1st Time Mom & Her Rainbow: Riar’s Birth Story
If there is one thing that birth teaches us, it’s the fact that each one is truly a unique experience. Here’s first-time mom, Krystal’s story about Riar, her rainbow baby.
“His due date was May 6th 2019 but he surprised us 6 weeks early on March 26th 2019 at 8:29 am. He was 5lbs. 7oz and 18 1/2 inches long. Riar spent 18 days in the NICU before we got to bring him home.”
“Labor started March 26th 2019 at 1:00 am. Being a first time mom I thought I had peed my pants when my water broke 6 weeks early. I wasn’t nervous or scared until my OBGYN got there. I knew he was going to the NICU but I knew he was going to be getting the best care.”
“It was toward the end of March so the weather was beginning to warm up but I remember it was cold when we left for the hospital and I couldn’t find a hoodie that fit.”
“My contractions were fine at first but hurt way worse than I expected when they really got going. I didn’t handle them well, and I’m pretty sure I almost broke my husbands hand. I couldn’t wait for my epidural., and I didn’t have much time to think or make any plans since he came so early.”
“My husband’s Aunt and Uncle came. So it was nice to have family there to visit with. But when the time came it was just me and Dewayne and Stephanie Ralls (our amazing birth photographer) plus all the doctors and nurses. I was in labour for 7 and a half hours!”
“I remember my OBGYN coming into the room asking what I was doing there because I was supposed to have a check up that afternoon. I told her I don’t know and she said ok well let’s do this.”
“I remember the oxygen mask stabbing me in the eye as I pushed. I kept asking my husband if he could see anything, and he kept saying no.”
“I remember hearing my doctor tell the nurse to stop that c-section scheduled at 8:30 because Riar was stuck. After a brief conversation discussing my options, she told me if I allowed her to use the forceps and to give her one more good push she could get him.”
“Next thing I know here’s a baby and my husband saying, ‘OMG, he has a head full of curly hair!’ First time I’ve ever seen my husband cry.”
Krystal remembers the first time she saw her son … “Full on tears of joy. I’m a bit biased but he was the cutest baby I had ever seen. I only got to hold him for a few minutes before he had to go to the NICU. It was a love I had never felt before. I was so glad he was finally here.”
“I got sent home two days later then I drove 40 minutes back and forth the next 16 days to be with my son before he was able to come home.”
Congratulations to Krystal and Dewayne on the awesome delivery and new journey with rainbow baby Riar!
