Posting in parts to make it easier to read. This is definitely not an idyllic birth story, but I tried to write things down as I remember them. I am leaving room for the fact that my perception may be skewed.
Part One. The Beginning
Friday night (4/27) I was in a pretty foul mood. I kept having piddly little contractions that weren't going anywhere. DH took over bedtime so I wouldn't commit murder, and I started my green jello thread here on MDC. By the time I had sent him out for spicy Chinese food--yum--the thread was hopping, I was having some mild contractions, and I was a much happier mama.
I woke up Saturday morning (4/28)and was still having every-ten-minutes contractions, but they just weren't getting longer, stronger, or closer together. At this point, I was technically 18 days "overdue". Eventually, I went to the grocery store to finish the marketing. My in-laws arrived, and we all went to Katie Grace's recital. The baby kicked like crazy through the program and I was still contracting, and when we got back home, the contractions were regular enough that they were annoying me. At Chip's suggestion, I left my MIL in charge of dinner (we had corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot) and went upstairs to lie down.
After they left, we called some church people to see if the kids could spend the night. I thought this was it, and we'd have a baby by morning. We packed them up and Chip took them over. I called the midwife and let her know, and she said to call her back when something was happening. This really annoyed Chip.
They were coming every 5 or 6 minutes by 2 AM, so we called the midwife since she's about an hour away. By the time she and her assistant got here, things had slowed down again to every ten minutes. We found places for everyone to sleep. I was able to rest, but woke up from the contractions every now and again. Around 8 AM, we woke everyone up and tried to figure out what to do next.
She checked me, and I was 4-5 cm dilated. She stripped my membranes while she was in there, and I had a contraction which gave her a "bubble" of my bag of waters. She asked if I wanted her to break it since she had it right there, but I was kind of preoccupied with pain and just couldn't decide, so she didn't. I took some herbs (blue and black cohosh and squawvine).
After that, she and her assistant went to Perkins for breakfast. Chip and I were supposed to take a "brisk and productive" walk. We decided to walk to Perkins, about a mile and half each way. The talk of breakfast made me hungry, so we walked there, ate eggs benedict, and then walked back home. We sat with them at breakfast and talked about what to do next. She mentioned breaking my water, and I was pretty sure I would agree to it, but wanted to think about it.
Chip and I walked home. It was really a beautiful sunny breezy spring day. We walked through the college campus, which was empty, and it was all just very peaceful. When I got home, I brewed some labor tea and worked on tidying up the kitchen til the midwives got there. Liz got there first, and I asked what she would do if she was me. I know it really wasn't a fair question, but I was conflicted about AROM. On the one hand, it was 20 days past my due date and I had just about had it. On the other hand, I didn't want to "cheat." So we talked a little about not being a martyr just because I was married to an ideal and I decided I would do it. I had pretty much already made up my mind.
When K. got back, we talked about the possible risks, and then we went upstairs where she broke my water. It was clear with vernix, which she took as a sign that the baby wasn't as "late" as we thought. I went downstairs and made a potato and corn chowder to put in the crockpot for everyone to eat. I noticed the contractions were a lot more productive when I was up and about, which was a bummer cause I was really tired from the lack of sleep the night before and the three mile walk that morning. I saw in the recliner for a little, but was feeling restless and took a shower. By now it was around noon.
Part One. The Beginning
Friday night (4/27) I was in a pretty foul mood. I kept having piddly little contractions that weren't going anywhere. DH took over bedtime so I wouldn't commit murder, and I started my green jello thread here on MDC. By the time I had sent him out for spicy Chinese food--yum--the thread was hopping, I was having some mild contractions, and I was a much happier mama.
I woke up Saturday morning (4/28)and was still having every-ten-minutes contractions, but they just weren't getting longer, stronger, or closer together. At this point, I was technically 18 days "overdue". Eventually, I went to the grocery store to finish the marketing. My in-laws arrived, and we all went to Katie Grace's recital. The baby kicked like crazy through the program and I was still contracting, and when we got back home, the contractions were regular enough that they were annoying me. At Chip's suggestion, I left my MIL in charge of dinner (we had corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot) and went upstairs to lie down.
After they left, we called some church people to see if the kids could spend the night. I thought this was it, and we'd have a baby by morning. We packed them up and Chip took them over. I called the midwife and let her know, and she said to call her back when something was happening. This really annoyed Chip.
They were coming every 5 or 6 minutes by 2 AM, so we called the midwife since she's about an hour away. By the time she and her assistant got here, things had slowed down again to every ten minutes. We found places for everyone to sleep. I was able to rest, but woke up from the contractions every now and again. Around 8 AM, we woke everyone up and tried to figure out what to do next.
She checked me, and I was 4-5 cm dilated. She stripped my membranes while she was in there, and I had a contraction which gave her a "bubble" of my bag of waters. She asked if I wanted her to break it since she had it right there, but I was kind of preoccupied with pain and just couldn't decide, so she didn't. I took some herbs (blue and black cohosh and squawvine).
After that, she and her assistant went to Perkins for breakfast. Chip and I were supposed to take a "brisk and productive" walk. We decided to walk to Perkins, about a mile and half each way. The talk of breakfast made me hungry, so we walked there, ate eggs benedict, and then walked back home. We sat with them at breakfast and talked about what to do next. She mentioned breaking my water, and I was pretty sure I would agree to it, but wanted to think about it.
Chip and I walked home. It was really a beautiful sunny breezy spring day. We walked through the college campus, which was empty, and it was all just very peaceful. When I got home, I brewed some labor tea and worked on tidying up the kitchen til the midwives got there. Liz got there first, and I asked what she would do if she was me. I know it really wasn't a fair question, but I was conflicted about AROM. On the one hand, it was 20 days past my due date and I had just about had it. On the other hand, I didn't want to "cheat." So we talked a little about not being a martyr just because I was married to an ideal and I decided I would do it. I had pretty much already made up my mind.
When K. got back, we talked about the possible risks, and then we went upstairs where she broke my water. It was clear with vernix, which she took as a sign that the baby wasn't as "late" as we thought. I went downstairs and made a potato and corn chowder to put in the crockpot for everyone to eat. I noticed the contractions were a lot more productive when I was up and about, which was a bummer cause I was really tired from the lack of sleep the night before and the three mile walk that morning. I saw in the recliner for a little, but was feeling restless and took a shower. By now it was around noon.
.
DH is off to the store for ingredients now! 
I know. Two weeks ago, I was all "Never. Again." Now I'm thinking, "Heck, what's one more." 
