✨ Hazel’s Birth Story ✨

Three years ago, in May, I woke up at around 3:30 AM. I felt a pop followed by a gush, and I thought, "Oh! My water broke!" I got up and went to the bathroom to check. I decided to take a shower and that's when I found the mucus plug. I remembered thinking, "It's really happening!!!" I returned to bed and woke Garin up, "My water broke!" He asked if we should call the birth center and let him know. I thought it wasn't time yet, so I told him no. We should try to get some sleep.

As I was lying in bed, I couldn’t sleep, so I started Googling to see when exactly we should call the birth center. I realized that since my water had broken, we should let them know, so I woke Garin up again and told him, “You’re right. We should call the birth center because my water broke. They’ll want to know.”

While he was calling the birth center and giving them details, I decided to make myself raspberry leaf tea and some snacks. I hung out on the yoga ball, watching my TV show, and did some exercises as we waited.

As time went on, the contractions started getting stronger and stronger. By 6 AM, I felt tired and decided maybe I should get some sleep because I knew I’d need energy for the birth. But I couldn’t sleep because of the contractions. I found myself hanging onto the bed frame as the contractions came and went. By 7 AM, I told Garin it was time to wake my mom up so she could watch Mabel. I felt it was time to go.

My mom couldn’t believe it was time. She had to come and see for herself. She saw that I was hanging onto the bed frame as the contractions hit. She tapped my shoulder, and as the contraction passed, I opened my eyes. “Is it really time?” she asked. I nodded yes.

I realized we should head over to the birth center, so Garin called and told them we were on our way. He wanted to stop by the grocery store to get some snacks. I held onto the dining table as the contractions came. I told him, “We don’t have time. We have to go NOW.”

Our birth support person, Victoria, was waiting for us when we arrived. She greeted me at the door, and I smiled as she led us to the birth room. She asked if we could do a cervix check to see how far along I was in labor. She also asked questions about how much my water had broken. I told her it had been leaking ever since it broke, which is why I had been wearing a disposable diaper.

She quickly started the bath, and I hopped in as soon as it was ready. I lounged in the tub for an hour or so. Occasionally, Victoria would check on the baby’s heartbeat. At one point, she couldn’t find it. She asked me to stand up so she could try again. Thankfully, she stayed calm and was able to find the heartbeat.

Garin hopped in and helped with the hip squeeze whenever contractions hit. As the contractions grew closer, Victoria and the midwife hung out on the bed and waited with us. Victoria asked if I was feeling any pressure yet. I shook my head no.

Then, just as I shook my head, a powerful contraction hit, and I knew — she was coming.

I shouted, "VICTORIA!!! I'm feeling the pressure!!" In that moment, I felt my body pushing the baby out. The midwife and Victoria jumped into action. The midwife assisted as Hazel was born. Apparently, Hazel had her hand on her face, just like Mabel. Just like her big sister, Hazel made her entrance with her hand on her face  —a sweet little reminder of how both our girls came into the world. 

As we sat there, just the three of us, in the warmth of the tub, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. We had made it through another labor and delivery, and Hazel was finally here, safe and sound. I held her close, feeling the weight of her tiny body against my chest, taking in every little detail — her soft skin, her little fingers, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. It felt surreal, but in the best possible way.

Garin and I exchanged looks, both of us silently processing the journey we had just been through and the new chapter we were beginning with our second daughter. Hazel, our little miracle. The moment felt perfect — just us, quietly soaking in the incredible bond we already shared with our new baby girl.

Eventually, we moved from the tub, and life began to settle into its new rhythm. Hazel was here, and we were already in love with her beyond words.