Well, after posting that I was in labor yesterday, she took a VERY long time in coming out!!
Margaret Elizabeth was born at 7:23 pm and weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, 21 inches long. She was my earliest baby and my second smallest - thank God!!
Her labor physically wasn't very hard. I had fairly easy labor from 2 am until noon when Charlotte (midwife) came over. I was only at 4, but I have a history of fast labors after 4 cm, so that's what I expected. But, after the two apprentices, my mom, and the sitter for the kids came, there were just too many people here and I felt like I had to perform. So, I left them all and went into another part of the house to be with my dh and see if that wouldn't help. It did a bit.
She checked me again at 5 and I was only at 7 cm. I was really disappointed, but Charlotte said that I was dialating unevenly, so the head was coming in at an angle. So, I spent the next two hours during transition doing exercises to get her to come down better. OUCH!! It worked a bit, but at 6:30 pm I was dialated to 7 on one side and 10 on the other. So, she had me lie down on one side with a pillow between my legs. After two contractions the water broke and I went to complete. I ran to the bathroom and then ended up landing on my bed on all fours and pushed her out in one push!!! (Well, I had a couple of contractions where I just refused to push because it might hurt!! I was really scared at this point!) Her entire body came out all at once - no head and then waiting for the next contraction!!! It was great! But, her hand was beside her head and I tore.
Anyway, I ended up hemmoraging a bit after the birth (due to a low-lying, anterior placenta). But, Charlotte handled it VERY well (I didn't, unfortunately - I was scared!!).
I need to write up a better birth story, but this is all I have time for at the moment!
Margaret Elizabeth was born at 7:23 pm and weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, 21 inches long. She was my earliest baby and my second smallest - thank God!!
Her labor physically wasn't very hard. I had fairly easy labor from 2 am until noon when Charlotte (midwife) came over. I was only at 4, but I have a history of fast labors after 4 cm, so that's what I expected. But, after the two apprentices, my mom, and the sitter for the kids came, there were just too many people here and I felt like I had to perform. So, I left them all and went into another part of the house to be with my dh and see if that wouldn't help. It did a bit.
She checked me again at 5 and I was only at 7 cm. I was really disappointed, but Charlotte said that I was dialating unevenly, so the head was coming in at an angle. So, I spent the next two hours during transition doing exercises to get her to come down better. OUCH!! It worked a bit, but at 6:30 pm I was dialated to 7 on one side and 10 on the other. So, she had me lie down on one side with a pillow between my legs. After two contractions the water broke and I went to complete. I ran to the bathroom and then ended up landing on my bed on all fours and pushed her out in one push!!! (Well, I had a couple of contractions where I just refused to push because it might hurt!! I was really scared at this point!) Her entire body came out all at once - no head and then waiting for the next contraction!!! It was great! But, her hand was beside her head and I tore.
Anyway, I ended up hemmoraging a bit after the birth (due to a low-lying, anterior placenta). But, Charlotte handled it VERY well (I didn't, unfortunately - I was scared!!).
I need to write up a better birth story, but this is all I have time for at the moment!
! I have been checking all day to see if your baby is here. 
Have a blissful babymoon!
!!
: Margaret!!!
Congrats!! How lucky that you and the babe are ok. Great name. I've been waiting all day to see if you had her. I'm glad your labor wasn't too long and hard.
Rest your body & let us know how it is with 4 (I'm anxiously waiting to find out myself!) 
Yeah!!! I can't wait to hear the extended version! I'm having a home birth, too. Your story is making me excited for my little one to get here.
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