That morning, an email conversation started between my best friend from college (A) and myself. A has a son who was born 2 years prior. I saved those emails and am so glad that I did because looking back on them helps me recount the events that led up to the birth of my son! So, in honor of Brady's first birthday tomorrow, I'm posting them here (leaving out the other random things we were discussing in between):
7:49AM
Me:
> So, I think I may have started having contractions yesterday evening. I
> was definitely having some pains that started in my back and would sorta
> go into my abdomen. I say sorta because the majority of the pain was in
> my back, but a couple of times I definitely felt it in my stomach. These
> feelings were pretty far apart and not as intense as I assume the real
> contractions will be, so I basically just ended up going to bed and
> figuring that I'd wake up if I were really in labor. I don't know if
> they continued or not, but they didn't really keep me up. So, I'm
> wondering if it will continue today or if that was just some random
> contractions that don't necessarily indicate labor is close. Did you
> have any contractions prior to actually going into labor? If so, what
> did they feel like? When you woke up that morning and knew you were
> having J that day, what were you feeling? Was it already the
> intense, regular contractions or did it start with less strong
> contractions that eventually got closer?
A:
> oh! So I can't really respond now, but...
>
> Maybe you were :) Maybe you aren't. Who knows? I had some that changed
> intensity when I got up and moved, so I assumed they weren't real, but
> then in the morning the contractions woke me up and J arrived the
> next day. They were less strong contractions than at the end---I didn't
> even really have to breathe, just noticed them.
>
> Feel free to call me anytime.
11:22AM
Me:
> Hi! So, I'm pretty sure I'm having contractions today. I feel the pain
> in my back and then through my lower stomach. Sometimes more on the
> back, sometimes more on the stomach. So, I'm just writing down when I
> feel them and will start to get excited only if they start getting closer
> together. I know walking is supposed to help get them more intense and
> closer together but I can't decide if I want to do that yet. I'm
> confused/anxious/excited but also worried that this is either "false
> labor" or just something that is going to continue for days until I go
> into "real" labor. Who knows. I don't want to get my hopes up too much
> just yet. I'll keep you posted.
>
> I may call you later if I need someone to talk to me to either convince
> me I'm in labor or that I'm not. Ha!
A:
> OMG!
>
> YAY!
>
> Before I started walking around, I paid all the bills. I figured there
> was no telling when I would get to that again :)
>
> Then I took the dogs on a walk because, you know, I figured they might not
> ever get to leave the house again.
>
> Do the contractions stop when you move? As in, if a contractions starts
> when you are sitting, does it continue when you start walking? If so, I
> htink that is supposed to be real labor---but there is still no telling
> how long early labor will last.
>
> Are you at home? Is K with you? Make sure you eat, even if you don't
> want to. They won't let you eat at the hospital, and by the time J
> arrived I was so hungry I was almost more focused on getting the baby out
> so that I could eat rather than so that I could have a baby!
11:40AM
Me:
> The last one I had definitely continued when I stood up to walk to the
> bathroom. I'll see what happens with the next. I just ate some lunch,
> too. I am at home but K is not. I am okay with that until they
> become closer together. I may take the dogs for a walk soon, but it is
> hot so I have to be careful not to get overheated. I'll definitely take
> my phone with me, though.
>
> Will keep you updated...
A:
> Don't overheat!
> It really sounds like you are in labor. :)
> Sending lots of easy labor vibes to you...
> It is really amazing how excited this makes me...
> Hopefully this means you will avoid a 7/3 birthday for him.
> Now I jsut have to convince myself that you getting really close to having
> a baby doesn't mean that I am excused from working today.
12:55PM
Me:
> Just went for a walk with the dogs for about 35 minutes. Now I'm sitting on
> the exercise ball and trying to cool off. I'm getting no work done today, but
> hopefully you can get some done! I'll update you later if anything
> exciting happens.
> Yeah, I'm thinking this could be a July 2 baby unless the contractions stop...
> Still trying not to get too excited yet, but we'll see how that goes...
>
> Yes, send easy labor vibes!!!
A:
> I think that you are allowed to get excited... I mean, even if the
> labor doesn't move quickly, you are 39 weeks pregnant, and you are
> going to be meeting your baby "soon". It just depends on what "soon"
> means...
1:43PM
Me:
> Thanks! :)
>
> I really am excited... just trying to decide how excited I should be. I
> have actually considered going to get a pedicure (the place is about
> a mile from my house) but haven't decided yet.
A:
> Go get a pedicure. Let me live vicariously through you.
>
> Then come back and take a long hot shower or bath.
>
> I have had *one* pedicure since J was born. I could probably
> make the time now, but daycare takes so much of our money...
2:17PM
Me:
> Getting a pedicure now! :)
>
> And probably taking a hot shower later...
>
> And hopefully having a baby some time soon!
A:
> your toes are going to look so pretty :)
> Get someone to take a picture of you today with your belly at its
> largest. I wish I had that picture.
4:31PM
A:
> OMG. How are you doing?
5:15PM
Me:
> I'm doing fine. Still at home. Contractions getting closer together
> but not under 5 minutes yet. I showered and am now putting last
> minute items in my bag. I anticipate being in the hospital tonight.
> I'll let you know if I actually go, but probably won't be able to update
> after that until either they send me home or I have the baby!!!
A:
> Yay!
> I'll be (and am) sending lots of wonderful labor thoughts. Hopefully
> your experience so far has been good---it has sounded good from this
> end, at least!
> Send me updates to this address, that way I can get them from my
> phone...
9:35PM
Me:
> Going to hospital. Prayers welcome. :)
>
> Will update when I can. Pretty much an emotional wreck now...
12:35AM (7/2)
A:
> I know you probably won't get this, but I wanted to let you know I am
> over here thinkin' about you. I hope that you are either holding your
> baby or getting some rest.
> Sending prayers and birthing vibes.
9:56AM
Me:
> Hey! Quick update - got to hospital around 10pm. Was only 2cm
> dilated but almost fully effaced which they said was great. Offered
> me epidural and I got it around midnight. Fantastic stuff. After a
> couple of hours they said they'd let me labor throughout the night
> and give me pitocin at 6:30am bc my OB is on call today. So, we
> slept most of the night (off and on) and I got the pitocin at 7am.
> Just saw my OB at 9:45 and she checked me again and I'm 6cm.
> She broke my water. Said I'm doing fantastic and should be holding
> my baby by this afternoon!!!
>
> I'm not in pain. Excited. You are the only one who knows we are
> here still, so lots of prayers for a quick, safe end to this journey!!
A:
> Hi! Thank you SO much for the update. I was at daycare working on
> the newsletter, and I was SO happy to hear from you.
> I was really hoping that you either had already had that baby and were
> so caught up I didn't know yet, or that you had gotten an epidural so
> that you could rest.
> YAY for 6cm. YAY for broken water. Things happened fast for me after
> they broke mine---hopefully they are happening fast for you too!
And then the next time she heard from me, I was calling to tell her that I'd just met my beautiful baby boy and his name is Brady Jasper B!
I tear up just thinking about that whole experience and am happy to have these emails as a reminder of the excitement and joy I felt that day!
I did take that last belly pic, too, and am so glad I did. This is me not too long before we left for the hospital:
And this is me with my beautiful baby boy:
Oh, and if you want to read my full birth story I posted it here.
Posts
Awww...I can't believe its already been a year. You were definitely a cute preggo lady!
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