The Birth of Mabel Kelly Mathews:
Mid-morning on Oct 2nd I called my midwives to ask about labor inducing herbs they have. I was huge and very tired of being pregnant. One of my midwives reassured me that this was indeed coming "soon" and that she thought we should hold off on the "big guns" until the following week. She advised me to get some acupuncture and maybe go on a date with John.
My friend Tele agreed to watch West while I got acupunture and my friend Amy agreed to come over for a couple hours to hang with West while John and grabbed a bite to eat. It was wonderful of both my friends to help us like that.
I was having very irregular, very mild contractions on and off that day and was hoping acupuncture would kick things into gear. Alas after my session they stopped. I was very upset and thought that acupuncture was actually stalling my progress. I vowed to never to acupuncture again. However by the time John came home from work (around 4 pm) I started having some again. They were very mild but more regular and around 5 mins apart. 15-20 later Amy showed up to watch West. I told her that maybe we'd be having the baby tonight, but it wouldn't be for a while and that we still were going to eat.
On our way to the restaurant I called the midwives to tell them that tonight was probably the night, but that we wouldn't need them for awhile. However after I got off the phone I was noticing that the contractions were closer together and although they weren't painful I did have to focus during them. I decided it wouldn't be a fun dinner and I wanted to go home and listen to my hypnobabies. I just wanted to be in a good place so when labor really did kick in I'd be ready. On the drive home I did get overwhelmed with emotion and started crying. I was so happy that this long journey was going to end. I called the midwives back and told them that maybe they should come over sooner. Heather told me she was on her way.
So we get home around 5:30 and I just zone out in the basement listening to my hypnobabies tracts. We asked Amy to stay until West went to bed and she very nicely agreed. Around 6pm Heather comes in and just sets stuff up while I lay in bed listening to my relaxation tracts. After about a half an hour I ask when I can get in the birth tub, she tells me I can now. Sweet. I wasn't in any pain or discomfort, but the contractions were getting stronger. However as soon as I got in the water I thought I ruined things. It felt sooooo good and so much more relaxing. I thought for sure I got in to soon and my contractions were much more comfortable. The other midwives show up by this point.
Around 7pm I started moaning through the contractions, there was so much power surging through me I just had to moan. I also started feeling emotional again at the peak of each contraction. After a few of them I finally let go and just sobbed. It felt so good to release that energy. John tells me he's going to put West down for bed around 7:40 and since it seemed like we still had a ways to go it seemed like a good time for him to go. He gets back at 7:50 (with Amy upstairs with West, John didn't need to make sure West was asleep yet). When John got back I had a HUGE INTENSE contraction, the midwives told me that the amniotic sac was "right there" (an inch or two from my opening). Then next GIANT contraction my water broke. The next MONSTER of a contraction her head came out. I was beyond shocked. I had no idea that I was about to push her head out. I just couldn't believe were there yet. Both John and I were like "what just happened. You have to be kidding me". The next BIG WAVE came and her body came out. I just kept saying "what just happened?" over and over again. I just couldn't believe it was over. How could I have just done that?
After I birthed the placenta there was much discussion on her size. The midwives thought she was 9lbs or more... but she looked so little to me. They got one scale out and it said 10lbs 5 oz. I didn't believe it. Luckily they also had their digital scale to so they weighed her there. 10lbs even. I was again floored. How could I deliver a 10 lb baby with 2 pushes. Impossible.
I felt great though. Wonderful even (minus the fact that my "girl region" was quite achy). The best part of the whole thing was when West saw her for the first time. He had the most wonderful dreamy smile. Oh the love!!l
