Kate here! It’s been so nice to take some time and truly enjoy every minute with our sweet new addition, Hudson Jordon! He was born at 1:02 in the afternoon, January 12th, 7lbs 13oz! He’s seriously the sweetest little boy and we are so blessed to be his parents! It was truly the most rewarding and amazing experience I’ll ever go through and we’ve ever been through together as we look back on January 12th!
Some details…
I’ll share some details from Hudson’s story, even though I’ll keep a lot of it private, but I find the most important thing to know is that everyone’s stories are so different! Looking back on the weeks prior I remember feeling anxious, how would labor would go, how would I know I was in labor, would it hurt and hearing so many different stories. I only wanted to talk to my mom because of how positive she was, always assuring me that labor wasn’t that bad and didn’t hurt haha I remember how it helped hearing the positive stories. We did even have a false alarm and headed into the hospital a week prior with contractions! At first I felt silly, but listened to my instinct and went in knowing that if anything was wrong I would never forgive myself if I waited. I was also nervous that Joel would be traveling (for those of you that are new here, he plays professional hockey and travels quite a bit for games) he always assured me he’d be there no matter what or travel back if he was on the road, but luckily Hudson decided to make his appearance on the 12th right before Joel’s 3-day trip to Florida! Professional athletes don’t get paternity leave ( I think he just missed one day), but we are so lucky that we have all summer off for him to be the best stay at home dad! Joel was my rock, so positive and stepped up to keep helping me stay so positive throughout the entire labor! He ended up having to leave the day after, which was extremely tough, but after assuring him we were both good and luckily having family here I told him to go. We were so lucky that Anne and Matt were here to help Hudson and I get home from the hospital and Anne actually stayed over night one night with us in the hospital! My parents came a week later during another week long road trip and helped us so much tackling the first days with a newborn.
First off, I didn’t really have a birth plan, I knew that the baby was in the right position and that I would want an epidural and I listened to some great advice from my friend who has been a L&D nurse for 8 years about having preferences instead of a birth plan because things can change fast. My main birth plan was to have a healthy baby and whatever the doctor suggested or had to do I listened to them completely. Obviously, this is just my opinion, and birth plans still are great for some, but this is what worked for me, to just let everything happen instead of planning it out.
On January 11th, we went in for a check up and turns out I was in active labor with contractions, even though I wasn’t in severe pain, just discomfort and I was already 3cm, so I was admitted. Since my labor contractions weren’t regular we ended up waiting in the waiting room for quite some time waiting for a room to open and more nurses to come in. This was extremely rare they said due to covid and the nurse shortages. Once we got to our room everything started to become real! Our doctor was so amazing and positive- I got emotional when he told us at 10:00 at night on the 11th to get some rest and that we would have our baby born on the 12th! January 12th is such a special day for everyone in our family- it is our angel Grandma Charlotte’s birthday and this birthday she would have been 100 years old. She passed away 6 years ago and not a day goes by we don’t think of her, we grew up living a half a mile from my grandparents and went over their house every day! I felt her there with us that day, I can still see her saying how proud she was.
I pushed for about 2 hours every 1-2 minutes when the contractions would come and he was born 1:02 in the afternoon, when he was finally here we were both so overcome with emotions and immediately for me I felt no more pain, just pure happiness! I did get an epidural which I’m so happy I did because it helped me relax, but I could still feel contractions coming and got to control the pain. For me once I decided to get one it was about 30 minutes start to finish until it started to kick in and it helped relax me and I actually did get to sleep most of the night before his arrival!
#1 tip is to stay positive, stay strong and believe in yourself. You can do amazing things, just never give up! Soon you will have your own story and day to look back and remember! Also, having a strong support system to help you and your partner out. We are so lucky for our family and friends and everyone who checked in, sent meals and offered out help those first weeks as we adjust to becoming new parents. It’s truly the best feeling in the world becoming a parent!
Random things
- Ask questions! At your doctors appointments, during labor and once you get to the pediatrician appointments! Nothing is ever a stupid question and helps you know what’s going on.
- Bring your hospital bag with you on those last doctors visits!
- The hospital (at least in our case) supplied and let us take home all the feminine products, underwear/pads/bottle and newborns diapers and a new Halo swaddle- love these ones!
- You can get your breast pump covered through insurance! Glad that Grace told me this! I’m using the Hygeia small portable one that is so great because I can charge it and use it anywhere without an outlet.
- We took online courses through TinyHood and liked it- I feel like I knew most of the beginning stuff already, but it was still a great refresher and we have more classes to watch now that the baby is here on infant safety and CPR.
What I actually used from my hospital bag
I shared all my hospital bag items HERE, but what I actually used was barely anything from that bag! Shout out to everyone that said pack light! I think for first timers it’s nice to bring whatever you want to feel comfortable then you’ll learn from there on for the future, but I really could have packed a lot less. We stayed overnight for two nights and I showered the first day then actually just changed into one of the hospital gowns. Between feedings, not wanted anything tight and not wanting to get anything messy personally I just felt better in the hospital gown and my robe! Other items used were definitely your own pillows with different pillowcases, my essentials like my toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, lotion, face lotion, deodorant and chapstick! Also, my robe, my own towel, these socks (I just walked around in these then threw them out on my last day before leaving), shower sandals, a going home outfit for the baby and yourself! For my husband, a blanket for the couch, pillow, change of clothes & toiletry items!
Top Items for after the hospital
- Pads- thicker regular ones, but then thinner regular ones after a few weeks
- Ice packs– I got these ones for post-hospital the first few days!
- Fridamom witch hazel pad liners– used these everyday the first week!
- 2 pack of seamless bras for sleeping
- Nursing friendly tank tops– these ones are only $25 and under
- Nursing sports bra
- bra pad liners
- Pumping bra– this one is amazing because it hold the pumps in place hands free! use code: PINESANDPALMS for 10% off!
- Lansinoh gel pads– my SIL gave me these and helped so much the first week!
- Button front pajamas– use code PINESANDPALMS for 10% off!
- Pumping storage bags
- donut pillow or THIS one by Frida Mom is on sale! I didn’t get this, but wish that I did the first week!
- Prenatal vitamins- my doctor told me to continue to take and to make sure it contained iron to help replenish the blood loss
Top items we are using for a newborn
- Halo Bassinet – we have this one that vibrates & plays sounds! Also, order the halo mattress pad & even though it comes with a sheet, but you might want to get an extra too!
- Halo Wrap swaddle– definitely have at least 2 so that you can change it out to a dry one in the middle of the night in case of spit up/ wet diaper leaks.
- This lounger– Grace gave us this one to use and Hudson loves it because his angles up and feels so snuggled! Always watch them supervised, especially once they start to get older!
- Rahoo Lounger- we have a lounger in multiple rooms! I love how this one helps him with tummy time
- Swing
- Pacifiers- newborn ones & these BIBS ones
- UPPAbaby car seat, we are loving our UPPAbaby bassinet and stroller for walks!
- Aden & Anais swaddle blankets– these are so versatile and so lightweight to use as a blanket, swaddle, covers etc.
- Snot Sucker
- Baby bathtub & this shampoo/lotion starter kit has everything you need all in one.
