Thanks!
Birth story:
I was having contractions starting from like 3 in the afternoon, but not thinking too much of it, because of all that prodormal labor I'd been having for weeks. But, I knew this was most likely "it" because fo the bloody show. So just in case, I kind of puttered around and got things neat and tidy. There wasn't too much to do since all I've been doing lately is cleaning. : P
The contractions continued but I could barely feel them when I was in the bathtub or in hypnosis, so I still wasn't convinced, but when I got out of the water or came out of hypnosis, boy was I uncomfortable and irritable. DH had come home at about 5:40 or so and he took the boys (2 and 4) to his parents house, just in case. Then, on my orders, he called the midwives and canceled the prenatal appointment I had scheduled for 6:30 pm. I didn't feel like getting dressed and experiencing these contractions in the car, and I didn't want to chance having the baby in the car. Also I was feeling very antisocial and didn't want to talk to anyone which is why I made DH do all the talking.
During the next couple of hours I took turns listening to my hypnosis cd in bed, and sitting/resting in the bath, and sitting on the couch with DH and watching a movie. The watching the movie thing didn't last long at all, because I was way more comfortable when I was listening to my HypnoBabies or in the tub. I was pretty irritable and I remember thinking the contractions were NOT fun and I just wanted it all to be over. I was pretty sure this was "it" now and I was annoyed it was taking so long (I was so spoiled by my super quick second labor!)
BTW, I was drinking plenty of red raspberry leaf tea with honey throught the afternoon and evening-- probably a gallon altogether, I guess-- and I had to keep running to the bathroom to pee with almost every contraction which was SO annoying. Also, lots of loose bowels movements and my poor bottom started to feel quite sore. I hated that part. I would've been much more comfortable if I could've just stayed in bed with my hypnosis the whole time, no running to the bathroom! Oh well.
DH called the midwives and told them to head on over at this point. The student midwife, A, arrived about 2 hours later. She took some information and listened to the baby's heartbeat for a while. All was great! I told her pretty soon after she got there that I felt pushy but I think we both were skeptical. The contractions were still the kind that I could easily get through with hypnosis, even though they weren't fun at all.
A few minutes later I yelled at DH to refill the bathtub with fresh hot water. I was WAY uncomfortable now and definitely feeling pushy. The contractions were much more intense all of a sudden. I could not relax the way I could before, I could not get comfortable. I started crying and saying I wanted to die.
DH had the water going and I tried to climb into the water but it was TOO hot! I yelled at DH reproachfully and tried to communicate to him that he needed to mix some cold water in there, but it wasn't coming out right. So I did it myself, all the while complaining and whining loudly about the contractions which were AWFUL. I don't think there was any definable break between the contractions at this point-- just horrible painful peaks.
I finally got the water a good temperature and got in the tub but no position was comfortable. I had to get out to poop again and that was SO uncomfortable. Then I got back into the water-- still could not get comfortable-- still wanting to just die and have it over with-- I finally settled into a squat and then the uncontrollable pushing took over. I pooped again in the water as I pushed and this time I was, though definitely grossed out in some distant part of my mind, way too deep in laborland to care now. I yelled at DH to squat or kneel in front of me and I leaned on his shoulders and PUSHED. Eliza's head came out incredibly easily! I reached down and felt her hair! That was amazing! The pain had passed as soon as I pushed her head out and now I felt very powerful and in control-- if rather tired and eager to get it over with.
I told DH, "that's her head, feel her hair" and he was shocked and yelled for the student midwife, who had gone to get something and had missed the last contraction. They were both very surprised that I was already pushing the baby out, and I did feel rather smug.
I don't think anyone understood how far along I was because I had been handling the contractions better, and was more relaxed, due to the HypnoBabies. I definitely
appeared much more in control and centered than I
felt.
So, after I pushed the head out I felt such a wave of relief and the contractions were gone. I remember we all kind of just waited there for a minute but it felt like much longer. I started to feel worried because there were no other contractions or urges to push. I tried pushing a bit anyway but it did nothing. A was asking questions about whether I was having a contraction and she was checking the baby. Then she told me I needed to push her out right now and to stand up out of the water and push her out. I did, and tried to push the best I could, but the baby just wasn't moving at all. My body wasn't working with me anymore. At that point A reached in and pulled out the baby's right shoulder (um, OUCH!!!!) and then I had another contraction and was able to push her out the rest of the way easily and quickly. She came out with a bunch of meconium, and covered in cheesey vernix. (Our dates were probably a bit off-- or at least she definitely was not overly done despite her size.)
She was all blue and floppy, but we got her up on my chest and covered in a towel and rubbed her down and she started breathing right away. I wasn't worried when she came out blue as I just intuitively knew that she was fine. Still in the bathroom, I was sitting on the toilet seat lid with her and I remember my tailbone was SO SORE sitting there so we carefully moved over to the bed where I delivered the placenta.
All this had happened in about 45 minutes from the time the student midwife first showed up! The other midwife still wasn't there, but it turned out she had been stuck outside the building while the baby was being delivered because everyone was too busy to let her in!
A did great, though, helong us with her stuck shoulder and all. I was so glad she was there for that.
Eliza had plenty to say about what she apparently felt was a very disappointing entrance into the world. I think being stuck for two and a half minutes was probably scary for her. She started nursing within minutes though, like she'd been nursing her whole life (hmmm) and then she settled down to sleep.
The afterpains were the WORST. Still are. Thank goodness for ibuprofen. OWWWW!!!!
DH went and picked up the boys right away because they were still awake at Grammy and Grandpa's and we're crazy and we missed them and wanted them there that night. They were thrilled to see the baby and then they fell right asleep in their bed-- it was so late. It was an uneventful night after that-- so nice to be in our own bed all cuddled together as a family. : )
And that's about it so far.
Darn, I can't get my photos to work-- will update with photos soon, I promise!!!
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