All Natural Momma

 Evan's Birth Story

 (proofs done by the hospital)

Since the beginning, this second pregnancy has been a very different experience from Mahie's (my firstborn). When I found out I was expecting Evan, I had already been almost 4 months along. I was finishing my last semester at BYU-Hawaii, including a rigorous 6a.m. jogging class that I NEEDED to pass. I felt no side affects, which with Mahie, I had to take off from work the first few weeks, I threw up every morning, slept all day in between classes (I even fell asleep sitting under a  coconut tree waiting for class)...and found out I was pregnant at 8 weeks. I guess I anticipated it more with Mahie because James and I were newlyweds and I was pregnant for the FIRST time! However, this time around, my thinking was pretty laid back...and look what happened, I didn't even know I was pregnant, HELLO!

I'm glad that I found out late, because it made my months of pregnancy go by fast. I didn't really enjoy the 'pregnant' part of last time, because I came across so many health issues and bad experiences. I guess you could say it dampened my attitude towards pregnancy altogether, which YES is very selfish & dumb, so I was constantly thinking the worst this time around....and the worse never came! I should've enjoyed this pregnancy more, it was perfect.

I carried low from the beginning, which someone had said it was a sign I was having a boy. At 36 weeks I started to dilate, which surprised the Midwife at Castle, and thus we were advised to have our hospital bags packed in case baby came early. At 38 weeks, I dilated to a 4 and baby Evan was already positioned head down and super low. That was Monday, we were told to come back on Friday. However, until Friday I was strongly encouraged to exercise, eat spicy food, etc. to break my water. But I never did, HAHA. Ask James, my family....I just didn't "FEEL" like giving birth. Honestly, I feared labor! (Another bad experience from last time) And most importantly, I DREADED the recovery (WORST experience of my life).

At our 39weeks appointment, I was dilated to 5cm, baby's head was apparently RIGHT THERE, and I was already having 3-5minute contractions....basically I was in "silent" labor and didn't know it. Tina Doyle (Midwife) kept asking me if I could feel the pain, and I was like no. (Most women at 5cm are screaming for drugs) After monitoring me and speaking with the head of their department, they decided to call the Birth Center to prepare to admit me. I then told her I was hungry and wanted some Burger King, haha. She quietly let us go since I felt no pain, and so off James, Mahie & I went to eat.

At 11:30am I was admitted, around 12:30pm-ish they broke my water.....and I stunned the entire Birthing Center staff for the next 5 hours NOT FEELING ANY PAIN!! They couldn't believe it as I was at 7cm and still walking around the hospital talking to my Mom, sister & even playing with Mahie in my ugly patient's robe. Tina Doyle kept asking what my birth plan was (Drugs or no Drugs) and I kept saying I don't know. However, she strongly encouraged me to go natural. *The epidural didn't work on me last pregnancy, my spine/back area kept clotting, but I still felt the side affects after.

At around 5pm-ish....that's when the pain came full force! So back to my hospital room I went. I could still handle them, but it totally sucked. Just before 6pm they INTENSIFIED and my back hurt from laying on the hospital bed. Yup, I told James, "GET ME THE EPIDURAL! NOW!"....however, my Midwife sly persuaded me to hold off a little since I was "...almost there!" Yah right, almost there seemed like almost never! But, she won me over with the jacuzzi. The nurses helped me into the jacuzzi, and I was in heaven! *So all you future Mama's get in that bubbly warm water instead of lying on the hard bed.

Well, jacuzzi heaven lasted only 10 or 15 minutes (Castle doesn't do water births) and out they pulled me because I was ready to push. I still had a little cervix, which made pushing even harder! And you know it, I screamed for that epidural....but through tears, groans, screams....my little Evan popped out at 6:36pm, and I officially joined the ALL NATURAL Labor Club.

I still can't believe I went natural. Even though I didn't feel that intense pain until the last hour, that pain was REAL! It's also amazing how your body kicks into gear and knows exactly what to do. And the recovery? As soon as they cleaned me up and I fed Evan....I was literally up and about. TOTALLY the opposite of how crappy and drugged I felt with Mahie. I loved it & was surprised at my recovery from deciding to go Natural.

Evan is such a perfect baby. A little white baby so far...he is much lighter than all of us. Passed all his tests, loved skin to skin contact, latched well, didn't cry a lot through the first night. We are again blessed with another little spirit.

And Mahie? Sometimes she notices he's there, and sometimes she's too into watching Tangled or Princess in the Frog. One time he cried too loud and she climbed down from the bed, walked over and kissed the side of Evan's crib. But then pointed her finger and scolded him.

Now we are a family of 4!