Welcome to the World, Forest Everett Garber!

IMG_1668 Look who’s here! Our third child was born on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at 6:38 in the morning. We are praising God for his healthy and speedy arrival.

FullSizeRender 2 I will treasure this picture forever! The joy and thankfulness we all felt in this photo is tangible, don’t you think?

We have had to spend a full two days at the hospital before going home because, for those familiar with labor and delivery, I was GBS positive and didn’t have time to receive the antibiotics before Forest was born. I took the opportunity of these quieter hours to write up a short birth story — because who knows how much time I’ll have for anything once I get home!

becca-garber-welcome-forest-everett-new-baby-1 My due date was May 19, but some ultrasounds had indicated that my due date might actually be May 17. After I fell on a slippery road two weeks ago, though, and no baby came, Elliott was beginning to feel like “the baby will never be born!” and “you might be pregnant forever!” I had such a long to-do list around the house, however, that I was in no rush for our baby to arrive any sooner than he wanted to. In a family poll guessing his due date, I said June 1, which would be exactly one day less than 42 weeks overdue. Maybe I was a little too generous with that estimation…

My mom arrived May 16, and at that point I felt ready to welcome the baby anytime, since she could take care of Lena and Gil at a moment’s notice. I still had some things I wanted to do — attend a final MOPS meeting, freeze a few meals if I had time, get a manicure and pedicure! — but mostly I was just relaxing and ready.

becca-garber-welcome-forest-everett-new-baby-7 The night of May 17, we hosted a large group of friends for dinner that were visiting from India and L.A. Elliott and I went to bed that night feeling tired and ready to sleep, and with no premonitions of what was to come. Elliott didn’t ask me if anything had changed (like he usually did 5xs/day), and I was glad he didn’t because I’d been noticing a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions once I got into bed. Could this be the early stages of labor? I didn’t want to get Elliott’s hopes up!

I woke up around 3am with steady but painless little contractions. When I timed them, they were about three minutes apart and lasting a minute. After about 30 minutes, Elliott woke up, we talked and finally began to gather a few final things to go to the hospital. It seemed early to go, despite the steady contractions, because I wasn’t in any pain.

Unfortunately, when we got up to pack, the contractions seemed to stop. Arg! We were so discouraged. Was this just a tease?

IMG_1806 We got back into bed, and my contractions had slowed down, but now they were getting more painful. Elliott timed them for about 15 minutes while I began to get a little worried that maybe now we’d waited too long. When we got out of bed this time, my teeth were chattering, and I told Elliott, “I think I’m in transition,” or getting very close to pushing. Elliott quickly woke my mom, we threw a few things in the car, and — at 5:20 am — we were on our way!

Within 15 minutes, we walked onto the labor and delivery floor, with Elliott carrying bags and pillows and a giant yoga ball, and me walking in a daze. A nurse brought us into a waiting room and asked us to fill out some admission paperwork, and I grabbed onto a chair during a painful contraction while Elliott said, “I think it’s too late for that.”

becca-garber-welcome-forest-everett-new-baby-3 Sure enough, by the time the nurse got me into a room a minute later and checked me, she had to hit the call bell right away, saying, “She’s complete, complete, and +2 station, ready to push!”

I didn’t have time to talk about my ‘birth plan,’ which it is why it is especially incredible how the next hour unfolded. I wanted to request the midwife on call be in charge of the delivery, and I wanted a quiet birthing experience with just a nurse and a midwife in the room. I didn’t want an epidural or other meds, and I preferred to do things naturally and peacefully at my own pace. My friend and nurse Melissa facilitated a wonderful birth for us and Gil in Sicily, and I was hoping to have something like that for this baby.

becca-garber-welcome-forest-everett-new-baby-2 Anyway, there I was, ready to push within 5 minutes of arriving on the floor. Just then, a woman walked into the room and introduced herself as the midwife, and I recognized her as a friendly, kind woman who’d done our baby’s 9-week ultrasound last October. Together, she and one nurse took over our care, and there was no one else in the room. The midwife, Sarah, asked me what I wanted to do to be comfortable, and she never once asked if I wanted an epidural. She facilitated a comfortable position for me and cheerfully coached me through delivery.

For me, pushing is my least favorite part of labor because I don’t have an urge to push like most women. I just have to tell myself, “OK, here’s a contraction, let’s do this” over and over. Elliott and the midwife were both laughing at my resigned attitude towards the task ahead of me each time I felt a contraction and prepared to push. I wasn’t in much pain, though, and since I didn’t have much choice in the matter, we made steady progress. Within about 30 minutes, Elliott lifted our son up for me to hold!

becca-garber-welcome-forest-everett-new-baby-4 Elliott both got to deliver the baby and cut the cord, and then we were able to take him in. The relief and emotional rush of those first few minutes with our brand new baby are incomparable. Over the next hour, as he snuggled close, skin to skin, and then began to nurse with effortless instinct, I thanked God over and over and over. I had felt anxious towards the end of this pregnancy, but here our baby was — 10 fingers, 10 toes, wonderfully and fearfully made. Thank you, thank you, thank you God!

IMG_1947 Once we settled in our recovery room, the urgent question became, “What shall we name him?” We had thought about many names for a long time, but we kept coming back to both Forest and Everett. In the end, we loved the combination of the two, as well as the strength of the name itself.

We called him Forest because he came into being last August when Elliott and I went on a hiking trip in the High Sierra backcountry of Yosemite. His life began in a forest! We also hope and pray that he will love and care for Creation and its Creator God all the days of his life.

Everett is a family name on my side, and Elliott has also always looked up to and admired C. Everett Koop, former Surgeon General of the United States, who tied together his faith, work, and public service in admirable ways, and who Elliott met when he was a little boy. Mostly, though, I just really like the name Everett!

becca-garber-welcome-forest-everett-new-baby-10 Forest has had some eager little visitors here at the hospital, and watching my parents and our children with him has been so sweet! Lena loves holding him quietly in bed and watching him and asking questions, and Gil meanwhile bounces around him like a rambunctious puppy, digs in his blankets for his feet, his nose or eyes before we can stop him, and overall terrifies us somewhat with his tough love. It’s going to be an exciting adventure when we get home….

I am so SO grateful for my mom. She’s taken incredible, creative, and energetic care of Lena and Gil, meaning that both Elliott and I can stay at the hospital and bond with Forest. The first night in the hospital, Elliott brought me sushi and champagne, and we had a celebratory feast. The second night we both held Forest and ate popcorn and watched Shakespeare in Love. Almost a vacation!

becca-garber-welcome-forest-everett-new-baby-6 These first 48 hours of Forest’s life have been so peaceful and joy-filled, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Thank you, thank you, God.

And now, Elliott and Forest, let’s go home and let the wild rumpus start!

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24 Responses to Welcome to the World, Forest Everett Garber!

  1. Monica May 20, 2016 at 10:53 am #

    Dear Becca,

    my warmest compliments to you sweet Becca… and WELCOME FOREST EVERETT TO THIS WONDERFUL WORLD!!!

    Your story is so full of beauty that, although I do not know you, I almost melt away in tears.

    All the blessings of heaven and earth to you and your so beautiful family, dear.

    Take care

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 12:58 pm #

      Such kind words! Thank you so much, Monica.

  2. Emily May 20, 2016 at 12:59 pm #

    So exciting!! Congratulations! What a blessing. :-)

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:03 pm #

      Thank you, Emily, he is indeed. :)

  3. Courtney Lynn Harris May 20, 2016 at 2:12 pm #

    Becca, I can FEEL the joy just radiating out of this post, and can’t help but share in it! Welcome little Forest! May your life be richly blessed!

    Congrats, again, Garbers! :)

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 12:59 pm #

      Thank you for your good wishes and kind words! We are covering him in prayer these early days.

  4. Maggie May 20, 2016 at 3:52 pm #

    I love this! You know how much I love reading everything you write, and this- wow- another great story! However you left out the email you sent me at 5:35 in the morning from the hospital to make sure that MOPs was running smoothly :)

    Love your family of five!
    MJjn

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:00 pm #

      So true… I needed that distraction to make it through the drive, although I do recall there were some spelling mistakes in that email that I wouldn’t ordinarily make!

  5. Monica May 20, 2016 at 4:05 pm #

    What an amazing birth story! Congrats to you and your lovely family. Welcome to the world, Forest!

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:00 pm #

      Thank you so much, Monica!

  6. Lucy May 20, 2016 at 4:21 pm #

    Reading this brings tears of joy to my eyes and great gratitude to the Lord to my heart. Thank the Lord for his great goodness to your family and to all of us grandparents and extended family, too.

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:00 pm #

      Amen. And he has shown us so much goodness through you!

  7. Alica May 20, 2016 at 6:11 pm #

    Congratulations Becca and Elliott!

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:01 pm #

      Thank you, Alica. Through this blog, you have watched us add a couple of children to our family now!

  8. Meg May 20, 2016 at 9:03 pm #

    It’s a beautiful story to be treasured always by Forest, you, Elliott, Lena, Gil, and the rest of us. Lots of thanks to God for bringing into being this new little one. I can’t wait to see the new Garber family!

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:01 pm #

      We can’t wait to see you either! Next week!

  9. Marie Gore May 20, 2016 at 9:59 pm #

    So happy to hear all has gone and is going well. We are very happy for y’all and will miss you at our family gathering next week. (Some people will do ANYTHING to get out of visiting!)

    :)

    Lots of love,

    A. Marie and all

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:02 pm #

      Haha we wish we could come! We are so glad the rest of my family will be there to represent, and we will be toasting Daniel and Claire from San Diego. Love you all!

  10. Joy May 21, 2016 at 11:55 am #

    Oh, Becca, I love this! Funny, I usually get the urge to push too soon, and it’s maddening to not be able to. But I can see how hard it would be to psyche yourself into pushing, too! Also, coincidentally, I watched Shakespeare in Love this past week with my older girls. It’s a fun movie.

    I love how/ why you chose Forest’s name. Yosemite is a special place for my family, too. It’s where Matt told me he loved me for thhe first time (through song! <3). I'm so excited to see/ read more about Forest in the days to come! Welcome, sweet little guy, and congratulations, Becca and Elliott! God bless!

    • Becca May 21, 2016 at 1:03 pm #

      Aww so fun to hear about Yosemite! That was the start of a very good love story between you two there! Look where God has taken you since.

      Thank you for your kind words and thoughtfulness!

  11. Gretchen B May 21, 2016 at 2:07 pm #

    Great, great story and post! The birth was much like my second, with its speed and euphoria of praise at the end. There’s nothing like that feeling!

    Welcome baby and congratulations to your most precious family. :)

  12. Clydette Powell May 23, 2016 at 6:42 pm #

    Becca, I could not wait to read your blog tonight and see the photos. What a gift this little guy is in your lives, what a fun time Lena and Gil will have their new brother, and what a great choice you and Elliott made in each other!! Hooray and hallelujah! Can’t wait to meet Forest, so let us know when you are back in VA!! Hugs and love, Clydette

  13. Judy Burdett June 28, 2018 at 4:48 pm #

    Just now reading these about your other children’s births. Love how you can express yourself. My kids were all born here in Papua New Guinea. All slightly different with one having to be delivered with a suction as he had the cord around his neck twice. 3 of my 4 had to have phototherapy due to being severely jaundiced. Brian, the one delivered with a suction, was just slightly jaundiced due to the bruising on his head from the suction. All very traumatic with the postpartum emotions. But thankful for good doctors and midwives then. Now everyone goes home or to Australia to have their babies as the facilities have deteriorated drastically here.

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  1. Welcome, Amos Elliott! // His Birth Story - Becca Garber - June 25, 2018

    […] birth story is here. Forest’s birth story is here. And Lena was born before this blog […]

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