We are onto the fifth and final Bradford kiddo birth story. This is Tavin Lynn Bradford's story of how he entered earthside. It's definitely bittersweet to write about my last planned baby. Excited to never be uncomfortably pregnant again and not have to go through labor but this is the last time I will hold one of my fresh newborns and bring them home to meet their siblings. Onto the story! On Wednesday, November 8, 2023 I woke up feeling a bit anxious because I hadn't felt baby Tavin move in the belly. Ate an orange and a smoothie and after a while he finally gave me a big old kick to the ribs! I was definitely done being pregnant and was just so tired. I had had contractions the whole week before but they would stop after a time. This morning I thought it was much the same so I picked up the house, sent my oldest three boys to school and tried to keep the current toddler (McKay) out of trouble. Around lunch time I decided I really needed a good turkey sandwich and informed Trevor of this when he came home for lunch. So I packed myself and McKay up in the car and drove to the Silver Silo on the other side of Cedar to buy my sandwich. On the way I called my sister Rachel and told her I was so done with being pregnant and that I was having random contractions again. During that 40 minute conversation I had about 3-4 more contractions and Rachel begged me to please call Mom. My mom had missed the other births because I always called her too late. I also needed to get to the birthing suite in the hospital a little earlier then I usually did because I tested positive for the group strep b test and needed an antibiotic treatment or two while I was in labor before I pushed the baby out. I did call my mom and told her what had been going on and she begged me to go get checked at the hospital. I then called Trevor and informed him of what was going on and he said he would meet me at home in 10 minutes. So McKay and I drove home and I ate my delicious turkey sandwich. Trevor showed up and we grabbed all of our bags and took McKay over to the Howe's house. The Howe's are our awesome neighbors who were in charge of all the other boys while we were having a baby. The whole way to the birthing suite in the hospital I told Trevor they are going to send me home! He would wait until I had another contraction and then I would say never mind lets go! We checked into the birthing suite around 3:30 pm and low and behold I was at 4 cm! The nurse quickly got me started on my first round of antibiotics. It only took about 20 ish minutes and then she unhooked me and I was then free to do my thing. I was a little worried because my CNM Josie Jensen was out of town so Doctor Johnson from Cedar Ridge Family Medicine was covering for her. The nurse quickly assured me that he was super mellow jello and was familiar with the birthing suite. I started wandering the labor and delivery halls during contractions and called my friend Corrine who then proceeded to tell me funny stories to keep me distracted. I didn't want to stay in the room because I didn't like feeling cooped up. My mom got to the birthing suite around 5:30 pm so I talked with her and Trevor for a bit during more contractions in the room. After a while I wandered the halls again and called my baby brother Jared and demanded that he sing me a Broadway or pop song during contractions to keep me distracted. My sweet brother obeyed. It really hurts to laugh by the way during a contraction. At 7:10 pm I needed to be hooked up again to receive my second dose of antibiotics and I was dilated to 8 cm. I decided to rock and stay on my hands and knees on the big old bed to get through the last bit. Every time a contraction hit then I yelled at Trevor to please squeeze my hips together to help relieve some of the pain and he quickly did. When I got to 9 cm I yelled that Trevor needed to please get the snip snip because I was not doing this again! I then screeched I was pooping and peeing on the bed which I did a little bit but it was more of my water breaking and the baby's head was coming down like a freaking bolder and that ring of fire man is no joke! The nurse and doctor quickly ran into the room and the doctor climbed right up on the bed behind me to assist and even had Trevor catch the baby because I was too busy screeching and clinging to a stack of pillows while on my hands and knees. It was the first time Trevor got to catch a baby because normally I hang onto him. Tavin you quickly entered this world and you are absolutely freaking perfect! You came out with a full head of red brown hair. The same current color as your Daddy's. Grandma Liz even got to cut your umbilical cord. You weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and were 20 inches long and was born at 7:51 pm. We sure love you Tator Tot!
