With a due date of March 5th (previously March 2nd according to my OB in LA), we were still coasting along with pregnancy. I was feeling good both physically and mentally, continuing to Peloton, grow out of all maternity clothes and check off the baby’s to-do list. What remained: receiving her dresser, hanging nursery curtains, installing the car seat, packing a hospital bag and choosing a name. We were well and truly in the nesting phase…waiting, waiting, waiting. That’s the funny thing about the last month of pregnancy. The moment I hit 36 weeks, we were on baby watch. It was like an exhale knowing that if she did decide to come at any moment, we were ready. Ish.
Cut to the morning of February 11th. We woke up to a high of 29°F and freezing drizzle outside. Some would say that spontaneous delivery is related to falling barometric pressure, and I believe it 🙂 The driveway was icy, and we spent a large chunk of the morning trying to save the birds by putting up window stickers and scare tape. They’d been running into our windows nonstop for a few days, and I was determined to do something about it. Looking back on this makes me laugh because little did we know what was about to happen that afternoon. Don’t mind us! Just over here casually putting up bird stickers when in reality we should’ve been packing a bag. I actually jinxed everything when I put up an Instagram story saying “Here’s to hoping baby Kav doesn’t come today. Driveway is steeper than it looks!” Three hours later we’d be driving to the hospital.
I’d just hung up the phone with a friend in Argentina when the clock struck noon. I stood up from my chair and made my way over to the table when I felt it. A slow trickle. Not steady but not not steady. Of course the movement of fluid down there wasn’t uncommon for the third trimester. My body was doing overtime after all, but this hit different. It was around the same time that I ever so calmly (not really) asked Alex to install the car seat. I think I knew what was happening, but I put it in the back of my mind because I wasn’t sure. I’ve always thought water breaking was synonymous with a huge gush of liquid down your legs to pile out onto the floor beneath you. This wasn’t that. I texted my friend who was due only two days before me and said the following:
Just trying to keep it real over here. I had no clue what was happening, but I did eventually call my doctor after a few more minutes of wondering IF THIS WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING…and I got the following recording:
“Due to inclement weather, the clinic is closed today.” Lolololol. I hung up and started laughing. Nervous/excited laughter. Of course it would happen this way! Part of me loved the adventure, the other part of me was slightly concerned on next steps. Our driveway was steep and icy and we didn’t have 4wheel drive. The clinic was closed…but of course the hospital was still open. I called direct and asked to be transferred to Labor & Delivery. The sweet woman on the other end of the phone told me to put on a pad and if it was saturated within an hour…my water probably broke and to come in immediately. So I did just that.
The pad was saturated in 30 seconds.
Cue The Office meme…
The excitement was a rush. Alex had finished installing the car seat (!) and I think I yelled “MY WATER BROKE, I REPEAT MY WATER BROKE!” He was somewhere at the other end of the house already filling up a cooler with hot water. This baby was about to make her big debut, and he was just giving her a helping hand with 30+ trips to the ice field, also known as our driveway. The best daddy-to-be!
I called my mom and sisters to tell them the news and remained super calm. We spent the next hour and a half packing a bag and eating lunch. The woman from Labor & Delivery told me to eat something substantial because I may not get another chance once I was at the hospital depending on my birth plan. Mom came over and made some sandwiches as I double checked everything in our bag (will post in another blog if that’s helpful!). We took one last photo as a family of two, put a towel down in the passenger seat and headed out!
We arrived to the hospital a little before 3pm. We FaceTimed the Kavanaghs to tell them the big news, got all the gadgets and monitors set up and…we waited. Not a single contraction for hours. Our amazing nurse, Victoria, finally had to administer Pitocin to get them going…and going they did. She told me that I could request for the epidural at any time, so I delayed it a bit. The human body and its capabilities are wildly fascinating to me, and I wanted to experience the contractions that were coming on. All of a sudden, it felt like they went from 0 to 100, and those yoga breathing exercises definitely came in handy. The only way I can describe the pain is by comparing it to the worst menstrual cramps of your life, then timing that by 100. Shout out to the women who forgo the epidural. Shout out to the women who go for the epidural. At the end of the day, nobody gets a prize for either. It’s all a deeply personal journey, one that should be uplifted, cherished and celebrated.
Unbeknownst to me, Alex took a few photos to try and capture the moment.
Around 11:30pm, I was given the epidural. I immediately felt a rush of warmth throughout my lower body. I went from doing labored breathing exercises to a state of euphoria. The anesthesia allowed me to be more awake, alert and present in the moment until we decided to try and get some sleep. Around 2:55am, the doctor who was on-call came in for a cervix check. She looked at me and said, “Alright! Are you ready to have this baby!?” I was still super sleepy and *uber* relaxed, completely not expecting to be at 10cm. “Already?” I think I said…her reply was given in the immediate action of turning on all the lights and alerting the troops. In came about 5 nurses ready for their call of duty. It was high energy and an insanely beautiful memory. I wish I could relive this experience over and over for the rest of my life. I remember Alex handing a nurse a camera and the doctor guiding my legs into stirrups. Everyone was happy, excited and ready. My incredible team of doctors and nurses prepped me on how to push properly, and on their count I did 3 sets of 2 pushes and an extra for good luck. My mom always said I had baby-making/birthing hips, and she’s never been more right. After 7 pushes, my daughter had arrived.
Nora Blanche Kavanagh was born at 3:05am on February 12th. Throughout my entire pregnancy I always wondered what it would be like when they placed my baby on my chest like you see in the movies. I couldn’t grasp it…almost like the vision was impaired in my mind and better left for the real thing. The actual moment was pure, out-of-body, full of elation and larger than life. This 5 lb 15 oz baby girl was small but mighty as she pierced my soul with her big, dark eyes. With two Pisces in the immediate family, I thought Nora would join the ranks of the twelfth astrological sign in the Zodiac based on her due date. I love a good surprise and couldn’t be more excited for this Aquarius baby who just so happened to be born on the Lunar New Year and the Aquarius New Moon with 6 other planets also in Aquarius, even further amplifying the energy. This sun sign is intelligent, innovative, open-minded, forward-thinking and humanitarian-like. Aquarian energy asks us to embrace the out-of-the-box ideas and open ourselves up to world of limitles(s) possibilities. She is definitely my daughter!
Over the next 36 hours, we learned how to feed, burp, swaddle and cuddle the tiniest human I’d ever met. And one thing’s for sure: We’re still learning. The days (and nights!) are long, but the years are short. I know I’ll look up one day and she’ll be going off to college and I’ll cry my eyes out, aching for those sleepless nights and laundry-filled, messy days again. And to my partner, Alex…words fail me when I think about how to adequately express my gratitude for you. The way you take care of us and love this baby girl is immeasurable. We are so lucky to call you ours.
I get it now.
“It” being the unconditional love. The bond. How nothing else matters. I couldn’t and still cannot believe she is mine. Ours.
Kavanagh, party of THREE!
Love this! You are a beautiful family and are both going to be amazing parents to Nora.
The High you Have After giving Birth is the Biggest High i ever have had, my was mine was 41 years ago, I know The High Your Sharing
LOVE THIS! Congrats. Shes so precious. Please post your hospital bag blog when you get a moment 🙂
This is beautiful! Congratulations on your lovely family. Welcome to the world, Nora!
I’m not crying, you’re crying! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful birth story with us! So excited to follow this new journey.
😍 total perfection!! And please tell me that is chocolate chip banana bread in your first photo. Baby in one hand and banana bread in the other? Nothing gets better than that!
Wow, what a truly beautiful birth story. My daughter was born at 04:09am on 12th February 2020 so almost an exact birth twin but not quite! Being parents is such an honour and a job filled with love, tears, joy, doubt and every other possible emotion out there but it is all so worth it. All the best to the three of you xx
Shedding so many tears of joy for you guys! So proud of you. CAN’T WAIT TO MEET SWEET NORA.
Love you so much!
Oh my- the tears! What a wonderful experience and your relaxed state doesn’t surprise me at all. Enjoy the newborn deliciousness! Can’t wait to meet that sweet Nora girl. Hugs and so much love to you all! Love you 😘
Congratulations to you and Alex on precious Nora! She is beautiful. I remember sending you a private message that I thought you would have her very soon. She is perfect! I look forward to watching you be great parents to Nora.
Congratulations!
Beautiful story! Congratulations to the Kavs party of 3!
What a beautiful story…your story! Congratulations on your beautiful new addition! Lots of love, sleep filled nights your way.
Such a beautiful birth story. My daughter was born on Feb 11th 2018 and she just turned 3. Congratulations and soak up each moment! It goes so quickly 💜
This is the most beautiful story I’ve ever read 😭 my water just broke as well but I’m talking about my tear ducts lol. Congrats!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this story. How beautiful your family is. xo
Crying tears of joy over here! So happy for you all and can sense how much you all love each other through the screen!
Congrats and thanks for sharing a beautiful story! Our second son was born the same day as Nora and this had me in tears. Enjoy every moment!
Such a beautiful birth story! It’s been great following your journey from the Bachelor to love & motherhood. Thank you for sharing your life with us!
What a beautiful birth story! You are already rocking it as a mama and I love following your journey, wherever it may take you!
Her birth story put into words tears of joy for you guys💗 Welcome to parenthood where no one knows exactly what they are doing…but we just do it 💗 Congratulations
Love this so much! What a great reminder about the best laid plans in life😆 So happy for your beautiful family💗
So so beautiful. It’s a special bond mother’s have. We just had our baby girl in sept and i read and hear other women’s birth stories so differently now. I truly absorb them and appreciate each and every woman’s journey as they are all so unique and special. Congrats!
Sending joy, laughter, adventure and a life full of memories to add to your birth story.
Dang mama! <10 min of pushing?! You are a goddess!!! Motherhood is a role like none other; I know you’re cherishing every second. So much love to you 3 from MN! Xoxo
Wow, this mama here had tons of tears reading your birth story and it sure brought back memories for my two babies who are now college aged (my oldest son will turn 21 in March 5th…Nora’s due date, and my youngest is 19 1/2!!) Time sure does fly by so soak up those snuggles!! You are so blessed! She’s adorable and you and Alex will be fantastic parents!! All the best!!! ❤️👶🏻🍼
So beautiful and beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this experience with us. Wishing the Kavanagh Party of 3! all the best and a beautiful life ahead. Congrats!
That’s AWESOME!!! Congratulations! And you are right…the years fly by…enjoy every second, even the hard ones!!!❤️
The experience of becoming a mom is so special. I am so happy things went well and Nora is so sweet! Congratulations!!!
Beautiful, made me tear up. Thanks for sharing. I’m 20 weeks pregnant and I can’t wait to have my own birth story. Yours is beautiful.
Congrats! to a lovely couple. Welcome to the world baby girl Nora.
Congratulations! Beautifully written and detailed. I’m pregnant and this made me cry with happiness for you. So glad you had an uncomplicated birth with divine Baby Nora. Simply wonderful. Welcome to the Mommyhood💕💕💕
Such a beautiful birth story! I have followed you for years and am so so happy for you and Alex. Welcome to the world Nora Blanche Kavanagh! You’re a very special and lucky little girl to have such an amazing mom and dad. Cherish these days forever mama, they go by so fast. ❤ CONGRATULATIONS!
Love your story!! Those moments are priceless. Congratulations 💕
Such a beautiful story!! She’s definitely going to be a strong little one as she has already shown that on her clock. Such an amazing time and day to be born on. My daughter is an Aquarius and she did the exact same thing I felt so much power and my world being lifted upside down when she came into this world. Enjoy all of her. Congratulations 🎉🍾🎈🎊
Such a beautiful story! It brought tears to my eyes and instantly memories of my daughter’s birth last April came flooding back! My water broke as well, luckily I was at my 38 week appointment. It was the strangest feeling and I remember telling the nurse “umm I’m not sure if my water broke or if I just started peeing but it won’t stop!”
This is so wonderful – you are a beautiful writer! Nora Blanche is precious. I had my first baby a few weeks before you and this has inspired me to write my birth story down for me to look back on in the future. Our stories have some similarities – my due date was 1/29 and my water broke at home on 1/19!
My sweet daughter Allison Blanche was born the next morning 🙂