I love hearing birth stories. I am simply fascinated by the miracle of it all. This is a somewhat detailed account of how Aubri entered the world, so I am warning you now that there may be details that you just might not want to hear. You are forewarned. So this might not be a normal confession, but it was therapeutic for me, plus I love stuff like this so I thought you might too! 
Aubri was due on March 24, 2008. I didn’t think I would make it to the 24th, or at least I was hoping I wouldn’t make it until then. I guessed she would come on the 20th. So, when I woke up on Friday, March 14th at 2 a.m. in the morning feeling “different,” labor was not even on my radar. I was feeling a little extra crampy in my back and thought that I might have lost my mucus plug (told you it would be detailed, so you might want to bail now if you can’t handle the details of child birth ) I called the OB department just to see if this was normal. I didn’t get an answer though, so I went back to bed. When I woke up to get ready for my last final day of student teaching I was pretty certain I had lost my mucus plug and was still crampy in my lower back. I tried OB again just to make sure this was normal. They answered this time and said yes, everything was normal and labor could happen in a day or two weeks… I went about my day and didn’t really think to much about it again. Yea, I still had discomfort in my back, but at this stage in my pregnancy I was getting use to that.
So, I arrived in my first grade class that morning on Friday, March 14th ready to finish my student teaching. I was to come back the next week for 2 days, but this was my last official day. I went home and planned for a nice uneventful evening relaxing inside. We ate dinner and then I fell asleep on the couch for a couple hours. I woke up and again felt “different” although this time it was a little more intense pain in my back. It was about 9pm and we decided to start a movie. As we were watching the movie I continued to have pains in my lower back. Finally I started to see if I could try to count how far apart they were to see if they were consistent. It wasn’t too painful, but I felt like there was a pattern to these aches I was experiencing.
About 11pm I went to get in the hot bath to see if I relaxed if I could get them to stop. It didn’t work. At this point Christopher was counting how far apart they were too. We were at about 4 minutes apart but again, not too bad so I wasn’t worried. I decided to go to bed. But at 12am, at the insistence of Christopher, I called the OB department to see what they said. They suggested I lay on my left side and drink lots of water, like a gallon of it, over a 45 minute period to see if that made the contractions stop. So, I did what they said but only got twenty minutes into this experiment before Christopher had taken enough. The contractions were two minutes apart. I called once again to let the nurse know and she agreed that I should come in to check and see what was going on. It was 1:30 a.m. when we arrived to the hospital. I wouldn’t let Christopher take our bags in with us because I didn’t think I was in labor.
I was put in a room and they checked me. I was 2cm dilated and contractions were a consistent 2 minutes apart. The nurse assured me that I was in labor and that Christopher should bring our bags inside. We called our parents to confirm that I was in labor and that they could head our way. It was a 7 hour drive for them and they were quite anxious to make it before she was born.
I had to have an IV put in because I was GBS positive so I needed to have antibiotics before delivery. Once I had my IV in place, Christopher and I began to walk the halls. We walked and we walked. They would make me come in every so often to monitor me, but then we would walk again. If I walked, I could manage the pain and contractions, but as soon as I sat still, it was much harder to have control over the pain.
Here I am walking…
At about 5:30 the pain began to get really intense. I was beginning to doubt myself and whether or not I could deliver without an epidural. I was extremely hot and in so much pain. The nurse suggested that I get in a hot shower and have Christopher take the shower head off and let the hot water massage my lower back, where I was experience the majority of my contractions. Getting in a hot shower was the last thing I wanted to do at that point, but I agreed.
It was about 5:40 when I got in the shower. While in the hot shower I was able to relax and calm down. When a contraction came, I held onto the bar and bent with the contraction and breathed allowing it to work through my body instead of tensing up and fighting it. I got out of the shower a little after 6:00 a.m. and as soon as I got out my pain intensified so quickly that I could hardly walk.
At that point, I told Christopher that if I had to go through this for 5 more hours, then I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. I still didn’t want the epidural but thought it might be a good idea to just let the nurse know what we were thinking. She said she needed to check how far dilated I was because I had to be at least 4-6cm and they could also go ahead and give me fluids in case I decided to have the epidural. At this point, I was hanging on to the side of the bed and could barely even think straight. When she checked me I couldn’t believe what she said. She said it was no wonder I could barely take it because I was fully dilated and effaced and ready to push! I could not believe it. And it was right at that second that I felt an extreme amount of pressure in my bottom and the urge to push. It was crazy. She was already coming! My parents were still 2 hours away and Jeannette even farther.
The doctor had just gotten there so I had to wait to start pushing. At 6:15 the doctor walked in and I started pushing. I pushed 3 times and every time I pushed, Aubri’s heart rate dropped extremely low. She was right there, but they couldn’t let her heart rate keep dropping so, in a seconds notice, the doctor did an episiotomy to get her out quickly. Aubri Lillian Nicole entered the world at 6:34 a.m.
It was the weirdest feeling to finally see my daughter that I had been carrying for 9 months. I had always imagined such a glorified moment in my mind when I first saw her. It was really quite a strange feeling that I experienced instead. I was so relieved that the pain was finally over. That was mixed with the awe of “that’s my baby” and then the after effects of child birth. I remember them laying Aubri directly on my chest and it was just weird. Everything was in slow motion. I didn’t even feel like I could touch her because I couldn’t believe that she was here, that this was our Aubri, I couldn’t believe it was real. Christopher and I both cried and kissed her in amazement and awe.
Holding her for the first, true time after we were both cared for
I’m a Mommy!
Proud Parents
It was such a thrill to give birth naturally and it gave me such a feeling of empowerment and strength. I did it. I was on a high and it was exhilarating.
I think no matter how a child enters this world, it is a complete and utter miracle. The whole process from day one is so amazing. For me, it reminds me that God created each one of us and that He is a God of details, plans and purpose.
How were your babies born?
Aubri Lillian Nicole VanBuskirk
March 15, 2008
6:34 a.m.
7lbs. 3 oz, 18 inches
Jackson was due on Oct. 12 so I decided to stop working two weeks before his due date. My last week of work I had a sharp pain in my hip every time I would turn around. When I went to the doctor he said Jackson was laying on my hip. The pain got so bad I could barely walk over the next week so they decided to induce me on Oct 8. I got there at 8a.m. and was not dilated at all. They put me on Pitocin and the contracts started but by 12 I was still not dilated. At about 2:00pm I was have really bad contractions so the doctor said he was thinking about sending me home since I was not dilating and I was in so much pain form the pitocin but he would check me one more time and I was at 5! They moved me into a delivery room and being the whimp I am I got my epidural. I got to have Torrin, both of my sisters, my brother (who sat in a corner where he couldn’t see), my best friend Erica and my sister-in-law in the room with me. My father-in-law and brother-in-law were standing out side the door. Time was a blur after that but I think I pushed for about a 1/2 hour and he was born at 10:09p.m. The first thing I said was “it is a boy, right?” He was well worth all that pain!
Thanks for sharing! I love it that you asked, “It is a boy, right?” That’s just great!
I love, love, love hearing other people’s birth stories…thanks for sharing! I won’t write out all of Addison’s story (you can find it on my blog), but I went the natural, no drugs, route as well. There were definitely moments where the pain was out of control, but I’m so glad I did it that way. Nothing beat the feeling of them laying her on my chest…and the past 14 hours of labor, 1 hour of pushing, and that darn episiotomy (Addison’s heart rate dropped too) were totally worth all the pain the world. Isn’t it amazing how all of those endorphins kick and you really don’t feel any pain after it’s all said and done? (Well, until a few hours later when you realize what you just did…and that ice pack in your underwear is starting to wear off!) I have to agree that it was beyond empowering…and when we decide to have another child, I’m totally going natural again…as long as I’m able.
I just read Addison’s birth story and I am amazed at the similarities. I guess we did deliver at the same hospital with the same midwife and staff
I am jealous that you were able to get in the birthing tub though! They had just gotten in when I was delivering Aubri so it couldn’t be used yet. I went all natural with Owen and the labor with him was twice as long, so trust me, you can do it again!
P.S. I got the biggest laugh out of your comment about the ice pack wearing off!! Hilarious and Oh. So. True!
I also enjoy birth stories….each one is different and special in its own way
My boys were both scheduled inductions so that I could get FFP before I was in labor for my factor XI def. Bryce, 2 days before his due date and Collin 10 days before. They were very different experiences but very simialar at the same time….I couldn’t have an epidural so with Bryce I was given some kind of narcotic pain med (not reccommended, i was loopy until right before he came out) and with Collin they gave me a one shot spinal, so there was some pain relief. Both were posterior facing stubborn boys so I was in excruciating back labor for 28 and 20 hours (with Collin I could feel that through the spinal). But I agree your mind goes away from all of that the minute you lay eyes on the miraculous gift from God laying on your chest 
Our children owe us the world, don’t they?
28 hours of labor? I cannot imagine! They are worth it though!
I had the ideal pregnancy with our son Roman up until i was 28 weeks and 5 days. We went to bed and i was awakened because my water broke about 1 a.m. I woke up my husband nate, he was disoriented and thought someone was trying to break in our house. I told him i knew something wasn’t right so i called the obs emergency number. About 20 minutes passed before they called me back. I had to change clothes twice in that time. The nurse tried to convince me that the baby was probably moving and i had just peed. I decided to grab a robe, a towel, and my purse and head to the er which is thankfully 3 minutes from our house. We are thankful we went because i was in fact in labor. They admitted me and told me i would not be leaving the hospital until the baby came. Whether that was in 2 days or a month. They started me on steroids for Romans lungs, and magnesium sulfate to try to stop my labor. The magnesium made me violently ill,it slows down your nervous system. i was on strict bedrest, not even allowed to shower or walk to the bathroom for 5 days! The first shower sitting in a chair with nates help was worth a million dollars to me.
They brought in a specialist to talk to us about the problems our baby may be facing if he was in fact born within 72 hours> 98 % of woman deliver in this time frame after their water breaks. I did not, they stopped my labor 2 more times while i stayed in the intensive care unit for 23 more days on strict bedrest. Roman finally was born by an emergency c-section due to his heartrate. It kept dropping while i was having contractions. He was 31 weeks old exactly weighing 3 lbs. 9oz and was 16 1/2 inches long. He had to be put on a ventilator and stayed and additional 43 days after i was discharged before he could come home. He did very well just needing to grow bigger and stronger. All of his additional tests have come back perfectly! he is is now 5 1/2 months and 12 lbs and is without a doubt the best gift we have ever received.
What a miracle! Thank you so much for sharing Amanda! Roman truly is a miracle baby!
My job during all of this? I shoved ice in her face constantly until Kristyn finally got annoyed enough to tell me to stop
I felt helpless, it was the only thing I could do. I got over it.
Yes, sadly, I did get annoyed at Christopher while he was trying to shove ice in my face right in the middle of a contraction.
I couldn’t have done it without you though! Just you being there, supporting me and doing whatever I needed, that is what got me through it all. You were amazing!
I love birth stories too…hearing them, telling mine…it’s all amazing. I will start off by saying my pregnancy was smooth sailing from beginning to end. I knew from the start that having a c-section was a great possibility because of my double uterus (weird, I know) they said the baby would not have a lot of room to turn and not a lot of room to grow. After enjoying my pregnancy it was time to set the date for my c-section, June 1, 2006…it was a reality check at that point…I AM HAVING A BABY! I started preparing for the arrival of my baby girl. Less than a week to go and a busy weekend at work, I took on an extra day (Memorial Day weekend, Feast of the Flowering Moon) I woke up that morning to get ready for my Sunday shift and I was craving fried cheese on a stick from one of those vendors that was set up right in front of my job. I enjoyed my breakfast of champions…lol…and my day got started, busy, busy, busy…I took a break to eat some strawberries and as I hopped onto one of the high stools…WATER EVERYWHERE! I was on my way and my life was about to change forever and the feeling was amazing. I was so excited. With my baby’s father out of town and my best friend at work (of course my sister was there) the nurse said there was no waiting around. They got me ready and dressed my sister from head to toe and all was ready for my c-section. My sister wanted to watch (a c-section, really?) I told her she could stand up and look over the curtain then immediatley asked her to sit back down. I felt guilty so I told her to watch if she really wanted to but then changed my mind again…lol…so after a lil’ tugging and pulling and my sister jumping up and down from her chair my baby girl was finally here. I heard her first cries and I cried with her…tears of joy. Mecca Willow Lennie Richardson was born…May 28, 2006 @ 3:57 pm 4lbs 12 oz. & 17 inches long…she was a tiny peanut, healthy and strong. I said “I want to kiss my baby”, I laid my eyes on her and kissed her baby cheek and they started putting me back together again like Humpty Dumpty. As the doctor was trying to glue me together I said “we should all get together and do this again sometime” which made everyone chuckle. Those nine months was such a wonderful journey and motherhood is even greater. Words cannot express how blessed I feel. God is great!
Love it Sharon! Especially, “we should all get together and do this again sometime” That’s hilarious! Thanks for sharing!
I cried all the way through this story. I think it touched me even more because we’ve had her for two years now and have watched her grow and seen her personality develop. Life would be quite less wonderful without her. God does know what He’s doing, doesn’t He?!
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