Cosette April’s Birth Story

My baby girl is just about four weeks old (HOW?!?) so I thought I better get her birth story documented before I forget!

The last couple of weeks of pregnancy were so tough. I still had bad nausea, body aches and pains, contractions, and such severe heartburn and acid reflux that I had to sleep literally sitting up straight in bed! The school semester was ending and every day it was all I could do to keep up with work and just…surviving. So I totally missed documenting the last couple of weeks!

At my 39 week appointment, I totally burst into tears about how miserable I was! My body was already progressing quite a bit and my OB did a membrane sweep so she assured me it wouldn’t be long. That day I went home and the boys and I went on a 2.8 mile hike! They had been frequenting these trails at the park across the street a few times without me, and Fitz wanted to share them with me. I decided I would get off the couch and try to walk this baby out. I was pretty miserable during the trail, but it was so pretty outside and so cute how excited Fitz was so show me everything.

That evening we watched Home Alone (A Christmas classic at our house!) and I was having some contractions, but they were just what I had been having for a couple of weeks already. When we went to bed, I couldn’t really fall asleep and felt unsettled and just tossed and turned until about 1:15 when my water broke! I just felt this weird “pop” and contractions started from there. Since I had less than a 6 hour labor with Fitz, I knew we should get going fast and I had a plan: I called my brother and sister-in-law who live just minutes away, but while I waited for them to come we had our sweet neighbor on call. So she came right over to stay with Fitz until my brother could come!

Joe and I got to the hospital around 2:00 and. I was dilated 4.5 cm when I went in, but as soon as they were done with IVs, ordering and getting my epidural, it was about 3:30 and it was time to push already! I pushed through 4 contractions and she was born at 3:43 am on November 19. The moment the doctor held her up and I saw her for the first time is imprinted in my memory! Literally that moment, for both of my babies, are my favorite moments of my life and always will be.

Because of Covid protocol, my sisters couldn’t join us as I would have wanted, but I was allowed two support people, so my mom got to be there. It was so special having her present. And they let her come and go so she could come every day and visit. When we had Fitz, it was so fun having family and friends visit us right away, and at first I was bummed that couldn’t happen this time. But Joe and I ended up cherishing the special alone time we had with Cosette those two days before we went home.

When we got home my family brought Fitz over right away to meet his baby sister, and oh my heart! He brought her a Happy Birthday card and was so excited to hold her. He still walks around the house saying “That cute baby!” all the time and is such a loving brother.

Cosette April, you are so loved and such a blessing to our family! You are the rainbow baby that we prayed and wished for. As soon as I saw you, I felt such a connection with you and I am so excited for the mother/daughter bond we will have as you grow. Your father and brother are smitten with you. We thank God for you every day and know He has great things in store for you!