The time has come for us to document the birth story of our second - our sweet Hollyn Dawn! Read on to learn all about how labor and delivery went and how things have changed for us as a family!

Leading up to labor

With our first, I had essentially felt zero contractions before having her. That was much different this time around. I felt a TON of Braxton Hicks contractions probably starting at around 36 weeks on. They weren’t painful contractions, but they definitely got uncomfortable at times and had me questioning when I was going to have this baby!

Labor begins

In the middle of the night at 12:54 a.m. on May 7, I felt my first REAL contraction that woke me up. About 6 minutes later I felt another one. Maybe it’s TMI, but I felt like I had to poop, so I wondered if it was just some tummy troubles. That theory was quickly shut down as every 5-6 minutes I continued to experience some serious contractions. 

I let a few contractions pass and then woke up Tyler sound 1:40 a.m. or so. I nudged him and calmly said, “I think we’re gonna have a baby today.” To which he then almost passed out after popping up quickly out of bed lol. He was at the foot of our bed sitting on the floor trying to collect himself and not pass out.

We both got up and got things ready. I called my mom, who got there around 2:30 and then the contractions started coming quicker - about every 3-4 minutes. Before we headed out the door I ate half a brat and an apple with some peanut butter, because I knew I couldn’t eat anything at the hospital, and with my first delivery I only ate a rice cake and I about passed out a few times haha.

To the hospital

Tyler loaded up the car, and we go to the hospital around 3 a.m.! The nurse got me in a room, and when she checked me I was at a 5! She got the IV in and then moved us to the same room Hazel was born in! Room 333, which is kind of sweet because that’s the street address digits to our first ever home <3

Throughout this time it felt like my water kind of slowly trickled out. After a while she checked me again and thought I was dilated to a 7! They called the anesthesiologist for the epidural as well as the doctor, and after they got the epidural going the doctor checked and said I was actually still only at a 5… the nurse felt terrible (just because she woke up the doctor and had given me hope I was further along lol), but I told her it was no biggie at all!! The doctor then broke the rest of my water.

I was settled by 4:33 with the epidural, which was honestly amazing. I could move my feet the whole time and still feel pressure when the contractions came, but not the pain.

Delivery time

I got to relax from about 5:30-6:30 on my right side, and when they wanted me to flip to my left side, the nurse checked me again and said I was at a 9! She had another nurse check just to be sure haha. They said I was about ready to push and have a baby!

They asked if I wanted my mom to be there or if I wanted to start pushing. I said I was in no hurry and could wait :)

Mom got there at 7:05 a.m. Before the doctor got there, the nurses had me do a couple practice pushes. They then told me to stop because they could see the head and didn’t want me to have the baby without the doc! After just a few more pushes, I had sweet Hollyn Dawn at 7:28 a.m.!

After delivery

Things felt differently this time around. I immediately felt this bond with Hollyn. I think the concept of being a mom and having a daughter didn’t seem so foreign, and I was able to relax. I knew more of what to expect, and I knew I had gone through it all once and would get through it just fine again. 

I was her mom and felt like it. Mom is who I’ve been, who I am, and who I will be. There was a newfound confidence this time around.

I fed Hollyn after a little while, which went much better this time around! Breastfeeding didn’t come very naturally the first time, so I was grateful my experience was different this time around.

My siblings ended up coming over to our house to be with Hazel since my mom came to the hospital. Hazel was hilarious and so excited when she woke up and found out her baby sister was born. My siblings eventually came with Hazel to the hospital to meet little sis!

Family of four

Everyone told us to not have me hold Hollyn, as sometimes that’s hard for the older sibling to see right away. So we had Tyler hold Hollyn… which was a mistake because Tyler’s the favorite haha. Hazel immediately wanted Tyler to put Hollyn down to hold her instead and then got emotional. 

She kept wanting to leave the room to go to what she called the “living room,” which was like a little waiting area with games. She wanted to play with daddy and get all his attention. This was hard for Tyler right away, because he felt like all his time was spent with Hazel and not Hollyn.

I had a few Sub City sandwiches in the hospital lol - I also ate them when I had Hazel. Something about giving birth just makes me want a sub for some reason haha. 

We tried to get some rest that day, and then my mom eventually brought Hazel back that evening. I was the one having the hard time with having two at that point. Hazel felt like such a big girl and kind of like a whole new person. I felt like she got way older and I almost didn’t even know her the same!

My parents took her that first night, and she had fun having a sleepover at their house. The next day I tried taking a nap, but the PT person came in all perky wanting me to do some exercises lol - I was not on her level! Turns out I have quite a big of ab separation, so we will work on that over the coming months!

Tyler wanted to put Hazel to bed that next night and have that routine with her again, so they left and I was emotional that night… But it was more emotionally joyful than anything. I just honestly felt so much gratitude. I had waited for this moment to have this beautiful girl and stay home with my two girls… and now it was finally here.

I stared up at the ceiling as I laid down to sleep and thought, “This is what life is about,” as tears rolled down my cheeks. Nothing else felt like it mattered in that moment. It is the greatest gift to bring a child into the world with your best friend and get to raise them and love them and teach them and be there for them. I felt that so heavily in that moment.

Feedings were rough that second night in the hospital when Tyler wasn’t there, which I honestly appreciated because I was able to work through them with nurses around who were encouraging me that I was doing all the right things!!

I simply prayed for patience as Hollyn cried, I talked with her, took breaks, and gave myself and Hollyn grace. The feedings got better as morning came and the next day set in.

Heading home

Tyler and Hazel got to the hospital around 9/10 that next morning. We got everything loaded up, but it wasn’t easy… There was a moment Hazel kept saying, “hold me” to Tyler even though he was holding her. He was getting frustrated and a little emotional. But I took a moment and held his face in my hands and reminded him that she’s gonna have her hard moments too.

We did all the checkout things and loaded up the car as a family of four :) Both girls did great on the way home. We listened to the camping song by Danny Go, and it was just a really awesome memory I’ll cherish forever.

I got emotional a few times that first day at home. Mostly from Hazel and just how big she seemed to be and how I couldn’t always play with her or tend to her. But that night we go to do our normal bedtime routine, and that felt so good to have those moments.

That night Tyler and I laid in bed and I told him what I felt like my anthem for this labor and delivery was… “Feelin’ Feline” by Danny Go lol. Go listen to it. It was in my head on repeat the whole labor and delivery lol.

The following days at home truly were a dream. Tyler got a couple weeks of paternity leave, so we soaked in that time. And it really truly feels like I’m where I’m supposed to be. It feels like life should. Slower, feeling the sunshine, hearing the birds chirp, being present and not rushing here or there. I truly feel the overflow of my life rather than pouring out on empty. And I’m so grateful for that <3

More and more I’ve seen stuff about how having babies and being in a season with littles can affect a marriage, so we are so excited to be applying what we’ve learned and what others have learned - while we’re in the thick of it - and putting it together in a marriage course that launches this fall! Until then, be sure to get signed up for some freebies we’d like to bless you with below!