Adeline: Birth Story

We found out we were pregnant with Houston 4 during the first week of April, 2018, a year and a half and 3 angel babies after we first started trying to start a family.

Fast forward—

At my most recent checkup at 38w5d, I was only 2cm dilated.

On the morning of December 2nd, (39w1d) I woke up to regular contractions, 4 minutes apart, lasting 30 seconds. After an hour, they got more uncomfortable, so I left the bedroom and laid on the couch where I could moan in pain without waking Zach. By 9am, 3 hours after waking, I’d done enough googling to classify this as real labor. I was so surprised because we were 6 days early, and I hadn’t had any contractions previously. But, I didn’t want to be that person that goes to the hospital too early with false labor.


I hopped in the shower, and then woke up Zach, saying “I think the baby is coming today.” He didn’t believe me. He kept asking if I was sure, if he should call in to work, etc. I told him to get ready like this is real, and we’d go to the hospital to make sure it was true labor before he called out.
We arrived around 10a, went to triage in the birth center and was hooked up to monitors. I was at 5cm! And my contractions were the same consistency, just getting more painful. The on-call OB allowed me to stay, and I got to go to my room.

Nurse Taylor asked me what I wanted to do about pain, and I explained that I’d birthed naturally before (because I asked for the epidural too late with Ben, and it never got the chance to kick in), and would love to get the epidural early this time. The anesthesiologist came in 15 minutes later, and the epidural worked perfectly. I was honestly so lucky because the medicine dose was PERFECT. I could feel my body, feel the contractions, but I wasn’t in any pain. 

By now, it’s 11a, Zach has officially called in sick. We turned on football for entertainment. At 1p, nurse Taylor came in and checked me, and I’d progressed to 8cm. They ordered the delivery supplies cart to be brought in and everything to be prepped as much as possible since I was progressing quickly. The Seahawks game started, and I texted my mom and sister, Jen, explaining that I was admitted, and already at 8cm. They both immediately tried calling me. Jen was due to fly up on Thursday for a week, but now she had to change her flights to come early. Unfortunately, she would miss the birth, but she was able to come visit me that night after she got in late.

Around 3p, I started feeling pain again, which was disheartening because I really wanted the medicine to work. I hated the position I was in, but didn’t want to bother Taylor to come turn me. Eventually, though, the baby’s heart rate was dropping too much during the contractions, so she came to check up on me. I was finally put back on my back, and now I’m 10cm + 1, 100% effaced and literally having the baby.
The doctors were paged, a baby nurse rushed in, and my bed was collapsed and feet were in stirrups, all in about 2 minutes. The OB came in and checked me too, asked me to give a good practice push, and then she stopped me, because the baby was literally that close to coming out—no practice needed.


On the next contraction, I got to push for real, 10 seconds, 3 times. Her head was fully out. Without a contraction they asked me to push one more time to deliver the rest of her body. And she was here!

Adeline Ruth Houston

December 2nd, 2018

At 3:48pm

Weighing 8lbs 2.2oz

20” Long

I was in shock. It was too easy. Too quick. She was really here! She had the cutest little cry and sweetest face. This moment that I had been looking forward to for 4 years was real, was here, and was perfect. Zach was so happy and we were both crying.

I don’t remember much after that, it’s all a haze. But it was beautiful.
I texted my friend Naomi, and told her we delivered and we set up a time for her to come the next morning to take pictures for us.

This birth experience was truly incredible. It was peaceful and fun. It was ideal. And I don’t think I’ll get that lucky again.

I have healed pretty quickly. But, I have been absolutely tormented by breastfeeding. I was in so much pain for a week, literally dreading having to feed her. I had it in my head that I was failing myself and Adeline because I couldn’t do something so natural and easy that all these other women can do. I was just in so much pain, weeping every moment of the feeding. We eventually went out and got a manual breast pump, hoping I could continue to give her breast milk through a bottle. It worked. I pump now, 3 times a day, and give her a bottle. It still makes me so sad that I can’t just whip my boob out and feed her, that I’m missing this connection with her I’m supposed to have. But I’m just trying so hard to give her nutrients without encouraging a PPD complete breakdown.

Fed is best. And I know that. I feel that deep in my bones because my precious baby Ben was strictly formula fed and he is beautiful and healthy and perfectly chunky. But I just keep seeing FAILURE tattooed on my forehead. I worked up the courage to try again, to see if she’d latch better, to see if it’d be still just as painful, and it wasn't as bad as before but I have open sores again that never seem to heal. Maybe once everything actually heals; hopefully she won’t have forgotten me.

We are so in love with our little miracle! I want to thank every person who's shown me love and support throughout this journey to become a mother, for all the advice given, for all the gifts, and joy and love. It's so hard to believe how much time has past since Ben, how different the circumstances are this time around--I never would've believed it (but I definitely would've hoped for it!) 

It is so wonderful having a husband that loves and supports you through the pregnancy, and loves the baby, and helps you take care of her and yourself. I'm overjoyed to be a mother. It's the best.