Baby J Birth Story

Top Utah lifestyle blog, Among the Young, shares the birth story for her youngest baby. Click here for the full story!!

It seems only fitting that I post my baby’s birth story on her second birthday, right? Man… time sure does fly!

Beter late than never, right?

So back in 2021 ….

At the last minute, we set an induction date. It was the craziest thing, one minute I was making a cake and the next minute I was going to have a baby the next day. So weird.

Above shot of mom wearing an oxygen mask in labor

Baby J’s birth story

We checked in at 6:30 AM. The nurses got me hooked up with petocin and I was given an epidural. Colby was watching the anesthesiologist administer my epidural and he said as the needle went, there was a splash and the guy was a little surprised (like, “Oh shoot!”). Turns out, he had gone too deep and some spinal fluid had come out, so he had to re-set. He warned me that I was now at an added risk to have a spinal headache, so he recommended I leave the epidural plug in for at least 24 hours.

At 11:00 I was dilated to 3 centimeters.

At 12:45 I was dilated to 3 1/2 centimeters. The nurses and my midwife decided to not break my water but to hang out and let it happen. I was switching sides, using the “peanut” ball between my legs, and basically in epidural heaven.

At 2:30 my water broke on its own. (It really is amazing how much water comes out!) I was dilated 4 cm.

By 2:40 I was dilated 6cm and baby’s heart rate kept dropping, so they were ready to intervene. Things settled down and we held off.

It was about this time that our photographer arrived. We had alerted her that I was 6 centimeters and things were moving fast, but as soon as she arrived everything halted. Isn’t that just always the way?

Should I use a birth photographer?

This it totally up to you, but I would highly recommend it. The hospital experience is such a blur, so I love to go back and look at pictures and remember how sweet and special it was – instead of the crazy I was feeling in the moment.

At 3:30 I was 6 1/2 centimeters dilated.

Finally, at 4:50 PM I was dilated to 10 centimeters and started pushing.

At 5:08 baby was born “sunny-side up” without much “road rash” (as the doctors call it) on her face.

Baby J was here!
8lbs 4oz
20 inches long

She was BY FAR our biggest baby and she had grey eyes and DARK hair!

After I was all cleaned up I finally got to eat! Our hospital visitor hours were limited because of C0vid – it was two guests every 24 hours. So Colby and our photographer filled those two spots and we let others come see us through the window.

She was my fastest and easiest birth (no tearing) but man… recovery with her was a NIGHTMARE. I did end up getting a nasty spinal headache that wasn’t fixed with a spinal tap they did in the hospital. I actually ended up in the ER two times – it was REALLY scary for a minute there. Doctors were throwing around words like “postpartum heart failure” and “blood clots” but after every test under the sun, and THREE total spinal taps, I was cleared to go home.

They prescribed me some medicine to make the moisture in my lungs dissipate, as well as an inhaler. They also recommended LOTS of caffeine. I tried Raising Cane’s Sweet Tea for the first time and it was DELIGHTFUL!

Anyway – the things we do to get these babies to earth…
it’s absolutely incredible.

Women are amazing.
Our bodies are truly a work of art.
God knew what he was doing when He created women.

Huge shout out to Emily Brady for taking the most beautiful pictures for my baby’s birth. She was so kind and considerate – an actual WIZARD. If you’re looking to photograph your new birth (or take family pictures!) Emily is your gal!

I don’t know why I love a good birth story – do you? Feel free to take a trip down memory lane and look at my other baby’s birth stories. I love them so much!

Baby B birth story