I woke up at 2:12 with contractions that were 12 minutes apart. I knew they were real because I had had two bouts of “false” labor before this. I tried to stay in bed and sleep, to see if they were going to develop into anything. After an hour, they did. Around 3:30 am, the contractions were 6 minutes apart and fairly strong. I got out of bed, paced around, and sat on the exercise (or in this case, birthing) ball. It was quiet and peaceful in the house and I was trying to get some last minute laundry and cleaning done.
Then the contractions got serious. 4 minutes apart, about a minute long and I was moaning through them. I couldn’t really take them sitting down, and had to stand and walk around. I texted April (midwife) and had about 3 contractions that were 2 minutes apart. By this time it was 4 am and I called April. We decided to meet at the birth center at 4:45 am.
I woke up Stephen, saying, “I think this is it.” And he got right out of bed and helped me to get everything together and loaded in the car. He scooped up Sequoia and we started the drive. I was moaning and hating every stop, turn and jerk of the car. Sequoia kept asking what was wrong, and I was unable to answer her or tone down the noises.
We arrived at the birth center at about 5:00 am; I went straight inside and had a contraction right inside the door. April said something to the effect of “that’s good” in a way that I knew I was definitely in labor and it was the real thing. I walked through the kitchen, saw some boiling water and greeted Jayme, her student. She was getting things ready. I said I had some candles, but she was already lighting some and I was a bit bummed because I wanted my own candles very badly. Oh well. Stephen brought all the bags, etc. inside and Sequoia was set up with a video in the other room.
Things were intense and hard. The contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and I wasn’t getting a good break. I was in a lot of pain, and they kept telling me to breathe into my bottom, use low sounds, and keep my jaw loose. All wonderful suggestions, and all hard to do. I could not squat, sit, or lay down. I was pacing and moaning and “ooohhing”. I was very out of it and walking around with my eyes half open, staggering like a zombie. I would hang on Stephen every once in a while for a contraction and he would massage my back or shoulders. I told April I felt really disoriented, and she smiled and said I was in labor land. For sure. I was also pausing in between contractions for the Doppler to record baby’s heartbeat. Periodically, I was drinking juice and water, trying to keep something in my system for strength.
At about 5:45 they suggested I get in the shower, and although I didn’t really want to, I did. Stephen’s mom had gotten there by now and was with Sequoia. The water was too hot and I could not figure out how to cool it down. So, I kind of stood out of the spray and hung onto a high ledge as the contractions came. Sequoia peeked her head in and I slammed the shower curtain closed. I felt a little bad about that, but I jut couldn’t focus on her at all. What if she got scared, I didn’t want her to see me in the pain of labor. Someone decided Katy and Sequoia should go home. The contractions were easier in the shower, as April said they would be and seemed to space out. Soon after, I had the urge to poop. I knew I didn’t have to poop, but I got out and sat on the toilet anyway. Then the involuntary pushing started. I looked up at April and said, “What does this mean?” she replied sweetly, “I think this means you will be holding your baby very soon.” Those were the best words to hear! Then I told her, “I’m not doing this, my body is!” and I was so surprised because I thought I would be more involved in pushing. Oh no. Then, the growling started. Every time I would have pushing contractions, which were not anywhere NEAR as painful, a growl would come out of my mouth. I asked to get in the tub, and I had to wait until it cooled off a bit.
Finally they said I could get in (the water needed to be cooled) and the relief was immediate. I was squatting on the edge with my arms folded over the side. The legs were wide and the pushes kept coming. The growling was so crazy! Very primal and guttural, and I had no control over this part of labor at all. At one point, it was all quiet and the three people there were just sitting around and staring at me, I asked “So, just waiting, huh?” April responded, “Well, I didn’t think it was a good time to go get breakfast tacos” hahaha. There were a few moments when I cried a little bit and Jayme kept checking the heartbeat with the Doppler. This continued for about and hour.
Next, I felt like my legs were sore, and I wanted to lay back. I got into a semi-reclined position and started pushing as hard as I could with every contraction. I also asked Stephen to get the camera. I could feel the progression of the baby and the bulging in my bottom. I wanted the baby out and I was so worried because the baby felt so big and the pressure was so great, and I didn’t think I could be as big as I needed to be. After only a few strong pushes in this new position, I could feel stinging and then she shot out. It was a very intense stinging and I could tell I had torn. April caught her and told me to grab my baby. I pulled the baby on to my chest and looked while taking some deep breaths and marveling at the whole situation.
There was a lot of blood in the tub, April said she did not like that and started telling people what to do in a very commanding voice. Something was wrong. Too much blood. I had to be lifted out by Stephen and Jayme laid towels on the floor. I left a trail of bright red blood, and it was running down my legs. My feet were red. I got into bed and they gave me a shot of pitocin. She immediately started working on getting the placenta out. It did not feel good, but anything was better than labor. I did not feel any pain, but I was shaking a lot. I was cold, but also losing a lot of blood. I got another shot of pitocin and she got the placenta out. Then she asked if we knew what we had, and we didn’t so I lifted the baby and saw she was a girl! I was so surprised!! My bleeding slowed and things were o.k. Baby girl started nursing and I was feeling after pains already. We stayed at the birthing center long enough for me to shower, Stephen to run and get food, and everyone to rest. Sequoia and Katy had come back up so they could see little Camellia Wren. Then we drove home!
Then the contractions got serious. 4 minutes apart, about a minute long and I was moaning through them. I couldn’t really take them sitting down, and had to stand and walk around. I texted April (midwife) and had about 3 contractions that were 2 minutes apart. By this time it was 4 am and I called April. We decided to meet at the birth center at 4:45 am.
I woke up Stephen, saying, “I think this is it.” And he got right out of bed and helped me to get everything together and loaded in the car. He scooped up Sequoia and we started the drive. I was moaning and hating every stop, turn and jerk of the car. Sequoia kept asking what was wrong, and I was unable to answer her or tone down the noises.
We arrived at the birth center at about 5:00 am; I went straight inside and had a contraction right inside the door. April said something to the effect of “that’s good” in a way that I knew I was definitely in labor and it was the real thing. I walked through the kitchen, saw some boiling water and greeted Jayme, her student. She was getting things ready. I said I had some candles, but she was already lighting some and I was a bit bummed because I wanted my own candles very badly. Oh well. Stephen brought all the bags, etc. inside and Sequoia was set up with a video in the other room.
Things were intense and hard. The contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and I wasn’t getting a good break. I was in a lot of pain, and they kept telling me to breathe into my bottom, use low sounds, and keep my jaw loose. All wonderful suggestions, and all hard to do. I could not squat, sit, or lay down. I was pacing and moaning and “ooohhing”. I was very out of it and walking around with my eyes half open, staggering like a zombie. I would hang on Stephen every once in a while for a contraction and he would massage my back or shoulders. I told April I felt really disoriented, and she smiled and said I was in labor land. For sure. I was also pausing in between contractions for the Doppler to record baby’s heartbeat. Periodically, I was drinking juice and water, trying to keep something in my system for strength.
At about 5:45 they suggested I get in the shower, and although I didn’t really want to, I did. Stephen’s mom had gotten there by now and was with Sequoia. The water was too hot and I could not figure out how to cool it down. So, I kind of stood out of the spray and hung onto a high ledge as the contractions came. Sequoia peeked her head in and I slammed the shower curtain closed. I felt a little bad about that, but I jut couldn’t focus on her at all. What if she got scared, I didn’t want her to see me in the pain of labor. Someone decided Katy and Sequoia should go home. The contractions were easier in the shower, as April said they would be and seemed to space out. Soon after, I had the urge to poop. I knew I didn’t have to poop, but I got out and sat on the toilet anyway. Then the involuntary pushing started. I looked up at April and said, “What does this mean?” she replied sweetly, “I think this means you will be holding your baby very soon.” Those were the best words to hear! Then I told her, “I’m not doing this, my body is!” and I was so surprised because I thought I would be more involved in pushing. Oh no. Then, the growling started. Every time I would have pushing contractions, which were not anywhere NEAR as painful, a growl would come out of my mouth. I asked to get in the tub, and I had to wait until it cooled off a bit.
Finally they said I could get in (the water needed to be cooled) and the relief was immediate. I was squatting on the edge with my arms folded over the side. The legs were wide and the pushes kept coming. The growling was so crazy! Very primal and guttural, and I had no control over this part of labor at all. At one point, it was all quiet and the three people there were just sitting around and staring at me, I asked “So, just waiting, huh?” April responded, “Well, I didn’t think it was a good time to go get breakfast tacos” hahaha. There were a few moments when I cried a little bit and Jayme kept checking the heartbeat with the Doppler. This continued for about and hour.
Next, I felt like my legs were sore, and I wanted to lay back. I got into a semi-reclined position and started pushing as hard as I could with every contraction. I also asked Stephen to get the camera. I could feel the progression of the baby and the bulging in my bottom. I wanted the baby out and I was so worried because the baby felt so big and the pressure was so great, and I didn’t think I could be as big as I needed to be. After only a few strong pushes in this new position, I could feel stinging and then she shot out. It was a very intense stinging and I could tell I had torn. April caught her and told me to grab my baby. I pulled the baby on to my chest and looked while taking some deep breaths and marveling at the whole situation.
There was a lot of blood in the tub, April said she did not like that and started telling people what to do in a very commanding voice. Something was wrong. Too much blood. I had to be lifted out by Stephen and Jayme laid towels on the floor. I left a trail of bright red blood, and it was running down my legs. My feet were red. I got into bed and they gave me a shot of pitocin. She immediately started working on getting the placenta out. It did not feel good, but anything was better than labor. I did not feel any pain, but I was shaking a lot. I was cold, but also losing a lot of blood. I got another shot of pitocin and she got the placenta out. Then she asked if we knew what we had, and we didn’t so I lifted the baby and saw she was a girl! I was so surprised!! My bleeding slowed and things were o.k. Baby girl started nursing and I was feeling after pains already. We stayed at the birthing center long enough for me to shower, Stephen to run and get food, and everyone to rest. Sequoia and Katy had come back up so they could see little Camellia Wren. Then we drove home!
: Congratulations, mama! I love your daughter's name. Welcome, Camellia!
