Hi Everyone.
After weeks of prodromal labor....my little girl was born at home on March 24th...5:08AM!!!! I dont have time to actually write the birth story in a way that really captures the essence.. but here are some of the details:
Tuesday, March 24th I took Grant and my parents to the Lake of the Ozarks State Park. It was amazing to get away & forget about labor. We played on the beach, gathered shells and driftwood and just relaxed. It was awesome and refreshing. I had contractions from about noon on but did not think much about them.
That evening the contractions started becoming more intense. I took note but still did not get too excited. If I learned anything over the past 3 weeks, it was that prodromal labor can get you down if you let it.
12AM: I put Grant to sleep at midnight (yes he goes to bed that late) and spent a little extra time rocking him just for the pure pleasure of it. It ran through my mind that this might be our last cuddle with him as the only child...and I savored it. I had a "this is your life" kind of reflection.
12:30AM Trying to sleep was a good idea in theory, but the contractions were too intense to let me. Instead I got up and started using an online contraction timer while working around the house. The contractions were about 10 minutes apart and lasted around 45 seconds. They seemed to be gaining in intensity and were pretty uncomfortable, but were still without a true pattern.
1:30AM I noticed a shift in frequency, duration and power. They started coming 3 and 4 minutes apart (but never had a definitive pattern), some lasting over a minute and were downright intense. I still was not convinced this was real (der) but tossed around the idea of waking my husband.
2:15AM I woke up my husband and had a contraction so I walked out of the room to clock it. Upon returning I found him sleeping again! MEN. I threatened him
and then had to walk out for another contraction. Then we set up the birthing tub in the kitchen. I figured even if we didnt end up using it tonight, it would be ready for whenever.
3:15AM My husband thought we should call our birthing support team (I was still unsure...I hate to bother good folks while they are sleeping) so I did. I told my doula not to rush (ha). My midwife said she wanted to come right over and see how things were going. By 3:30AM I was really working on getting through each contraction...but was in an excellent mood between.
4AM: Midwife and her assistant show up. I was groaning through each contraction at this point and feeling the urge to push. She wanted to check me but I resisted. I was afraid to hear that I was only 4cm or something. After awhile my husband encouraged me to go ahead and get checked so I could get in the tub if I was far enough along (generally 5cm is a cool). That was enough to persuade me...and sure enough I was fully dilated! I cried...OK I bawled with happiness and went around and hugged everyone. Then I made a B line for the tub.
4:45: Doula shows up just after I enter the pool. The tub felt amazing. I was able to relax a bit before the real work began. My water broke abour 10 minutes in. I stayed on my knees with hands resting on the tub rail. I pushed for 23 minutes...a big improvement upon Grants birth..where I pushed over 2.5 hours.
5:08AM Bronwyn was born!!!! I turned over and she was set on my belly. The cord was short- she barely made it out of the water! She was pink and wide eyed and quiet. Then she let out a little timid cry...so cute. But that was it. No need to suction. She acted like being born was no big deal! It was truly an extremely gentle birth. Grant had been sleeping the entire labor and birth but instantly awoke when Bronwyn was out! It was SO perfect. He came out and his face was priceless...it was Christmas to the nth degree. He clapped and squealed and was giddy with delight. I will NEVER forget his reaction to her.
I stayed in the tub till the umbilical cord stopped pulsating..then it was cut and we both exited. I sat down to nurse her and she suprised me with instant latch! She was so quiet the whole time...but with eyes wide open. Then I passed her off to the waiting family. My midwife cleaned me up and took care of me first. Then she examined the baby...she was perfect. She weighed around 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 20 inches long. My doula boiled the herbs I had collected and made ice wraps and body wash out them. It was a joyous birthday celebration.
It was indeed the homebirth I had dreamed of. And all that early labor paid off with a fast and relatively easy (relatively I said) active labor and birth. Water birth is the ONLY way to fly..Im serious. There is NO other way to birth...at least in my book. Fortunately I will never have to test that because Bronwyn was and is our grand finale! So thats my experience in a itty bitty nut shell.
:
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rrent=R1-4.jpg
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...safirstday.jpg
After weeks of prodromal labor....my little girl was born at home on March 24th...5:08AM!!!! I dont have time to actually write the birth story in a way that really captures the essence.. but here are some of the details:
Tuesday, March 24th I took Grant and my parents to the Lake of the Ozarks State Park. It was amazing to get away & forget about labor. We played on the beach, gathered shells and driftwood and just relaxed. It was awesome and refreshing. I had contractions from about noon on but did not think much about them.
That evening the contractions started becoming more intense. I took note but still did not get too excited. If I learned anything over the past 3 weeks, it was that prodromal labor can get you down if you let it.
12AM: I put Grant to sleep at midnight (yes he goes to bed that late) and spent a little extra time rocking him just for the pure pleasure of it. It ran through my mind that this might be our last cuddle with him as the only child...and I savored it. I had a "this is your life" kind of reflection.
12:30AM Trying to sleep was a good idea in theory, but the contractions were too intense to let me. Instead I got up and started using an online contraction timer while working around the house. The contractions were about 10 minutes apart and lasted around 45 seconds. They seemed to be gaining in intensity and were pretty uncomfortable, but were still without a true pattern.
1:30AM I noticed a shift in frequency, duration and power. They started coming 3 and 4 minutes apart (but never had a definitive pattern), some lasting over a minute and were downright intense. I still was not convinced this was real (der) but tossed around the idea of waking my husband.
2:15AM I woke up my husband and had a contraction so I walked out of the room to clock it. Upon returning I found him sleeping again! MEN. I threatened him
and then had to walk out for another contraction. Then we set up the birthing tub in the kitchen. I figured even if we didnt end up using it tonight, it would be ready for whenever.3:15AM My husband thought we should call our birthing support team (I was still unsure...I hate to bother good folks while they are sleeping) so I did. I told my doula not to rush (ha). My midwife said she wanted to come right over and see how things were going. By 3:30AM I was really working on getting through each contraction...but was in an excellent mood between.
4AM: Midwife and her assistant show up. I was groaning through each contraction at this point and feeling the urge to push. She wanted to check me but I resisted. I was afraid to hear that I was only 4cm or something. After awhile my husband encouraged me to go ahead and get checked so I could get in the tub if I was far enough along (generally 5cm is a cool). That was enough to persuade me...and sure enough I was fully dilated! I cried...OK I bawled with happiness and went around and hugged everyone. Then I made a B line for the tub.
4:45: Doula shows up just after I enter the pool. The tub felt amazing. I was able to relax a bit before the real work began. My water broke abour 10 minutes in. I stayed on my knees with hands resting on the tub rail. I pushed for 23 minutes...a big improvement upon Grants birth..where I pushed over 2.5 hours.
5:08AM Bronwyn was born!!!! I turned over and she was set on my belly. The cord was short- she barely made it out of the water! She was pink and wide eyed and quiet. Then she let out a little timid cry...so cute. But that was it. No need to suction. She acted like being born was no big deal! It was truly an extremely gentle birth. Grant had been sleeping the entire labor and birth but instantly awoke when Bronwyn was out! It was SO perfect. He came out and his face was priceless...it was Christmas to the nth degree. He clapped and squealed and was giddy with delight. I will NEVER forget his reaction to her.
I stayed in the tub till the umbilical cord stopped pulsating..then it was cut and we both exited. I sat down to nurse her and she suprised me with instant latch! She was so quiet the whole time...but with eyes wide open. Then I passed her off to the waiting family. My midwife cleaned me up and took care of me first. Then she examined the baby...she was perfect. She weighed around 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 20 inches long. My doula boiled the herbs I had collected and made ice wraps and body wash out them. It was a joyous birthday celebration.
It was indeed the homebirth I had dreamed of. And all that early labor paid off with a fast and relatively easy (relatively I said) active labor and birth. Water birth is the ONLY way to fly..Im serious. There is NO other way to birth...at least in my book. Fortunately I will never have to test that because Bronwyn was and is our grand finale! So thats my experience in a itty bitty nut shell.
:http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rrent=R1-4.jpg
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...safirstday.jpg
