Ashley Bass Pregnancy and Birth Story

Ashley is a mom of two little ones and a blogger at oh-yellow.com. She loves chatting with new moms about pregnancy, babies, and all the newness that comes with becoming a mom.

Was your pregnancy planned or a surprise?

Planned! We planned our second baby’s conception a few months after having a second miscarriage.

If planned, how long did you try to conceive?

We had been thinking about it for a couple of months, then we decided to try and got pregnant THAT DAY!

How did you share the news with your partner, family, and friends?

I set up toy blocks spelling out “big brother” on our son’s crib, then put him in it for my husband to come in and see. Then we went simple and just called everyone with the news 🙂

Which was your favorite trimester?

Second! First trimester was full of nausea and sickness and the third was just super uncomfortable. But second wasn’t too bad!

What was your pregnancy must have?

I drank A LOT of chocolate milk and snuggled with my pregnancy pillow nightly 🙂

Did you find out the gender?

Yep! We brought our 18-month-old with us into the ultrasound and were so excited to see it was another boy!

Were there any complications throughout your pregnancy?

At 40 weeks, my ultrasound didn’t go well. The nurse told me that they rank fetal distress on a scale of 1 to 8, with 8 being best. My baby scored only a 3. Thankfully, he ended up being fine!

Did you go into labor naturally or were you induced?

They sent me to the hospital just after the low fetal distress score and induced me early the next morning.

How long were you in labor?

Only about 3 hours! We were NOT expecting that!

Did you get an epidural or go all natural?

I planned and WANTED to have an epidural, but things moved so quickly that it didn’t arrive in time. I thought that only happened in movies! NOPE.

What was the best and worst part about labor and delivery?

The best part was having my husband there with me. He took amazing care of me. The worst part was that it happened SO fast that I barely understood what was happening! The pain meds made me loopy, so I was really confused about WHY it felt like he was coming even though I hadn’t had an epidural yet! He popped out a minute later with NO pushing whatsoever. It was very intense and a little scary!

Were there any complications with your delivery?

Just that it happened so fast that my midwife barely made it into the room in time to catch him!

Give us the stats!!

10:48 am, 20 in long, 7lbs 1oz, boy

What was the hardest thing about the first few weeks of motherhood?

Not sleeping. Ever. I think this is something moms-to-be can’t understand before experiencing it. It’s so incredibly hard to function on no sleep, especially when you are recovering and have more than one little life depending on YOU.

Related: Prepare for Newborn Sleep with “Baby We’re Home! Now Let’s Sleep”

What is the best advice you received as a new mom?

It’s ok not to entertain baby 24/7! It’s so good for them to just hang out and explore the world around them. And it makes a big difference when they already know some independence as a toddler!

What is your best advice for expectant or new moms?

Becoming a mom probably won’t meet your expectations and that’s ok. Your baby might throw you curve balls or you might change your mind on things once it’s a reality. That’s allowed. Just love them, give yourself grace, and do your best.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey to motherhood?

After two miscarriages, two healthy pregnancies and births, and raising two toddlers, I’m STILL constantly learning and adapting. SO much of parenting depends on your kids’ personalities and just finding a balance of intentionality and survival. Be gracious to them and to yourself!

You can read more tips about pregnancy and motherhood on Ashley’s blog Oh Yellow.

DISCLOSURE: Coffee and Coos is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

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