Joy in the Journey: Tucker's Birth Story

Well as you can imagine it's been a whirlwind of a summer!! We are so excited to have sweet little Tucker in our family...it has been so fun welcoming him! My pregnancy with him was very normal and routine which we were very thankful for! I struggled the first 17 weeks or so with extreme fatigue and nausea as I did with my previous pregnancies. But, once I made it to the fifth month I was good to go! Toward the end of my pregnancy, my doctor confirmed that she would prefer to induce me at least a week early just as my doctor did in Florida. They induce me as a precaution due to my 2 blood clotting disorders.

On July 18th...Jeremy and I loaded up and headed to the hospital! My parents and little sis, Britney, had arrived the day before so they were able to help with Bella and Jackson. We arrived to the hospital and I quickly met my nurse as well as my doula. This particular hospital offers free doula services which I was super excited about!! I have been blessed to have my other babies all natural but never had the opportunity to have the assistance of a doula! Shortly after arriving, my nurse hooked me up to a low drip of pitocin. I was at 3cm and 80% effaced upon arrival. My doctor arrived around 9:00 and we discussed my preferences for a natural delivery. We both decided that I wanted my body to do as much on it's own as possible...so we decided that breaking my water would be a good start while keeping pitocin on the lowest dose. As soon as she broke my waster, I progressed to 4cm and 90% effaced. I'm so thankful that my body always seems to be prepared and ready for labor! Over the next few hours, my labor progressed. I started off just sitting in indian position in the bed. The contractions were very natural and manageable the first two hours. I had to empty my bladder frequently...which to me is always a good thing! The movement of walking and sitting is great for helping get the baby moving! After being in bed and resting, the contractions began to get more intense. I was checked and I had stayed at 4cm. I was discouraged but my doula suggested moving to the labor ball. Basically, it's an exercise ball that fits into a frame that offers back support if needed. I loved that ball!! It was wonderful and helped take off pelvic pressure. I moved to the ball around 11:00 and worked through contractions there for about another 2 hours. I was continuing to take bathroom breaks. My doula gently massaged my back and helped me relax in between contractions. Jeremy also sat near and provided encouragement. I would focus during the contractions...remaining calm with steady breathing. In between contractions I would force my entire body to relax and rest. Around noon, the contractions were very intense. I created a new position where I sat on the labor ball, Jeremy sat in a chair facing me with pillows in his lap and I would rest on him in between contractions. This is the point in time when it's so important to relax in between each contraction so that you conserve energy for the next contraction. I was able to maintain this position until around 1:00 then I wanted to move back to the bed on my side. At this point the dr checked me and I was 7cm and mostly thinned out. These contractions were hard core!! This last hour is always the most intense and seems unbearable. This is basically when I lay on my side and squeeze Jeremy's and moan through each contraction...then I force myself to relax. I always quote Phil. 4:13... Of course, I had to continue to empty my bladder and contractions on the toilet are the absolute least preferable! My doctor came back to check and I was still right at 7cm so they suggested I sit up in a yoga type position. This was super painful as the head was moving downward and everything was opening up. After a few contractions sitting, my dr tried to open up and push away the last bit of my cervix during a contraction. Let's just say we tried that only twice before I squealed and shimmied up the bed! At this point, they brought in a peanut birthing ball (yoga ball in the shape of a big peanut). They alternated me on each side placing the peanut in between my legs. Pain!!!!! Finally around 1:50 I was 10cm and fully effaced and heard those glorious words "You are ready to push!" I love pushing!!!!! The nurses scurried around getting the newborn tools and bed ready! I pushed through about 4 contractions and out came a B-O-Y!! Tucker!!! My dr held him up and Jeremy announced "It's a boy!!"

They handed him straight to me but then whipped him away! He had stopped cryibg, stopped breathing and was turning blue! I wasn't sure what was happening but soon found out that the cord was wrapped around his neck which wasn't a big concern but he was "shell shocked." A special medical team swarmed in and they began working on him! With tears flowing down my face, I began to pray out loud...Jeremy was pacing from me to the baby...it was the longest 20 min of my life. They quickly got him breathing but had to monitor him. The specialist shared with us that he didn't lose oxygen but that he just came out so fast it shocked him. They observed him in the nursery and then brought him back to me...it was love at first sight. Our sweet little Tucker Hughes...we are so thankful for his precious life! God is so good and so faithful! I nursed him

as tears of joy flowed from my eyes.

He was:

Born at 1:59pm

6lb 11oz

19 inches long

14.25 inch head

We are so abundantly blessed...