Baby Everett's Birth Story Adventure (December 14, 2018)

PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAYES PRODUCTIONS

Happy one month to our sweet little Everett! We thought this would be a perfect opportunity to share his birth story! Ever since we found out we were pregnant back in March of 2018 we dreamt of the day we would meet him. I (Anna) tried my best to have no expectations through my pregnancy so that I could enjoy every little moment with him and not worry about what would and would not happen. My actual pregnancy was wonderful. I was never too sick or too tired. I photographed 30 weddings and went on an epic road trip to the pacific northwest where we hiked in the mountains, drove the coastline, and explored the red woods. So when his due date slowly approached that last trimester I was ready to face my fear of delivery and meet my little guy.

40 weeks rolled around and still no baby. I kept thinking he would come early but our little guy decided until 40 weeks and 2 days. On December 13th I woke up and rolled out of bed thinking that again I would be waiting another day. Well, instead my water broke in the bathroom. We then got ready and headed to the hospital. They put me in a smaller room because all the delivery rooms were full. It didn’t matter to me because I was feeling great and actually couldn’t feel any contractions at the time. Soon we were transferred to a larger room where the plan was to deliver our baby. We still hadn’t decided on a name for him because we wanted to meet him first. Like I said before, my plan had no expectations but in reality, I actually had two expectations. The first was to not have a c section and the second was having that moment right after birth where our sweet baby would arrive and I would get to meet and hold him for the first time. Little did I know that the story I was dreaming of wasn’t going to happen the way I had hoped.

I was going to see how far I could go without an epidural. So I opted to let gravity do its work to help my labor progress by getting out of bed and sitting on an exercise ball. We had many family members stop by the hospital to be with us which helped take my mind off of the contractions. Once I got to 5 cm’s I started to get a little fearful of the pain. I then decided that I wasn’t wonder woman and that having the epidural would be the best option for me. Around 12:00 am my family departed the hospital and it was just Kevin and I. We decided that sleep would be the best option for several hours as we were both exhausted. Around 4:00 am my nurse woke me up to let me know that the baby was almost here and it was time to push. So I pushed and I pushed for what seemed like an hour and a half. It was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I was so exhausted and with each push, I felt as if my head would explode. My wonderful nurse helped me get all the way to the end where Kevin could see the baby’s sweet little head. I am so grateful for my Kevin. Every step of the way he encouraged and let me know it was all going to be ok.

I was thinking that any moment now I was going to meet my baby. Unfortunately, things started to change quickly. Our baby’s heart rate started to drop. There wasn’t any concern at first but when it kept happening the hospital doctor came in and we talked about the best options to deliver the baby safely. I told him I trusted his judgment but my only request was to not have a c-section if possible. So I pushed again and again and unfortunately, the doctor had to step in. He tried several options to deliver him but realized that the cord was wrapped twice around the baby’s neck and that his heart rate was dropping dangerously low. The doctor then said the words I had been dreading, “I’m sorry Anna you are going to have to have a c-section.” My heart was crushed. In an instant, people started filling the room and they rushed me off to the operating room. I was terrified and so was Kevin. I had no idea if something was wrong with our baby plus I was terrified of the surgery.

I felt defeated and terrified of the unknown. I asked where my husband was and they told me that he wouldn’t be able to make it. I was crushed! That moment I had been dreaming of was never going to happen. I will spare you the details but the moments before our sweet Everett was born was pure agony and mentally terrifying. Everett was born on December 14, 2018. He was 7 lbs and 19 inches long. When they delivered him I could hear his sweet cry and then they quickly brought him to me to see him for the first time. My eyesight was so blurry that I felt like I couldn’t see his sweet little face. I didn’t get to hold him or see his face. Instead, they put me under and rushed the baby to Kevin.

In many ways, I am grateful that Kevin got to spend the time he did with our baby. I know that is a moment he will always cherish. When I arrived in the recovery room I was finally reunited with Kevin and our baby. I finally got to see our sweet baby that I had dreamt of meeting. He had my hair color and Kevin’s eyes. It was such a surreal moment to think that my little boy was finally here and that I had him in my arms. I was so thankful that he was ok. I realized quickly that what I went through was very traumatic and that I would have to grieve not having the experience that I had hoped for. The c-section recovery was no joke. It was quite literally the hardest thing I have ever physically gone through. It made me so appreciative of Kevin and made me realize that I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him.

Through this process, I have learned so much. Even though the pain and recovery have been something I never expected. I know that it has made me slow down and enjoy this first month with my little boy. It has shown me that I have a strength I didn’t know I had and a love I could have never dreamt of. I am so thankful for my Kevin and know that I couldn’t have made it without him. It wasn’t the story I had hoped for but I know it’s mine and it’s the one I’m supposed to tell. My hope is that it doesn’t scare other moms to be. Instead, I want you to know that God has given you a strength you never knew you had to prepare you for the unknown. That no matter what you may go through in life you can do it and you will make it. Pain and suffering are sometimes the beginning of something beautiful. No matter what difficult times we face in the future I will always be able to look back on my story and remember that through one of the most painful moments in my life I was given one the greatest gifts I could ever receive. I would do it all again if it meant that I could have my Everett.