Beckham Coby ~ Birth Story

~There are a lot of things I want to remember about Beckham's birth that may be TMI for some.  So this is your warning if you don't want to read.

During my pregnancy I had prepared for a natural birth.  My birth plan was to just see how things went.  I was not against getting an epidural at all, I just wanted to see what I could do and how far I could go.  In the mean time I read up on how to get through labor just so I could have as much help as possible.  Coby wasn't a super fan of me waiting on the meds.  He doesn't like to see people in pain and always said he just wanted me to get an epidural and have it be easy; why would you want to go through the pain?  But I just wanted to see what I could do.

My due date was August 23rd.  August 22 I woke up and was just relaxing in bed.  I hadn't had any painful contractions.  Cramping here and there and lots of braxton hicks (those started on week 20), but they weren't together and there was nothing timeable.  About 10:00am I was laying there, felt something a little different, ran to the bathroom, and a couple minutes later my water broke.  The plan was for me to call the front office at Coby's work since he doesn't have his cell on him.  I called right away, receptionist answered, "hi can I put you on hold" click...  so I waited a good 5 minutes on hold.  Coby got on the phone, I told him my water broke but no contractions so no rush, expecting him to be in shock, but I got the most calm response ever.  "Ok, let me find someone to cover my shift and I'll come home after that."  I started pacing the hallway, bouncing on a ball, walking, bouncing, showering, trying to get things going.  I had contractions here and there but they weren't consistent or close together.  It would be 5min, 6min, 15min, 10min, 20min, 6 min...  Since my group B strep test was negative I didn't have to go to the hospital right away, but if I wasn't in active labor within 24 hrs, I would have to be induced.

I took about a 40 min nap since I hadn't slept most of the previous night, but had noticed the baby wasn't moving.  I poked hard, pushed on my belly, pushed on his foot, no response.  We went into the Dr's office for an NST about 3:00 or so just to be sure he was ok.  Baby was great but just wasn't moving much.  They said he was super calm.  Went home, more walking, more bouncing, contractions would start to get closer, then I wouldn't have one for 40 min.  Coby gave me a very sweet blessing then went to bed about 10pm.  My mom text me and said, shower and go to sleep and things will pick up.  So that's what I did, but I just got through the shower.  At about 11 things started picking up.  At midnight I started timing them with my phone and I had to start breathing through them.  They were about 5 min apart and lasting about a minute.  I didn't want to wake Coby up if we had a while so I kept timing.  At about 2am I woke Coby up since I couldn't talk during contractions any more.  We got ready, and headed to the hospital in a down pour.  (my mom told me that they had a bad rain storm when they were going to the hospital to have me too.)

After getting checked in, I was at 4cm (I can't remember how thinned out) and they were shocked at how low baby was.  They said he was at a +1, really low.  I got to my room and got in the tub to help with the pain.  My contractions were all lower belly, but what surprised me was how much rectal pressure I had. (see TMI)  It was so painful; worse than the contractions.  More of a stabbing pain then pressure.  They said it was because the baby was so low so soon.  I labored in the tub for about an hour and a half, got out and was checked and was dilated to an 8, baby was at a +2, and things were moving quick.  I was in transition and had the shakes really bad, but I was done with the tub.  I needed the bed for some counter pressure.  

After I got to an 8, my labor stalled.  I stayed in transition for what seemed like forever.  I got a small dose of medicine to help me between contractions.  It didn't last very long at all.  The hardest part was the pressure in my bum (pressure/stabbing... holy sheesh it hurt) and how tired I was.  I hadn't had any sleep in almost 2 days and was exhausted.  Also, I had zero sense of time while I was in labor.  I was just going from one contraction to the next.  Coby says he had to take a 5 min break and go in the bathroom to regroup because he was so frustrated they weren't giving me something for the pain.  Around 6:30 my mom got to the room.  Sometime around then my dear friend Chelsee Hunt got there too.  I really wanted some pictures of the birth; especially after taking them for others, and she was there to do that for me.  It was a sweet experience that she was there from my first fertility appointment to Beckham's birth.  We had come a long way since then with both of our journeys.  

I was barely getting through each contraction.  In my mind I was moaning very loudly, but everyone says I wasn't loud at all.  Coby would have to remind me to breathe.  He did so good at helping me.  Pushing on my hips and helping me relax.  I didn't want to move, I was so tired and shaking so bad I just wanted to lay in bed.  They had me get in the shower on the ball to try and get things moving (probably around 8??).  Coby held the water on my back, but the pain was getting so bad it was taking my breath away.  I kept begging for medicine to help me because I was so tired and wanted a nap, but every time they asked if I wanted an epidural I wouldn't say yes.  Coby was getting frustrated with me, "Ashley, you have to say yes and they will get it."  In my head I was trying to decide if I could do one more contraction or not.  After I kept asking for medicine I was so tired I said I just wanted the epidural.  I needed a break.  They said they needed to check me first to see where I was.  I was at a 10, time to push.  All I remember saying was I was so tired.  Coby and my mom helped so much just saying I could do it.  My contractions were still 5-8minutes apart so pushing took forever.  I'd push then have to hold it until the next contraction.  (although to me the breaks were needed, but they seemed to only be a minute apart.  No sense of time)  Baby was still super calm and was just taking his time.  His heart rate never moved from the 140's my whole labor.  

After about an hour and a half of pushing, my sweet baby boy was born.  It was surreal!  I couldn't believe he was ours and he was here.  You hold him for the first time and it just doesn't seem real.  Coby was the best help.  He was amazing and so supportive even though it was hard for him to have me do it the hard way.  I was so glad to have people in the room who have been waiting and praying for Beckham to get here and who have cried with me every time we had a failed fertility procedure.  We have been waiting for this baby boy for so long.  He came out with his hands on his face (just like every ultra sound picture), and cried for a couple seconds before he just settled in and was so peaceful.  These pictures are so special to me and I'm SO grateful Chelsee was there to take them.  

Beckham Coby

August 23, 2012

6lbs 12oz ~ 20.5in

10:27am