Violet, born 40w4d (natural birth story)

Welcome to the world, our surprise baby GIRL!

Birth story: I had early labor all day the 24th. The contractions started to peter out in the evening. I did some pelvic tilts and went to bed around 10:30. Within an hour, the contractions were waking me up every 5min. I got up and about an hour later woke up my husband and called my birth team that I thought it was time. I kept praying that labor wouldn’t stall. Got to the birth center and I was 5.5cm, 90% bulging waters, but baby wasn’t quite engaged in the pelvis. It didn’t take long until I was showing signs of being in transition. But about an hour later, I was exhausted and felt like nothing was changing. Transition doesn’t normally take that long. I had my midwife check me and I was 8.5cm. I had her break my water (which turned out to be quite difficult, they were tough). From there things moved much faster. The thing was, by then I hadn’t slept at all that night. I had barely slept more than a couple hours the night before. And my anxiety got the better or me. I kept saying I couldn’t do it. I kept getting angry and crying because I wanted so badly to quit. Finally I started to feel the urge to push. 5 contractions later and I could feel her crowning. I couldn’t believe how fast the pushing went, I put so much effort into getting her out. 😂

I had the unbelievable pleasure of catching my own baby, and announcing to my husband that it was our second little baby girl. And I’m that moment, the fact that I cursed and yelled (literally my voice is hoarse from angry yelling) was so worth it. By far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I don’t want to do it again. 😂 but I probably will.

Violet Jean, born at 4:18am after about 5 hours of active labor, 8lbs 1oz, 21.5in long. 💜