Hazel’s Story

I figured since Hazel is three months old now (as of tomorrow), it’s time to tell her birth story! It’s taken me long enough! You may not be interested in reading it at all, but I always love reading stories about labor, especially when I’m pregnant! You can read Hallen’s birth story here.

I had always told EVERYONE that her due date was February 17th even though the doctors went by a due date of the 27th. I said there was no way. I know my cycle like the back of my hand. With so much trying to get pregnant in the past, I knew I was right. And in the end, my instinct was right. She came exactly on her due date (or a week and a half early if you want to side with the doctors). I had been trying everything that “they” tell you to try (aka Google) for the past few weeks. Hallen came at just over 37 weeks, so I felt overdue! Two days before she made her big debut, I even had that big burst of energy that you read about everywhere. I went on a run, pushing Hallen in the stroller, for four miles. Four freaking miles! I had run maybbbbee twice this whole pregnancy. When I did that, I knew she was coming soon. But, I’m going to be quite frank at what I think really made her make her entrance into this world. We’re all (I think) adults here…we all know how a baby is made…sex. It’s what made me go into labor with Hallen as well. It’s the last thing you feel like doing when you’re 40 weeks pregnant, but that’s the secret!

So, I woke up in the morning on February 16th at 3am with light contractions about 5 minutes apart. There was no way I could go back to sleep. So, I started the timer. Laid in bed until Kevin got up for work. Told him I was having contractions, but they were light. So, he went to work. He checked in on me every so often, and I was totally fine. They even stopped at one point, so I went on a long walk, did some squats, cleaned the house…anything to try and get the contractions to come back and make them closer together. It worked!

Kevin got home, and everything was still normal. We laid Hallen down for bed around 7:45. I asked Kevin if he thought we should call my mom to go ahead and come just in case we had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. He said, “no…it’ll probably be Sunday before we have her since you had contractions off and on for a couple days with Hallen.” Right after that..literally three minutes later…my water broke as we turned on the TV to watch a show. The strangest feeling. It really is like a little balloon pops. So, we call my parents and our friends who were on the list to come watch Hallen. Kevin wanted them to come right away, but my contractions weren’t terrible, so I told him I wanted to labor at home for a little bit since nowhere was open for us to go walk around if we were turned away from triage. As he was talking to our friend, though, I was timing the contractions, and they sped up and heightened in intensity almost immediately! I quickly complied to them coming over right away! Later, I realized that they cut their anniversary date at The Melting Pot short. We owe them big!

As soon as they got there, I waddled to the car trying to be polite, but they told us to get out and go to the hospital! They had us covered. When we got to the hospital, it was around 9:15. They got me right into triage. I was already 4-5 centimeters. That was so surprising! When we got to the room, it was about 9:45, and we immediately started walking the halls. I walked for about 30-45 minutes before I just couldn’t anymore. When we got back to the room, I sat in a chair and had a breakdown. I wasn’t scared about the pain of labor or having my hands full with two kids. My heart was breaking for Hallen. It would no longer be just me and her. I couldn’t give my full attention to her anymore, and she wouldn’t truly understand why. It hurt my heart so much. I was so excited to give her a little sister, but I realized that she would no longer be my only baby.

After I knew I couldn’t walk around anymore, because the pain was too intense, I laid in the bed just grasping the hand rails. I made the decision with this birth, just as Hallen’s, to go unmedicated. It’s a personal decision that I love, and if you have any questions about it, I LOVE to talk birth!

Around midnight, Kevin and the nurses both heard my moans take a different turn. The nurse asked me how I was feeling, and Kevin asked me if I felt like I needed to push. I told them both I think the midwife needed to come and check me, because I guess I did need to push! I didn’t feel that overwhelming need to push quite like I did with Hallen. Well, the midwife was delivering another baby, so the nurse checked me and felt the head coming out. I couldn’t help but push at this point! They told me to stop pushing. Why the heck do people say that?! My body cannot stop pushing when that point hits! The midwife rushes in, though. A few pushes and seven minutes later, Hazel Marigold was born at 12:15 am on February 17th. Kevin caught her just like he caught Hallen and laid her on my chest. The most precious moments that can never be recreated this side of Heaven. There’s nothing like all of that adrenaline and pain building up, and then the biggest relief with a rush of oxytocin. It’s beautiful, sacred, and such a vulnerable moment. Her powerful lungs let out a few strong cries and then she quieted as soon as she started nursing. Her birth was a dream. Painful, yes. But oh so magical. She was 7lbs1oz and 19.5 inches long.

Now, at three months, Hazel is such a happy baby! She never stops smiling, loves to be a part of the conversation, weighs about 11 pounds, and sleeps a seven hour stretch at night! I try not to make eye contact with her while she’s nursing, because she’ll unlatch and just start cooing and smiling haha! She’s going to be a talker for sure! Miss Hazel is also quite the wiggle worm. You have to keep two hands on her at all time! She can still fit in 0-3 month clothes, but is definitely starting to wear a 3-6 month size. I’m so sad she’s officially an “infant” and not a newborn anymore! Guess it’s time for another one 😛

Hazel’s Headband//Shoes//Leo//Blanket//Bunny