11/16/2021
11.10.2021 • 12:44am. This picture is full of SO much emotion…joy, pause (because this is our last baby), exhaustion, empowerment, strength, and relief (that I was ABLE to birth at home) to name a few.
2 days shy of 38 weeks pregnant, I tested positive for Covid (along with the rest of my household). We have been blessed to steer clear of this beast for TWO YEARS, and two weeks before my due date, it came knocking 🤨 the timing is impeccable. 🙄
I called my amazing midwife, who told me that I needed to be on bed rest until i tested negative because should I go into labor, I would HAVE to go to the hospital to birth..: BY MYSELF (assuming my husband was still positive). Not only am I NOT a bed rest kind of person (thank God my mother had just arrived and took over EVERYTHING), I was TERRIFIED at the idea of having to birth in a hospital, alone, without my husband, without my midwife, and without knowing any of the birth team. I had prepared physically, mentally and emotionally for an Un-medicated, low risk home birth… I hadn’t even THOUGHT about the former… For the next week+, I talked to Reese every day and told her she needed to stay put a little longer (which is funny because my entire pregnancy, I spent telling her she could come anytime after Halloween, just not on my anniversary 😂). By the Tuesday of last week (my anniversary, of course), we had ALL tested negative, and naturally, by mid morning, I was having contractions… By Wednesday at 12:44am, we had Reese Olivia in our arms, in the quiet and comfort of our home, where I was able to relax and focus my energy on working through labor and birth, her sisters were able to meet her immediately, we were able to sleep in our own beds, and we were safely guarded from more exposure.
Though I was not at all expecting such a late term plot twist in my pregnancy journey, I am so incredibly GRATEFUL that our symptoms were mild, that we tested negative prior to her debut, and that we gave birth to a HEALTHY baby, without needing to sacrifice our birth plan…and we all now have a healthy boost of antibodies (silver linings) 😅. Our final member is finally here and I am so happy to formally introduce her to you🥰