My parents left saturday morning and during Madelyn's marathon nap (3 hrs!) Jeremy & I reminisced about when we first met etc. It was a real nice chance to reconnect with him and it was such a gorgeous day out. After Mad's nap we decided to go into town to Menards & Walmart, just to look around at swingset equipment & prices etc...but mostly just to get out and enjoy a nice car ride. So....we went shopping, and by the time we left it was 9:30pm. Madelyn fell asleep on the way home and we talked about whether we should induce. I did some research online about stripping membranes but decided that I wanted to wait longer. Fast forward a few hours to 1:30am on Aug 13th (today). I was lying in bed feeling the most awesome movements. It felt like the baby's head was turning back and forth and just an unexplanable sensation really. I decided I should go pee, although I didn't want to cuz I wanted to just lie there and feel those movements and I got up and was 1/2 way to the door and GUSH! OMG this is it!!!!
At right after 2am the cx started at 6-8 mins apart. My MW warned that b/c my water broke first I was going to feel every cervical pain that you wouldn't normally with a bag of water to cushion it. So I wasn't able to get back to sleep. But I practiced with each one to breath slow and deep and to remind myself to relax...I noticed areas that were still tense after a cx ended and tried to make sure that in the next one I relaxed that part too. At 3:30am I woke up Jeremy and ate some cereal. By 5am...they were very strange. I would have 1 cx @ 6mins lasting for 45secs...another only 3 mins later but only lasting 25secs (i called these teasers) and then another 3 mins have the real one again (I wasn't counting the teasers so I figured cx were 6ish mins apart) I called MW to see if I could get in the tub ( I was having feeling discouraged b/c they were quite painful but not lasting long enough to do any work and I was really tired and wanted to try and relax) She said it was too early...my cx didn't have a good steady pattern yet but I could take a hot shower and usually afterwards that gives you a nice lull...and to take advantage of it! So I took a hot shower and it was WONDERFUL! I had 4 good cx in the shower (meanwhile Madelyn woke up at about 4am and Jeremy had been trying to get her back to sleep AND he was trying to get our bed set up and pull the birth kit out...so I was dealing with cx mostly on my own at this point for about 45mins...he would rush in to remind me to breath slowly and relax and rub me) I decided to get out of the shower and go lay down to get some sleep. YA RIGHT! They hit me fast and furious! I was sleeping in between cx (like my body would twitch and would be sleeping but I was still completely aware of what was going on around me...but it was like I wasn't *there*) And then I would have a cx (Mad was sleeping out on the couch and J & I were in the bedroom) and I no longer was able to remind myself to relax and breath and all I could hear is his words telling me to slow my breathing and relax and to welcome the contraction...soft face...loose limbs....meanwhile I'm moaning like crazy and throwing out quite a few "f*ckity f*ck f*cks". He was sounding quite nervous and kinda jittery and I told him that he was doing a great job and that I was OKAY....and he started crying. It was such a sweet moment. (In retrospect I think me needing to comfort him helped me to get back on top of my cx and do what needed to be done.) And after that cx I told him to call our babysitter (it was 6:30am) and give her a heads up. He called and I had a cx while on the phone...when he came back I told him to call her again and tell her to come! With the way I was moaning I knew Madelyn would be up soon. Few minutes later Madelyn came running into the bedroom "MOMMY!!!! Hi Mommy! Doing?" and I told her that "Mommy is having a baby" and she crawled into bed behind me and snuggled up to me. I remember her being soft and warm and thinking that THIS is why I going through all of this. Jeremy came and got her and put on Diego and packed her babysitter bag. I continued having cx...we weren't really timing them at this point but they were something like 3 mins apart and lasting 1-2mins (we didn't have a watch with a 2nd hand...ahem MADELYN...lol...but he would look at the digital clock at like 6:43am when a cx would start and it wouldn't stop until like 6:45am.
A few cx later and I said the magic words (international sign for almost ready to push) "I CANT DO THIS!" Jeremy said "yes you CAN...you ARE doing it!" He KNEW I was in transistion and called our MW. Our babysitter showed up and Jeremy had to go out to the car and get Mad's carseat set up in her van...meanwhile I'm now in the bathroom yelling for him and our babysitter (who also is a good friend and Bradley instructor...) came in and gave my lower back counter pressure. She gave me some encouraging words and then took Madelyn back to her place with her girls for the morning.
So now its just me and Jeremy again and I'm really worried that I was NOT in transition and that I still had hours to go. I was getting a little upset and wanted to get in the tub...but wasn't sure if I should wait for the MW to get here and check me first. He said it would be okay if I got in. While it was filling, I was having contractions that felt very good to push with. I was holding on the the door frames and liking to kinda squat down a bit during a cx. I was also moaning very deeply and purring like a kitten LMAO....plus I was shaking like CRAZY and felt very nauseas. So I get in the tub for all of 2 cx and I'm pushing. Jeremy kinda FREAKED lol...and kept saying "You CAN'T push in the tub!" And I'm thinking "The HELL I can't!" But I was NOT enjoying the water and wanted out right away. We went back into bed and the cx slowed down a bit and were much shorter and I was definately pushing with each one. I was nervous because I was worried that I was pushing too soon (didn't want to swell an undialated cervix) and I remember kinda joking with Jeremy about what if I'm only 5cm??? I was laying on my side pushing and Jeremy's saying "you CAN'T push in that position" and I yelled at him and called him an idiot and said I will push in whatever position I wanted to...so there! LOL
I hear our MW come in and say "I know what THAT sound is!!!" and Jeremy said "I think she's pushing!" and I said "GRUNT GRUNT ARRRRRRRRRRGH" Our MW was like "um DUH Jeremy hahaha". She was a little late b/c of an accident on the freeway...but was still there in plenty of time. So she set out all her stuff and checked me...fully dialated with an anterior lip! So she said a few more cx and she will try and push the lip out of the way. I decided to get up and go pee, had 3 cx on the way (2 on the toilet) and she checked the baby's heart tones. "Happy Baby!" she said. I got back into bed...she checked and pushed the lip out of the way and I could feel the baby slide way down. Then I REALLY had to push. 2 pushes and the baby was crowning, Jeremy looked down and couldn't believe it! I put my hand down and felt the head and started get teary eyed. So the head is out and the MW says...after you are done with this cx you need to flip onto your hands and knees. I was a little scared because I knew that meant the shoulders were stuck. so I flipped and she said "PUSH! DON"T STOP! HURRY UP! HARDER" and I push with everything I had. She later told us that the baby kinda had its shoulders arched back to she slipped her finger up there and rounded it out so the shoulders curled and out the baby came! I reached down and pulled our wee one up to me and rolled on to my side. I just stared and stared and jeremy (who already seen the gender as the baby popped out) kept saying "Look DANA LOOK!" and I was just so enthralled with our baby that I didn't even care for a moment and then i looked and ITS A BOY!!!!!!
His apgars were 8 & 9 and is a nursing CHAMP! No soreness or nothing and he can basically latch on his own! His name is Jonas Arthur, 21 inches, 10 pounds 5 oz (HOLY MACKERAL!) and he was born at 7:46am on August 13th, 10 days "overdue". After 6hrs & 15 mins of labor (start to finish...only 2 hrs of strong cx)
We are doing GREAT! Madelyn is home...she hasn't met him yet cuz she is napping. I have a tiny nick on my perineum from the MW needing to put her hand up there to help the shoulders out, but I don't needed any stitches or anything.
I haven't slept yet....I'm tired but still so enjoying my little man.
Thank you all so much for the well wishes and thoughts! They really meant a lot to me when I was struggling through those last few weeks of pregnancy.
And for you gals that are going to give birth....it was hard. But it was honestly the greatest experience I have EVER had. I feel so connected with Jeremy, so connected with my baby and so connected with my body. You can do it too!!! It was totally worth everything.
At right after 2am the cx started at 6-8 mins apart. My MW warned that b/c my water broke first I was going to feel every cervical pain that you wouldn't normally with a bag of water to cushion it. So I wasn't able to get back to sleep. But I practiced with each one to breath slow and deep and to remind myself to relax...I noticed areas that were still tense after a cx ended and tried to make sure that in the next one I relaxed that part too. At 3:30am I woke up Jeremy and ate some cereal. By 5am...they were very strange. I would have 1 cx @ 6mins lasting for 45secs...another only 3 mins later but only lasting 25secs (i called these teasers) and then another 3 mins have the real one again (I wasn't counting the teasers so I figured cx were 6ish mins apart) I called MW to see if I could get in the tub ( I was having feeling discouraged b/c they were quite painful but not lasting long enough to do any work and I was really tired and wanted to try and relax) She said it was too early...my cx didn't have a good steady pattern yet but I could take a hot shower and usually afterwards that gives you a nice lull...and to take advantage of it! So I took a hot shower and it was WONDERFUL! I had 4 good cx in the shower (meanwhile Madelyn woke up at about 4am and Jeremy had been trying to get her back to sleep AND he was trying to get our bed set up and pull the birth kit out...so I was dealing with cx mostly on my own at this point for about 45mins...he would rush in to remind me to breath slowly and relax and rub me) I decided to get out of the shower and go lay down to get some sleep. YA RIGHT! They hit me fast and furious! I was sleeping in between cx (like my body would twitch and would be sleeping but I was still completely aware of what was going on around me...but it was like I wasn't *there*) And then I would have a cx (Mad was sleeping out on the couch and J & I were in the bedroom) and I no longer was able to remind myself to relax and breath and all I could hear is his words telling me to slow my breathing and relax and to welcome the contraction...soft face...loose limbs....meanwhile I'm moaning like crazy and throwing out quite a few "f*ckity f*ck f*cks". He was sounding quite nervous and kinda jittery and I told him that he was doing a great job and that I was OKAY....and he started crying. It was such a sweet moment. (In retrospect I think me needing to comfort him helped me to get back on top of my cx and do what needed to be done.) And after that cx I told him to call our babysitter (it was 6:30am) and give her a heads up. He called and I had a cx while on the phone...when he came back I told him to call her again and tell her to come! With the way I was moaning I knew Madelyn would be up soon. Few minutes later Madelyn came running into the bedroom "MOMMY!!!! Hi Mommy! Doing?" and I told her that "Mommy is having a baby" and she crawled into bed behind me and snuggled up to me. I remember her being soft and warm and thinking that THIS is why I going through all of this. Jeremy came and got her and put on Diego and packed her babysitter bag. I continued having cx...we weren't really timing them at this point but they were something like 3 mins apart and lasting 1-2mins (we didn't have a watch with a 2nd hand...ahem MADELYN...lol...but he would look at the digital clock at like 6:43am when a cx would start and it wouldn't stop until like 6:45am.
A few cx later and I said the magic words (international sign for almost ready to push) "I CANT DO THIS!" Jeremy said "yes you CAN...you ARE doing it!" He KNEW I was in transistion and called our MW. Our babysitter showed up and Jeremy had to go out to the car and get Mad's carseat set up in her van...meanwhile I'm now in the bathroom yelling for him and our babysitter (who also is a good friend and Bradley instructor...) came in and gave my lower back counter pressure. She gave me some encouraging words and then took Madelyn back to her place with her girls for the morning.
So now its just me and Jeremy again and I'm really worried that I was NOT in transition and that I still had hours to go. I was getting a little upset and wanted to get in the tub...but wasn't sure if I should wait for the MW to get here and check me first. He said it would be okay if I got in. While it was filling, I was having contractions that felt very good to push with. I was holding on the the door frames and liking to kinda squat down a bit during a cx. I was also moaning very deeply and purring like a kitten LMAO....plus I was shaking like CRAZY and felt very nauseas. So I get in the tub for all of 2 cx and I'm pushing. Jeremy kinda FREAKED lol...and kept saying "You CAN'T push in the tub!" And I'm thinking "The HELL I can't!" But I was NOT enjoying the water and wanted out right away. We went back into bed and the cx slowed down a bit and were much shorter and I was definately pushing with each one. I was nervous because I was worried that I was pushing too soon (didn't want to swell an undialated cervix) and I remember kinda joking with Jeremy about what if I'm only 5cm??? I was laying on my side pushing and Jeremy's saying "you CAN'T push in that position" and I yelled at him and called him an idiot and said I will push in whatever position I wanted to...so there! LOL
I hear our MW come in and say "I know what THAT sound is!!!" and Jeremy said "I think she's pushing!" and I said "GRUNT GRUNT ARRRRRRRRRRGH" Our MW was like "um DUH Jeremy hahaha". She was a little late b/c of an accident on the freeway...but was still there in plenty of time. So she set out all her stuff and checked me...fully dialated with an anterior lip! So she said a few more cx and she will try and push the lip out of the way. I decided to get up and go pee, had 3 cx on the way (2 on the toilet) and she checked the baby's heart tones. "Happy Baby!" she said. I got back into bed...she checked and pushed the lip out of the way and I could feel the baby slide way down. Then I REALLY had to push. 2 pushes and the baby was crowning, Jeremy looked down and couldn't believe it! I put my hand down and felt the head and started get teary eyed. So the head is out and the MW says...after you are done with this cx you need to flip onto your hands and knees. I was a little scared because I knew that meant the shoulders were stuck. so I flipped and she said "PUSH! DON"T STOP! HURRY UP! HARDER" and I push with everything I had. She later told us that the baby kinda had its shoulders arched back to she slipped her finger up there and rounded it out so the shoulders curled and out the baby came! I reached down and pulled our wee one up to me and rolled on to my side. I just stared and stared and jeremy (who already seen the gender as the baby popped out) kept saying "Look DANA LOOK!" and I was just so enthralled with our baby that I didn't even care for a moment and then i looked and ITS A BOY!!!!!!
His apgars were 8 & 9 and is a nursing CHAMP! No soreness or nothing and he can basically latch on his own! His name is Jonas Arthur, 21 inches, 10 pounds 5 oz (HOLY MACKERAL!) and he was born at 7:46am on August 13th, 10 days "overdue". After 6hrs & 15 mins of labor (start to finish...only 2 hrs of strong cx)
We are doing GREAT! Madelyn is home...she hasn't met him yet cuz she is napping. I have a tiny nick on my perineum from the MW needing to put her hand up there to help the shoulders out, but I don't needed any stitches or anything.
I haven't slept yet....I'm tired but still so enjoying my little man.
Thank you all so much for the well wishes and thoughts! They really meant a lot to me when I was struggling through those last few weeks of pregnancy.
And for you gals that are going to give birth....it was hard. But it was honestly the greatest experience I have EVER had. I feel so connected with Jeremy, so connected with my baby and so connected with my body. You can do it too!!! It was totally worth everything.
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