It was around 6am when my contractions started getting crazy intense & I had the familiar feeling of just having to push, the same one I got with Waverly. I was so excited & relieved that we had made it to that point, but also freaking out because I was starting to feel my legs again & the pain was way higher than I ever remember feeling with Waverly. I convinced myself that the epidural wasn’t working anymore, my nurse assured me that it was even though I still have doubts, either way, major props to you ladies who do this thing naturally. Seriously. 😉
I starting pushing & pushed for about 30 minutes before my doctor came in, at that point I figured she was going to be here (uneventfully) within minutes, since that’s what happened in my labor with Waverly. Then everything changed. They put an oxygen mask on me because my pulse was going up & so was the baby’s, then told me that her shoulder was stuck on my pelvic bone. My doctor explained that it would hurt, but they were going to do everything they could to get her out quickly, & all I remember was a whole lot of pain before I felt her come out.
I was so incredibly relieved, but immediately knew something was wrong. I looked up & could see Avalon from a distance, but she was laying lifeless & was completely blue. Withing seconds, the NICU team started running in, alarms were going off, & I layed and watched while they swarmed her. My husband & I didn’t make much eye contact, I asked him if everything was alright & he just looked at me with the blankest face. Finally (finally!), we heard her cry, the sweetest, most perfect sound. 🙂 At that point we knew she would be alright (my nurses & doctor kept telling us she would be), but emotions were running high. They were still working on her & wouldn’t let my husband hold her, then when he finally got to, I had to wait about 30 minutes before I could. I was really trying to remain positive & thought I could keep it together until I looked over at him with tears running down his face. Something I had never seen in fifteen years of dating. So of course, I lost it, too, a culmination of all the feelings from the last two days, fear & anxiety from the moments before but also, so much joy that she was finally here.
We know now that Avalon’s crazy entrance into the world was both because of her shoulder getting stuck (shoulder distocia), & because the cord was wrapped around her neck. She didn’t breath for 1 minute & 40 seconds (though it felt so much longer), and her first apgar was a 2 out of 10. Thankfully, we have an amazing doctor who we absolutely love, & had wonderful nurses who took such good care of her & within the hour, she was 100% fine. Yet it definitely was scary, especially since we had been through one birth & knew how different this one was, and we realize more than ever how fortunate we are to have two healthy, beautiful babies. 🙂
And lastly, things I have learned from the labors of my girls. 🙂
One, that I really am not in control, no matter how much I want to be. I spent so much of this pregnancy hoping that I wouldn’t have to be induced (which is exactly what happened), and in the end, all that mattered was that we had a healthy baby. Two, I really am the worst dialater ever & if we are lucky enough to have more babies, I just need to go into it knowing that. And expecting to be in labor for more than one day. Three, the ultrasound technician totally got it wrong on this one. The 8 pound & 10 ounce baby we were supposed to have? She ended up being 7 pounds, 2 ounces, smaller than her older sister. 😉
*All images by Brooke of Brooke Tucker Photography.
In tears. So glad she was ok. And love the beautiful photos that capture your emotions so perfectly. Avalon is one very loved little girl! Hope you're recovering ok, Mama!
Oh my that is such a scary thing to experience! Doctors really are amazing. On a happier note, there are some pictures of you in this post that I really see Waverly! Not only does she have your red hair but she really does look like you!
Oh wow, shoulder distocia is no joke, but so happy to hear Avalon is perfectly happy! Congrats on your beautiful girls!
Oh Ashley, that is just terrifying and your story has tears streaming down my face. I'm so glad everything turned out well. The pictures are beautiful as is your baby girl Avalon! Thanks for sharing your story!
Oh my gosh. I'm all chocked up. Those photos capturing your first moments with Avalon are TOO MUCH. Thank goodness all was well. You are so blessed with your beautiful girls!
OH my goodness, Ashley how scary!!! So glad everything turned out okay. I teared up at your pictures because you can see the love and thankfulness clearly on your face. So glad all is well.
I've been with my husband for over five years and I've never seen him cry either. I'm pretty sure when I do I'll lose it too. <3
Oh mama. How scary. I'm so grateful everything turned out ok. She is such a beautiful, beautiful baby. Both your girls are!
Oh wow!! Just read part one and two!! Shoulder distocia is so scary and the fact that she had the cord wrapped around her neck as well! What a lucky little gal! Glad everything worked out well, she is just perfect! Congrats again 🙂
ALL the feels and emotions (and tears).
What a frightening start to the end of such a long labor. SO grateful that everything turned out well.
And the pictures… Wow. They are truly amazing and do the best job capturing everything.
You certainly have beautiful little ladies!
Oh, so glad she is here safe! The pictures are beautiful and she is gorgeous!
Wow! Thank you for sharing. I was teary just reading because I remember my difficult birth with our first one. Glad you are all okay and doing well. Your guardian angels were with you and your medical team. Babies are such miracles when you think about all they go through!
Yes, thank the Lord for healthy babies!! Congratulations again to your beautiful family. 🙂 Sweet Avalon definitely has QUITE the entrance story.. Oh man.
Wow! What an amazing story!! I seriously LOVE the photos and I think I need to have someone come do photos for us. What wonderful photos to have. I'm so glad Avalonnis here and healthy!!! Your girls are beautiful!
Oh this gave me all the feels! So glad she is 100% and you are too!! Is it weird that I miss labor? I mean who says that?
Oh my goodness, what a terrifying story. I am SO glad everyone ended up okay. I can't even imagine how you must've felt at the time. These photos are amazing and captured your emotions so perfectly – love them. What beautiful little girls you have!
I have tears running down my face as I've read part two to Avalon's birth story. I'm so, so, so thankful that everything turned out a-ok! All of these photos are just priceless, Ashley!
I'm so glad to hear she's ok! As well as you! I had tears! I love all your photos. I definitely will be thinking about a birth photographer.
oh the sniffles. That is an amazing story. Scary but amazing. The relief I'm sure was just the best.
This had me in tears. So happy she is here AND healthy! Hope you're all doing well at home!
I cried reading and looking at your pictures! The total relief in both of your faces is palpable. Of course, the love and emotion is so evident as well. Absolutely beautiful. I'm so thankful that sweet Avalon is finally here!! 🙂
OMG! How stressful!!! I'm so glad she's healthy, and everything turned out ok!!! I can't imagine!!!
Oh my goodness. How scary! So thankful that little miss is safe and healthy. It really is the worst feeling, waiting to hear that tiny cry – it seems like it took forever to hear Emerson cry for the first time and then when Oliver was born they were messing with him for so long I knew something was not right. So thankful for doctors and nurses who are able to care for our little babies. I'm glad you are home now and enjoying your girls, they are precious. I love these pictures and that you shared them, you look beautiful in them all.
Giving birth is the most terrifying and beautiful thing, all at once. So glad Hod was there watching over you and Avalon!
Wow I bet you were so scared, so glad she's ok! Those pictures seriously had me in tears, how beautiful!
oh my goodness. I can totally understand your feeling. Nora's APGAR was 1 out of 10 when she was born…she had a pulse and that's it. She swallowed a bunch of amniotic fluid when she came out and it was so super scary. So thankful that both of our baby girls are perfect. Avalon Elle is such a beautiful name, I hope you're enjoying your new life with two sweet girls…I know I am!
oh my goodness! when your husband started crying, i started crying! so glad everything was fine. she's a doll! you're a lucky momma!
Oh my goodness. Not quite the way I had hoped that her birth story would end. So so scary. I seriously had so many tears just thinking of what could happened. Thankfully I know the end end to the story and that she is here and fine, but wow. You can see the relief in your face in the pictures and you can see it in your husband's face too. I can't even imagine what that must have been like. So, so happy she is here and she is fine and she is perfect!
I'm so happy to read such a positive outcome in what I'm sure was a scary situation. You have a beautiful family!
Oh sweet friend! This brought tears to my eyes! So happy that everything turned out perfect and she is as healthy as ever! I can't tell you how much I can relate to this… Charli too didn't cry immediately and didn't cry for her first minute of life (but they had laid her on me, she was blue) and there were about 5 nurses working on her and I just laid there, out of it not knowing what was going on, and then finally heard her cry and my husband and I cried big ugly tears of joy! Her cord was wrapped around her neck as well. And then Crew was a completely different scenario all together… With his fight for his life at 36 hours old. Life is truly a miracle and I am so so happy for your family!!!
Oh my goodness. I was in tears reading this and then seeing all the photos. So much emotion pouring out in each shot. Thankfully you both came out wonderfully in the end. She's gorgeous and precious!
xx Viv at JoieDeViv
P.S. Who took the photos? They are really so good! I need tips because the ones we got when K was born were all blurry and awful.
Thank you!!!! We had a photographer this time, she actually takes all of our photos and has turned into a family friend – if she wasn't I totally would have been funny about having a photographer there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So glad she is ok now, but that sounds really stressful! She's beautiful and your pictures are amazing!
Such beautiful pictures… Seriously dying waiting for my little one to be here.
So scary! I read this in the hospital after giving birth and obviously I had tears streaming down my face. I'm so glad Avalon and you are doing well now. She's absolutely beautiful 🙂
This post brought back so many memories for me. Everything was great with my labor until they realized that Reed's cord was wrapped twice and then it went into overdrive. It all moved so fast, it was so scary. I'm sorry that you had to experience that, but I'm so glad that you and baby girl are okay! The pictures are just precious – I love them all!
I'm SO glad everything turned out ok. That is such a scary situation and we all need to be so grateful for amazing doctors. Now you have two perfect little ladies 🙂
Oh mama! I am so grateful everything turned out okay. She is just precious and I am ecstatic for you all. Ps – they told me that Mason was going to be close to 9 pounds, too. He was 7lbs and 2oz. I think they were going off of his chubby cheeks!
I have goosebumps as I read this portion of Avalon's birth story, so glad you had an amazing team of doctors and nurses that were there to help and support you! I'm over-the-moon happy that you have two beautiful girls in your arms now! Xo, Stephanie
I'm totally late to the game on this, but I am in tears reading this post. I read the first part and was blown away by the pictures and couldn't wait to read part 2. OMG…the tears. I am so thankful everything turned out well. That is so scary and my heart dropped just reading it. You are blessed with two beautiful girls. The photos are amazing. Such emotion!