HOPE LILLYN CAMPBELL

7lbs 11 oz, 20 inches long

Born Thursday, July 15th, 2021 at 6:43 am

We are overjoyed, thrilled, in love, giddy, grateful and so happy BABY HOPE is here!

More newborn photos to come. But first her birth story below!

Hope’s Birth Story

Back story: July 13th - Tuesday

I went in for my 41 week appointment, and they did a sweep and checked me and I was only dilated to 1 cm and not thinned out much. I left very discouraged, had a good cry in the car on the way home, and texted Reed that we should just go be induced that coming weekend if she didn’t come before than. Super bummed was an understatement.

July 14th - Wednesday (41 weeks exactly)

I had some Braxton hicks throughout the night that woke me up, and usually I never had them during the night. I tried not to think much of it that morning. I had a grocery pick up scheduled for that morning, so we went and grabbed those and put them away at home. Went and cleaned the two Airbnb’s, then went out to Hobby Lobby to get a few things for the boys room (mainly trying to keep myself busy). During the errands, I kept having Braxton hicks very frequently. They felt different then before and stronger. Strong and consistent enough for me to tell Reed about them and my sisters/mom. After a busy afternoon, I came home, hoping they’d turn into something. They died off getting home and settling down.

I was super grumpy at this point. I did allow myself to get my hopes up that maybe this going to be the real deal. Reed called me around 5:30pm asking if he should tie up any loose ends and I said “No, just come home. Nothing is happening, and I couldn’t imagine having a baby before the morning.” He said ok, and came home. I was napping at this point, and he knew how discouraged I was. I napped for maybe 30 minutes (no contractions to speak of).

Since it was Wednesday, we got ready for church arrived late (as usual) and went on with our night. Service got out a bit early, so we cam home and took a long walk before it got dark. It was super uncomfortable to walk, but I made myself do it. I did have some Braxton hicks on the walk, but still telling myself it was nothing, since it died off earlier. We hadn’t had dinner yet, so we cooked up some omelets. As I started to clean up the kitchen (around 10pm) the Braxton hicks kept coming. I could sense a change though. I was feeling more pressure in my back. We put the boys to bed, and I started picking up the house a little bit, as the contractions continued I talked myself into packing the boys overnight bag (just incase), and as I was doing this they started to feel more real. I hadn’t said anything to Reed yet. I went on to get my camera stuff ready, and a few odds and ends collected for the babies bag.

Maybe 45 minutes into them feeling like this probably going to be the real deal, I walked into our room and Reed was packing his gym bag for his Ju Jitzu class the next morning. I told him he’s not going to need to do that. The look his gave me was priceless…it was one of excitement and “I thought you said it wasn’t going to happen tonight?” (in a funny/sarcastic way). He still had an hour worth of work he needed to get done before we had this baby. After maybe another 30 minutes and them being more consistent and real, he decided to go into the office and tight up the loose ends (that I told him not to worry about LOL). At this pointed I texted our moms and sisters and told them I was in labor was I wasn’t going to the hospital for a while and for them to try to sleep. With Will, I went to the hospital too early and I didn’t want to do that this time. Both my previous labors were also very, very long. So I didn’t expect things to get too serious till the next morning.

It was around Midnight by now when he left. After which, I called the birthing center and midwife to let them know I was in beginning stages of labor. They told me to come in whenever I felt like it. So I packed my hospital bag, did my hair, and nails. They didn’t start to get very painful till around 1:30am. At this point, I texted Reed to see if he was coming back yet and he called asking if he needed to rush home. I said no….I was just checking and that things were starting just really hurt, but I was doing fine. He finished up as quickly as he could. I was walking around the house during the contractions, because siting or laying down wasn’t comfortable. I was timing them at this point and they were anywhere from 3-6 minutes apart. He made it home about 2:15 am. He packed a few things for himself. By this time things were pretty painful and I was super tired. Beka came over at 3:00 am to stay with the boys overnight. We did a little bit of laboring at home, pressure on my back, walking around the house through the contractions, but things felt like they were going to move quicker this time. The pain was progressing quicker and I didn’t want to be in transition in the car.

We left for the hospital at 3:15 am. On the car ride over I only had a few contractions, but they were very hard and I was praying that I would be at least 5 cm along at this point. We made it into triage, and the nurse asked if I had lost my mucus plug yet or if my water broke. I said no to both…which also made me nervous because if things were progressing why hadn’t I lost my plug yet? My contractions also seemed to have slowed down a bit. The midwife made it in to check me about 4:00 am just to see where we were at. I was dilated to 5 cm and very thin. I was pretty happy to hear this and relieved we didn’t come in too early.

We made it into our room around 4:30 am. We got one of the Princess rooms at Miami Valley’s Birthing Center and it was so nice. I texted our moms that they could come up. Once we got in there, I sat on the ball for while Reed put pressure on my back. I started to get shaky like I needed food. She brought me a popsicle, but I couldn’t eat any of it, because I was feeling nauseous. It was around 5:00 am when my mom got there and Reed’s mom shortly after. The nurse said I could be in transition due to the shakes and nausea. I was thinking how could it be moving along that quickly, I mean they felt like transition contractions, but both my previous labors were so slow. This was moving so quickly! I was thinking of getting into the tub, but didn’t want to get in too early, so I asked them to check me and see if I was in transition, and if so, I would get in. I was 7cm and pretty much thinned out.

I got into the tub, which felt really great and the shakes went away. I could tell my body really relaxed. I wasn’t sure if I would deliver in the tub or not. But felt right in the moment. Contractions were around 3 min apart now and very intense and mainly in my back.

They checked me around 6 am and I was 8 cm and thinned out completely. I really couldn’t believe how quick it was all going. The contractions were still about 3 minutes apart, but I could tell it was getting really close. I closed my eyes through each contraction and every contraction it was a little brighter in the room. The sun was stating to rise. It felt like a beautiful symbol of life and hope and beauty.

I started out with the midwife on call, who I loved. She was great. I told her Andrea (another midwife there) had been my nurse for Ben and my midwife for Will. She reached out to Andrea (who was supposed to come in at 7 am). Andrea came in early just for me! She got there around 6:15 am. This made me so happy and it was just the boost I needed. Everything had fallen into place as God had designed.

About 30 minutes later I felt the urge to push. She let me try to push if I wanted. So I tried a few times just kind of on my own, but things weren’t quite there yet. She checked me again after telling her I really had to push, but I didn’t want to if everything wasn’t ready. I was indeed ready. 10 cm and could push on my next contraction. I flipped to my back. I told my team I really only wanted to push one time. I was exhausted and didn’t want to experience a single more contraction. Andrea told me I was ready, but might need to push a few times. But that I could do it!

On the next contraction, I pushed and my water broke and gushed out and she told me to reach down and I could feel babies head, this gave me enough adrenaline to continued my push through the contraction, with a lioness like roar (quite literally!) and every bit of strength I had her head was almost out, then Andrea told me to reach down and pull her out. SHE WAS HERE! I pulled her up to my chest and I couldn’t believe it was over and she was here. 6:43 am coming into the world just as the sun was coming up. <3

SO much joy and relief and happiness in these moments. My recovery at the hospital felt like a breeze compared to my previous births. A few things I prayed for leading up to labor:

I wouldn’t have to be induce and could use the birthing center
Andrea would be my midwife for delivery
My water wouldn’t break till the very end
She would come toward the weekend so Reed’s week off would be a whole week paired with the weekends
I wouldn’t tear and recovery would be easier
It would be quicker than the boys births
ALL OF WHICH HAPPENED! God truly answered every single prayer I had.

Reed did skin to skin with her while they got me out of the tub and the placenta out. Everything went so smoothly and it felt like a redemption story compared to my previous births. <3