Hudson's Birth Story - Good Looks Cooks

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July 6th, 2023

My Birth Plan

Entering into pregnancy, I wasn’t quite sure what my ideal birth would look like. Did I want an epidural? What if it was a C-section? What’s a heplock vs continuous IV? Pitocin, what’s that? Who did I want in the room with me? There are so many different ways to give birth and figuring out which one would be right for me took time, research, classes, and honestly, just talking to other moms and hearing their stories. After learning and listening for months, I became confident in what I wanted.

My birth plan was for an unmedicated, natural, vaginal delivery in the hospital with my husband and my doula in the room. No epidural, no pitocin, no IV, no one else in the room.

I prepared for labor and delivery with that vision in mind. I meditated daily and dreamed up a mental place for each stage of labor. Early labor, I imagined being alone, floating in a dark, quiet, cool lake surrounded by lily pads with the shade of huge weeping willow trees hanging over me. During Active and Transition labor, I envisioned being magically transported to a flower field in the hills, with the warm sun shining down on me while I was pushing. And for the finale, I saw myself sitting up in a hospital bed as my baby boy is handed to me, with Chris by my side and my doula in the background, everyone smiling.

Our Last Day Before Baby

Wednesday, June 21st 2023. After Chris and I went to our typical morning gym class, we had a prenatal appointment to check in on baby Hudson and how I was progressing. I had this distinct feeling the previous week that I was dilating and that the baby was getting lower in my pelvis. As the midwife checked, she confirmed I was right on the money! I was 1cm dilated, he was already low in position -2, and my cervix was soft and 60% thinned out. Since baby boy had been in LOA (ideal birth position, head down, lined up to the left side ready for birth) for 2+ months. already, I had known he was ready. I felt ready, I knew my body was ready to give birth.

The midwife suggested we do a membrane sweep, given the way I was progressing, which was something I had already prepared to say yes to as I wanted to avoid an induction at all costs. I thought, maybe it helps progress things along and I’m in labor in a few days and maybe it doesn’t but let’s give it a shot.

After the appointment wrapped up, Chris took me out to our favorite brunch spot. As we sat there and talked about life and wondering when our baby would be here. I look at him and said “this could be our last meal before we become parents.”

Hudon’s Birth

Around 9/10pm that night, I started having my first contractions. Within minutes I felt like th small cramps turned into big ones…they became longer and stronger in no time at all. We called my mom and the doula as I felt like thise were the real deal. No one believed me that I was progressing so fast, not even our doula! Finally when one contraction brought me to my knees, I said “HOSPITAL” and Chris knew I was serious. When I arrived at the hospital I was 9 cm dilated!

I was silent, focused, in the zone and doing my breathe work. It was intense and my body and baby knew what to do, I just had to breathe through each contraction and be a passenger along for the experience.

June 23rd 2023 at 3:12am, 6lbs 2oz, I met my healthy baby boy! I got to hold my baby boy right away, and it’s was immediately all worth it! I remember smiling and being so proud of myself! The intensity of labor totally disappeared and all I felt was love. We went home that next night instead of staying a night at the hospital. It was so nice to sleep in our own bed that first night with our baby boy.