I feel blessed to be term after a subchorionic hemorrhage at 11 weeks. I have a healthy, wiggle baby, how lucky I am. Working on patience and trying not to focus on discomforts. Our youngest turns one year today, it is still funny, LOL.
Eiley Emma's birth story 8/10/08, our 7th HB, 6th UC
I awoke Sunday morning a bit crabby. I was feeling so huge, tired and discouraged. I had been awake the night before for an hour or two. As Jeff and I were snuggling in bed my mom called. She wanted to come over after making a trip to Costco to bring us some yummies. I was cranky on the phone and said I definitely needed a nap today so she could come over after naptime, 3pm, if that would work. I got off the phone w/ her. Jeff was rubbing my back and I could feel where this was headed . I was wondering if I could manage some intimacy, but wanted to. I sat up a bit on my side to clear my throat. As I did I wet myself. I told Jeff either I wet myself or my water broke. I threw off the covers and felt between my legs. My panties were very wet and as I sat up I gushed more. I walked to the bathroom leaking all the more. Took off my panties and as I stood there I leaked more, running down my legs into a puddle. Funny now that we may have been making love when my water broke. Jeff went to tell the children. They had been making breakfast of which we were tardy Some of the children came and I told them. I recall how Anniston looked quite disgusted, LOL. She never wants to be present at the birth. I called my mom to tell her, then called Dina. It was so surprising, you wonder and wonder when the day will be, how will I go into labor. It had been a source of anxiety b/c Jeff works almost an hour and a half away and most of my labors have been under four hours. W/ Innish he was halfway to Santa Fe when I called him home. He arrived less than an hour before Innish was born. So I put a pad on and new panties. Jeff set up the pool and started filling. He went off to boil the scissors and ties. I piddled around wondering when contractions would start. I set out the baby's clothes on the heating pad. Jeff returned w/ the scissors and ties. He placed them in a canning jar w/ alcohol. We set up the scale on the dresser. I was thirsty and we had run out of ice. I debated sending Jeff to the store, but it is only a minute away so he went to get ice, paper and a sprite for me. By the time he returned I was having mild tightening. They were unlike most of my contractions, not coming from my back as usual. I was talking to myself, reminding myself to relax, go w/ the flow, allow it to happen as it should. We sat on the bed reading the newspaper. I was getting tightenings every 9 minutes or so. I started to feel as though the kids couldn't push or move on the bed nor could I talk to them while I was having one. I went to the bathroom and checked my cervix on the toilet. It could easily feel baby's head and felt quite a bit of cervix left. I had been around 5cm dilated for several weeks prior. Around 10:45am I decided to go ask for prayers from friends online and IM my friend Dina. I was telling her I thought it would be longer like Ellery. After I talked to her my mom called. I talked for a few minutes. As I was talking I had a contractions, a little more ouchy by then. I then had another at the end of the conversation. My mom was asking me what the date was, I knew, but just couldn't answer no think. They were getting more intense. I hung up on my mom, LOL. I thought I should walk a bit so I went back to my room and walked
a bit. Then I needed to go to the bathroom. I had been having loose stools all morning. As I sat on the potty I felt slightly pushy. I checked my cervix again and still felt cervix, but couldn't tell how much. I called Jeff to check. He said there still was plenty, but felt quite a bit of baby's head. I decided it was time to get in the tub. Contraxs were quite achey at this point and I was starting to have a hard time focusing. The tub was a welcome relief, plus being naked felt better, being immersed in water brings back a flood of good feelings from my previous births. Almost immediately the contractions start to become very intense. I was starting to push w/ the contractions. I checked again, but couldn't tell so I asked Jeff to check. He said he could only feel a bit of cervix left. I changed from sitting to leaning over the side of the tub, as I did I had another contraction and felt nauseous. I realized I must be in late transition, although I had never had nausea in transition or labor before. Jeff asked if the contractions felt less painful while I was on my knees hanging over the side of the tub. I recall answering, "I don't know, I don't know". I asked Jeff what time it was, noon. I told him to have Makaley try to put Innish down for a nap, but when she did he just cried b/c I didn't nurse him down. So I just said get him up, we will put him down after the baby comes. At this point I started to lose all track of everything. I recall bits and pieces, Jeff telling me how much he loved me, how I could do this, it would soon be over. Jeff asked if he could quickly go get something to eat, he hadn't eaten yet that day. I said yes, if he hurried. The boys, Balen and Kellen came in. I asked them to sit on the floor. Jeff was not back and another was coming. I told the boys to get Dad now. The contractions were so very intense I recall, saying "Oh my God", as each was coming. I was pushing w/ all my might. Jeff was reminding me to slow down. As each contractions came I held onto his hands w/ all my might. I no longer kept my eyes open. I was becoming louder and louder. I would check to see where the baby's head was after a contraction, she was lower and lower each time. It was interesting that I felt the urge to push so soon and so strongly, usually I don't have the urge to push until baby's head is right upon the perineum. The last couple of contractions I screamed loudly, this deep, primal scream that I have never uttered before. I was holding Jeff's hands as I sat up in the pool w/ my eyes tightly shut. Jeff asked me to open my eyes to watch, but I told him I could not. As the last contractions came her head emerged, only partially. I pushed again and the rest of her head emerged. I begged Jeff to pull her out, but he couldn't get a grip, so instead of waiting for the next contractions as I usually do I pushed w/ everything left and she was born. I pulled her up out of the water w/ Jeff's help. I looked between her legs, although I don't think I was fully aware, I felt so out of it. It was a girl! I laid bacvk w/ her in my arms and just closed my eyes, so thankful it was over. Jeff asked me to look at her. I said I couldn't I needed a minute to regroup, LOL. I would in a minute. The kids came in right after she was born. Innish kept saying she had a doodle, his name for penis I don't recall any of that, although the girls told me later. As I looked at her I realized how big she was and completely covered in vernix. I asked Jeff to take a picture. As I sat in the pool, a couple of minutes later I had a gush of blood. That was interesting and odd. I thought it might be the placenta separating, but I could still feel the cord pulsating. I decided I needed out of the pool. I had Jeff hold baby close as I stepped out. I felt slightly weak, but managed to get to the bed w/ baby in my arms. I called Dina and she said she'd ne right over to take pictures and bring food. At the bed I clamped the cord at my end and tied it w/ a shoestring on Eiley's end. Then Jeff cut through the middle of both. I had Arden hold the baby. I got off the bed and squatted over our large stainless steel bowl as I usually do set on the floor. Something just didn't feel right this time. I thought I could feel placenta just inside, but wasn't sure. I had read how another UC mama put the bowl over the toilet. I went in the bathroom w/ the bowl. I squatted over the bowl and could feel the placenta at the opening. Jeff was watching, asking if I was ok. I pulled on the cord and out it came w/ a gush of blood. I am always so relieved to be rid of the placenta. Jeff handed me a chux to place between my legs. I waddled back to bed. I nursed Innish a few minutes while the kids passed the baby around. I knew I'd probably have to put Innish to bed if he was to nap so I took his hand and helsd the chux as I walked to the room next to mine, his room, to get him in his crib. As I did I leaked blood in the hall, LOL, but I got him down, thankfully. I got a pair of intcontinence underwear on which felt more secure. Then Jeff weighed Eiley, 10lbs 3oz, my biggest baby by a pound! As Jeff was weighing her her cord started leaking blood. We put a cord clamp on it instead. I tried to measure Eiley. My hands didn't seem to work and I got over 24", so I decided to measure her later. I dressed her and Dina came over to take pictures, brought my favorite cookies. I think I ate 5. Then Jeff made me a grilled cheese. It was the most delicious food! Later Jeff was telling me Eiley was born face up. No wonder I felt her crowning and birth so intensely. We are so very thankful for another easy labor and birth and healthy baby.
Eiley Emma's birth story 8/10/08, our 7th HB, 6th UC
I awoke Sunday morning a bit crabby. I was feeling so huge, tired and discouraged. I had been awake the night before for an hour or two. As Jeff and I were snuggling in bed my mom called. She wanted to come over after making a trip to Costco to bring us some yummies. I was cranky on the phone and said I definitely needed a nap today so she could come over after naptime, 3pm, if that would work. I got off the phone w/ her. Jeff was rubbing my back and I could feel where this was headed . I was wondering if I could manage some intimacy, but wanted to. I sat up a bit on my side to clear my throat. As I did I wet myself. I told Jeff either I wet myself or my water broke. I threw off the covers and felt between my legs. My panties were very wet and as I sat up I gushed more. I walked to the bathroom leaking all the more. Took off my panties and as I stood there I leaked more, running down my legs into a puddle. Funny now that we may have been making love when my water broke. Jeff went to tell the children. They had been making breakfast of which we were tardy Some of the children came and I told them. I recall how Anniston looked quite disgusted, LOL. She never wants to be present at the birth. I called my mom to tell her, then called Dina. It was so surprising, you wonder and wonder when the day will be, how will I go into labor. It had been a source of anxiety b/c Jeff works almost an hour and a half away and most of my labors have been under four hours. W/ Innish he was halfway to Santa Fe when I called him home. He arrived less than an hour before Innish was born. So I put a pad on and new panties. Jeff set up the pool and started filling. He went off to boil the scissors and ties. I piddled around wondering when contractions would start. I set out the baby's clothes on the heating pad. Jeff returned w/ the scissors and ties. He placed them in a canning jar w/ alcohol. We set up the scale on the dresser. I was thirsty and we had run out of ice. I debated sending Jeff to the store, but it is only a minute away so he went to get ice, paper and a sprite for me. By the time he returned I was having mild tightening. They were unlike most of my contractions, not coming from my back as usual. I was talking to myself, reminding myself to relax, go w/ the flow, allow it to happen as it should. We sat on the bed reading the newspaper. I was getting tightenings every 9 minutes or so. I started to feel as though the kids couldn't push or move on the bed nor could I talk to them while I was having one. I went to the bathroom and checked my cervix on the toilet. It could easily feel baby's head and felt quite a bit of cervix left. I had been around 5cm dilated for several weeks prior. Around 10:45am I decided to go ask for prayers from friends online and IM my friend Dina. I was telling her I thought it would be longer like Ellery. After I talked to her my mom called. I talked for a few minutes. As I was talking I had a contractions, a little more ouchy by then. I then had another at the end of the conversation. My mom was asking me what the date was, I knew, but just couldn't answer no think. They were getting more intense. I hung up on my mom, LOL. I thought I should walk a bit so I went back to my room and walked
a bit. Then I needed to go to the bathroom. I had been having loose stools all morning. As I sat on the potty I felt slightly pushy. I checked my cervix again and still felt cervix, but couldn't tell how much. I called Jeff to check. He said there still was plenty, but felt quite a bit of baby's head. I decided it was time to get in the tub. Contraxs were quite achey at this point and I was starting to have a hard time focusing. The tub was a welcome relief, plus being naked felt better, being immersed in water brings back a flood of good feelings from my previous births. Almost immediately the contractions start to become very intense. I was starting to push w/ the contractions. I checked again, but couldn't tell so I asked Jeff to check. He said he could only feel a bit of cervix left. I changed from sitting to leaning over the side of the tub, as I did I had another contraction and felt nauseous. I realized I must be in late transition, although I had never had nausea in transition or labor before. Jeff asked if the contractions felt less painful while I was on my knees hanging over the side of the tub. I recall answering, "I don't know, I don't know". I asked Jeff what time it was, noon. I told him to have Makaley try to put Innish down for a nap, but when she did he just cried b/c I didn't nurse him down. So I just said get him up, we will put him down after the baby comes. At this point I started to lose all track of everything. I recall bits and pieces, Jeff telling me how much he loved me, how I could do this, it would soon be over. Jeff asked if he could quickly go get something to eat, he hadn't eaten yet that day. I said yes, if he hurried. The boys, Balen and Kellen came in. I asked them to sit on the floor. Jeff was not back and another was coming. I told the boys to get Dad now. The contractions were so very intense I recall, saying "Oh my God", as each was coming. I was pushing w/ all my might. Jeff was reminding me to slow down. As each contractions came I held onto his hands w/ all my might. I no longer kept my eyes open. I was becoming louder and louder. I would check to see where the baby's head was after a contraction, she was lower and lower each time. It was interesting that I felt the urge to push so soon and so strongly, usually I don't have the urge to push until baby's head is right upon the perineum. The last couple of contractions I screamed loudly, this deep, primal scream that I have never uttered before. I was holding Jeff's hands as I sat up in the pool w/ my eyes tightly shut. Jeff asked me to open my eyes to watch, but I told him I could not. As the last contractions came her head emerged, only partially. I pushed again and the rest of her head emerged. I begged Jeff to pull her out, but he couldn't get a grip, so instead of waiting for the next contractions as I usually do I pushed w/ everything left and she was born. I pulled her up out of the water w/ Jeff's help. I looked between her legs, although I don't think I was fully aware, I felt so out of it. It was a girl! I laid bacvk w/ her in my arms and just closed my eyes, so thankful it was over. Jeff asked me to look at her. I said I couldn't I needed a minute to regroup, LOL. I would in a minute. The kids came in right after she was born. Innish kept saying she had a doodle, his name for penis I don't recall any of that, although the girls told me later. As I looked at her I realized how big she was and completely covered in vernix. I asked Jeff to take a picture. As I sat in the pool, a couple of minutes later I had a gush of blood. That was interesting and odd. I thought it might be the placenta separating, but I could still feel the cord pulsating. I decided I needed out of the pool. I had Jeff hold baby close as I stepped out. I felt slightly weak, but managed to get to the bed w/ baby in my arms. I called Dina and she said she'd ne right over to take pictures and bring food. At the bed I clamped the cord at my end and tied it w/ a shoestring on Eiley's end. Then Jeff cut through the middle of both. I had Arden hold the baby. I got off the bed and squatted over our large stainless steel bowl as I usually do set on the floor. Something just didn't feel right this time. I thought I could feel placenta just inside, but wasn't sure. I had read how another UC mama put the bowl over the toilet. I went in the bathroom w/ the bowl. I squatted over the bowl and could feel the placenta at the opening. Jeff was watching, asking if I was ok. I pulled on the cord and out it came w/ a gush of blood. I am always so relieved to be rid of the placenta. Jeff handed me a chux to place between my legs. I waddled back to bed. I nursed Innish a few minutes while the kids passed the baby around. I knew I'd probably have to put Innish to bed if he was to nap so I took his hand and helsd the chux as I walked to the room next to mine, his room, to get him in his crib. As I did I leaked blood in the hall, LOL, but I got him down, thankfully. I got a pair of intcontinence underwear on which felt more secure. Then Jeff weighed Eiley, 10lbs 3oz, my biggest baby by a pound! As Jeff was weighing her her cord started leaking blood. We put a cord clamp on it instead. I tried to measure Eiley. My hands didn't seem to work and I got over 24", so I decided to measure her later. I dressed her and Dina came over to take pictures, brought my favorite cookies. I think I ate 5. Then Jeff made me a grilled cheese. It was the most delicious food! Later Jeff was telling me Eiley was born face up. No wonder I felt her crowning and birth so intensely. We are so very thankful for another easy labor and birth and healthy baby.
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