Kamsiyo Ozinna Egwuatu's birth story

Baby Ozi’s Birth Story

watch the IG Reel above then dive right into Kamsiyo Ozinna’s birth story below💜

my birthday came and went on 4/7.

my due date came and went on 4/8.

by Easter morning i was 40w2d and extra eager for things to get started! i had been losing my mucus plug over the last few days, but light, random contractions were the only thing happening since i woke up. Sonny planned for us to do Easter service online but i saw no reason not to go sit in church and just come right back. i told him we’d be fine…and we were thankfully. our Pastor definitely wasn’t expecting us to be in service so it was hilarious to see his face at the sight of my still pregnant belly!

church was crazy crowded and we were directed to the overflow room as soon as we walked in the building, but that’s a great “problem”, right! i was so glad we were able to hear and experience the Easter message in person. we headed home and even stopped for an ice cream outing and our last few pics as a family of six.

once home though, we got super serious and made sure that everyone was %100 ready to go at any moment. we hung out together and enjoyed a family dinner from Chilis as i continued to track my light contractions. at one point around 10pm, the contractions began to get 7, then 6 minutes apart, but they were still super bearable. i went to draw myself a warm bath and sat in the tub for about 30 minutes. Sonny was hoping for an Easter baby and almost had the kids load up into the truck lol but the contractions became random again soon after. around midnight i got tired of the contractions playing with my emotions and went to bed!

5am monday morning 4/10, the contractions woke me up. they were noticeably more intense and i began to track again immediately. i got up and began running some warm bath water; my plan was to labor in the tub at a home a good while and eventually head to the hospital once it was time. however, i stepped out of my underwear to get in the tub and my water broke! i was torn because progress was happening but now we had to go straight to the hospital since i was leaking amniotic fluid. the contractions were still bearable so i knew i couldn’t be that far along. i decided to go ahead and get in the tub while Sonny woke & rounded up the other kiddos; he dropped them off at his brother’s house and was back less than 15 minutes later. i heard the garage door go up so i got out the tub, got dressed, and headed downstairs to grab half a bagel with cream cheese. i popped my prenatal pill and hopped in the truck. the contractions didn’t rev up right away like i expected them to; i kept thinking of my last birthing experience with Nosi and how this hospital ride was easy peasy compared to hers! once in triage around 6am, a quick test confirmed that i was, in fact, leaking amniotic fluid.

however, after a cervical check i was only at 3cms! discouraged? pretty much. i literally had to remind myself out loud that this L & D journey was its own and to stop comparing my other births. it was ultimately already in God’s hands.. but how quickly our minds take thoughts and run wild with them! we even obsess over the negative and totally discard the positive things also happening. we prayed about every decision we would have to make moving forward….and that was that.

the laboring journey continued once we got to our delivering room. i bounced on the stability ball for a while, did some squatting, and paced around through each contraction. i was checked again around 11a and had progressed to 5cms. “how much longer!?!?!” and, “why isn’t my body going as fast as it did with Nosi!?” is all i could hear echoing in my head. my L & D nurse was keeping my doctor well informed of my progress and she presented me with some options as the contractions became more intense and closer together. i could keep laboring until i eventually got to 10, or get an epidural + a very low dose of pitocin to help my body progress. i chose the latter option and didn’t look back. by 12 noon the epidural was in, the pitocin was flowing, and i was resting and chatting with Sonny about meeting our baby girl soon. at 1:40pm, my L & D nurse checked my cervix, pulled back, and said, “yep, you’re ready. it’s time.” my OB was on her way and i couldn’t believe i was at 10cms already!

Sonny was on the phone updating his youngest sister when we finally reached 10cms. she is also due soon and it was such a joy to be on this pregnancy journey with her! i got so emotionally overwhelmed at the thought of holding our baby girl in just a few minutes and shed a few tears; it was finally happening.

God blessed us with yet another incredible L & D nurse; i enjoyed learning more about her during our time together. she was so encouraging and willing to listen to my concerns and requests. i say it every time i give birth… what a job. my OB came in, hugged me, and put on her cape & gloves💪🏽

the room brightened immensely and a familiar feeling washed over me, lol. it was GO time. 3-4 pushes and Kamsiyo Ozinna Egwuatu came into the world at 2:00pm holleriiiiiin’!! she was only 20.5 inches, but the heaviest of all her sibling at 8 lbs.

even though this was my 5th child and vaginal delivery, i have never looked up at the mirrors (does your hospital or birthing center provide this option??) to see the baby coming out, y’all. never. i’ve also never watched a vaginal birth video either. like ever! during our birthing class for our first born back in 2011, i looked away during that portion😳🙈. but this time, i said i would look and take it all in…….. and i did! my OB was so intentional about showing me when baby Ozi was crowning, when her 1st shoulder popped out, and then everything else, haha. i am so appreciative that she honored my request; i just LOVE my OB.