Coffee Talk | MK is 6 Months
Where does the time go?! It is amazing to me that our little dumpling, Millie Kate, has been on this planet gracing us with smiles and dirty diapers for six, whole months! She has been such a joy and a trooper.
Birth stories are the most awesome miracle of life, literally the narrative of new life. Even as I think about writing this post I feel like I am sharing too much. Why are we so private with the miracle of birth? A birth should be a celebration, in many ways it is, but a complete celebration one that shines blessings and should be freely spoken of! Fletcher and MK's births were just that, a celebration. I get misty eyed, OK cry like a baby because that's who I am, even thinking of the beauty that were my two children's births.
Fletcher's birth will always be so very special to me and I love the memory of it very dearly. I cherish all that were able to be with me in the room. The hospital had a 3 person limit but I was lucky to push it to six. My husband David, mother Kay, two sisters Ashley and Stevie, mother-in-law Diane and Aunt Melanie. It was beautiful and natural. It was raw and real. There is some sort of out of body experience that comes with child birth. I had back labor. Which, basically means, contractions are not so much felt in the front abdomen but more like a semi-truck pounding into your lower back. Real talk, as my doctor said, I vomited the baby out. Contractions started March 23rd, 2013 and we rushed to the hospital. 10 hours of labor and 1 hour of pushing we were holding our first born, Fletcher, 7 pounds 2 ounces of pure goodness. Gosh, something about holding this tiny human that you created deepens the love and feelings you have for your spouse to a level that never felt possible.
I'm going to harp on the husband's role for a minute as they are often thought to play a little role during the birth. Why do we make the husband out to be this man in the corner or passing out? A husband should be there, wives hand in his and holding his breath with her during every push. Feeding her ice chips and keeping her hair out of her face as they bring the miracle his baby into this world. I am glad to have such a man. I remember my first words that I whispered to David as looked down, holding our brand new baby boy, " I love him so much, already."
Now fast forward 2 years and 9 months later, we are once again about to bring another tiny life into this crazy world. MK's celebration birth story was written. Though I loved Fletchers' doctor I really wished to find a hospital that would allow, gasp, more people in the room! Anyone that wanted to share in the moments of Millie Kate's birth I wanted to share it with. This brought MK's room count up nine. My husband, my mother, my two sisters, my mother-in-law, two of my aunts, and my two grandmothers. MK's birth story is very different than Fletchers, as most are.
I felt that my water had broken a week before I went in but because there was no more fluid told not worry. I had a feeling of being off and all my nightly contractions would stop before getting closer than 5 minutes. I finally went to the hospital to see if the little fluid had been amniotic and it was! So they omitted us and basically gave us 18 hours and a ton of pitocin before they explore possibly doing a C-section.
Well, nothing was happening the contractions were so small and they just kept upping my pitocin. I wanted to get up and walk. They wanted me to lay because of the amniotic fluid. I finally talked them into getting me a yoga ball and bam, just like that, a familiar semi-truck in the back. Contractions had started. Two hours later and 15 minutes of pushing we were in love with all of MK's 8 pounds and 11 ounces of newborn goodness. Real talk, she was so big and came so fast that I remember yelling out during the final pushes, "what do I do now?!" Can I just say 8 pounds and 11 ounces again? Turns out MK broke her collar bone during birth, which is common with big babies.
I feel so blessed to have had my Granny Jean and Granny Pat celebrating the birth of their Great Grand-Daughter! Though my husband cut the initial umbilical cord I loved that the doctor asked my grannies to cut the clamped cord. It was a beautiful moment that I am so beyond happy to share. I love the memory of looking around at all the faces of so many that I love and once again saying, "I love her so much, already."
This picture gives me all the feels. I love them. I cherish them. They're older and wiser, pretty sure Granny Pat says that a lot. And they were a hug part of MK's birth. Four generations of wonderful women.
So mommas out there, I encourage you to share your birth stories! Some are long, some are short but they are all miraculous, real and beautiful! Let's celebrate together!