On Wed Jan 11, I had my mw's come spend the day with us and try and use some herbs along with stripping membranes to get things started. They are an hour from me, so this is why we decided on this arrangement. After a full day, we resulted in nothing. A few contractions here and there, but nothing else.
The last resort was going to be castor oil. However, my gut reaction was not to take it. I told them I was fearful of the baby passing meconium if I took the castor oil. They were fine with my decision and left about 9:00 pm.
Before they left, we discussed giving my body a couple of days of rest, before trying to start labor again(being that I was 2 weeks overdue).
When they left, I felt instant relief. I didn't feel pressured to get the baby out. I could let things progress on their own.
DH took the boys up to bed and I took a nice relaxing bath. Got up Thursday morning around 5:30. No contractions or anything new with my body. I fixed myself a sandwhich since I was starving and sat down with a magazine. At 6:30 I started feeling some crampy pain, felt just like having a period. I thought it was something intestinal. Went and took a warm bath and the pains persisted. Halfway through my bath, I went upstairs and told DH I didn't feel very good. He came back down thinking I was having contractions and I told him I just wanted to finish my bath.
I kept having to go to the bathroom during the remainder of the bath. At this point, I was *sure* I had eaten something bad or had a stomach bug. DH insisted on calling my mw's at around 7. He explained what was going on and I guess that was enough to get them in the car!
I got out and still had the pain. Coming consistently every 1-2 minutes. I felt like I had to throw up, so DH brought me a bag. After throwing up, I was more sure of the fact that I surely had some intestinal problems and my mw's would be coming all this way for nothing.
However, DH was sure it was labor and made me but on my birthing bra and started opening the tub up. The pains weren't getting worse, they just stayed the same. When I sat down the lessened. When I walked they were more intense. My mom arrived to stay with the boys for the labor.
Mw's arrived at 8. Started setting up for the birth. I kept saying there wasn't going to be one today.
We put on some music that I had chosen for the birth. Everyone kept trying to get me in the tub, but I didn't want to do that! I was having a lot of pressure in my bottom area and felt like I was going to throw up. I told them I had to use the bathroom. They became very insistent that I get in the tub and go to the "bathroom" in there. Finally, I agree to, only to find the tub very hot! DH runs and gets the pump and starts bringing in cold water. He brings a fan down to cool me off and cold washcloths. Once I get in the contractions seem to fade. Only coming every few minutes. I still kept feeling like I had to go to the bathroom. I vaguely remember my mw shining a flashlight into the water and saying something about bulging!
My midwife told me to go ahead and go to the bathroom in the tub. I asked if she had something to scoop it out with!!! She assured me she did.
So when I felt the urge I tried! When I started feeling burning, I knew I wasn't going to the bathroom, the baby was coming!
I was on my knees, hanging over the tub holding onto DH who was doing the same on the outside of the tub. I remember looking over to make sure someone was going to get the baby when the head came out. It was very odd, because she was in her membrane sac still!!!
MW had to pop the bag once she was fully out underwater. She had meconium in the bag and the mw's sprang into actions suctioning her mouth and nose. I was panicked, but they were so calm. She was crying and very pink and looking around while this was going on!
It was such a beautiful day. In the 50's and so sunny. The sunlight was streaming in on her through the windows and suddenly I felt so peaceful.
Mw's said she hadn't inhaled any meconium because she was still in her bag.
DH cut the cord once it stopped pulsing. The boys came down with my mom to meet their new sister.
I had no pain afterward. Once the head was out, pain just stopped. It was instant. 3 hours start to finish, even though it felt like an entire day.
Lily began nursing as soon as we got out and hasn't stopped since. She is such a beautiful, joyful miracle to our family.
The last resort was going to be castor oil. However, my gut reaction was not to take it. I told them I was fearful of the baby passing meconium if I took the castor oil. They were fine with my decision and left about 9:00 pm.
Before they left, we discussed giving my body a couple of days of rest, before trying to start labor again(being that I was 2 weeks overdue).
When they left, I felt instant relief. I didn't feel pressured to get the baby out. I could let things progress on their own.
DH took the boys up to bed and I took a nice relaxing bath. Got up Thursday morning around 5:30. No contractions or anything new with my body. I fixed myself a sandwhich since I was starving and sat down with a magazine. At 6:30 I started feeling some crampy pain, felt just like having a period. I thought it was something intestinal. Went and took a warm bath and the pains persisted. Halfway through my bath, I went upstairs and told DH I didn't feel very good. He came back down thinking I was having contractions and I told him I just wanted to finish my bath.
I kept having to go to the bathroom during the remainder of the bath. At this point, I was *sure* I had eaten something bad or had a stomach bug. DH insisted on calling my mw's at around 7. He explained what was going on and I guess that was enough to get them in the car!
I got out and still had the pain. Coming consistently every 1-2 minutes. I felt like I had to throw up, so DH brought me a bag. After throwing up, I was more sure of the fact that I surely had some intestinal problems and my mw's would be coming all this way for nothing.
However, DH was sure it was labor and made me but on my birthing bra and started opening the tub up. The pains weren't getting worse, they just stayed the same. When I sat down the lessened. When I walked they were more intense. My mom arrived to stay with the boys for the labor.
Mw's arrived at 8. Started setting up for the birth. I kept saying there wasn't going to be one today.
We put on some music that I had chosen for the birth. Everyone kept trying to get me in the tub, but I didn't want to do that! I was having a lot of pressure in my bottom area and felt like I was going to throw up. I told them I had to use the bathroom. They became very insistent that I get in the tub and go to the "bathroom" in there. Finally, I agree to, only to find the tub very hot! DH runs and gets the pump and starts bringing in cold water. He brings a fan down to cool me off and cold washcloths. Once I get in the contractions seem to fade. Only coming every few minutes. I still kept feeling like I had to go to the bathroom. I vaguely remember my mw shining a flashlight into the water and saying something about bulging!
My midwife told me to go ahead and go to the bathroom in the tub. I asked if she had something to scoop it out with!!! She assured me she did.
So when I felt the urge I tried! When I started feeling burning, I knew I wasn't going to the bathroom, the baby was coming!
I was on my knees, hanging over the tub holding onto DH who was doing the same on the outside of the tub. I remember looking over to make sure someone was going to get the baby when the head came out. It was very odd, because she was in her membrane sac still!!!
MW had to pop the bag once she was fully out underwater. She had meconium in the bag and the mw's sprang into actions suctioning her mouth and nose. I was panicked, but they were so calm. She was crying and very pink and looking around while this was going on!
It was such a beautiful day. In the 50's and so sunny. The sunlight was streaming in on her through the windows and suddenly I felt so peaceful.
Mw's said she hadn't inhaled any meconium because she was still in her bag.
DH cut the cord once it stopped pulsing. The boys came down with my mom to meet their new sister.
I had no pain afterward. Once the head was out, pain just stopped. It was instant. 3 hours start to finish, even though it felt like an entire day.
Lily began nursing as soon as we got out and hasn't stopped since. She is such a beautiful, joyful miracle to our family.
Great job and congrats to you all. 
