Maxi is almost 3 weeks old and it’s 100% true what everyone says! I feel as if I don’t even remember life before being her mom. How does that happen?!
My due date was February 9th, but all throughout my pregnancy I had symptoms pointing towards having her a bit earlier. I was in L&D around 22 weeks for contractions, I had prodromal for weeks with contractions 2 minutes apart and my doctor kept telling me how I was progressing really well. So it was news to me when I woke up on February 9th and nothing felt that different! The week of my due date all the contractions stopped so I was a little disheartened, but knew that God knew her birthday and I just didn’t need to worry.
That Thursday [my due date] Paul and I got up and went to my weekly doctor’s appointment. My doctor stripped my membranes for the first time and I still felt 100% normal. After our appointment, Paul and I went to Costco after to walk around and pick up last-minute items before baby arrived. We both were feeling incredibly antsy and bored so we decided to go on a date night that evening to try and take our mind off of it. When Friday came around we ran to the new Neiman Marcus in Fort Worth, went on a walk with Peaches and watched a movie. Before bed I told Paul, “What on earth are we going to do tomorrow?! I’m so bored waiting!” We joked we were going to attempt to make homemade Pop Tarts.
Friday night, I got up every 15 minutes to use the bathroom. I mean a girl at 40 weeks pregnant is seriously always going to the bathroom. It’s as if you drink 7 gallons of water before bed. But this time was a bit weird because I just couldn’t sleep. I’d get up, go back to bed and get up again. At 6:45 I got up to go to the bathroom for the 100th time, laid back down and thought I peed myself. I was mortified. In my head I thought, “Seriously, Katey?!”
I tried to get up quietly and just go take a shower. I got up and walked to the bathroom feeling really off. I started to think, “Wait, is this what I think it is?” A few seconds later I had one of those movie moments where you know with all certainty your water broke. I yelled to Paul, “Wake up! We are having a baby today!”
I got cleaned up and went to call my parents to tell them my water broke and we were going to head up to labor and delivery. Paul and I got ready, I gave Peaches so many cuddles, our friend Austin came to get her, I took one last bump pic and we headed off to the hospital. At this point I wasn’t having any contractions so I was just super excited. Also, I’d like to point out if your water breaks PLEASE eat something before you get to the hospital. Paul kept trying to make me toast and I was saying, “No! I’m excited! I can’t eat!” I ended up starving all throughout labor and begging my L&D nurses to sneak me crackers. They said no, but I did get popsicles. All of that to say, don’t do what I did!
We got to labor and delivery around 7:30 and got checked in. They found that my water had definitely broken so they admitted me. My contractions started at about 8:30, but they really weren’t bad at all, yet. They felt like minor period cramps, so I got to enjoy the next few hours with family. Paul’s parents came up so we all just sat in the room watching a Texas Tech basketball game.
At about 11, the doctor came in to check on me again and she said, “Are you sure you don’t want your epidural, yet?” I told her I felt okay as the contractions were only 4 minutes apart. They had me hooked up to see the contractions on a scale of 1-100 and these were only at about a 30. She asked if I wanted to start some Pitocin as I had barely progressed from Thursday to my water breaking and I agreed.
They started first with a gel to induce before they did the Pitocin and that elevated the contractions up to about a 50. They were a lot more intense, but still manageable, so I told them I was still fine waiting on the epidural. An hour later and I still hadn’t progressed so we agreed to go ahead and start the Pitocin. My contractions went from a 50 to a 90 so fast.
Once the Pitocin really kicked in I decided I wanted my epidural and I’ve never loved a human being more than I loved the anesthesiologist [halfway kidding…]. The entire time I was getting it Paul was of course freaked out by the needle. And I just was shushing him because it was the most amazing thing in the world. haha! From about 3-6 I just felt pressure and got to really relax and enjoy time with family. Our best family friends came up to the hospital as well so we just all sat in the room talking. By 7, I looked at my mother-in-law and said, “I really think I need to push!” She went to go get the nurse for me and when the nurse came in she said, “You’re a first-time mom, I really don’t think you’re going to be pushing until 10 p.m.”
She checked me and she said, “Um, you’re right! It’s time to push. Who do you want in the room?”
I felt so great from my epidural I seriously would have let anyone in the room, haha! But I had Paul, my mom and my sister in there. The nurse had me labor down for 15 minutes and that’s when I got so nauseous. I kept thinking I was going to vomit everywhere so they had me sniff alcohol wipes so I wouldn’t. It was the weirdest trick but I guess it works!
I asked the nurse if we could start because I seriously felt like Maxi was coming out soon. I pushed for about 30 minutes and then she was here. I wish I had words to describe what it felt like holding her for the first time. I always say there are moments in life where I feel as if I can hear God say, “I love you.” That’s exactly how I felt when Paul proposed to me and when we got married. When the nurse handed Maxi to me I just felt like God was saying, “I love you and I trust you.” Holding her and knowing she is a gift from him that we were entrusted to raise truly felt like the greatest honor in life.
I ended up having a fever during labor, which caused Maxi to have one too. So to get her body temperature regulated I got to do skin-to-skin with no interruptions for 2 hours which I absolutely loved! I couldn’t try to breastfeed until her fever was down because they said she wouldn’t latch until we got her regulated. Once we did, she latched immediately and Paul and I just stayed in the bed, which is probably one of those most comfortable hospital beds, holding her and cuddling her. Then they took her, weighed her and gave her a shot and gave her back to us. My dad and Paul’s family came in along with our best family friends and everyone kept joking how she was Paul’s twin!
The nurses came in and told us they would get me anything to eat. They said, “You just gave birth, we will get you anything! Do you want ice cream, a burger, fries, pizza?!” I just looked at Paul and said, “I think we need to have Pop Tarts since that was the original plan!” My sister got us Pop Tarts and we ate them in our room holding her until she fell asleep.
I’m so thankful for my labor and delivery experience and I know how blessed I am to say that. Now that we are home and getting settled with our new routine, I keep crying all the time saying, “Oh my gosh, she is 11 days old! Stop growing up!” Then everyone laughs at me! I even cried the other day asking Paul if she would want to move away for college or if she would go to TCU [5 minutes from us]. I’m just so in love with her and truly can’t imagine how my life was without her. And now Pop Tarts are my favorite thing to eat! 😉
Photography by: Madison Katlin
Wow, 30 minutes, what a quick delivery! Congratulations to you and your family!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Katey,
Thank you so much for sharing Maxi’s Birth Story! I am so happy for you, Paul, Maxi and Peaches. I love seeing you all together on Snapchat and all of the grace surrounding your family. It’s truly amazing and she is just SO beautiful, just like you! I know you are just an incredible mother and I can’t wait to read everything you share in the future. I am so happy for your family!
Peaches is definitely the best big sis! I love watching her watch over Maxi on Snapchat! Y’all are in my prayers and I hope that this precious time passes slowly, so that you can savor every moment!
Love from Virginia!
Morgan
This is so precious! Pop Tarts! What an adorable story. Congratulations, Katey! She is absolutely beautiful.
And I’m balling! What a precious story!
I’ve always been curious about if the epidural hurts! How does it feel? I’ve heard that it’s totally worth it.
I think it’s different for everyone, but I really didn’t notice it! You’re in so much pain at the point of asking for an epidural that you don’t care. haha. You also can’t move while they insert it [and they try to do it in between contractions so you won’t move] or you can cause damage. You’re so focused on not moving and just breathing through your contractions that I didn’t really notice them inserting it and that’s what all my friends said as well! <3
You have such a great story. I’ve enjoyed all of your snaps! She is SO precious! I’m so happy for you and your family!
I LOVED reading Maxi’s birth story and I especially loved the ending. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us. If you haven’t yet, please write it all down in your hand writing for Maxi. My husband lost his mother when he was a teenager and she handwrote his birth story and I can’t tell you how precious it is to see the story, in her words, in her handwriting. 🙂
What a beautiful idea!
Katey,
This is one of the most beautiful birthing stories I have ever read. You had such a wonderful experience, what a blessing! You have made me feel so comfortable and confident that one day I too can do this! You have made motherhood look so joyful and truly special. Not gonna lie, this blog post made me cry. I am so excited for your journey as a mother! Thank you again for alway sharing your special moments with such grace and honesty.
xo,
Lindsey
I loved reading Maxi’s birth story, Katey! She is absolutely beautiful, and I am so happy for you and your family. I love following along on your blog and social media, so keep all the photos and videos coming!
xoxo,
Erica
Wow what an amazing, beautiful experience. I can only hope mine is as wonderful as yours! Reading this made me tear up!! Maxi is a lucky little lady having you two beautiful amazing loving people as parents!
Congratulations again, she’s STUNNING.
XO,
Madison
I loved reading your story, thank you for sharing! What a joy and blessing!
xo, Laura
http://brightandbeautifulblog.com
This was by far the cutest, sweetest birth story I’ve ever ready! So happy for you! Xo Amanda
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. As someone who doesn’t have children, it’s always so refreshing to read birth stories that don’t turn into horror stories! Haha!
Maxi is so precious! 🙂
Such a wonderful labor and delivery story!!! So seamless and what every Mama and Dad hope, wish and pray for nine months. She’s such a doll and y’all are rockin’ the new parent thing. 🙂 (My OB immediately started me on Pitocin when I got to the hospital and I have to agree…everyone goes from 50-1million the minute that med hits the bloodstream! Crazy!)
So incredible. God bless you and your precious family! <3
Queue the happy tears, this is so sweet…….”I always say there are moments in life where I feel as if I can hear God say, “I love you.””
Oh my goodness, Katey. I am sitting at my desk sobbing! I am due with our first baby in June, and reading your line about God loving AND trusting you – oh, my heart! Congratulations. She is so, so beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your story! It’s refreshing to read a positive birth story and gives me hope as I get ready to deliver my first baby in a few months!
Awww! Thank you so much for sharing! It’s always nice to hear other birth stories so you know what other people went through. Even though everyone is different, its always nice to know what can happen and what can be normal!
Xo, Nina
Law of Fashion Blog
This is exactly what I prayed for!! I knew you were having some contractions before labor, and a foot in your rib, etc. since you expressed that all to us, and I know you have more of a colorful health history from what you have also expressed in the past. So I was like Lord, let this be quick, sweet, and simple, and give her a great delivery, and he did!! I couldn’t be happier for you! Congratulations!! ~Stephanie
What beautiful experience you had!! I love that you now have poptarts to associate with her!! Her first birthday should totally be poptart themed!
-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
Beautiful!
Wait until you have to size up on diapers! Every time we had to size up I was #ballingmyeyesout
So beautiful! Congrats!
Love this story! Thanks for sharing this personal part of your life! So happy for you and your family! I love seeing the pictures of her and your snapchats are great! So cute how Peaches watches over her!
xoxo
Such a sweet story!!! God is such an incredible miracle worker. So happy for you and Paul!! Maxi is perfect!!! Much love xoxo, Maeson
Hey Katey! Thank you for sharing, just beautiful! Question, can you share where her adorable monogrammed outfit is from as well at the striped hat? Adorable!!
Hi Erin!
The hat is from etsy! If you search newborn hat on etsy I think hundreds of little shops sell them! They were perfect for the hospital. 🙂 I don’t know the exact shop because my mom ordered it for her, but I found bunch identical there. 🙂 Her monogrammed outfit was from etsy as well! If you go to my hospital bag post I linked the most similar one, too! I hope that helps girl! xoxo!
Great Story! Enjoy your sweet time with Maxi. Yes the saying is true…. That time will go fast. Before u know it you will be planning her first birthday.
Aw such a great birth story! Loved following your pregnancy and excited to follow little Maxi as she grows (I know.. it’s awful… my twin girls are 9 and it feels as if they were just born)! Ugh! Congratulations on the most amazing journey life has to offer! xoxo
Your story made me tear up! So special and beautiful. It was also such a relief to hear your experience. You go girl!
Hannah
glamlifeliving.com
Congratulations!! I love your blog and was so excited to see that Maxi and I share our birthday!!!
Whitney
Loved reading this ❤️ You are so pure and honest in your writing.
Thank you so much Katey for sharing your story. God has certainly gifted you with a beautiful precious daughter. I prayed you would have a normal delivery and a completely healthy baby. I have again prayed her heart will be sensitive to Gods love and leading in her life as she grows. I’m so excited for you. I hope when my husband and I visit my best friend in Dallas area it would be great to meet you. You have definitely taught me a lot about fashion, but also organizing a smaller house and not holding on to things just to have them. Thank you for letting God use your talents for writing and fashion to bless us women in a beautiful way!!!
Again, congratulations and God’s best blessings; you are going to be a fine mother!!!!
Amanda
I LOVED this story! I adore hearing about great labor experiences. I am also so proud of you for breastfeeding your precious baby girl!! I had my first baby in September and breastfeeding was so hard for us for the first two months but it’s so so worth it!! Breast really is best!!!
Loved getting to follow your journey & read this sweet post! So happy Maxi is here healthy and beautiful! <3 Enjoy every minute!
This is such a sweet story! Definitely laughed when you thought you peed yourself, haha. Congrats to you and Paul! <3
BlondieInTheCity.com
So sweet! I love birth stories ❤️
I honestly love seeing all your pics and updates on mommyhpod for you. I’m beyond jealous of how fast your labor was but love to see you just glowing with your little peanut. She is precious and you are not alone in thinking way far ahead and getting all teary eyed about it. People used to say savor every moment because it goes by way too fast and its so so true. When I look at baby pics of my babes or of our NICU times I literally think, wait a second that was just yesterday right?!? RIGHT? I admire you and love how you share it all with us, the good the bad and the ugly. ???? You are amazing ????
Congratulations Katey! What a wonderful blessing! She’s beautiful and looks so much like her dad. Wishing you and your family much love and happiness.
I love birth stories! There’s something just SO special about that moment when you meet your baby for the first time and all the events leading up to it. Congratulations!
Congratulations!! Our babies are only a week apart! I too had a long labor as I wasn’t progressing. I did 33 hours until I finally hmgave into the epidural (it’s the best thing ever lol).
What a beautiful story! And Maxi is just a dream! Congratulations 🙂
Oh I just love this story! Thank you for sharing!!
xx Kathryn
http://www.chicandshimmer.com
I definitely got teary eyed reading this at my desk! This is such a beautiful story and Maxi is beyond precious! I am so happy for you, Paul and your families! 🙂
I hope to look as put together and be as calm as you when I give birth!! Lol. Seriously how do you look like a magazine model?!
You wrote her birth story so beautifully! I remember having those same feelings after delivering my baby boy. All of sudden, you can somewhat comprehend the LOVE our Father has for us. It’s such a beautiful love. Congrats on your sweet Maxi. My son and I, who will be two in August, love following you on Snapchat. He loves him some baby Maxi!
Love your story! Would you mind sharing where the swaddle with the monogrammed bow came from? I’m having a baby girl in a couple of months & I love that swaddle!
Hi Victoria! Congratulations on your little one!
Here you go! 🙂
https://www.etsy.com/listing/492289450/monogrammed-swaddle-bow-blanket-swaddle?ref=shop_home_active_19
xo,
Katey
Love your birth story! I’m due July 5th with baby #2 and it’s encouraging to hear such a great experience. God is so faithful. Blessings to you and your family!
Hi Katey!
Beautiful birth story and pictures! 🙂
I am due in August and am looking for a newborn photographer! Do you recommend a photographer coming to the hospital? What day did you have yours come up there to take photos?
Or do you recommend a newborn session once you’re home after a few days/a week?
Thanks so much!
Megan
Hi Megan!
So my photographer is actually one of my good girlfriends, so we played it by ear! I had her come up the day after. I don’t know if I’d ever do birth photography just because I photograph so much of my life being a blogger I like to not photograph really sentimental moments. I know that probably sounds odd and is backwards from most people! lol But for the next baby I’ll still have them come the next day! 🙂 xo
Hi Katey!
These amazing pics showed up in my Pinterest feed and I own the shop that you purchased this hat for your gorgeous baby girl!
I would LOVE to have permission to share your pics on my shop. They are amazing!
Please messsge me at ce1030@comcast.net to let me know.
Thank you!
Tricia
I love her hat and her gown! Where did you find them?
Hi Lisa! Her swaddle is from etsy but also sold via The Beaufort Bonnet Company and then my mom got her hat off etsy, too! xx, Katey