Oliver's Birth Story and Fresh 48 Photos at Martha Jefferson Hospital | Charlottesville Newborn Photographer

As many of you know, my second baby boy — Oliver Lee Richards — was born Feb. 3, making him just 5 days old today. His birth story is almost the complete opposite of my firstborn, so I wanted to share!

Like his big brother, though, Oliver was late — by a full seven days! My husband and I arrived at Martha Jefferson Hospital at 10 a.m. on the 3rd for an induction. I was super nervous, because I really wanted another natural, low-intervention birth.

After we got checked in, I was given 25mg of Cytotec, a pill that's used to soften the cervix. Because I was already having small contractions (I couldn't feel them), one dose was all I needed to move things along.

I had to be monitored for about two hours after being given the pill, so while we waited, Tyler and I watched TV and ate lunch. At the end of monitoring, I was 4 centimeters and 80 percent effaced (at my last doctor's appointment, I was 3 and 70). We were in for a long night, I thought.

Once I was unhooked, we walked a few laps around the Labor & Delivery floor. Even at this point, contractions were completely manageable.  

Then 4:30 p.m. came around, and contractions turned super painful. To manage, I got into the shower and the jacuzzi tub. When I needed something, I could only point to it and hope Tyler knew what I meant. 

By about 5:45, I started to feel the need to push. I was whisked out of the tub and brought over to the bed for another quick check. I thought for sure there was no way I'd progressed that quickly (my labor with Tucker was over 24 hours!). But I was 9 centimeters and 100 percent and was given the OK to start pushing. 

Pushing Oliver was the hardest 10 minutes of my life. I screamed (a lot) and told Tyler multiple times I couldn't do it anymore. But finally, at 6:02 p.m., there he was — all 8 pounds, 9 ounces of him. We are all so in love!

*All photos by Tyler and me :)

Shortly after I arrived at the hospital.

Before his first bath.

I always want to remember when he was this small!

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Laura Richards is a newborn & family photographer and filmmaker based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in lifestyle and documentary sessions and heirloom print art. Check out 7 reasons you'll love your own LRP experience here.