I don't really like being pregnant...it has it's amazing moments for sure, but I prefer not being pregnant! I did try to savour those moments since this was the last time for me, but by the end, I really wanted it over with!
At about 4:30am on April 7, 2010, I woke up to a contraction. I didn't want to get excited about it though, because I'd been waking up with contractions off and on for almost 2 weeks. I did feel like what was happening now were of a different quality but I really didn't trust myself to know anymore! I lay through a couple more and told Trent that maybe things were happening and then I went downstairs since I was a bit restless. It seemed to me that things weren't progressing at all and that this was yet another false start, so I went back to bed, only to find it full - somehow Arlo and Finn managed to get in there while I was gone, so I fell asleep in Finn's bed. I would wake up with the odd contraction but I didn't get out of bed until about 8:30.
Everyone was up for the day, I was starting to get excited, but as Trent started nervously bustling around, I felt things slow down. I had tried to time a few contractions, but they were so sporadic and some of them so weak, that I became really discouraged. It seemed like everything was fizzling out again and I started to cry and told Trent rather sternly, just to go about his day and stop fussing! It was driving me crazy!
I really felt like a watched pot in those last few days, so instinctively I went up to my room and curled into bed with a book. This did help things pick up again, though I still wasn't convinced, and when I came back downstairs, I made plans to have lunch with my sisters at 2pm. Trent was out in the back yard putting up a giant post for the laundry line, so I went out and chatted and every so often I would have to lean on the table through a contraction. I still was not convinced! I puttered around, had a shower, timed a few more contractions, although they were still really sporadic and very manageable.
We did set up the kiddie pool in the kitchen and I decided to start filling it and I was starting to consider maybe calling the midwife to see what she thought. My sister had also just messaged me to say she was running behind.
At around 1:45pm, Carol, my midwife showed up. I told her I didn't really know if this was it and I hoped I didn't call her out for nothing! Anyway, she checked my and said I was 4 cm! I assumed she was going to go home and I would still go for lunch but she said she thought I would have a baby today, and she would stick around and set up. I called my sisters and told them they needed to take Finn and Arlo with them since it seemed like this was finally it!
The tub was full, Arlo had been playing in it for awhile already, so I got in with him. My contractions were definitely getting stronger now and the warm water was very relaxing.
My sisters arrived and took the kids and things started to really pick up. At 2:40pm Carol checked me again at my request. I was 6cm. I decided it was time to go upstairs. We discussed the possibility of rupturing my membranes to speed things along, but I told her I was afraid of the intensity of the contractions if we did that. So at that point we would just leave things and I decided to go to the bedroom and sit on the exercise ball. It was definitely getting harder to get through these rushes! I needed Trent through every one at this point. I would lean on him or squeeze him and he would put pressure on my back and he just generally made me feel safe. He also thought this was a good time to tell me it cost $50 to have the laundry post delivered! He was right, I couldn't have cared less, lol!
Sarah, the back up midwife arrived at 3:30 and again we discussed to another check and breaking my waters. I decided to do it...I was 7cm, 100% effaced and fluid was clear.
Holy *&%$*#!!! I regretted it as soon as a contraction hit. I could not get on top of these ones, now that I didn't have a cushiony bag of waters, the rushes were excruciating. I knew this would happen, but too late now. These were coming one on top of the other and I was roaring so loud that my throat was scratchy the next day. My arms were stiff from pushing on Trent, who later told me he thought I would break his knees. This was getting scary and I was having a hard time. I could feel the baby moving down, and I could feel my body pushing. My midwives were very encouraging, but I could not get in a position that felt right. Eventually I ended up at the edge of the bed, reclining against Trent. This still didn't feel good, which was weird for me, because pushing has always been a relief. I was sooooo tired. I just wanted this to be over, but I was scared and tired. I could feel myself hold back, just as my pushes were being effective. It was about 4:20 now.
Up until this point, the baby's heart rate had been good, but all of a sudden it dropped to 70bpm and didn't come back. My midwives had me immediately flip on my left side and told me I needed to push right now, no waiting for a contraction. As soon as I flipped his heart rate went back up, and I pushed with everything I had. I could feel Trent's nervousness, but the midwives seemed very calm and confident.
I could feel the burn of the baby crowning, and was instructed to pant while my perineum stretched and at 4:28 his head was born. I gave another push to get his shoulders out, but the cord stopped him from coming which was wrapped twice around him and very tight. Carol quickly clamped and cut the cord and I pushed him the rest of the way out. They brought him to my chest and Trent and I rubbed and rubbed him till he started to cry. As always, that is the greatest moment in the world! I was in love already with this slimy warm baby and his head of dark hair, just like I'd hoped! I delivered the placenta two minutes later after a shot of oxytocin in my thigh, and after inspection Carol informed me that I had no tears. Fifteen minutes later my little boy was already latched and nursing well.
Henry was the biggest of all my babes, at 7lbs 13oz and 22 inches long and totally perfect.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4349880_n.jpg
At about 4:30am on April 7, 2010, I woke up to a contraction. I didn't want to get excited about it though, because I'd been waking up with contractions off and on for almost 2 weeks. I did feel like what was happening now were of a different quality but I really didn't trust myself to know anymore! I lay through a couple more and told Trent that maybe things were happening and then I went downstairs since I was a bit restless. It seemed to me that things weren't progressing at all and that this was yet another false start, so I went back to bed, only to find it full - somehow Arlo and Finn managed to get in there while I was gone, so I fell asleep in Finn's bed. I would wake up with the odd contraction but I didn't get out of bed until about 8:30.
Everyone was up for the day, I was starting to get excited, but as Trent started nervously bustling around, I felt things slow down. I had tried to time a few contractions, but they were so sporadic and some of them so weak, that I became really discouraged. It seemed like everything was fizzling out again and I started to cry and told Trent rather sternly, just to go about his day and stop fussing! It was driving me crazy!
I really felt like a watched pot in those last few days, so instinctively I went up to my room and curled into bed with a book. This did help things pick up again, though I still wasn't convinced, and when I came back downstairs, I made plans to have lunch with my sisters at 2pm. Trent was out in the back yard putting up a giant post for the laundry line, so I went out and chatted and every so often I would have to lean on the table through a contraction. I still was not convinced! I puttered around, had a shower, timed a few more contractions, although they were still really sporadic and very manageable.
We did set up the kiddie pool in the kitchen and I decided to start filling it and I was starting to consider maybe calling the midwife to see what she thought. My sister had also just messaged me to say she was running behind.
At around 1:45pm, Carol, my midwife showed up. I told her I didn't really know if this was it and I hoped I didn't call her out for nothing! Anyway, she checked my and said I was 4 cm! I assumed she was going to go home and I would still go for lunch but she said she thought I would have a baby today, and she would stick around and set up. I called my sisters and told them they needed to take Finn and Arlo with them since it seemed like this was finally it!
The tub was full, Arlo had been playing in it for awhile already, so I got in with him. My contractions were definitely getting stronger now and the warm water was very relaxing.
My sisters arrived and took the kids and things started to really pick up. At 2:40pm Carol checked me again at my request. I was 6cm. I decided it was time to go upstairs. We discussed the possibility of rupturing my membranes to speed things along, but I told her I was afraid of the intensity of the contractions if we did that. So at that point we would just leave things and I decided to go to the bedroom and sit on the exercise ball. It was definitely getting harder to get through these rushes! I needed Trent through every one at this point. I would lean on him or squeeze him and he would put pressure on my back and he just generally made me feel safe. He also thought this was a good time to tell me it cost $50 to have the laundry post delivered! He was right, I couldn't have cared less, lol!
Sarah, the back up midwife arrived at 3:30 and again we discussed to another check and breaking my waters. I decided to do it...I was 7cm, 100% effaced and fluid was clear.
Holy *&%$*#!!! I regretted it as soon as a contraction hit. I could not get on top of these ones, now that I didn't have a cushiony bag of waters, the rushes were excruciating. I knew this would happen, but too late now. These were coming one on top of the other and I was roaring so loud that my throat was scratchy the next day. My arms were stiff from pushing on Trent, who later told me he thought I would break his knees. This was getting scary and I was having a hard time. I could feel the baby moving down, and I could feel my body pushing. My midwives were very encouraging, but I could not get in a position that felt right. Eventually I ended up at the edge of the bed, reclining against Trent. This still didn't feel good, which was weird for me, because pushing has always been a relief. I was sooooo tired. I just wanted this to be over, but I was scared and tired. I could feel myself hold back, just as my pushes were being effective. It was about 4:20 now.
Up until this point, the baby's heart rate had been good, but all of a sudden it dropped to 70bpm and didn't come back. My midwives had me immediately flip on my left side and told me I needed to push right now, no waiting for a contraction. As soon as I flipped his heart rate went back up, and I pushed with everything I had. I could feel Trent's nervousness, but the midwives seemed very calm and confident.
I could feel the burn of the baby crowning, and was instructed to pant while my perineum stretched and at 4:28 his head was born. I gave another push to get his shoulders out, but the cord stopped him from coming which was wrapped twice around him and very tight. Carol quickly clamped and cut the cord and I pushed him the rest of the way out. They brought him to my chest and Trent and I rubbed and rubbed him till he started to cry. As always, that is the greatest moment in the world! I was in love already with this slimy warm baby and his head of dark hair, just like I'd hoped! I delivered the placenta two minutes later after a shot of oxytocin in my thigh, and after inspection Carol informed me that I had no tears. Fifteen minutes later my little boy was already latched and nursing well.
Henry was the biggest of all my babes, at 7lbs 13oz and 22 inches long and totally perfect.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4349880_n.jpg
