Morgan Carys was born at home, 3 days early in the afternoon, after about 7 hours of labor- a very healthy 8lbs1oz & 21" long.
i feel amazing considering i just gave birth, not even a skid mark! (just a big sore saggy belly)
it's tricky to pinpoint when labor started, as i'd been leaking fluid and had ctx slowly coming on (and off) for days. they started to be distractingly painful about 8am Sunday morning. i had been trying a few induction strategies (pineapple, lax tea, nipple stim, swallowing....uh....prostaglandins(!) since my MW wasn't sure if my membranes were ruptured (i posted about this recently), i was so glad when i felt confident it was truly labor and i didn't have to worry about castor oil, pitocin or hospitals. i was also relieved that it would be a daytime labor, b/c i was worried about 19moDD being away w/ my sister for nighttime, daytime's no problem.
DH set about filling the tub and my MW and two students arrived around 11am. i hated the idea of laying down at all, so never really got any internal exams. the tub was too hot to get in for a bit and some water had to be baled out. when i got in i was amazed at how incredible it felt. the ctx were just as strong, but comparatively i was so relaxed in between. after about two hours the MW said i should get out to pee and b/c i was feeling the low pressure building we thought it was a good time to move to the bed. i had been in all different positions in the tub and vocalizing regularly during ctx. i'm pretty loud in labor (and probably not very dignified).
the MW said i had no cervix left and my bag of waters was in tact (perhaps i had a tear that had leaked before). i had a much needed, but short break in ctx. where it actually felt good to lay on my side. she said i could start pushing w/ ctx. when i wanted and after a couple times my water broke and things really sped up. i was on my knees, leaning over the ball w/ DH on the opposite side of it. i pulled on the pockets of his pants with all my might.
i shrieked and shouted and screamed rather horrendously as the MW guided me to push and breath slowly. it was extremely uncomfortable and painful. i think she came out in 10-15 minutes after my water broke. (the pushing was much harder than w/ smaller DD#1, where i popped her out in about 4 quick ones, but tore pretty good). i felt instantly better when she came out. we cuddled in bed, i cut the cord after a while, the placenta and blood clots came out rather painfully w/ some "massage" (wrenching!) from the MW. i dipped back into the tub for a little rinse off and we cuddled and nursed and visited w/ family who came over.
DD#1 has been mostly fun and fascinated w/ her, but gets rough sometimes or wants us to put her down, especially DH. plus she gets wound up w/ so much family around. baby Morgan is (another) perfect treasure. sleeping in the family bed is going great w/ her and i on the side-car-crib side and DH & big Sister on the toddler rail side. DD#1 still doesn't nap well and DH car-napped her so far, hopefully while he's home for 2 weeks she can be taught to go down in bed, otherwise i'll have to wear her.
we are so thrilled w/ our home birth. love it love it love it. not that it still doesn't hurt like fucking hell! i'm already forgetting just how bad though and i can't believe how intact my perineum is. incredible. hardly even sore at all! my belly is a different story, after two kids close together i feel my diaphragm and back are very poorly supported and i am awkward, achy and out of breath. the afterpains suck but are manageable and already getting much better.
we are in bliss. best wishes to all you babymooning and still expectant Mamas out there!!!
i feel amazing considering i just gave birth, not even a skid mark! (just a big sore saggy belly)
it's tricky to pinpoint when labor started, as i'd been leaking fluid and had ctx slowly coming on (and off) for days. they started to be distractingly painful about 8am Sunday morning. i had been trying a few induction strategies (pineapple, lax tea, nipple stim, swallowing....uh....prostaglandins(!) since my MW wasn't sure if my membranes were ruptured (i posted about this recently), i was so glad when i felt confident it was truly labor and i didn't have to worry about castor oil, pitocin or hospitals. i was also relieved that it would be a daytime labor, b/c i was worried about 19moDD being away w/ my sister for nighttime, daytime's no problem.
DH set about filling the tub and my MW and two students arrived around 11am. i hated the idea of laying down at all, so never really got any internal exams. the tub was too hot to get in for a bit and some water had to be baled out. when i got in i was amazed at how incredible it felt. the ctx were just as strong, but comparatively i was so relaxed in between. after about two hours the MW said i should get out to pee and b/c i was feeling the low pressure building we thought it was a good time to move to the bed. i had been in all different positions in the tub and vocalizing regularly during ctx. i'm pretty loud in labor (and probably not very dignified).
the MW said i had no cervix left and my bag of waters was in tact (perhaps i had a tear that had leaked before). i had a much needed, but short break in ctx. where it actually felt good to lay on my side. she said i could start pushing w/ ctx. when i wanted and after a couple times my water broke and things really sped up. i was on my knees, leaning over the ball w/ DH on the opposite side of it. i pulled on the pockets of his pants with all my might.
i shrieked and shouted and screamed rather horrendously as the MW guided me to push and breath slowly. it was extremely uncomfortable and painful. i think she came out in 10-15 minutes after my water broke. (the pushing was much harder than w/ smaller DD#1, where i popped her out in about 4 quick ones, but tore pretty good). i felt instantly better when she came out. we cuddled in bed, i cut the cord after a while, the placenta and blood clots came out rather painfully w/ some "massage" (wrenching!) from the MW. i dipped back into the tub for a little rinse off and we cuddled and nursed and visited w/ family who came over.
DD#1 has been mostly fun and fascinated w/ her, but gets rough sometimes or wants us to put her down, especially DH. plus she gets wound up w/ so much family around. baby Morgan is (another) perfect treasure. sleeping in the family bed is going great w/ her and i on the side-car-crib side and DH & big Sister on the toddler rail side. DD#1 still doesn't nap well and DH car-napped her so far, hopefully while he's home for 2 weeks she can be taught to go down in bed, otherwise i'll have to wear her.
we are so thrilled w/ our home birth. love it love it love it. not that it still doesn't hurt like fucking hell! i'm already forgetting just how bad though
and i can't believe how intact my perineum is. incredible. hardly even sore at all! my belly is a different story, after two kids close together i feel my diaphragm and back are very poorly supported and i am awkward, achy and out of breath. the afterpains suck but are manageable and already getting much better.we are in bliss. best wishes to all you babymooning and still expectant Mamas out there!!!
Good job!! Enjoy that new baby.
Welcome Baby Morgan!!!
