On Tuesday I was at the 41 week mark and feeling like baby was never going to come. I had been 1 cm and barely effaced at my visit the day before and despite 3 acupuncture appointments wasn't having any signs that labor would start soon. Because I was burning maternity leave on the wrong end and only had 6 days left w/ my MW I decided to try a dose of castor oil.
I took the castor at 10:00 and it had started working around 2:00 but wasn't followed by any contractions or signs. I checked in w/ my MW at 5:00 to tell her I didn't think anything would happen that night.
Instead we invited my parents over for dinner and for the first time ds fell asleep in his chair during dinner, we decided to take advantage of the situation and go for a hike. We came back an hour later and dh and my mom went to get some groceries. While they were gone I felt several contractions and when they returned 20 minutes later contractions set in at 2 minutes apart.
I started timing them and called my MW to give her a heads up... I wasn't convinced they'd continue.... 20 minutes later they were taking my full attention, I called MW back, asked her to come and asked dh to start filling the tub. I labored on the ball, on my hands and knees and on the toilet for about 40 mintues when suddenly I found myself pushing! I was also having really panicky transition-like thoughts but was certain it was too soon.
I called for dh and said "I'm really scared, I can't not push and it's way too soon". He suggested I get into the tub, it was wonderul, completely took the edge off the panic. Dh and my mom put frozen washclothes with lavender water on my face and neck... it felt so great and completely reset my mind.
I couldn't not push, I decided to check myself and could feel the bag bulging at the opening of my vagina. Right then the MW arrived, checked me, found me complete and said it was okay to go with the desire to push.
A few pushes later I felt the bag break and baby's head begin to desend... his head felt huge! so much larger than ds, and I was a little worried. I continued to push on my knees leaning against the tub and about 20 minutes later Silas was born. It was fun to not know the gender and check for myself.
And he was so blue and breathing but had no interest in crying. It felt like forever before he pinked up. He began nursing easily and naturally.
Our MW and apprentice showed us the cord and placenta and gave us all a fascinating explanation of how everything worked, showed us the calcium deposits and infarctions on the placenta (which suggests my dates were correct and he was late).
I ate some placenta and settled into my couch... it was so so nice to just be in my own home! I am amazed how much better I am feeling both physically and emotionally compared to my first son's birth. I think it's the placenta and just being home in my own setting.
He's a big chubby baby: 8 lbs 13 oz and 22 inches. We're totally in love with hiim
:
I took the castor at 10:00 and it had started working around 2:00 but wasn't followed by any contractions or signs. I checked in w/ my MW at 5:00 to tell her I didn't think anything would happen that night.
Instead we invited my parents over for dinner and for the first time ds fell asleep in his chair during dinner, we decided to take advantage of the situation and go for a hike. We came back an hour later and dh and my mom went to get some groceries. While they were gone I felt several contractions and when they returned 20 minutes later contractions set in at 2 minutes apart.
I started timing them and called my MW to give her a heads up... I wasn't convinced they'd continue.... 20 minutes later they were taking my full attention, I called MW back, asked her to come and asked dh to start filling the tub. I labored on the ball, on my hands and knees and on the toilet for about 40 mintues when suddenly I found myself pushing! I was also having really panicky transition-like thoughts but was certain it was too soon.
I called for dh and said "I'm really scared, I can't not push and it's way too soon". He suggested I get into the tub, it was wonderul, completely took the edge off the panic. Dh and my mom put frozen washclothes with lavender water on my face and neck... it felt so great and completely reset my mind.
I couldn't not push, I decided to check myself and could feel the bag bulging at the opening of my vagina. Right then the MW arrived, checked me, found me complete and said it was okay to go with the desire to push.
A few pushes later I felt the bag break and baby's head begin to desend... his head felt huge! so much larger than ds, and I was a little worried. I continued to push on my knees leaning against the tub and about 20 minutes later Silas was born. It was fun to not know the gender and check for myself.
And he was so blue and breathing but had no interest in crying. It felt like forever before he pinked up. He began nursing easily and naturally.
Our MW and apprentice showed us the cord and placenta and gave us all a fascinating explanation of how everything worked, showed us the calcium deposits and infarctions on the placenta (which suggests my dates were correct and he was late).
I ate some placenta and settled into my couch... it was so so nice to just be in my own home! I am amazed how much better I am feeling both physically and emotionally compared to my first son's birth. I think it's the placenta and just being home in my own setting.
He's a big chubby baby: 8 lbs 13 oz and 22 inches. We're totally in love with hiim
:
Follow Mothering