Lucas’s Birth Story

I know that birth stories aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but for those of you who are interested, here is Lucas’s birth story. 🙂

My contractions started around 6:30 am on the 10th. I recognized them right away as contractions but tried not to get too excited as I figured they might just peter out. They kept coming every 15 or 20 minutes though, more often when I was moving around.

Pablo and I decided that he should still head to work and I promised to keep him updated. My mom came over and took the kids so that I would have a quiet house which was SUCH a help. I hadn’t slept well at all the night before so I got a nice morning nap, just slightly interrupted by the contractions.

By the afternoon the contractions had gotten stronger but were still pretty spaced out so I told my family to bring the kids home for naps. I tried to nap again myself while the kids were resting but found it more difficult this time since the contractions were picking up.

Around 3 pm I texted Pablo and told him I thought he might need to come home soon (he works just a couple minutes away.) The kids were still napping so my mom came back over to stay with them.

I was conflicted because I really wanted to labor at home as long as possible before heading to the birthing center but I also did NOT want to get stuck in traffic trying to get there. I was afraid we were probably leaving too early but both Pablo and my mom said it was time haha.

The half hour drive to the birthing center went smoothly, at least as smoothly as a drive can go when you are in labor, ha! We arrived around 4 pm.

When we arrived my midwife asked me how far along I thought I was and I told her I really wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and then find out that I was only like 3 cm. dilated or something. She went ahead and checked me and found out that I was just about 8 cm. already! That was seriously the best news I could’ve gotten and it really encouraged me.

The midwife brought in a birthing ball for me to sit on next to the bed. I’d never used one before and I really liked it. I sat on the ball and rested my head on a pillow on the bed in between contractions. Pablo sat behind me and rubbed my back which was really nice. When a contraction came I would stand up because that just works best for me, then sit back down on my ball to rest after it left.

While I was laboring there the midwife was working on setting up an inflatable birthing pool for me. She had it ready and filled for me probably around 5 pm.

Getting in the pool felt amazing. The water was super duper hot and the pool had super comfy sides and a nice comfy floor too. Although my contractions were pretty strong at that point I really felt able to relax in between them in the pool. I would just sit back and relax against the high sides of the pool until a contraction came and then I would rock forward to handle the contraction.

I felt a little concerned because my contractions weren’t as close together as I thought they should be. (Giving birth is so weird – you really DON’T want more contractions but at the same time you DO because you want to get that baby out!!) I shouldn’t have worried though – my midwife told me afterwards that that was just my body trying to give me a little breather before it was time to push.

I ended up pushing for just about 20 minutes. It was a longer pushing time than I’d had with Sofia but the first part was less intense – I was trying to breath through some of the contractions a little more because I really didn’t want to tear this time around.

I know some women like the pushing part better than the first stage of labor but man I’ll be honest, I hate it haha. So not fun. But at least it means the end is near!!

Lucas was finally born at 6:04 pm. He had huge shoulders that decided to get stuck – not cool at all – but thankfully my very competent midwife was able to help maneuver him out. The shoulders did end up giving me a little tear but oh well, all that mattered was that he was born!

I got to pull him up to my chest which was the best reward ever after all of that and Pablo got to announce that it was a boy!! This was our first baby to not find out the gender ahead of time and we really enjoyed being surprised. Pablo had been sure we’d have a boy and he was right!

Once the midwife got me situated on the bed she gave us some nice quiet time together with Lucas before doing his measurements or stitching me up or anything. It was very nice to have that time and Lucas took to nursing right away like a champ!

Lucas weighed in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. with a whopping head size of 14.5 in. and length of 21 in. He is a big boy!

I am SO thankful to God for helping me through Lucas’s birth. I know that people were praying and I really felt that God was answering prayers during my labor. Although it was hard, this labor was my best yet.

I didn’t end up reading through a list of verses during labor but instead focused on one particular verse:

Isaiah 41:13

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

This verse was SO encouraging to me as I labored.

I also had the lyrics to the song Oceans running through my head a lot of the time and I found the words to be so encouraging and applicable as I dealt with each wave of contractions. Here are the lyrics for those of you who’ve never heard the song:

Verse 1
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep my faith will stand

Chorus
I will call upon Your Name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Verse 2
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

Bridge
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Saviour

Last Chorus
I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

If you love reading birth stories I’ve also shared Caleb’s birth story here and Sofia’s here.

Anticipating labor yourself? Check out my list of verses for during labor.

Thanks for reading! 🙂