Around 37 weeks we noticed that our little guy was no longer kicking me on my right side but rather the top of my abdomen. At our 38 week checkup, our midwife noticed that the baby was in the posterior position. She recommended a chiropractor to us. We made an appointment and had 3 adjustments with the Dr. Thankfully after the third adjustment, she felt confident that the baby had turned, which was confirmed at our next appointment with the midwife and the return of kicks on the side. Knowing about how difficult back labor can be (because of posterior position), we were grateful that we were able to get the baby turned and just prayed that he wouldn't go back. He didn't...
As our due date came and went, we became a little anxious. One of our midwives (we were seeing two at the same practice), did a non-stress test (NST) on Aug 31, 2004 to make sure the baby was doing well and he was. They recommended for us to have a Biophysical Profile (ultrasound) when I would be 41 weeks (Sept 2). Initially, we made the appointment. After getting home and letting everything soak in, I didn't feel comfortable doing that so soon in my opinion. So I called back and cancelled it and spoke with our other midwife, to find out what other options we had first. We decided I would go back on the 2nd for another NST. At that appointment, the MW checked me and I was 4 cm 80% effaced and 0 station. She felt confident that I was really close and recommended we get some Blue Cohosh tincture and take it Saturday morning. She was sure it would get labor going. So after that appointment, we went to the health food store and bought it. We got lots of rest that night.
Friday we ran some errands and had a typical day. We knew going to sleep that night that we were going to start the tincture the next morning so we wanted lots of sleep - but that didn't happen! 1am contractions started. They were 20 minutes apart so I just laid in bed through them trying to rest. I didn't wake DH up. They progressively got stronger, so I got up and walked around. Since they didn't stop with the walking, I knew it was real labor (one of the many things I learned during our Bradley classes). The toilet was my friend during contractions as I emptied my bladder what seemed like each time. I woke DH up at 4am asking him when we were supposed to call the midwife. He said lets wait another hour and see how the contractions go. They went! Getting closer and closer, so we called the MW at about 5am. She said to stay home and call her back when they were 5 minutes apart. DH then starting putting our things in the car after I took a relaxing shower. We then both ate some cereal (not enough time for a complete breakfast - though looking back now I wish I had eaten more) and went through some more contractions. They were quickly becoming closer and closer so we decided to head to the hospital. Amazingly, the lights on the way were all green or happened to turn green right as we approached them.
We arrived at the hospital around 7am. The nurse did a quick strip of my contractions and the baby's heart rate. Some of my contractions were double peaking! After the initial strip, we were left alone. I alternated between leaning on the bed, walking around and sitting on the toilet. Our MW came in and suggested I try the tub. So, they began filling it up and the nurse checked my dilation - I was 7cm. I got into the tub. Ahhhhh.......very nice. The relief was instant. I could still feel the contractions, but the freedom of movement the water provided made it bearable. I don't know how long I was in the tub, but the warmth began making me too hot, so I got out. I continued laboring on the toilet and slowly began feeling an urge to push. My body just took over. I don't recall consciously pushing - more like my body was just pushing on its own. DH asked the nurse to get our MW. She came and checked me - she said I was complete and could continue pushing, but said I should maybe go back into the tub. They filled it back up for me - but not too hot this time. I think it was about 2:30pm when I got into the tub the second time. Our MW stayed beside me and just encouraged me to listen to my body. At 3:23pm, our little boy was born under water!
I was just amazed and in awe with him. He cried on my chest and we stayed in the tub for a while. Then they took him to dry and warm him up and I got out of the tub. I didn't tear the perineum (go Kegels!) but had a small tear inside that MW only needed to put 1 or 2 stitches into. The only complication I had was that my uterus was slow to clamp down and I began excessively clotting, even though the baby nursed soon after birth. I started to black out a bit and they quickly gave me an IV with Pitocin. We didn't realize how bad the situation was until the next day when the doctor from our midwife's group came to check on me and said the my blood level had gone down to the point of a possible need for a transfusion, but since I was already feeling better we didn't need to do that.
So, other than that slight scare - the experience was everything we had hoped for. DH was amazing through it all
- he remained so calm and collected. I couldn't of done it without his presence. Our little boy was born September 4, 2004 at 3:23pm. He weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 21 inches long. His apgars were 8 and 9.
As our due date came and went, we became a little anxious. One of our midwives (we were seeing two at the same practice), did a non-stress test (NST) on Aug 31, 2004 to make sure the baby was doing well and he was. They recommended for us to have a Biophysical Profile (ultrasound) when I would be 41 weeks (Sept 2). Initially, we made the appointment. After getting home and letting everything soak in, I didn't feel comfortable doing that so soon in my opinion. So I called back and cancelled it and spoke with our other midwife, to find out what other options we had first. We decided I would go back on the 2nd for another NST. At that appointment, the MW checked me and I was 4 cm 80% effaced and 0 station. She felt confident that I was really close and recommended we get some Blue Cohosh tincture and take it Saturday morning. She was sure it would get labor going. So after that appointment, we went to the health food store and bought it. We got lots of rest that night.
Friday we ran some errands and had a typical day. We knew going to sleep that night that we were going to start the tincture the next morning so we wanted lots of sleep - but that didn't happen! 1am contractions started. They were 20 minutes apart so I just laid in bed through them trying to rest. I didn't wake DH up. They progressively got stronger, so I got up and walked around. Since they didn't stop with the walking, I knew it was real labor (one of the many things I learned during our Bradley classes). The toilet was my friend during contractions as I emptied my bladder what seemed like each time. I woke DH up at 4am asking him when we were supposed to call the midwife. He said lets wait another hour and see how the contractions go. They went! Getting closer and closer, so we called the MW at about 5am. She said to stay home and call her back when they were 5 minutes apart. DH then starting putting our things in the car after I took a relaxing shower. We then both ate some cereal (not enough time for a complete breakfast - though looking back now I wish I had eaten more) and went through some more contractions. They were quickly becoming closer and closer so we decided to head to the hospital. Amazingly, the lights on the way were all green or happened to turn green right as we approached them.
We arrived at the hospital around 7am. The nurse did a quick strip of my contractions and the baby's heart rate. Some of my contractions were double peaking! After the initial strip, we were left alone. I alternated between leaning on the bed, walking around and sitting on the toilet. Our MW came in and suggested I try the tub. So, they began filling it up and the nurse checked my dilation - I was 7cm. I got into the tub. Ahhhhh.......very nice. The relief was instant. I could still feel the contractions, but the freedom of movement the water provided made it bearable. I don't know how long I was in the tub, but the warmth began making me too hot, so I got out. I continued laboring on the toilet and slowly began feeling an urge to push. My body just took over. I don't recall consciously pushing - more like my body was just pushing on its own. DH asked the nurse to get our MW. She came and checked me - she said I was complete and could continue pushing, but said I should maybe go back into the tub. They filled it back up for me - but not too hot this time. I think it was about 2:30pm when I got into the tub the second time. Our MW stayed beside me and just encouraged me to listen to my body. At 3:23pm, our little boy was born under water!
I was just amazed and in awe with him. He cried on my chest and we stayed in the tub for a while. Then they took him to dry and warm him up and I got out of the tub. I didn't tear the perineum (go Kegels!) but had a small tear inside that MW only needed to put 1 or 2 stitches into. The only complication I had was that my uterus was slow to clamp down and I began excessively clotting, even though the baby nursed soon after birth. I started to black out a bit and they quickly gave me an IV with Pitocin. We didn't realize how bad the situation was until the next day when the doctor from our midwife's group came to check on me and said the my blood level had gone down to the point of a possible need for a transfusion, but since I was already feeling better we didn't need to do that.
So, other than that slight scare - the experience was everything we had hoped for. DH was amazing through it all
- he remained so calm and collected. I couldn't of done it without his presence. Our little boy was born September 4, 2004 at 3:23pm. He weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 21 inches long. His apgars were 8 and 9.
