Aubree's birth story

I don't know about you, but I LOVE reading birth stories...even the freaky ones. There is something so cool about hearing the details from the day someone's life completely changed. Since it's Aubree's 4th birthday, I thought it was perfect timing to share ours :) SO, if you're like me, and like to hear a good birth story, keep reading!

My pregnancy with Aubree was HARSH. I'm talking really, really harsh. I was incredibly sick, she tried to come early (twice), and it was overall a few of the hardest months of my entire life. I think, in a way, pregnancy prepares you for how much your life will change when the baby actually comes. In Aubree's case, I was SO ready to get that girl out of me. Aubs was born on a Sunday, so let's start on Friday (when things really got interesting). Ty, my mom, and I headed up north to our cabin to spend a few days relaxing and soaking in the non-chaos. Unfortunately, we did not have much for "non-chaos" because Friday evening, I started having contractions. We were playing cards in the dining room of my family's cabin when I started to have these awkward pains. Quick sidenote- I had had sooooo many Braxton Hicks contractions prior to this, so I kind of thought that's what was going on. Little did I know, my mom had been timing them. They started being pretty consistent, but they weren't close enough together for her to alarm me. I went to sleep that night, and the contractions went away. Saturday was a complete blur. I was EXHAUSTED. I couldn't get enough sleep. For a girl who hates naps, I napped pretty much the entire day. When I did find some energy, it was already evening, and we decided to play more cards (lol, we're minnesotan....it's what we do). After playing for a while, my contractions started up again. My mom's timing started to get closer together, so she informed me that it might be happening. I was completely oblivious to the fact she had been timing me, so I was kind of surprised when she said they were 7...6.....5 minutes apart. I quickly showered and we started the 2 hour drive home. In the car I was in SOOOO much pain. It was the longest two hours of my life. However, when we reached the hospital, those stupid contractions had completely stopped. I was sent home with the crabbiest attitude. Literally, I thought I was going to hit a nurse.

Sunday rolled around and my energy completely SPIKED. I was up before the sun, and I was immediately walking all over the house like a madwoman (crazy thing - this exact same adrenaline rush happened with walker too). I didn't have any contractions yet, but I was running a thin line between exploding from energy and wanting to collapse on the floor from exhaustion. It was the WEIRDEST feeling.

I think it was about 10am when the contractions started up again. And they started with a vengeance. I thought my insides were tearing themselves apart. My wonderful mother (whom I wanted to smack in the face at that moment) wouldn't let me go to the hospital because she didn't want me to get sent home again. So, she took me FOR A WALK. I'm not joking. The woman made me walk the block as I had to stop every three steps to keel over in pain. Thanks, mom ;) After the walk, it was around noon, and the Vikings game had started. I did not care about anything in the world because I was writhing in pain, rolling around on the couch, and making the strangest gargling noises that I couldn't control. Finally, I said I needed the doctor. At that moment I honestly didn't think I was in labor, I thought something was wrong.

When we arrived at the hospital, they checked me over, and I was ready to pop! Finally! We stayed at the hospital, I got my epidural, and the birthing process started shortly after.

I know a lot of people are nervous about birth. But let me tell you, I had the easiest labor on earth. Once I had my epidural, I was calm and I was ready.

Aubs arrived only after a couple of pushes on Sunday evening. She was perfect, and she was mine.