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Bumps, Bagels ... and Babies! BY DANA KAMP
These mommies were part of Giggle Magazine’s first Bumps & Bagels series, a monthly meet-up to discuss all things pregnancy, birth and babies! Now their sweet bundles of joy have arrived and they graciously agreed to share their beautiful, amazing and very real birth stories with us!
Becky Maris, mom of 1 Scarlett Elaine Maris Born November 11th, 2014, at 8:26 a.m. 7 pounds, 6 ounces; 19 ½ inches Planning on having a natural childbirth, I went to the childbirth classes and read a lot to prepare. I expected it to go pretty close to what we were taught. I expected contractions to start gradually and become more and more regular. Also, I wasn’t worried about my water breaking because I read that it rarely breaks before getting to the hospital.
After an hour of the worst back labor in the world, I ended up with an epidural and delivered her eight hours later. Scarlett was posterior, or “sunny side up,” and that was why the pain had been so excruciating. No matter what I had expected, the surprising reality was all worth it when I held her in my arms that first time.
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Walker Payne Robinson Born October 8, 2014, at 12:24 p.m. 9 pounds; 21 inches Scheduling a cesarean section never crosses a girl's mind when she dreams of having children of her own. The thoughts of rushing to the hospital, the dramatic water breaking, the breathing exercises, the "Get out of jail free card" to cuss at your husband, that last push and hearing your baby’s first cries … that's what I always envisioned for my story of coming into "mommyhood." The talks with my doctor began early in pregnancy when there was fear that our baby would be big. At our 35-week appointment, I knew it was time to come to terms with scheduling our son's birthday. Each day that passed, the anticipation to meet him grew, and the less I cared how he came into the world. My doctor and I knew this was the safest route for both the baby and me, and with support, we picked Walker's birthday. We had a taste of that craziness we’d envisioned when I came down with the stomach bug just a few days before his birth, started having strong contractions and had to receive 3 liters of fluids for dehydration at the hospital, before being sent home when the contractions ceased. But, then his real birth day arrived, and I realized that just because he arrived via surgery, it doesn't mean I didn't give birth. It doesn't mean that I am not a hero. I look back now and the thought of regret never crosses my mind. My baby is healthy, my recovery was amazingly quick and easy, and his birth story is my favorite. continued on pg. 85
Photos courtesy of Becky, Kourtney, Erica and Beth.
However, the day I went into labor I had no noticeable contractions. Then that night, while in bed, I felt a painful “pop” and then a gush of fluid. My water had broken! One minute later contractions hit me like a freight train. I could barely breathe or walk. I started timing them and they were coming every three minutes and lasting one minute each. Within 10 minutes they became two minutes apart! That scared us, so we went to the hospital.
Kourtney Robinson, mom of 1