Luke’s Birth Story
Luke’s Birth Story
Now that our second baby boy is finally here, I’ve found myself reminiscing even more about the end of pregnancy, labor, and those sweet, hazy first months with Luke. Before life gets even busier with two boys, I wanted to finally share Luke’s birth story—at least, what I remember of it.
Luke was due on a Sunday in March, and on his due date we actually drove to my hometown for my sister’s gender reveal. I hadn’t had any real signs of labor yet, but on the drive home I started having some light practice contractions. They didn’t hurt at all—if anything, they made me so excited. It felt like my body was starting to get ready. That night I couldn’t sleep, but by the next morning, the contractions had stopped.
The following evening, they came back—this time a little stronger and more uncomfortable. They kept getting closer together, so around 2 a.m., I woke Jake up. He packed his hospital bag (yes, at 2 a.m.!), and we stayed up watching movies and even made a full breakfast around 4. By sunrise, though, the contractions had fizzled out again.
At that point, I was feeling okay but a little defeated. I called my OB just to check in, and they asked me to come in for a quick appointment. During the ultrasound, they noticed my fluid levels were concerningly low. I had really hoped to go into spontaneous labor, but my doctor gently told me it was time to head to the hospital that day—we were going to meet our baby boy soon.
We went home for a quick lunch, and I tried to take a nap since I hadn’t slept in two nights. That didn’t last long—I suddenly started shaking uncontrollably. I didn’t know then that “the shakes” were a normal sign of labor, and I panicked a little, telling Jake we needed to leave for the hospital right away.
We checked in on Tuesday afternoon and got settled. That evening, after a good meal, they started me on cervical softeners. Around midnight, my water broke—and things got real fast. My contractions became intense, close together, and nonstop. I labored for about four hours before finally getting the epidural. By that point, my body was spent. I hadn’t slept in three nights, I was throwing up, and every muscle in me was exhausted.
The epidural brought so much relief. I was finally able to rest and even progress quickly—from 4 cm to fully dilated in just about four hours. Around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, I felt that undeniable urge to push. I don’t think the nurses believed me right away (it was all moving pretty quickly for a first-time mom!), but when the midwife checked, sure enough—it was go time.
By 8:15, the room was ready, and by 8:30 a.m., Luke was in my arms. From midnight to 8:30, I experienced the lowest of lows and the absolute highest of highs. Bringing our baby into the world was the most incredible experience. Because of the epidural, I was able to be fully present—and dare I say—even enjoy birth. I could feel the pressure, but not the pain, and it made the moment so calm and connected.
Jake got to “catch” Luke, which still makes me emotional just thinking about it. Meeting our baby boy—our Luke—the center of our world—was pure magic.
I’ll never stop being grateful for my husband, who was my rock through every contraction, for our amazing doula who supported and advocated for us, and for the kind hospital staff who felt like angels that day. And to our family and friends who prayed for us and cheered us on from afar—we felt your love every step of the way.
Now, with our second little boy here in our arms, rereading Luke’s birth story feels even sweeter. Each of my boys has their own unique story, their own entrance into the world, and their own kind of magic. Luke’s birth was the beginning of everything for us as parents, and now we get to step into this next chapter with both of our boys—hearts a little fuller, love stretched even wider.
