Nathanael’s Birth Story

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, so, hey! Hello! How have you been lately? Two months feels like an eternity and a few moments all at the same time.  The reason for my hiatus, our bright spot of hope, arrived six weeks ago. And because I feel that more of these hopeful moments are needed in our world today, without further ado, here is his birth story.

The Due Date

Our first, Lucy, was born two full weeks before her due date. So when 38 weeks came and went with this pregnancy, I was entering uncharted territory.  At 36 weeks I was ready to be done, at 38 weeks I was disappointed my occasional contractions didn’t turn into anything. At 40 weeks I was distressed. I went to my final doctor appointment on my due date, October 2, begrudgingly. I had initially declined to schedule my 40 week appointment because I knew I wouldn’t need it. And I didn’t want to schedule an induction date because, again, I knew I wouldn’t need it. At that appointment, I was 2 cm dilated (the same as two weeks ago). I started to get worried that I would need to be induced after all. 

I had tried everything the internet said you should try to get labor going. We went on walks every day, I spent a significant amount of time doing hip circles on my giant workout ball, did squats, drank red raspberry leaf tea. The list goes on. But the night of October 2, I declared to Jon that we needed to go on an extra long walk. I didn’t care how uncomfortable walking made me!

That Night

At about 7pm after our long walk, we got home and put Lucy to bed. Jon and I then hung out and watched some Netflix. At around 9pm, my sister and brother-in-law stopped by to drop off a delicious treat she had baked earlier. They left around 9:30pm (still no regular contractions). We watched some more tv and I was noticing the occasional contraction. I remember my dad texting, asking me how I was feeling, and I said I had some contractions but nothing noteworthy.

At 10pm, we decided we needed to go to bed and that’s when I realized I was having some more contractions and they were starting to get more uncomfortable. In a matter of minutes I realized things were actually starting to happen. This is when I started timing contractions. I timed for a half hour and was surprised to discover they were coming every four minutes. Next we called the hospital. 

I could still talk and walk through these contractions, but they were getting closer together and growing in intensity. We had a 30 minute drive to get to the hospital, and I knew that with my first it took me at least 10 hours to get to this point. The nurse was skeptical but said we could come in if we felt like we needed to. So at 11pm, Jon called my sister, awakening her from a surprisingly deep slumber (remember, she had just been at our house at 9:30!), and they arrived at our house by 11:15pm. We were out the door immediately.

On Our Way

We arrived at the hospital at 11:45pm. Soon enough I was in a hospital gown, with an IV, and crying for an epidural because I just didn’t want to do it naturally again! At this point, I was convinced I was probably only 5-6cm dilated. After being told I was more like 8-9cm, my doctor told me if I could make it through two more contractions I’d be pushing. She was correct. After about 6 pushes, Nathanael James was born at 1:22am, a mere hour and 22 minutes after his due date passed. Fashionably late. A sign of things to come? I guess time will tell. 

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Our Little Gift

His birth was fast, and to be honest, I was grateful. I barely had time to process what was happening. I was so anxious about giving birth again, but I had no time to worry. That in itself was a gift.

Nathanael, which means “gift of God” has been much like his older sister as a newborn. He is very calm, cries very little, squawks when he’s hungry, fusses when he’s wet, and grunts like nobody’s business.  He has a perfectly round face and hair that’s nearly invisible. We love him so very much! 

I will never be one to pretend that newborns are all sunshine and roses, because the first six weeks are so incredibly difficult. It has left me very much to reflect and pray about,  but I will save these thoughts for another day. Until next time! 

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