My Birth Story

On September 18th around 9:30pm I started having contractions that were about 5 minutes apart. The contractions weren’t painful at all, but they were consistent, so I was a little skeptical about going to the hospital. Instead, Joel and I went to the gym and I got on the treadmill. After we left the gym I bounced on the yoga ball because I just knew they would send me home if I went to the hospital. Joel and I made a deal that if the contractions continued, we would go to the hospital at 12am. And then he went to sleep. Now I knew I was not waking him up (unless I was in crazy pain) so I texted my best friend and asked her what she thought I should do. Her response was to do whatever I think but she said when I was having labor contractions, I would know. Cool, so I’m trying to sneak in the bed to try to go to sleep and Joel wakes up. Lol! *It was now a little after 1am* He asked if I was still contracting and you should have saw the look on his face when I said yes. Haha. He said “You didn’t stick to the plan! Let’s go! We’re going to the hospital!” BLAH. I was lowkey annoyed. Haha.

We arrived at the hospital and of course, they checked my cervix and I wasn’t dilated at all. The doctor told me that I was having contractions, but they weren’t labor contractions. She said that first time mothers can have contractions days before they start to dilate so for me to go home and drinks lots of water. They told us to come back if the pain gets worse or the contractions are more frequent. Now, I was annoyed because at my birthing class they told us to come in when we are contracting 3 to 5 minutes apart, the contractions are lasting for 1 minute, and they have been going on for at least an hour. And… that’s what was happening! How am I supposed to know when to come back? At this point I was mad at Joel for making me come in. Lol! Anywho, back home we go. *We left the hospital around 3am*

I’m annoyed, sleepy af, AND STILL CONTRACTING. So I get in the bed because I’m like I just need to go to sleep. About 20 minutes into my sleep I wake up screaming. LITERALLY. I said, “OMFG WTF!” Now, this must be the pain my best friend and the doctors were talking about. Joel jumped up (he’s a super deep sleeper so it took him about 3 minutes for him to be fully awake) and asked if I was okay. Lol! No tf I was not. I had another contraction and it was deadly. Of course, I was not going back to the hospital right away because if they send me home again, Ryann will be delivered right in my living room. So, I took a shower, followed by a warm bath, I’m bouncing on the ball, walking around the house, and I sit on the toilet with pillows and a cover. The toilet was legit the best place to be. I was in tears now. And there go Joel again, “Let’s go! We’re going back!” This time I’m like, I will not be returning home without a baby. *It is now 5:30am-ish and we’re heading back to the hospital*

As soon as we arrived they’re like “awww you’re back”. They checked my cervix and I was 3cm dilated. They were surprised that I dilated that quickly, so the nurse said she was going to ask f they would admit me because if I was to leave at the rate I had dilated, it is possible I would be in labor soon. Now I’m nervous. I was talking all this ish about not coming home without my baby, praying that Ryann come on time because I was tired of being pregnant, and now that I was possibly getting what I was asking for, I was freaking out. (On the inside because I couldn’t let Joel see me acting like a punk) The doctor walks in and said, “we’re admitting you”. HOLLY MOLLY. IT’S REALLY HAPPENING!

From there, everything started happening quickly. We were admitted into the room and they checked my cervix around 9am, I was 6cm dilated. The next time they checked I was 8cm. I was literally dilating 1cm every hour. And then, my water finally broke. And Joel was not in the room. (We had her on a military base so he had to go to the visitors center to leave documentation so that our family could get on the base) I was going crazy because I had just watched a video a few days before when Devale Ellis went to park his car, came back, and his wife had the baby that quickly. Right after I paged the nurse, I called Joel. I just remember screaming “YOU HAVE TO COME BACK NOW!” When the nurse came in and checked to make sure my bag broke, I found out that Ryann pooped in the womb. I remember reading something about this but couldn’t figure out what I read. I just knew it wasn’t a good thing. So now, I’m about to cry. The doctor told me that it is called Meconium. It’s the baby’s first feces and sometimes they can swallow it which can block their airways. The doctor told me that the NICU staff would have to be in the room during labor. She said that if the baby comes out pink and crying she’s fine and they would lay her on my chest but if she’s not crying and she’s kinda “blah” the NICU will clean out her lungs until she starts to cry. UGH! As the doctors are leaving the room, Joel is walking in. He’s covered in sweat from running there. Lol! I explained to him what the doctors had just told me and now we’re waiting for them to check my cervix again.

*It is now about 1:45pmish* “Oh wow. She’s right there. You’re ready to start pushing!” Wtf. Although I was happy labor was going quickly, I was not ready. I usually hear about these long hours of labor and I’m ready to push already? This is crazy! The nurse goes to get the doctor and NICU staff. Joel hops up and takes his hoodie off. He is pacing back and forth around the room. He is indeed nervous. Lol! All I could do is laugh. *rewind a few hours earlier (when I was 6cm dilated) I decided to get the epidural* At this point I could barely feel my legs or the contractions, so I was feeling alright. I texted my sisters and best friends and said, “I’m about to start pushing!” My mother in law was driving down from New Jersey and my oldest sister bought a flight from Boston that morning. I didn’t realize this would happen so fast, so I just knew they were not going to make it in time.

The nurses, doctors, and NICU staff are in the room. IT’S TIME! We’re about to meet Ryann! The first time I pushed I was like “Wow, this is crazy. It’s really happening!” (I probably said “It’s really happening” a million times that day lol) A little after I started pushing, my mother in law AND my sister walked in at the same time. Just in time! The whole time I was pushing I just remember Joel saying to me “She got inches babe! You’re doing good! Keep pushing!” (I know, he’s annoying lol) And then I just kept saying “Is this almost over? I want some chicken!” I was extremely hungry man! I pushed for about 45 minutes and she was here. I cried immediately because I didn’t hear her cry and they took her away so fast I was sure something bad had happened. But a minute later I heard her cry so I cried even more. Lol! They placed her on my chest and I was in heaven. I did it! I just had a baby. I’m a mom. Omfg! Haha. She was perfect! (I know every parent say that and that’s okay because babies are perfect lol)

Ryann Amira Howell. Born on September 19th, 2018 at 3:13pm weighing 7lbs 2oz, 20 inches long. 

*Fast forward to the second day in the hospital* First time moms stay for 48 hours and then they can take baby home. It’s been 48 hours and we are finna go home! (We thought) After the technicians checked her heart, two of them heart an additional beat so they wanted to take her to get an EKG done just to make sure everything was okay. (Joel and I are dressed to go home. Some of our bags were in the car and everything) They take her to do the test and we had to wait about 30 minutes for the results. (I am balling crying now and was avoiding looking at Joel because I didn’t want him to see me but of course he did lol) When they came back we found out that her heart looked fine, but her blood sugar was low. WTF! They told me I would have to feed her every two hours and they would check her blood sugar before I fed her. They had to poke her all 3 times before the feedings and she would need consistent levels above 45. The nurse told us we would have to supplement with formula because it’s possible that she’s not getting enough from my breast. I started crying again because I immediately thought something is wrong with my milk production and that I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed. She told me that this didn’t mean I won’t be able to breastfeed but to look at it as medicine for the baby to get better. We had to stick a small tube into Ryann mouth with my boob so that she can get my breast milk and the formula at the same time. We did the first test and she passed it. But, we also found out we would 8have to stay another night. UGH. The second time her blood sugar was too low. Joel and I were so frustrated. We had to start the whole process over. After the next 3 times, her blood sugar was above 45 and we would be going home the next day!

Of course, everyone’s birth experience is completely different. I had a vaginal birth so I can’t feel you about a cesarean birth. I wanted to share my birth experience for a couple reasons. 1. Because birth stories are magical and unique! Lol! 2. Because of the few scares I had. From Ryann pooping inside the womb, to them thinking something was going on with her heart, and then having to supplement with formula because of her low blood sugar. I cried, worried, and prayed so much in those moments. It’s scary! Things happen! But everything turned out okay. An additional back story: The minute I got home I was able to shower and take a nap because my sisters and brother in law was here. (Sorry for this TMI moment but it freaked me out and was another #WTF moment, so I want to share) I went to the bathroom and I felt something happening down there. I looked down and I’m almost positive a piece of my placenta that was not removed, came out. I was so scared because I had never heard of this happening before. I remembered that during labor, the doctors told me that they had to remove my placenta manually because it got stuck inside me. (Another freaky part of my labor)

Giving birth was one of my greatest accomplishments. Honestly, it’s so crazy how things change when you become a mother. Every night I barely get rest and every day I can’t get something done, I am not even upset because when I am able to hold Ryann I am the happiest person. My little family is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

I love birth stories. Even before I was pregnant or had my own to share I would read others. I would love for you to share your favorite moment from your birth story. And if you don’t have one yet, I am willing to answer any questions about my experience. Like, share, comment below!