Hours had passed since my water had broken. It was time to visit the nurses again.

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Here We Go!… maybe

When I was in the bath, my contractions started to get bad. Like intense bad. They had never been so strong during my first labour. Every time either I, or the baby moved, a contraction would hit. I decided I needed to get out of the bath and get some drugs. It took me (and Dan) ages to get me out of the tub and for me to walk to the bed. Ouch!

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(By this point I was around 5cm dilated).

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Stalled

My baby never “dropped”, even at the end of pregnancy. When I first entered the hospital after having my water broken, the baby was still high up. After I had walked for 5 hours, he had finally dropped, but after laying down for a while, despite my very strong contractions, he decided to scootch back up. It was time for some interventions.

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After some rest, we thought the baby was ready to come. He had dropped again and seemed ready to go. So they turned off the pitocin and called my doctor.

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But, by the time my doctor arrived, I was still at 9cm but the baby was high again. Pitocin was turned back on and we waited for another hour. Finally, around 7am, 15 and a half hours after my water broke, it was time to start pushing. And then, 15 minutes later…

Welcome Gavin!

(By this point, we were still discussing names. I refused to let us leave the delivery room before we named our baby).

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And that is the story of how our second beautiful little boy entered the world and perfected our family.