Fox’s Birth Story

It’s always so hard to know where to begin on such an incredible story...

(38 weeks and 2 days)

For about 10 days leading up to his birth I was in the throws of prodromal labor. Anxiously anticipating his arrival.

The weekend leading up to it had my brain in complete confusion. I woke up Friday, October 25th, early in the morning with what felt like intense menstrual cramps. They eventually became mild contractions or Braxton Hicks and then died off entirely by the time I had my prenatal appointment at 10am.

My body was sitting at 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced. Ready to go, just waiting for those labor contractions. I had the doctor give my membranes a good sweep, thinking that would surely help things get going... Instead I didn’t have a single belly tightening, no Braxton Hicks. Any sign of labor was completely gone. (Goes to show we have no control when it comes to labor)

Saturday morning, yet again I was woken up to mild contractions but they didn’t seem to progress. They would have a little consistency but once the day started they would disappear. That night as Spencer and I were hanging out in the living room, kids all in bed I started getting excited because every 10 minutes for 2 hours I would have a contraction. However the intensity was mild and not progressing in time lapse. So I decided to go to bed and see if something might come during the night.

Sunday morning I woke up at 4 in the morning to a continuing pattern of mild contractions. We stayed home from church in hopes that this was it. By 10 am exhaustion caught up with me and I took a nap. When I woke up, once again all signs of labor were gone.

I was bewildered. I couldn’t believe how long this had been going on for. I tried to distract myself from thinking about it. We got out of the house and tried to soak up these final days as a family of 5. But it was a battle, I was ready to meet this little man.

And on Monday morning when I woke up at 1 am to more contractions along with back pain.. still sitting at 10 min apart, frustration took over. I tried to continue sleeping but the pain in my back was too much for sleep so at 2 am I got up and took my frustrations out on cleaning my kitchen. Getting everything wiped down and eventually mopping the floors. By 4 am the contractions were getting more intense so Spencer stayed home from work. They slowly started to get closer together and were taking more of a thought process in relaxing my body.

By 6 am they were ranging from 3-7 minutes apart and we decided to wake up the kids, drop them off at our friends and head to the hospital. I was in complete fear that the contractions would cease. I was celebrating mentally with each one I had. But when we arrived at the hospital they felt much more mild.

We checked into the hospital around 6:30 in the morning where I had to state my full name at least 3 times and Spencer showed his confusion on his relation to me as he claimed my significant other and my wife 😂😂😂 we finally got there when I chimed in and said he is my spouse. Perhaps we looked like very questionable people because we received a security escort up to L&D after that.

We were checked into L&D and good 'ol nurse Jamie was there to take care of us. By this point I was starting to get nervous that labor was subsiding and that we would get sent home, but it turns out after the OB appointment I had that previous Friday, the doctors and nurses were waiting for me to show up.

Jamie did another sweep and praise the Lord, that really got things moving. By 8 am I could no longer tolerate sitting on the bed with every contraction was causing so much pain in my back. I moved to the birthing ball where my incredible hubby would push on my back during each contraction. I can't even tell you how much that would counteract the pain. It was incredible.

Now I should state, this entire pregnancy I had planned on this birth being unmedicated. 

My first 3 I had gone with epidurals, but with Boston's birth and the epidural failing I started my research on unmedicated births.
So after an hour of sitting on the ball working through the contractions, Jamie suggested I get up and try leaning on some pillows over the counter. I honestly didn't want to change positions. The ball brought relief. But once I got up and changed, I saw the benefit in it. My contractions started picking up more and becoming even more frequent.

At 10 am my doctor showed up and was ready to break my water. She checked me and said I was a solid 6 cm dilated but could stretch me to an 8. she broke my water at 10:02 am. Baby's head was so low barely any water came out at first. And because I had so much back labor I had to get on my knees and hold on to the back of the bed.
It was amazing, with each contraction I could feel the water coming out of me. It just gave me so much reassurance that these contractions were doing what they needed to; pushing the baby down.
I will also say, once that water starts to lessen, the intensity of the contractions become something else.
I was so grateful to have a nurse who not only was a supporter of unmedicated birth, he was able to give me a lot of coaching as things picked up.
And my hubby stood by me through it all giving me so much encouragement. His role was huge this time and I couldn't have done it without him.

by 10:30 my water was completely out.
They had filled up the jacuzzi for me to try, but by this point I could barely move. I tried to get off the bed, only to fold over and feel my body begin to push.
Thankfully those actions rarely go down in silence haha. The nurse heard my grunts and quickly was telling me to get back on the bed and ran to get the doctor.

Everything after that became such a blur. Everything moved so quickly. It was intense. It was painful. But it was pain with a purpose. And it didn't last long.
3 sets of pushes later at 10:51am our sweet little Fox Oliver Stillwell was born!

A whopping 7lbs. 15oz.

(Haha, I have no idea why I was making this face, but it pretty much sums up what went down)

The most amazing husband and daddy!!

This birth was the most intense and incredible thing I have ever experienced. I was tired and exhausted from lack of sleep leading up to it. And yet I was so hyper aware of every detail of Fox once he was born. I completely understand the "baby high" people speak of with a natural birth. It is something I would absolutely do again.

I also could not have done it without these amazing ladies. My mom and my sister were so supportive through all of it. And they were ready at a moments notice to grab anything I might need so Spencer didn't have to leave my side. Like when we accidentally switched up the kids over night bag and Spencer and my bag when dropping the kids off!! My mom and my sister were quick to go give and get the correct bag. :)