I can’t believe baby Brian is almost one month old already. In some ways it seems like I had him just yesterday, while in other ways it seems like he has been a part of our family forever.
I’m still not quite ready to put his birth story in writing. It was long (32 hours) and challenging, both physically and mentally – though of course I would do it all over again because it resulted in the most beautiful little human being I could ever imagine.
So I am going to share some of my favorite photos from Brian Jr.’s birth, the hours leading up to it, and the hours after it. This is the good. The bad and the ugly? Ain’t nobody got time for that. (Except my therapist. But she gets paid for it.)
The end result of labor… worth every minute!
I woke up on February 11, 2014 – the day after my due date – around 6:45 a.m. to find that my water had broken. I wasn’t feeling any contractions yet, but I wanted to go to the hospital because I wasn’t sure if labor would start progressing quickly (it didn’t, of course, but I didn’t know it at this point).
Big Brian and I headed to the hospital, with my mom following in the car behind us (they were my two support people in the labor and delivery room). On the way we made a Dunkin’ Donuts stop!
It was the morning rush hour so there was a little traffic on the way to the hospital, but we made it there pretty quickly.
We parked in the lot and headed in to triage.
I got to wrap my baby bump in this stylish belly wrap for monitoring.
And Brian and I started to get really excited about meeting our little guy.
I was in labor but it wasn’t progressing quickly, so we were stuck in triage for hours while the labor & delivery rooms were taken by other women further ahead of me in labor.
And then I still wasn’t progressing quickly enough, but there still wasn’t room in labor & delivery for me, so I was sent to another floor of the hospital to wait for a labor & delivery room to open. It wasn’t ideal, but at least I could have multiple visitors. (Here are my dad and Audrey hanging out with me, but my mom, Brian, and my brother Keith kept me company, too).
I had to stay in that room over night, but luckily Brian and my mom got to stay with me (though they had to share an uncomfortable couch to sleep on). The next morning, February 12, my mom caught a photo of the sun rising outside of the room.
Then it was FINALLY time to head to a room on the labor & delivery floor. My support team got their new badges to prove they were legit.
I got my epidural – and some rest – while my family waited. And waited.
When it was time for me to push, I was so ready. I pushed like it was my job. And after about 20 minutes, at 3:23 p.m., Baby Brian arrived!
I was exhausted but so, so grateful that big Brian and I could finally hold our baby boy…
… and he could meet his patiently-waiting grandparents, aunts and uncles.
We love you, Baby Brian, and we’re so happy you’re here!
Just love this! Congrats again! Brian Jr. is so beautiful and I love every picture!
What a handsome babe! Congratulations, loves!
Congratulations again! Love the labor through pictures! Pictures are always better than the bad & ugly! 😉 Even with all the good, bad & ugly, it is soo worth it…that is why Moms go back for more!
Congrats, he is just perfect!!!!!! What a beautiful family 🙂
He’s so adorable! Congratulations!
Love, love, love! Beautiful pictures–sorry that the labor was so long, but you have an adorable baby to show for all of that hard work!
Congratulations to you and Brian! He is beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). I wish someone would have told me 9 years ago after going through a long labor and ultimately c-section that is was perfectly normal and healthy to review in my mind, over and over again, my child’s birth story. I didn’t know what to expect, with it being our first child and it was a little of a wild ride. It turned out fine but the experience itself was a bit traumatic, at least for a few weeks. The best was yet to come and I am certain you have already found that out. Very happy for you all!
Congrats!! It’s so great that you were able to document baby Brian’s arrival with pictures! He is adorable!
love you! great photos!
I am so very happy for you and Brian. Baby Brian is adorable. God bless you all. xo
Jane, I loved this!!!!! Talk about the photos telling a story 🙂 Congratulations to you and Brian. What a lucky little boy to join such a lovely family!
Overjoyed for you both-I mean all three of you. Xo
You did a fantastic job!! xoxo
I love everything about this post! Seeing a story in pictures is so special and you all captured that beautifully here, Jane. Congratulations to you again on your adorably handsome, sweet baby boy. And thanks for sharing with us!
Welcome BB! (Baby Brian) and way to go Mama!!
Ah so sweet! Brings tears to my eyes! I just love birth stores and I love your pics to go along with it. Great job! He is just so precious!! Congrats!!!
He’s beautiful! Congrats 🙂 So happy for you and your family
So happy for you Jane. You did awesome and Brian is so cute!! I am jealous of your cool baby monitor wrap thing, way more comfortable looking that the ones I had to use last go around 🙂
Your story is heart warming. So glad that things went well for you and Brian. Enjoy your little guy. He won’t stay little for long!