Brothers

There were days during my pregnancy with Maverick that I was so excited for Eli to have a little brother.  There were other days that I wondered how in the world I was going to take care of a newborn while chasing after Eli.  Sometimes it really scared me!  Eli can be really crazy!  Sometimes I wondered if we were having our children too close together.  In the end I decided that no matter how far apart my children are, there will be challenges.  This age difference is going to be great.  I'm glad they are close and hope they will grow up to be the best of friends. 

Maverick came into this world screaming!  Michael and I laughed about having another loud child, however, as soon as Mav was wrapped up and cuddling with me he calmed right down.  That's how he's been ever since.  Calm and quiet.  The perfect little brother for Eli!  

Maverick | A Birth Story

Wednesday, July 18th | evening

While helping my sister and brother-in-law pack their u-haul I have contractions consistently for about an hour.  I don't think much of it because I have been having contractions for weeks.

Thursday, July 19th | 2:45 am

Elijah wakes up and Michael goes in to give him a binki and I have a pretty strong contraction

3:00 am

I have another contraction.  I realize that these last two contractions feel a lot different than any I have felt over the past few months.  I get out my phone and open my handy contraction timer app.

3:15 am

Contractions have been coming every 2-4 minutes and are getting stronger.  I go into the bathroom and gather a few last minute items for our hospital bags.  When I come out of the bathroom Michael wakes up and asks, "What are you doing?"  I tell him that my contractions are coming pretty fast.  I sit on the bed and we time them together for a few minutes.

3:30 am

Michael starts gathering clothes for his hospital bag and jumps in the shower.

3:45 am

I page the midwife.

4:00 am

The midwife on call, Kathryn, calls me back.  I explain that my contractions are coming every 3-4 minutes and that I was dilated to 4 cm one week ago at my last appointment.  Kathryn tells me to come on over to the hospital.   I tell Michael to hurry up.
I call my mom so she can start driving down to our house to get Eli.
I call our amazing neighbor Mary so I can drop off the monitor so she can listen for Eli until my mom gets here.
I tell Michael to hurry up.  Again.

4:15 am
Michael grabs the bags and we walk to the car.  Just before I get in I have another contraction.  After, I look up and tell Michael that he has to drive really fast to the hospital.

4:21 am

We pull out of the parking lot and head to the hospital.  Michael helps me through some contractions and is able to run a red light.  He was really excited about that.

4:41 am

I'm checked into the triage room.  The nurse checks my and I'm dilated to an 8+.  I'm so relieved!  Glad that all the contractions have done their job.  Michael notices that the urgency increases.  The nurse does not want me to deliver until she can check me in and get me into a delivery room.

4:51 am

In a delivery room.
Midwife comes into the delivery room.
Dilated to a 9

5:15 am

My water breaks and the midwife tells me I can start pushing when I feel like it.

5:25 am

Little Maverick is born.

*Note: I wanted to do a really good job documenting this birth.  I didn't do so well with that goal.  I discovered it's a little hard to document a birth when you are the one that's giving birth!

Between Contractions

This birth was such a wonderful experience.  Kathryn (the midwife) was so kind and encouraging.  When she came in the room she kept the lights down low, calmly helped me through some contractions by reminding me breath and applying counter pressure.  The two nurses in the room quietly performed their responsibilities, helped me through contractions and joked with me between contractions.  It was just perfect.  

The moment Maverick was born they placed him right on my chest.  It was such a wonderful moment to finally be holding my little boy in my arms.  Looking at his beautiful little face I immediately felt such a special bond.  I can't quite describe it.  An overwhelming feeling of love for a little stranger.

 

I'm also really proud of myself for delivery with out an epidural. People always asked while I was pregnant why I would want to do that.  The answer, I wanted to do something really hard, I wanted to push myself.  I'm so glad I did it!  It was a great experience.  I felt so focused and in control the whole time.  I didn't even once say anything mean to Michael!  :)  The question I get now, Will you do it again?  The answer: YES!