Wow, Flynn's birth was nothing like I expected, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. It was pretty much perfect! The only thing I might change was my reaction to the beginning. Let me back up a couple of days, to Saturday afternoon, 12/14. The last two things I wanted to do before Flynn arrived occurred that day. Santa photos and Jane's Gymnastics meet. In the middle of the day the kids and I took the dog for a walk and afterwards I noticed Flynn had changed position and gotten so low he was pressing on my pelvic bones and making it extremely uncomfortable when I would stand up or sit down. I was finally feeling beyond ready for Flynn to come. I felt sure I would wake up in labor that night, but Sam was not feeling well at all. He was completely depleted from having to work that Saturday. So I'm pretty sure my mind told my body to hold off one more day. On Sunday evening, I was tired of the pain of him being so low and I prayed that labor would start at 6am the next morning so I wouldn't have to wake anyone up and everyone would have a good nights sleep before everything got started.
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| All I had to do was walk Cambria, it was so nice! |
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| The walk that moved Flynn down |
To my amazement my prayer was answered!! I woke up on Monday morning at 5:40am, on my due date (12/16) needing to go to the bathroom and as soon as I got out of bed my water broke... JUST like Jane!! (except Jane was at 3:30am) I was in denial for a few minutes, like I always seem to be when I realize my baby will be born that day. I stood there convincing myself that it really was my water that just broke and I didn't just pee myself! Haha! I finally composed myself and left the bathroom to tell Sam my water had broken. He was like, "Yeah, I already knew it was happening." I told him not to go to work, but to stay in bed since I wasn't feeling any contractions yet. He replied, "Oh definitely. There's a difference between #1 and #4." I put on my comfy dress that I like to wear during labor and then I realized I needed to call my mom because I knew she was already on her way to work. So I called and of course she knew what was happening since I was calling so early in the morning. I told her my water had broken, but no contractions were coming yet. She said she hadn't even made it out of Kingwood yet and asked if she should go home and wait for me to call back or just come straight to me. I told her to go ahead and come straight to me and help me figure out what to do. She made it to me in about 5 minutes. We discussed whether to call Sallie then or wait until contractions started since I would probably still be waking her up being 6am at that point. We decided it was important for her to know right then since it wasn't the middle of the night or anything. Plus I needed her advice to know what I should do since it had been about half an hour since my water had broken and I hadn't felt even the tiniest contraction yet.
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| 40 weeks! This was taken after my water had broken, but before labor had gotten started. |
I called Sallie at 6:06am. She answered right away and told me to go back to sleep if I could. I told her it's too hard for me to go back to sleep in the morning once I am awake all the way, but I would do my best to rest. She was good with that and told me she was going to take a shower and make some coffee and check in afterwards if she hadn't heard from me by then. My mom and I spent the 30 minutes talking about how weird it was not to be rushing around getting things ready for him. We also talked about whether I wanted to give birth in my bed or in the water. I hadn't even given myself the option beforehand. I had no hope of having enough time to get the pool up and warm in time with my labors getting faster and faster with each baby. I realized with labor starting slowly we could make water birth happen this time if I really wanted too. I thought back to Atlas and Alexandria's births and decided I really preferred the bed actually. Atlas's birth was amazing, but there was something about giving birth in my bed and not having to get up afterwards and just snuggling with Xan that was extra special. Water birth was really cool, but getting out after giving birth was hard and then I was cold and had to dry off before walking to the bed. (plus my mom said cleaning the pool out was quite a task) I felt good with my decision to give birth in my bed again.
At 6:45am Sallie called to check in and I told her I had one tiny contraction around 6:30am that if my water hadn't broken I would have considered just a braxon hicks contraction. She said she was going to drink her coffee and wait for an update from me. I was good with that. My mom set up her laptop to try to work, I started writing an update for my prayer support group. Around 7:15 or so Jane woke up and she was so confused to see Marmee there. We told her it was because Flynn was coming that day! I expected a super excited reaction, but she was still so sleepy and confused she just didn't get it. Plus she looked at me and I wasn't lying down or having contractions, so I think she thought we were messing with her or something. My neighbor had dropped off some boxes of hand me down dress up accessories on our porch earlier and Jane went right to going through it all! It was a perfect distraction for her. Around 7:45am I finally realized that labor wasn't starting right away. I wanted to have a full stomach for when things did get going, so I made myself a big bowl of oatmeal and blueberries. (the same breakfast I had before Atlas was born) While I was eating I finally finished sending a message to my prayer group. I texted my friend Mindy, who had graciously agreed to take pictures for me, to let her know I would update her when contractions sped up. Sallie checked in again and as you can see from the screenshots above my contractions were 40 minutes apart and didn't hurt at all. Since nothing was happening yet she said she would have a second cup of coffee before heading over. ;)
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| Jane was amazing through the whole experience. |
Between 8am and 8:30 Atlas got up. So we got the big kids dressed and went outside to play for a while to kill some time and see if walking around the backyard might help contractions start. That's when I grabbed the last bump picture above! Jane had to give Flynn one last bump hug! As I said at the beginning, all I would change about Flynn's birth was my reaction to things not starting up fast. I was so nervous about contractions not starting! Of course looking back I should have just relaxed and enjoyed the slow start instead. But at that point I was worried about him not even being born that day. So I was having a hard time chilling out about it.
Once 9am rolled around and my contractions hadn't changed Sallie decided it was time to head over to see if she could help things get started. Around that time Alexandria woke up, I changed her diaper and got her dressed. Again, it was so weird to do regular tasks knowing I was probably going to give birth pretty soon. Sallie arrived between 9:30 and 10am. Sam was still asleep since my mom and I didn't need any help with the kids yet and I needed him as rested as possible for the days ahead. I got him up when Sallie got there because we needed the bed. At 10:15am Sallie checked me to see where we were at. I was dilated to a 4. It was what I expected since I hadn't felt any strong contractions yet. Sallie worked on my cervix a little to see if it would encourage the contractions get stronger. It was uncomfortable, but wanted to do whatever we could to see if we could get labor rolling!
Sallie said we might use some castor oil to move things along. My mom took all of the kids and went to the store to grab some and a couple of other miscellaneous items I don't remember. When she got back it was around 11am. Sallie thinks it's terrible to have to ingest castor oil. So she applies it to the cervix instead and gets the same results without the yucky side effects of drinking it. So grateful for a wise midwife with lots of experience! She did a little stretching while she applied the castor oil and got me all the way to a 6! I updated my prayer group and we waited. We thought about taking a walk to help contractions get stronger as well, but Sallie took my blood pressure and it was a little high. So she told me to lie down on my left side and rest for a bit. During that time it started to rain. A cold front was moving in and so was my labor! I rested and prayed. Every time I felt a contraction trying to come on I told Flynn he could come! It was ok, I was ready. I really think the castor oil, rest, cold front and getting my mind in the right place all working together is what allowed labor to finally get started! From about 11:30am on the contractions started becoming regular, but they were still pretty weak. I could talk and walk through them. My mom told my friend Mindy that she could probably start heading over since it was starting to get real! I stayed in bed resting until around 12-12:30pm. Then I decided I wanted to eat some lunch before I had to do the hard part of labor.
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| Talking with my mom between contractions |
My mom had some salmon and roasted potatoes she had packed for her lunch at work and said I could have it because she actually had two portions. It was the perfect easy lunch and great food for stamina. Sallie and I chatted while I ate and I felt a few more contractions that seemed a little stronger. When I finished eating my mom updated the prayer group that contractions were 5-10 minutes apart. My friend Mindy arrived right as I finished as well and we chatted a little and I had a contraction that I almost had trouble talking through. I went to brush my teeth because I didn't want to be thinking about salmon breath when I was giving birth. ;) While I was brushing my teeth I had my first contraction where I felt the real pain of labor. I knew it was happening soon at that point. My mom, Jane and I made the bed with old sheets and a shower liner under it to make it birth ready. It's a sweet memory! Sallie came in and asked if we wanted to try a walk. I told her I didn't think I needed it anymore. It was happening all on it's own now. I said I was ready to lie on the bed and let the contractions do their work.
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| My sweet Jane. She was just the best! |
My mom called my dad for big kid entertainment back up so she could focus completely on me from then on. Sam was there keeping up with them too, but he isn't as interesting as a visit from Pappaw! Before my dad got there they just wanted to be with me. I didn't mind Jane being in the room at all. She was super sweet. She was saying things like, "It's ok mom, Flynn will be here soon." I did hear her complain that it was taking a long time though. ;) Atlas and Xan came in a few times and I gave them both a snuggle. Atlas didn't stay long, but Xan just wanted to cuddle forever. I didn't mind. During those first real contractions it was sweet to cuddle with her through a contraction. I remember her giggling because my breath was tickling her as I would breathe deeply through a contraction. As you will see, Mindy took so many awesome pictures! The only picture that I wish I had, but don't was one of me and Xan cuddling. Everyone was busy at that moment though. It's totally ok, it's imprinted on my brain. :) When my dad got there I was ready to have a little more quiet since contractions were getting more and more painful. All the kids happily ran off to play in the back of Pappaw's new red truck. Things were really kicking into high gear quickly!
Praying over me and Flynn before he was born.
Working through the strong contractions. Sallie watching calmly. My mom helping me put my socks on.
After another half hour or so went by and Sallie said I had just a lip of cervix left and she didn't want me to tear. So she told me to camp out on my left side with my leg up for as long as I could to let my cervix open the rest of the way. I believe contractions were 3 minutes apart or so at that point. Some of them were coming right on top of each other. Another 15-20 minutes went by and then one huge long contraction came that seemed like it never stopped before another one came on. I was breathing and groaning deeply. I could no longer bear to be on my side and I was going to say so when I had a chance, but my contractions didn't let me! Sallie noticed that my tone changed then and she pulled on my leg to let me know to roll to my back and I had another huge contraction and had to push! I held on to one of my knees sort of still on my side a little and pushed! Sallie said here he comes! His head was out with that one push. I never really stopped pushing and pushed just a little harder and the rest of his body just popped out at 2:29pm!! AMAZING! It only took one huge push for him to be born. He came out so fast it surprised me. I can't really explain the feeling, but he really shot out! Sallie caught him and put him right on my chest. The second he was born Jane exclaimed, "He's so CUTE!" I was sobbing with joy and I heard my mom crying too. The video of his birth gets a little shaky at that moment. It's so sweet. I LOVE having the video. I've lost count how many times I've watched it back. Flynn took just a couple of seconds and then he let out a perfect newborn cry. Sallie rubbed him down all over, he had a lot of vernix on him. Then she checked his heart and told me he was doing great and that I did a great job. My dad was standing outside the door with Xan and I believe Sam was standing right at the door with Atlas when Flynn was born. They both came over to see him right away.
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| The moment after he was born! |
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| All the emotions! So so happy! |
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| My mom cutting the cord! |
Xan - "Look, Baby!!" Jane - "He's so beautiful!"
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| Proud big brother |
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| Sweet Flynn! |
The feeling right after birth is just amazing. There just aren't words to accurately describe it. I just cuddled Flynn and was so grateful to God for a smooth delivery. Sallie commented that he was pretty small. Probably not more than 7 pounds. He did feel small in my arms. We waited a little while to weigh him though. After the cord stopped pulsing my mom cut the cord and I gave him up to my mom so I could deliver the placenta. Once that was done, Sallie made sure I was doing ok and helped me clean up a little then Flynn was brought back to me. Both Jane and Atlas got a chance to hold him for the first time and Xan gave him a hug. <3 They are in love with him. I'm pretty sure we weighed him around then. Sallie let my dad weigh him. We used Jane's crocheted baby blanket as a sling. It was all so special. He only weighed 6lbs 6oz! I didn't think it was possible for me to have a baby that small! Sallie told me that after she took a closer look at the placenta that there was a good amount of calcification on it and the cord was sort of small. Which basically means for unknown reasons the placenta had started to shut down a little too early. So he wasn't getting all the nutrients he needed right at the end to help him fatten up. Sallie said it was really good that he came right then. If he had come any later it may have caused problems. God is so good!
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| Xan getting to see Flynn closer while I was delivering the placenta |
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| My dad weighing Flynn. |
I got him started nursing and we were left to rest together for a while. I think about an hour or so passed and Katie Perez (who had attended both Atlas and Alexandria's births) stopped by and said she was sad she had missed the birth! She also brought some hand me downs for us. Around this time Sallie made sure I got up and made it to the bathroom ok. We also took this time to measure Flynn for height and get some footprints for his baby book. He measured 20", not too short! And Sallie said it was remarkable that he didn't cry while we did the footprints. Both Atlas and Xan hated it. Mindy was so sweet to stay all that time and came in to take a few pictures of each of us with Flynn before she headed home. Sallie also headed home shortly after Mindy and said she would check in with us later. Everything was just awesome and wonderful.
Every prayer was answered except the one about my water not breaking first. And that one just happened to be because God knew better than me. I was so concerned labor would be too fast and I prayed the most to be able to let everyone know in time. If you count from my water breaking it was a 9 hour labor, but if you count only active labor it was less than 2 hours. I was convinced that my labor was so painful with Jane because my water had broken first. It was not that! Really it was because she was my first one and she was positioned poorly. I am so grateful that even though my water broke first it didn't cause any issues and instead helped it be a more calm and enjoyable experience with everyone able to get there with no trouble!
In closing, I want to thank my mom for being there as soon as I called and always being my sounding board and such a great help through labor and getting the super special video of Flynn's birth. Thank you to Sallie for being an awesome midwife as always, helping my labor progress, always knowing what to do to help and being such a calm presence. Thank you to my friend Mindy for capturing so beautifully such a special day for us. I will treasure the photos forever! Thank you to my dad for coming to help with the big kids and keeping them entertained for me. And of course thank you to Sam for always being on the same page with me and such a great dad to the kids. <3 So far this has been the smoothest addition to the family. I'm sure we'll have our bumps along the way, but I think with each kid we've learned what works better in the hard newborn stage and have made changes to make it a bit easier. The support I have from my family is just amazing. I couldn't do it without each of them helping me. God has blessed me greatly!
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| We love you so much already little Flynn!! <3 |
Our 4th child and second born son, Flynn Samuel Daniels was born peacefully at home on his due date at 2:29pm 12/16/2019. Weighing 6lbs 6oz and measuring 20" long. We are so grateful for the beautiful blessing that he is! <3 Praise God!
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
John 16:21
A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
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