The Story of Garrett's birth

39 weeks pregnant ( 5 days before he was born.)

Sunday morning I woke up feeling different and had some of the signs of prelabor. I told Geoff, and we got out one of our birthing books and looked at the signs of pre-labor vs real labor. I had a few of the pre-labor signs and the book stated that these signs could last few days before the real labor time set it. It was fine with me because I was still planning on teaching till Wednesday, after all the baby’s due date was not until the Saturday.

I started having some contractions on the way to church. I had more as church went on and by the time we were on our way home from church they were coming at about 5 minutes apart but not lasting very long. Even though we knew these conditions could last for days before the baby came, Geoff and knew then that we better not take our chances and should head into Orem. When we got home from church we finished packing. On our way we stopped by the school and made some copies for a sub. We finally got to Orem around 10pm- yes, I was having contractions all the while. (I had never noticed how bumpy I-80 was before that night.) When we got to where we were staying Geoff and I tried to get some sleep because we knew we’d need our energy for tomorrow.

Well, Geoff fell asleep and I continued having contractions. They got stronger and stronger, I tried to relax on my own, but then woke Geoff up because I needed some support. I didn’t realize how far along I was until my water broke at 3:30am. I was going through the transition phase of labor and didn’t even realize it. Geoff called our midwife and we went to the birth center called Bella Natal.
 I finally felt the urge to push, and Garrett was born after 50 minutes of pushing at 5:35am Monday May 18, 2009. ( I learned after that the average first time mom pushes for two hours.)

I did go it all natural, and it was a wonderful experience. I used the birth program called Hypnobabies. It has a focus on relaxation and positive affirmations. I know that this program helped sped up my labor. I also did yoga through my pregnancy and read a book called Back Labor No More and I didn’t experience any back labor.

There were times that it was tough, but during the whole thing I never regretted the birth path that took. The times that I would start to think about pain or feel sorry for myself, I changed my view point and thought about how grateful I was to even be having a child. I have known many women that have never been married or that haven’t been able to have children of their own. I thought about how those women who would have been overjoyed to be going labor. I was grateful that my Heavenly Father had motherhood in his plan for me.

When Garrett came out they put him on my chest right away. My first feeling was shock that this baby in my arms was mine and had come out of me, and that I had actually done it. I held him for a good hour before they took him to clean him and measure him. As I have spent more time with Garrett, I have felt my love towards him grow and grow. I am grateful to be his mom. Geoff has also been a wonderful husband and father. I have felt my love for him increase as well. I am excited to see what sort of adventures we will have with Garrett.
Garrett has a sweet disposition and has been a pretty easy baby. I am doing my best to soak up every minute of him, I know that babies grow up fast and each stage goes by quickly. Geoff and I will be happy when he is older and sleeps through the night, but till then I get to enjoy the smell of a new born baby in my arms at 4 o’clock in the morning.