Hyrum’s Birth Story

The Labor: 

When I was pregnant with Hyrum and I guess for my whole life  before actually having him, this was literally my thought train- contractions start, water breaks, go to hospital, have baby. Oh how simple minded and naive I was! 

Instead... I was in labor for about a week. On Tuesday I went to the hospital (Franklin Foundation Hospital of Franklin, Louisiana) and was 2cm and not progressing so they sent me home. I was crushed and embarrassed. I was so fed up and had been trying everything to help him come: Spicy foods, yoga ball, walking the mall and the neighborhood, squats, sex, everything. I was so done that Thursday at about 3 pm I took castor oil. Within an hour I was spotting a little, had the one laxative bowel movement, lost the plug, and started heavily contracting! 

I went to the hospital around 8pm and was 3cm and they admitted me. They put me and the baby on monitors and I dilated to 4cm and got stuck for a while. They gave me some drugs to take the edge off and help me sleep through the night. Early Friday morning about 3? (I honestly don’t remember that well when) The nurse noticed an unusual and concerning pattern in Hyrums heart rate but They wanted to let the doctor sleep a little longer because I guess she was up late that night?? So she came in at 5ish and was annoyed that they waited to call her! She guessed that he was tangled in the umbilical cord. With every contraction his heart rate was dropping and I was not progressing-still stuck at 4cm. 

They started prepping me for an emergency c-section and my first reaction was pointed at the doctor: “But I didn’t read this part of my book!” Haha really?! (I was reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting.) They took me into the operating room to give me a spinal block while Andrew stayed behind to get ready to come in for the c-section. 

The Delivery:

But...when administering the spinal block, they hit the wrong spot which sent my flying off the table in an electric shock pain. The nurse caught me before I hit the ground and lifted me back onto the table. I was so freaked out and in shock that I was sobbing uncontrollably. The doctor grabbed me by the shoulders and yelled: “Emily! Do you want to try this again?! You need to calm down!” I tried to called down but I couldn’t and so they leaned me back and put a mask over face. The anesthesiologist sat by my head and rubbed my forehead and cheeks until I was out. And Andrew was then not allowed to be in the delivery room. 

When I woke up someone wheeled my bed passed the nursery and let me take a peak at Hyrum through the glass. The only thing I remember about that was that he had SO much hair! At birth he was tangled up in the cord just like the doctor assumed, but he was healthy and perfect and so loved. 

Hyrum Brenden Jordan 

7lbs 8oz 

19.5 inches 

August 5 2016

The Recovery: 

I got to stay in the hospital until Sunday which was so helpful because c-sections make you feel like crap in every way. So I was well taken care of but my father in law is a physical therapist and strongly encouraged me to start getting up and walking. So even though I hated it and just wanted to be in bed forever and ever for the rest of my life Andrew helped me walk the hospital halls and then the neighborhood when we got home. He was THE BEST and took such great care of me and Hyrum while at the same time not coddling me too much so that I could recovery well. 

Physical

I looked wretched. My belly was weird and bruised and had this awful incision and I felt like I had to be hunched over all of the time. I couldn't stand up straight for days! The scar tissue was yucky and lumpy and thick and I had to rub it out several times a day (I still do it occasionally and now it is pretty thin and flat). My milk didn’t really come in heavily at all. I just produced a little bit which I read can happen when you have a traumatizing delivery? I also had a spinal headache for about 5 days, which is like the world's worst headache that is all through your head, neck and spine. 

Emotional- I couldnt believe my body could make this many tears! Starting once we got home, I cried all day every day for 2-3 weeks for NO specific reason. Looking back I  can point out some potential whys or triggers (traumatized, embarrassed that the nurse yelled at me, I felt like a failure for not being able to delivery vaginally, I felt like my body was ruined and I felt fat and was scared that I would never feel happy with my body again, all of my family got to see my baby before me and I was so bitter about that for some reason) but in the moment of my many many many break downs a day I just couldn’t understand why I was crying so much. 

Newborn Hyrum- He was so perfect. I loved everything about him. His cry was so tiny, his hair was so black and thick, his skin was so soft and kissable. 

It was so amazing to know that this tiny spirit was so recently in heaven and then suddenly with us on earth. Having a baby makes you closer to your spouse and to heaven and Heavenly Father.  I thank God every single day for Hyrum and his wonderful spirit in my life.