Dear Ava,
Your birth story is so special. As a friend, looking in, I wanted to share my memories of your arrival – though as you’ll see, you had some plans of your own to influence that! Your older sister Brooke’s birth story is here, for when you’re ready to read. But don’t go comparing yourselves. Both beautiful girls, both beautiful stories. 😉
Photo Credit: Celia Kelly Photography
Brooke was very excited to announce the news to everyone!
I was more than excited when your mom told me that she was pregnant with you.❤ Finally!!! I needed a baby fix, your mommy and daddy needed a new baby, and I knew that Brooke would be so happy to have a brother or sister to play with and grow up with. Your mom mentioned how quickly time was going by with your pregnancy, which I know is so true. Brooke kept her busy – and she was even watching other little kiddos, too! Including mine sometimes! I was impressed; it’s not easy growing a baby inside you and keeping up with everything else, especially little kids. But she did it wonderfully! I know she really enjoyed the moments that your daddy would play with your big sister so she could have some quiet, rest time.
She even managed to look gorgeous throughout!
After our multiple moves – from Virginia to Vermont/North Dakota/Vermont, I was so grateful that I would again be local for your mom’s delivery. Your mom came rushing to my youngest’s birth in March 2015… straight from Manchester to North Bennington for Weston’s very quick arrival one Friday night! I was so glad to have her there – that everything worked out and she could come be with me. We didn’t make big plans about your delivery … though we often joked about how convenient my house is being that it is literally RIGHT beside the hospital! We knew that your GG, Tracee, would be there, and your dad – all very capable and supportive. But I hoped that it would work out that I could… only time would tell with three kids of my own!
I was glad to have been able to attend a few events FOR YOU prior to your arrival, though! The gender reveal was a lot of fun! I brought all my little boys to your house and your mommy and daddy had a get together with family and friends. They had a big box decorated, filled with balloons and got to open it in front of everyone. That’s when we knew that you were a little sister for Brooke! More fun, girly goodness for me to share since I have all boys. : )
Next up was your surprise baby shower. It was so, so beautiful. Held at Hildene, where your daddy works. It was a gorgeous Vermont fall day. And, I didn’t have any kids with me so I got to enjoy it like a grown up. 😉 The food, decorations, and love for you were all truly amazing!
Your mama text me and let me know that she needed an ultrasound after they weren’t sure of your position. Even though SHE was sure… you kept your foot right up high where she could feel it. But, she consented to be sure. And at the ultra sound, your fluid levels were a bit low. So, she had a detail scan scheduled.
In the meantime, we scheduled our new puppy coming-home day for Friday, November 11. Your mom chuckled and said “Oh good, we’ll get to have newborns at the same time again!” 🙂 I wouldn’t want her to do it alone, ha! Also in the meantime, my household got sick! I managed to stay healthy, but first Weston, then Carter, then Landon got hit by a sickness… clearly contagious, and a bad sign for me getting to be at your birth!
Fortunately, by mid-week, the boys were all on the mend. Friday morning came and your mom went to her ultrasound, I had the little boys home, and my husband Michael went at got our new puppy! I thought, whew, back on track. Until I got a message from your mom that… now’s the time. They needed to get labor started since your fluid levels were even lower. OK, here we go! She insisted she wasn’t ready. Your dad was at work, Brooke didn’t know the plan, she hadn’t eaten… But, I insisted that she WILL be ready, it’s just the way it works. Tracee was with her so she was in great hands, and I told them to call or text me as soon as they could and knew what was going on.
Zero to sixty. It’s a theme – you’ll see.
Once your mom got to the hospital (right up the street from me, so I felt nearby, even though I wasn’t there), she was able to get settled a bit and get things sorted out. I think it holds very true that a mom needs to feel at peace with conditions to have a smooth birth – most of the time at least. Little things on our mind can really hold up the process. Once she knew that Brooke was all set with your great grandma, your dad was on his way, your mom got to eat a bit, and there was an induction plan, the air felt a bit more settled. I kept checking in via text but we assumed that it might take a bit… or might be immediate… It was about eight hours until I put my little guys down to bed and was able to head up to the hospital myself.
When I arrived, your mom was on the monitor for an hour because they had just given her the second dose to get things going. So, we all passed some time trying to keep her mind off being in the bed. Your grandpa’s text messages were especially entertaining. And your dad kept himself busy monitoring the “TACO” reading on the monitor (ask him about it, you’ll get a good laugh, too!) As soon as we were able, we got up and started walking the halls. Your mom liked to just about sprint out the door, down the hallway past the nurse’s station… at least it felt like it to me. She was speedier than I expected. So, being the good friend/doula that I am, I insisted on some deep squats to break up our workout. She was a trooper even with the stink-eye that I sometimes was given. Since we didn’t have stairs to go up/down on to squat, we used a chair and a bench in place. GG kept saying “That’s good!” when your mom would complain 🙂 it really was good, ha!
Your mom started getting more uncomfortable and wanted to get in the tub – but she was told that she needed to wait to make sure she reached 4cm and encouraged to use the shower instead. Not pleased, but better than nothing. We got to the shower stall and she was able to sit on the bench and use the moving shower head to put the hot water right on her back/stomach where you were making her the most uncomfortable. She was still having good contractions through this – but had another hour to go until she was due to be checked (and receive another dose if needed… hoping not!). Your dad kept busy watching the TACO 😉 and GG and I kept your mom company in the shower area – enjoying your grandpa’s messages still. By this time it was around 12:30 am.
Your sweet bed that was waiting for you. Everyone was ready for bed 😉
When your mom got out of the shower, she really wanted to get in the tub. It looks so nice and inviting. We finally were able to convince the nurse to check and — ahh — good news. She had progressed to a 4! No more medicine needed, and they could wake the midwife so she could get in the tub. But your mom was frustrated, understandably, and everything seemed to be moving a bit slower than ideal. I knew that as soon as she got in the tub, she’d get some relief and some much needed rest. After all, she hadn’t planned on being in labor tonight and was TIRED by this point!
I had a dilemma, I needed to be home by 3:30 am because my husband was leaving… but I planned to get the 2-3 hours of sleep then, get a babysitter to sleep while the boys slept so I could go back around 4 am, and I was sure you’d arrive by the time my boys got up. I didn’t have a babysitter for the day, so I needed to get a couple hours of sleep to keep up with them the rest of the day.
It was SO hard. But I left your mom with your very supportive GG and dad and knew that they’d get her in the tub soon. I told Tracee to text me and I’d get in touch around 3:30-4 to check in and come back. I drove the 1 minute down to my house and fell asleep immediately knowing that I’d soon need energy to finish labor support!
Well, I woke up at 3:30 am as planned. But I also woke up to news of YOUR ARRIVAL! Wait, what?! And checking the time stamp, saw that Tracee had text me just 15 minutes after I left… saying that it was time. And then about 27 minutes after I left, you were earthside!
So, my account of your arrival is not first hand from this point on. But I can say, that it went from zero to sixty. Or maybe, from ten to sixty. 😉 I just couldn’t believe it. Had my drive been further, I would’ve seen the text and been back there… or maybe I wouldn’t have made it back had my drive been further.. or maybe.. ah. Cannot dwell on that – because that would be selfish of me. I wish so badly that I had been there. But I can say wholeheartedly that I am so impressed by, in awe and proud of your mom. Having had a very quick birth with Weston, I know it is intense. And she let me know that there was a bit of confusion among those in the room about just HOW QUICKLY you really were coming! Here’s the story from your mom: “I had maybe 5-6 contractions in the water. Fifth one I said I had pressure but wasn’t sure. Sixth one I said ok check me and she said 7 cm but not sure so to get out. I got on bed and two contractions later she was on my chest.” The midwife started yelling “We’re having a baby NOW!” 🙂 I wish I had been in the room — but I’m sure they had more than enough people to work around as it was. That water sure does seem to do it for your mom to progress!! Her water must have broken in the tub “felt like I peed”- though no one really noticed it and it wasn’t much.
Six pounds, fourteen ounces. Dark hair (!!) Seventeen inches. A little sister for Brooke, a big blessing for everyone. Happy day of birth, Ava Hawkins. November 12, 2016 – thank you for letting me be a small part of it. Much love, always, Kay. ❤
A sister, a friend forever.
“Motherhood has the greatest potential influence in human life.” Photo: Celia Kelly Photography
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