Magnolia Lea-June 5th, 2021 9:44pm

Contractions started on May 19th. Scotty had accepted the position at Walmart that Monday the 17th and had to take a drug test. Anchor and I were sitting in the car in the parking lot while he went into complete it and the contractions were super intense. I had thought Magnolia was going to be born on the Full Super Blood Moon called the Flower Moon on May 26th so when this happened I thought wow this could be! We tried every wives tail in the book leading up to the full moon on May 26th including Eggplant Parmesan using the Eggplant Babies recipe, but nope! May 26th was not going to be the day. Contractions continued to be regular especially after going for walks around the neighborhood, they definitely increased once I hit that 1 mile mark. But June 5th (Magnolia’s due date) at 3:33am I knew she was going to make her debut. Contractions started (very mild) at 3:33am and where a consistent 20 minutes apart. We had just gone live on our home to sell on June 2nd and had our first open house scheduled for June 5th and 6th. We had to be out of the house early so the open house could take place for the day on June 5th so our original plan was to go to the RV which was parked at the Fall City Airport and hang out there until the last appointment at 5pm was done. So we got up got ready and loaded up to head there. The contractions were still consistent at 20 minutes apart but super mild. When we got set up in the RV I laid down for about an hour and that’s when they started to fizzle out, so we decided to go for a walk around the Spring Glen neighborhood and they started to pick up again.

We were in such tight quarters with everyone in the RV and lots of distractions (not calm enough for me to focus on laboring) so Scotty booked two hotel rooms in Issaquah by the Issaquah Target. So we loaded up again and headed there. On the way the contractions started to get more intense. Anchor and Cinda were all situation in one room, and Scotty and I went down the hall to another room. When we got there I told our doula Willow maybe she should head our way. This was at about 11:45am. I also reached out to our midwife Chris to let her know this could be it. I paced back and forth in the room trying to keep them going (walking seemed to be the thing) then we walked around Issaquah for an hour or so and they continued to stay consistent and progress. With all of the chaos Anchor wasn’t able to take a nap, everyone was tired so we decided after the 5pm showing we would go home and then go back to the hotel the next day. So we headed back home at 4:45pm and that is when they really started to get intense. Once we got home they were longer and super intense to the point of taking my breath away. We called Chris and were on the phone with her for 20 minutes while she listened thru contractions and said I am ready when you are. And said as soon as Anchor goes to bed I bet you will be on your way to the birth center….sure enough. As soon as Anchor fell asleep they were just a couple minutes apart and super intense, coming quicker and quicker and back to back. So we got in the car and headed to the birth center.

When we got there the first words Chris our midwife said was “you are too smiley to be in labor” but once that first contraction hit while at the birth center she knew it was time! My dad showed up and listened to Magnolias heartbeat and sat there thru a few contractions as they filled up the bathtub. We had arrived at the birth center at about 7:45pm. Chris checked my progress and I was 9cm and 100% effaced.

Once I got in the tub the contractions eased up a little bit so I switched positions and instantly it was time to start pushing. My water hadn’t broke yet, but it was right there. After pushing for about 30-45 minutes my water broke and not even 5 minutes later Magnolia Lea entered the world at 9:44pm weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches long. Absolutely perfect and such a magical amazing birth experience!

x0_meagen lea