Back story: We moved to France from the US in July when I was 7.5 months preggo. We found an English speaking midwife and arranged for homebirth. However here they only want to let you go to 10 days post-term before inducing. Starting at 40 weeks you go in for non-stress tests and u/s.
Giada was born at 41 weeks and 2 days. My best friend arrived from Australia just for the birth a week and a half before. Between her and dh, we tried everything to get labor going. Reflexology massage, acupressure, spicy food, walking, sex (obviously dh), you name it. I drank all kinds of teas to help soften my cervix and tone my uterus. At 41 weeks 1 day (Tuesday), I went to the hospital for the nst and u/s. My tests were perfect, even better than the week before. The midwife there did a membrane sweep. Then it was time to meet with the doctor. She started talking about scheduling the induction for Friday. I said I would prefer to do it Monday but I would happily come in for another round of tests on Friday. She only resisted a little (I was fortunate to have a really nice doctor) and relented. I was elated that I had gotten the extra time to have a homebirth, as my kids cook a bit longer. I spoke with my midwife when I got home and she was also happy about the extra days. We agreed that it would be okay to try castor oil the next day.
That day I had stronger contraction off and on. In the morning they were gone. DH decided to stay home that day because I was trying the castor oil. We took a long walk in the morning. In the afternoon he went swimming and grocery shopping and I stayed at home with my bf and dd. I took the oil at 1 pm (btw, I took it with a little bit of cola and it was not bad at all, I barely tasted it). I rested in bed, bf fell asleep and dd finally fell asleep around 4.
Around 4:30 the trips to the bathroom started. Nothing real bad but it emptied me out. And at 5 contractions started 2-3 minutes apart. At 5:30 dh returned home and we called the midwife. She came around 6. She listened to the baby's heartbeat and then begin to set up for the birth. Dh baked a cake a birthday cake with dd while I sat on the exercise ball and focused on relaxing through my contractions. Once everything was set up bf took dd for a walk. My midwife then checked me. I was almost fully effaced and open a couple centimeters. She could stretch me a bit more so she did with my permission. She called the second midwife and told her where I was and we all agreed it would probably be awhile so midwife #2 could finish some work first.
The contractions start getting more intense and I asked to get in the tub. Dh and midwife sat in the bathroom with me and we chat between contractions. All of a sudden the contractions start coming really fast and hard and I get out of the tub. I have been in the tub for about 30 or 40 minutes. As soon as I get out I feel like I have to push but I say I think its too early. The midwife says if you feel like pushing go ahead. So I got on the bed and start pushing. It hurts so bad but in between I was totally fine and able to talk. Around 8:00 or so my waters break. At 8:15 Giada is born! The second midwife arrived at 8:17. Haha. I relax on the bed, dh gets bf and dd#1. They come and see the baby and take some pics. DD#1 was so excited and happy. She went back to the kitchen and told bf that she was so happy to be a big sister. She also said " The baby came out of mamma belly, what a mess!" Bf made a wonderful meal but we had to wait for the placenta. We waited an hour while trying various things. Finally I stood up and out it cames. The midwives checked the placenta and me. All is well, I had a couple skid marks and a small tear but nothing that needed stitching. They cleaned up and then everyone ate.
Giada came out covered in vernix and with excess hair, so not looking like an overdue baby at all. The whole thing was so fast and intense. I kept thinking this is okay and when it got hard I just though I better suck it up and deal with it because this is just the beginning. But it was almost the end! It was truly wonderful and I am so happy it happened at home. My recovery has been so much easier and both dh and I feel we have so much more energy then with our hospital birth for dd#1. Everyone was great and it was like a big celebration. Giada is a very calm baby. She was 3.5 kilos and 50 cm. She was actually an ounce and a centimeter smaller than dd#1.
Giada was born at 41 weeks and 2 days. My best friend arrived from Australia just for the birth a week and a half before. Between her and dh, we tried everything to get labor going. Reflexology massage, acupressure, spicy food, walking, sex (obviously dh), you name it. I drank all kinds of teas to help soften my cervix and tone my uterus. At 41 weeks 1 day (Tuesday), I went to the hospital for the nst and u/s. My tests were perfect, even better than the week before. The midwife there did a membrane sweep. Then it was time to meet with the doctor. She started talking about scheduling the induction for Friday. I said I would prefer to do it Monday but I would happily come in for another round of tests on Friday. She only resisted a little (I was fortunate to have a really nice doctor) and relented. I was elated that I had gotten the extra time to have a homebirth, as my kids cook a bit longer. I spoke with my midwife when I got home and she was also happy about the extra days. We agreed that it would be okay to try castor oil the next day.
That day I had stronger contraction off and on. In the morning they were gone. DH decided to stay home that day because I was trying the castor oil. We took a long walk in the morning. In the afternoon he went swimming and grocery shopping and I stayed at home with my bf and dd. I took the oil at 1 pm (btw, I took it with a little bit of cola and it was not bad at all, I barely tasted it). I rested in bed, bf fell asleep and dd finally fell asleep around 4.
Around 4:30 the trips to the bathroom started. Nothing real bad but it emptied me out. And at 5 contractions started 2-3 minutes apart. At 5:30 dh returned home and we called the midwife. She came around 6. She listened to the baby's heartbeat and then begin to set up for the birth. Dh baked a cake a birthday cake with dd while I sat on the exercise ball and focused on relaxing through my contractions. Once everything was set up bf took dd for a walk. My midwife then checked me. I was almost fully effaced and open a couple centimeters. She could stretch me a bit more so she did with my permission. She called the second midwife and told her where I was and we all agreed it would probably be awhile so midwife #2 could finish some work first.
The contractions start getting more intense and I asked to get in the tub. Dh and midwife sat in the bathroom with me and we chat between contractions. All of a sudden the contractions start coming really fast and hard and I get out of the tub. I have been in the tub for about 30 or 40 minutes. As soon as I get out I feel like I have to push but I say I think its too early. The midwife says if you feel like pushing go ahead. So I got on the bed and start pushing. It hurts so bad but in between I was totally fine and able to talk. Around 8:00 or so my waters break. At 8:15 Giada is born! The second midwife arrived at 8:17. Haha. I relax on the bed, dh gets bf and dd#1. They come and see the baby and take some pics. DD#1 was so excited and happy. She went back to the kitchen and told bf that she was so happy to be a big sister. She also said " The baby came out of mamma belly, what a mess!" Bf made a wonderful meal but we had to wait for the placenta. We waited an hour while trying various things. Finally I stood up and out it cames. The midwives checked the placenta and me. All is well, I had a couple skid marks and a small tear but nothing that needed stitching. They cleaned up and then everyone ate.
Giada came out covered in vernix and with excess hair, so not looking like an overdue baby at all. The whole thing was so fast and intense. I kept thinking this is okay and when it got hard I just though I better suck it up and deal with it because this is just the beginning. But it was almost the end! It was truly wonderful and I am so happy it happened at home. My recovery has been so much easier and both dh and I feel we have so much more energy then with our hospital birth for dd#1. Everyone was great and it was like a big celebration. Giada is a very calm baby. She was 3.5 kilos and 50 cm. She was actually an ounce and a centimeter smaller than dd#1.
Enjoy your baby moon!
enjoy your girls!
