I have felt like Easton would come early since my first positive pregnancy test with him. I had some weird spotting 7-8 days before my period and was praying it was implantation bleeding.
We had been trying for baby #3 for months. I know that’s a short amount of time compared to some couples, but I was starting to get really discouraged. We had been trying for 5 months or so. I thought that I was for sure pregnant in August. I was so sure that when I wrecked my mountain bike (about 4 days before I thought I would miss my period) I told my friend who stayed with me while the EMT crew arrived that I was probably pregnant and they shouldn’t give me any medication that would harm the baby. I told the ER doc the same thing. After I wrecked my bike I was pretty shook up and exhausted. I got all of my info from my ER visit, including my blood work and I realized that my HCG was negative. I cried. Cried for the baby I thought was for sure coming to us, cried because I was embarrassed, hurting and dealing with some anxiety and depression from the wreck, and cried because we had a super early miscarriage/chemical pregnancy a few months back and I was sure I was finally going to be getting our baby.
I spent the next month healing and spending as many weekends in McCall that we could while we still had our house up there. It was now September and Matt was gone for the week at hunting camp. I had the weird spotting and about 5 days before my suspected period I decided to take a cheapy pregnancy test before I hopped in the shower. Sure enough - it was positive. I faint positive, but no denying - POSITIVE! I couldn’t believe it. I never get a positive before my missed period.The fact that this was 5 days early was shocking.
My due date was based off of my last period, but I felt he would be early because of my early implantation and early positive test. Easton arrived 8 days early.
At my 37 week appointment I went into the clinic instead of doing a telehealth appointment over the phone. I had my membranes swept and was dilated to a 2. Matt was panicked because work had been insanely hectic with COVID and he was sure that I was going to have the baby a few weeks early. Alas, no baby.
At my 38 week appointment I was dilated to a 2.5-3. I had to sweep my membranes again. It’s super uncomfortable. I was already at my heaviest weight ever and I had some major swelling with this pregnancy. I was beyond done. This appointment was Friday and early Saturday morning I was half asleep and stretched and felt my water break. I’ve never had my water break without being in active labor so I really wasn’t sure if that’s what it was. I got up and was pretty soaked so I went to the bathroom and switched my underwear. It was about 4:00am. I wasn’t having any contractions so I was about to lay back in bed, but Matt woke up and asked if I was ok. I told him, “I think my water just broke.” “No shit?” Haha
We finished packing a few things and I called L&D to see if I actually needed to come in… I wasn’t sure it was my water and contractions hadn’t started. They said to come in anyway. As we packed and waited for Matt’s mom to come stay with the kids I was starting to feel some mild contractions. As we drove to the hospital I was starting to feel some stronger contractions and we laughed about how crazy it was that he was coming early. Our earliest baby!!
We went through some quick COVID scans and made our way to L&D. My contractions were coming closer together, but nothing too painful.They took a while getting my back which I thought was odd. They finally got me set up into a room and with monitors. My contractions were getting stronger and I was starting to feel uncomfortable. They came in to do a test to make sure that my water really broke because I was only dilated to a 3. Sure enough my water didn’t break at all. They let me labor in the tub for an hour or so. Matt worked next to me on his laptop and we listened to my “labor playlist”... aaaand contractions stopped. I didn’t dilate any more and was sent home.
Being sent home after thinking I was in labor was one of my biggest labor fears. Which is why I labored at home for so long with Kess. I was terrified of being sent home.
Needless to say I was beyond bummed out and tired. We grabbed some disgustingly good breakfast from McDonalds and went home. The kids were bummed that we were back with no baby. But we spent the next two days getting some final projects finished before baby boy decided to actually show up. We built his dresser & cleaned up his room.
The next day we finished the wall texture and paint in our master bath. Then hung the mirrors we had propped up on the counters for weeks. I took some time to rest and enjoy our backyard and garden. The weather was really nice and the kids were having fun playing in the backyard. I decided I was over this sh*t and started jumping on the kids’ trampoline. I was definitely over the weight limit by far, but I didn’t even care. I just bounced and bounced for a few minutes. Nothing haha!
I was pretty tired and fell asleep quickly that night and woke up around 1:00am with some mild contractions. I had been having some cramping for weeks now and at this point I was just annoyed. I grabbed some lavender oil (it will stop Braxton Hicks contractions) and my cramping stopped and I fell back to sleep until Matt left for work and then Kess came in around 7:30am to snuggle. We snuggled and chatted for a little bit and then I felt a quick punch like the baby had pushed his head into my cervix. It made me jump a little, but that was it. After that Manning came in, gave me a hug and I went in to get my contacts in and felt a small gush. I had soaked my garments so I went to grab a pad and underwear since this was just like the other day. But I was soaking through so I texted Matt to see if I could call him quick or if he was in a meeting. He was running a meeting, but I told him that I *think* my water actually broke this time. He asked if he should wrap up his meeting and head out, I wasn’t sure because I didn’t walk to deal with a false alarm again, but after contractions had started he said he would wrap up and head to me. I called Matt’s mom & she didn’t answer. I assumed she was in the shower. Within those few minutes I texted Matt and told him to hustle because my contractions were pretty strong. I told Matt and he called his dad to leave work and head to our house. My parents were out of town working so I was glad Matt’s parents answered. By the time that I had grabbed the kids cereal, turned on a show for them and packed a few things I was in quite a bit of pain. Even though the kids were excited that today was baby day, I was grateful that they were glued to their show because I was on all fours on our stairs trying to stay calm and breathe through contractions. I was feeling pretty nervous because I was already hurting.
Matt and his dad arrived at the same time. His mom was about 5 minutes away as well. Matt walked into the house and said, “Where is your mom?!” to the kids. He found me doubled over on the stairs and grabbed my bathroom bag off the table and we ran out the door. It was Matt’s dad’s birthday so I told him, “Happy Birthday” and we were off. I was in so much pain I couldn’t even put my seat belt over me. We booked it two exits over to St. Luke’s. Matt offered to grab a wheelchair and the thought of sitting down made me want to throw up. I just walked as fast as I could through COVID screening and I was in so much pain that Matt finished my paperwork.
They walked me back into a room and I just stripped down and put a gown on. My nurse checked me and told me I was at a 5 and we were moving to a room right now. Being on my side was the most comfortable. My nurse pushed on my hips a little, but it ended up not helping much. They checked me not even 10 minutes later and I was at an 8. I was starting to get a little loud as I was breathing through contractions. I definitely dropped a big ol’ swear word mid contraction. Matt and my nurse laughed. My doctor had been called and I really wanted her there, but within a few minutes I said I felt like I needed to push. The anesthesiologist walked in and asked for consent and told me that it was too late for an epidural, but he could do a spinal quick. So that’s what we did. My nurse and Matt brought me upright and I kept leaning towards Matt, so my nurse let go and had me wrap my arms and legs around Matt. I can remember this moment super vividly… he smelled so good and having my arms and legs wrapped around him eased the pain a little. My nurse and the doc told me to be prepared for a big pinch when the needle went in. I remember laughing a little because it was nothing compared to the labor pain. Within a minute or two I was in no pain and feeling so much better. In walked my doctor, she got ready quickly and said, “Ok, we are ready!!” 2 contractions and 6 pushed later - Easton Wood arrived. We hadn’t been at the hospital for an hour yet. By far my fastest labor. Kess’ labor was about 30 hours, Manning’s was 9 hours and Easton’s was under 2.
I was just so happy to finally have him in my arms after what felt like the longest and hardest pregnancy.
When COVID hit I was really nervous that Matt wouldn’t be able to be in the hospital with me when I delivered. Thankfully he was, but nobody else could be there. At first that made me a little sad, but because both sets of parents and all but 1 of our siblings are local they were able to see Easton once we got home. So Matt and I spent that time alone, bonding with Easton and let me tell you what - it was heavenly. So quiet and calm. Easton had a rough 1st night, but his 2nd night was a home and was much better.
We were so excited to have the kids meet Easton. I knew Kess would be so happy, but I was honestly worried about Manning. He’s my wild child and I just wasn’t sure how he would react and treat a brand new baby. Well saying that I was worried for nothing is an understatement. Manning was so soft and so excited that Easton was here. He couldn’t wait to get him out of his carseat so he could hold him. He kept rubbing his head and asking when his eyes were going to open. It was something that I will never forget.
Those first few days and weeks of the newborn phase are rough, but this was my best recovery yet. I think I had enough maternal knowledge and hindsight to know that these phases just don’t last forever. And my mental and emotional recovery was a dream. I was prepared for postpartum depression again and maybe had a few rough days here and there, but being able to stay on medication through my pregnancy and the first year postpartum was a serious game changer for me. I’m so grateful for modern medicine.
I felt so much peace in that week after Easton arrived. Knowing that we completed our family was one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for.
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