She was born Monday evening at 8:07. She weighed 7lbs 6oz and was 20 inches long. I started contracting regularly or well more regularly than before, around 5 Sunday evening. I went to work and employed co-workers to walk me around the workplace most of the night. That kept things going. I really freaked some of them out! After work I went home and tried to lay down and get some rest but the contractions kept waking me up. So finally about noon I got up and started trying to get some last minute cleaning down around the house and I called my midwife to give her a heads up that she may be seeing me later. When my mom got off of work at 2 she came over and helped me finish the cleaning I insisted on getting down before she made me leave and head up to see my midwife at the birthcenter. We got to the birthcenter around 3:30 and talked to my mw and she checked me. I was at a 3-4 cm dilated. I had several contractions while there and she said to go for a walk somewhere and come back when I felt like it. So my mom my girls and dh decided to go to a nearby park with a rose garden. We picked up some food on our way and played, ate and walked around the park for an hour or so. During this time my contractions were coming every 3 minutes. Finally the girls and everyone were starting to get cold so we decided to go back to the birthcenter and hang out there. My sisters met us at the bc. Once we got there my contractions started to slow down which frustrated me and I wanted some quiet. I tried getting my mom and sisters to do the shopping they had wanted to get done but they wouldn't leave unless they knew how far I had progressed. I didn't feel it necessary to get checked again but did to get them out of there and leave me alone for awhile. I was b/n a 5 and 6 but we told them 5 to get them out. After they left I got in the tub as did the girls. They had fun playing in the water while I labored. It was nice having them there playing next to me and I played with them in between contractions. After a bit I got tired of the water and wanted on the birthball. So out we got and onto the ball I had a few contractions there but felt like I couldn't relax enough and dh wasn't understanding that I wanted him to hold me up while I sat there. I needed to pee also so I tried going but couldn't and while sitting on the toilet I had a contraction and the urge to push. I made it to the bed and tried a hands and knees kneeling postion for several contractions but felt like I was having trouble relaxing so I went to a sidelying position propped up with a bean bag and several pillows. That was MUCH better. During some point the call had been made to my mom and sisters to tell them to get back if they wanted to see the birth. The girls had also gotten dressed and were sitting in a rocking chair next to me. I was pushing with every contraction which was wonderful. My body was doing what it wanted to without being told that now was the time to do this or that. My water broke with one contraction. I could hear it pop. Soon Kalana's head was coming out. Her chin didn't get all the way out before my contraction was over as well as my urge to push. I gave a little push to get her chin out and then rested for a minute before the next one came along with her shoulders and body. I tore just a little bit and got two stitches.
This was the best birth experience I have had. My other two were hospital births and don't even compare to this one. It was wonderful. We were home by midnight!
She is nursing well and sleeping with me. She has a full head of black hair.
This was the best birth experience I have had. My other two were hospital births and don't even compare to this one. It was wonderful. We were home by midnight!
She is nursing well and sleeping with me. She has a full head of black hair.
: And congratulations Andrea and family. Thank you for sharing your great birth story with us.
