Rivers Birth

While I think it's great that so many people share their Birth Stories online I do believe it is something personal and sacred to each women and family. But I do want to share some of his birth story because it was one of the most amazing days of my life. 

Rivers has always been one to do things right on time so when I started having contractions Wednesday morning on his due date I wasn't the least bit surprised. I woke up around 5 because I was having really bad cramps and by 7:30 I couldn't really sleep anymore. However I had been having cramping for weeks and didn't want to get too excited, but these kept getting worse and wouldn't go away.

We had a doctors appointment that morning at 9:30 which couldn't have been more convenient,  I wouldn't have to go to the hospital and get turned away, I would be able to go talk to my doctor first. Around 8 David got up to get ready for work but as the contractions got worse we thought maybe this was it and David began to get the rest of our hospital bag together.


I got in the shower and the contractions got really bad,  I couldn't really breath through them but it wasn't too bad however they were coming every couple minutes.  David was so cute running around getting things ready he was so excited but I still didn't want to get my hopes up.

When we got to the doctor he checked me and I was still at a 1 1/2. He gave me the option of either going downstairs to labor and delivery and seeing how I progress or going home to walk around. I chose to go home and walk around, I didn't want to sit in the hospital all day to only be turned away.

So we headed home and decided to go over to Jamba Juice to get some breakfast However by the time we got to Jamba Juice the contractions got so bad I really couldn't breath through them and there were tears, David called the doctor and said that we should come in. Not even 30 minutes since we left the doctor and the contractions had increased. They were still coming really close together probably every 2 to 3 minutes.

We went straight to labor and delivery, the nurse checked me again and I was at a 2 1/2 and so they admitted me right away. I had decided a couple weeks before this that I was probably going to get the epidural, it was my first baby and there is no shame in an epidural.

I had heard horror stories of how painful getting an epidural was, so I was freaking out pretty bad but it was seriously the easiest part of this whole thing. After I got the epidural I could still feel pressure from the contractions but not nearly as bad as before. I was grateful to say the least.

Around two the doctor came in and checked me and I was at a 4 and he broke my water. Two hours passed and nothing had changed so they decided to put me on pitocin. At 5 O' Clock they checked me again and I had reached a 9 1/2. Needless to say I don't think anybody was expecting that. I was totally shocked, I thought we were going to be there all night. I was even more shocked when they said they would probably have me start pushing soon.

Around 6:30 they had me start pushing, the doctor came in a little before 7 and at 7:05 Rivers was here! They put him straight on my stomach and for a few minutes I could hardly believe he was here. He didn't cry much but rather just looked right at me with wide eyes, it was a beautiful moment I never want to forget. David cut the umbilical cord and they took him to be cleaned off, I was able to hold him and give him his first feeding before they moved us into recovery.

Those first few days we spent with Rivers in the hospital were hard and exhausting but so special. One of my favorite things from the birth was David repeating over and over how amazing Rivers was, and how this was one of the best decisions we had ever made. Even though I knew already how excited David was for all this, it felt so good to hear my husband express such joy and love for this new baby and this new life we would be leading.  I love him and our new baby so much, I'm so grateful for Rivers in our life and the joy he has brought to our family it feels so good to be a family of 3.