1st was an unmedicated labor-at-home, intended birth at hospital
2nd was a planned UC
Here's #3:
I envisioned this baby coming in the middle of the night, as my previous two babies did. I also assumed that he would come after his EDD (just like his brother and sister). Our 20 wk ultrasound put his EDD on May 20th, and LMP as well as fundal height put his EDD at June 3rd. So I assumed we had around 3 1/2 weeks. Well, birth is unpredictable!
This morning I awoke around 6:15 to pee, nothing unusual. Then again at 7:15, which was a little strange. At 8:15 (yes, seriously on the dot) I got out of bed because I was in a great deal of pain. I've been dealing with hip pain (treating w/chiropractic care for a week or so now), constipation, etc. this pregnancy so I really didn't think anything was out of the ordinary. I served myself a healthy dose of magnesium and water. DD (who's my second child, first UC) was hungry, so I poured some cereal for her and noticed that the pain was getting worse, but didn't have a rhythm- it was just constant back, lower ab, and hip pain. Then I wondered if maybe I had food poisoning or something, so I moved to the bathroom.
DH had washed something in the tub last night and never fully cleaned it so I tried to scrub it out, hoping to alleviate my back pain. The pains were starting to take on the form of contractions, with brief pauses in between (maybe 9 am). I think I finally got a clue at this point, so I went to call a friend to take care of the kids (3 and 6 yo)- not planned but thankfully she was available and nearby. Then I called DH, but discovered that he left his phone at home! So I had to look his work number up online, asked for him, was put on hold (horrible music!!), and then he answered during a contraction. According to my phone, this was 9:14. I told him that I was in labor (maybe "come home now" or something, I don't remember).
I gave up washing the tub and decided to shower instead. I was starting to have hot flashes, but the hot water felt so nice on my back! I went down on all fours, and then noticed the baby moving into my birth canal. A bubble of his amniotic sac preceded his head and burst just before his head was on my perineum. I tried to breathe him out, but ended up pushing (though I did manage to slow his descent a little). Baby was born 9:20ish, friend arrived minutes before then, and DH arrived minutes after the birth! So while my friend was hanging out with the kids in the other room, the birth itself involved just me and the babe. Hubby of course helped with cleanup and I've had great assistance since then- my friend took the kids for the day and brought food when she returned them. DH has been waiting on me, and has even cleaned a little.
Labor pains were not as bad as I remembered for my second birth, but the afterpains are a b**** if I'm lying down. I did tear a little, and have some labial tears as well. I'm not sure what degree of tear, but it looks superficial (though long) and I have complete control of my PC muscles. Baby weighed in at 8 lbs 4 oz (just an ounce bigger than my first child) a few hours after his birth- glad he didn't wait until June 3rd!
2nd was a planned UC
Here's #3:
I envisioned this baby coming in the middle of the night, as my previous two babies did. I also assumed that he would come after his EDD (just like his brother and sister). Our 20 wk ultrasound put his EDD on May 20th, and LMP as well as fundal height put his EDD at June 3rd. So I assumed we had around 3 1/2 weeks. Well, birth is unpredictable!
This morning I awoke around 6:15 to pee, nothing unusual. Then again at 7:15, which was a little strange. At 8:15 (yes, seriously on the dot) I got out of bed because I was in a great deal of pain. I've been dealing with hip pain (treating w/chiropractic care for a week or so now), constipation, etc. this pregnancy so I really didn't think anything was out of the ordinary. I served myself a healthy dose of magnesium and water. DD (who's my second child, first UC) was hungry, so I poured some cereal for her and noticed that the pain was getting worse, but didn't have a rhythm- it was just constant back, lower ab, and hip pain. Then I wondered if maybe I had food poisoning or something, so I moved to the bathroom.
DH had washed something in the tub last night and never fully cleaned it so I tried to scrub it out, hoping to alleviate my back pain. The pains were starting to take on the form of contractions, with brief pauses in between (maybe 9 am). I think I finally got a clue at this point, so I went to call a friend to take care of the kids (3 and 6 yo)- not planned but thankfully she was available and nearby. Then I called DH, but discovered that he left his phone at home! So I had to look his work number up online, asked for him, was put on hold (horrible music!!), and then he answered during a contraction. According to my phone, this was 9:14. I told him that I was in labor (maybe "come home now" or something, I don't remember).
I gave up washing the tub and decided to shower instead. I was starting to have hot flashes, but the hot water felt so nice on my back! I went down on all fours, and then noticed the baby moving into my birth canal. A bubble of his amniotic sac preceded his head and burst just before his head was on my perineum. I tried to breathe him out, but ended up pushing (though I did manage to slow his descent a little). Baby was born 9:20ish, friend arrived minutes before then, and DH arrived minutes after the birth! So while my friend was hanging out with the kids in the other room, the birth itself involved just me and the babe. Hubby of course helped with cleanup and I've had great assistance since then- my friend took the kids for the day and brought food when she returned them. DH has been waiting on me, and has even cleaned a little.
Labor pains were not as bad as I remembered for my second birth, but the afterpains are a b**** if I'm lying down. I did tear a little, and have some labial tears as well. I'm not sure what degree of tear, but it looks superficial (though long) and I have complete control of my PC muscles. Baby weighed in at 8 lbs 4 oz (just an ounce bigger than my first child) a few hours after his birth- glad he didn't wait until June 3rd!
