Our new series, Tiny Birth Stories, is aimed at sharing real-life stories from our readers to our readers. In just 100 words or less, we’re bringing you the raw, the funny and the heartwarming stories you’ve lived while bringing babies into the world. Here are five stories that will have you laughing, crying and nodding your head in solidarity.
Interested in telling your birth story? Click here.
The night we delivered cookies and more by Elise
It was the week before Christmas, and I had some friends over to bake Christmas cookies. By early evening my stomach was really hurting and I assumed it was from eating too many cookies. Snow started falling and the pain got worse – it was time to go to the hospital! An intern checked to see how far along I was and she yelled, “that’s his head!” Still in my sweater I wore to the hospital the intern delivered her first baby. The cookies we brought the nurses were still warm.
When everything you think you know goes out the window by Jennifer C.
Nothing went as planned! Thankfully, I had planned for that. I thought when my water broke, I’d KNOW! When it did, I assumed I had been peeing my pants all day. I thought I could labor without pain meds! I only lasted an hour in the hospital before I requested an epidural. I thought I would deliver in record time. I labored for 26 hours. I thought my baby would come home with us. Instead, she was in the NICU for 10 days. Nothing went as planned, but I guess plans are meant to change. I was okay with that.
How hypnobirthing techniques prepared me for labor by Rebekah
I currently have 6 children, but this is the story of the birth of my 3rd, a beautiful baby boy. I practiced hypnobirthing techniques throughout my pregnancy, so I was well prepared for labor. My labor started in the middle of the night just two days before my due date, and I labored calmly at home, in and out of the shower, for hours. At 6 am my good friend (and mom of 7) started encouraging me to go to the hospital. I kept saying no, I wasn’t far enough alone, but eventually acquiesced. Once they got me in a room the nurse checked me and I was 9.5 centimeters! I begged for an epidural but the doctor said there was no time. I was SO scared of pushing without one, but in just a few pushes my 7lb 15oz baby was born, and my recovery was so easy. It was an amazing experience.
When the hardest part was picking a name by Fatima C.
Aside from the regular aches and pains from growing a human, I rarely lost sleep, still traveled like a mad-woman for work and never got sick – everything was so smooth and I loved being pregnant! The only wildcard was that we didn’t know the gender. Just over 3 weeks before my due date we finally decided on a boy name – Weston. After timing out contractions and calling the hospital, hubby and I were on the road by 6.30AM and checked in an hour later. Labor progressed quickly afterwards – I wanted to start pushing shortly after noon but had to wait for the doctor to make her way back. She actually left the hospital because she thought I wouldn’t deliver until that evening! I was finally able to push around 1.30PM and the kid popped out barely 10 minutes later! Our little boy was born with a hot set of lungs and completely healthy. It felt like all he was waiting for before making his way into the world was just his name. :)
Medical inductions times three by Laura S.
I had severe hyperemesis with all my pregnancies, so I should have known none of my births would be easy. All three of my labors had to be induced for medical reasons, and all three seemed to last longer than 2020. The shortest was 30 hours, the longest was 48. I fully believe they all would have stayed in forever if I’d allowed them. I did find out I have one relatively useless super-talent: I can push babies out in record time! My longest delivery was 45 minutes and the shortest was 6. So I’ve got that going for me.
