So, she's 9 days old, and I'm finally getting around to posting her birth story! I've been too busy babymooning! 
She was 4 days old before I finally decided on her name, but I wanted to wait until I was sure. And her name is perfect for her!
Sorry it's so long!
I was sitting on my couch Sunday night around 7:30 when I felt a tiny gush of fluid. Hmm. I went to the bathroom to check, but it was colorless and odorless, so I wasn't sure what to think. I had hoped my labor might start with my water breaking so I would know for sure what was happening. This tiny gush did not make things at all clear. I decided to call my brother to give him a heads up (and because I was excited and needed to share my possible news with somebody!). He asked what Nancy (my MW) had said when I called her, and I told him I hadn't yet, that there was no need since I wasn't even sure it was amniotic fluid. I told him I was going to relax and wait an hour or so to see if anything changed. He called me back 20 minutes later, and he was shocked that I truly hadn't called Nancy yet! I agreed to go ahead and call her because I had had a few more gushes, and the fluid was now pink. Nancy was her usual calm, low key self. She let me know that someone else's labor was just starting (a third time mom), so she wanted me to have a glass of wine and relax and not do anything to encourage labor to come on. She reminded me that this stage could last up to 24-48 hours. I wasn't too concerned about the other woman's birth since it was her third and since I figured I had a day or so ahead of me and she would be done long before I needed Nancy. I called Lucas back and told him I'd keep him posted in a few hours. I called my friend Jenn who was to be at the birth. She wanted to come over and keep me company, even if she would end up going back home for the night. She got here around 10:00, followed an hour or so later by my brother and BIL. We hung out for a while, and Jenn helped me make some Christmas candy. I was very relaxed during this whole time, just enjoying the moment and excited about what was to come. I had a few crampy sensations while we were making the candy, but it was very mild. I suggested that Jenn go home for the night since clearly things were going to take their time, but she decided to stay, just in case. The guys also were going to stay the night.
We all got ready for bed, and I turned out the light around 1:00. Within minutes of laying down, the cramping got a little more intense. I never did get to sleep. I started jotting down the time when I would get a cramp, and by 2:30 I could no longer call them cramps but had to admit they were now contractions! I was feeling them mostly in my back and wondered if this was the dreaded back labor. I got up to pee and found sitting on the toilet incredibly uncomfortable. I decided to wake Jenn. I was feeling a little bit scared at this point and didn't want to be alone. Jenn's presence immediately calmed me. She came into my bedroom and we talked through the next few contractions. I decided to call Nancy since she wanted to know if anything changed, and things had definitely changed! I talked to her at 3:30, and she suggested letting Jenn get some sleep and for me to try to sleep between the contractions, which were about 8 minutes apart. She asked me to call her back in two hours to update her. Jenn got me settled with a heating pad on my back to relieve some of the back pain. I decided to sit in the glider so I could try to sleep since laying in the bed was so painful. Jenn wanted to stay with me. Instead of sleeping between contractions, they started coming much more quickly and were much more intense. We eventually switched to the birth ball, and she started pressing on my hips during contractions, which felt so good. We were keeping track of contractions with an online counter, and I was surprised when the time came to call Nancy back that the contractions were less than 2-3 minutes apart. Nancy listened to a few contractions and asked if they'd been "double picking" me much. I hadn't even realized that I'd had a few contractions with no break in between. She asked if I was ready for her to come over, and I was surprised that she even offered. I was still thinking I had hours and hours to go. She then told me that the other woman hadn't actually started labor yet, and it was basically "first come, first served". So I of course told her to come on over! She said she would call Therese (birth assistant) so she could be on her way as well. I was excited about things moving along, but I had really gotten into a good groove and hoped the change wouldn't stall my labor. We went ahead and woke the guys up then.
Nancy and Therese arrived around 6:45. Nancy wanted to check me to see if I could get in the tub yet. I had been 3 cm at my visit the week before, so I was hoping to be maybe at 5. I was shocked when she asked if I would be happy with 7! There was a flurry of activity while they got everything set up in my bedroom. I labored in the nursery on the birth ball while they made their preparations. Then I was ready to get in the tub, which was set up in my bedroom. I've heard so many women swear about the benefits of the tub, and I enjoyed getting into it, but I can't say it offered much true relief. I think that has a lot to do with the timing, though, because I was hitting transition right when I was getting into the tub. Things then got very intense. I was no longer chatting and joking between contractions. I would basically zone out, and I discovered that "other place" I'd heard described by women in labor. I spent a total of about 1 1/2 hours in the tub, at some point having reached 10 cm and starting to push a bit. We had talked about the possibility of birthing in the tub, and Nancy had told me that a lot of first timers needed gravity and different positions. I was open to birthing in the tub but not at all attached to it, wanting to do whatever I needed to in the moment. So when Nancy suggested getting out of the tub to try some different positions, I was more than ready. We tried every position imaginable, each one for a few contractions, and then on the next. Squatting, the birth stool, hands and knees, on my side with my leg raised. I did not enjoy pushing. Not once did I even consider the need for pain relief, but during pushing I was worried that I just wasn't efficient enough to get the baby out. Even looking in a mirror, I couldn't register any progress. But I trusted Nancy, and she kept encouraging me and assuring me that I was getting there. I just needed to get the baby past the bone, and it would be easier after that. Neither of us knew how much easier it would be until a few minutes later! Nancy was ready for me to change positions again and directed me out to the door in the hallway. She wanted me to squat while leaning backwards and holding onto the doorknobs for support. I had to go into the hallway because my bedroom is a "suite" and doesn't have a separate door. This was the first position I felt I was making progress with, and it was also more comfortable during breaks to stand and lean on the doorknobs, with Jenn and Lucas supporting me. After a few contractions, we moved to the bathroom and spent a few contractions on the toilet. We soon went back to the doorknob, though, because that had clearly been the right position. Within one or two more contractions there, the baby finally pushed past the bone. And tried to come out the rest of the way! Nancy told me not to push and hustled me back into the bedroom before the next contraction came. Walking the 15 or so feet to the bedroom, it felt like the baby was hanging halfway out of me! What an incredibly odd sensation! They got me onto the birth stool with Lucas behind me on the bed to support me. Nancy was telling me not to push, to blow, and she was supporting and oiling my perineum. That was the only time where I felt like I "had" to push. But I didn't. And with the next contraction, without me pushing at all, out comes the baby's head and body all at once! What an amazing feeling, having a baby come out of me! The baby was placed on my belly, and I was in utter shock that it was real, that it was happening, that, finally, my baby was here! The cord was short, so I couldn't get a close enough look. After a couple of minutes, I realized I still didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. Nancy made a comment about "her", and I asked if it was a girl. She said she hadn't checked, but it looked like a girl's face. So I looked, and sure enough, I had a daughter! I was so eager to get a better look at her, and with the next contraction I was able to easily birth the placenta. Then my little girl was on my chest, and she was looking around wide eyed and alert. Nancy wrapped up the placenta and I was finally able to get onto the bed with my baby. It was over an hour before we got around to cutting the cord, and I did it myself. We examined the placenta and found a tear high in the membrane, which is why my water didn't "break" but just leaked continually during labor. Nancy did all of the measurements on the baby, 8 pounds 12 ounces after passing a ton of terminal meconium, 21 inches, 14 3/4 inch head, 14 1/2 inch chest. I got my exam and was not happy to learn I had torn badly, enough to require stitches. I really wanted to heal naturally, and Nancy usually prefers that as well, but she said she really believed the stitches were necessary. Once the baby passed the bone, she just came out too fast for me to have time to stretch. Getting the stitches was actually a lot easier to handle than I'd feared. And then it was back to holding and staring at my baby!
Nancy and Therese did their magic clean up act. Then I got an herb bath, and Therese made an amazing feast of finger foods for us all. Nancy made sure we got nursing under way, and by 3:00, it was time for them to go. I didn't go downstairs until two days later! My brother took great care of me and the baby. We wondered how nursing would go because she has a short frenulum (tongue tie), which can cause latch problems. But she's done beautifully and has been nursing well. I fell in love immediately and am enjoying being a mama more than I could have even imagined. And I am in awe of every woman who has ever given birth! What an amazing power we have!
Iris Jamison - December 10, 2007 @ 10:35 a.m.
She was 4 days old before I finally decided on her name, but I wanted to wait until I was sure. And her name is perfect for her!Sorry it's so long!
I was sitting on my couch Sunday night around 7:30 when I felt a tiny gush of fluid. Hmm. I went to the bathroom to check, but it was colorless and odorless, so I wasn't sure what to think. I had hoped my labor might start with my water breaking so I would know for sure what was happening. This tiny gush did not make things at all clear. I decided to call my brother to give him a heads up (and because I was excited and needed to share my possible news with somebody!). He asked what Nancy (my MW) had said when I called her, and I told him I hadn't yet, that there was no need since I wasn't even sure it was amniotic fluid. I told him I was going to relax and wait an hour or so to see if anything changed. He called me back 20 minutes later, and he was shocked that I truly hadn't called Nancy yet! I agreed to go ahead and call her because I had had a few more gushes, and the fluid was now pink. Nancy was her usual calm, low key self. She let me know that someone else's labor was just starting (a third time mom), so she wanted me to have a glass of wine and relax and not do anything to encourage labor to come on. She reminded me that this stage could last up to 24-48 hours. I wasn't too concerned about the other woman's birth since it was her third and since I figured I had a day or so ahead of me and she would be done long before I needed Nancy. I called Lucas back and told him I'd keep him posted in a few hours. I called my friend Jenn who was to be at the birth. She wanted to come over and keep me company, even if she would end up going back home for the night. She got here around 10:00, followed an hour or so later by my brother and BIL. We hung out for a while, and Jenn helped me make some Christmas candy. I was very relaxed during this whole time, just enjoying the moment and excited about what was to come. I had a few crampy sensations while we were making the candy, but it was very mild. I suggested that Jenn go home for the night since clearly things were going to take their time, but she decided to stay, just in case. The guys also were going to stay the night.
We all got ready for bed, and I turned out the light around 1:00. Within minutes of laying down, the cramping got a little more intense. I never did get to sleep. I started jotting down the time when I would get a cramp, and by 2:30 I could no longer call them cramps but had to admit they were now contractions! I was feeling them mostly in my back and wondered if this was the dreaded back labor. I got up to pee and found sitting on the toilet incredibly uncomfortable. I decided to wake Jenn. I was feeling a little bit scared at this point and didn't want to be alone. Jenn's presence immediately calmed me. She came into my bedroom and we talked through the next few contractions. I decided to call Nancy since she wanted to know if anything changed, and things had definitely changed! I talked to her at 3:30, and she suggested letting Jenn get some sleep and for me to try to sleep between the contractions, which were about 8 minutes apart. She asked me to call her back in two hours to update her. Jenn got me settled with a heating pad on my back to relieve some of the back pain. I decided to sit in the glider so I could try to sleep since laying in the bed was so painful. Jenn wanted to stay with me. Instead of sleeping between contractions, they started coming much more quickly and were much more intense. We eventually switched to the birth ball, and she started pressing on my hips during contractions, which felt so good. We were keeping track of contractions with an online counter, and I was surprised when the time came to call Nancy back that the contractions were less than 2-3 minutes apart. Nancy listened to a few contractions and asked if they'd been "double picking" me much. I hadn't even realized that I'd had a few contractions with no break in between. She asked if I was ready for her to come over, and I was surprised that she even offered. I was still thinking I had hours and hours to go. She then told me that the other woman hadn't actually started labor yet, and it was basically "first come, first served". So I of course told her to come on over! She said she would call Therese (birth assistant) so she could be on her way as well. I was excited about things moving along, but I had really gotten into a good groove and hoped the change wouldn't stall my labor. We went ahead and woke the guys up then.
Nancy and Therese arrived around 6:45. Nancy wanted to check me to see if I could get in the tub yet. I had been 3 cm at my visit the week before, so I was hoping to be maybe at 5. I was shocked when she asked if I would be happy with 7! There was a flurry of activity while they got everything set up in my bedroom. I labored in the nursery on the birth ball while they made their preparations. Then I was ready to get in the tub, which was set up in my bedroom. I've heard so many women swear about the benefits of the tub, and I enjoyed getting into it, but I can't say it offered much true relief. I think that has a lot to do with the timing, though, because I was hitting transition right when I was getting into the tub. Things then got very intense. I was no longer chatting and joking between contractions. I would basically zone out, and I discovered that "other place" I'd heard described by women in labor. I spent a total of about 1 1/2 hours in the tub, at some point having reached 10 cm and starting to push a bit. We had talked about the possibility of birthing in the tub, and Nancy had told me that a lot of first timers needed gravity and different positions. I was open to birthing in the tub but not at all attached to it, wanting to do whatever I needed to in the moment. So when Nancy suggested getting out of the tub to try some different positions, I was more than ready. We tried every position imaginable, each one for a few contractions, and then on the next. Squatting, the birth stool, hands and knees, on my side with my leg raised. I did not enjoy pushing. Not once did I even consider the need for pain relief, but during pushing I was worried that I just wasn't efficient enough to get the baby out. Even looking in a mirror, I couldn't register any progress. But I trusted Nancy, and she kept encouraging me and assuring me that I was getting there. I just needed to get the baby past the bone, and it would be easier after that. Neither of us knew how much easier it would be until a few minutes later! Nancy was ready for me to change positions again and directed me out to the door in the hallway. She wanted me to squat while leaning backwards and holding onto the doorknobs for support. I had to go into the hallway because my bedroom is a "suite" and doesn't have a separate door. This was the first position I felt I was making progress with, and it was also more comfortable during breaks to stand and lean on the doorknobs, with Jenn and Lucas supporting me. After a few contractions, we moved to the bathroom and spent a few contractions on the toilet. We soon went back to the doorknob, though, because that had clearly been the right position. Within one or two more contractions there, the baby finally pushed past the bone. And tried to come out the rest of the way! Nancy told me not to push and hustled me back into the bedroom before the next contraction came. Walking the 15 or so feet to the bedroom, it felt like the baby was hanging halfway out of me! What an incredibly odd sensation! They got me onto the birth stool with Lucas behind me on the bed to support me. Nancy was telling me not to push, to blow, and she was supporting and oiling my perineum. That was the only time where I felt like I "had" to push. But I didn't. And with the next contraction, without me pushing at all, out comes the baby's head and body all at once! What an amazing feeling, having a baby come out of me! The baby was placed on my belly, and I was in utter shock that it was real, that it was happening, that, finally, my baby was here! The cord was short, so I couldn't get a close enough look. After a couple of minutes, I realized I still didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. Nancy made a comment about "her", and I asked if it was a girl. She said she hadn't checked, but it looked like a girl's face. So I looked, and sure enough, I had a daughter! I was so eager to get a better look at her, and with the next contraction I was able to easily birth the placenta. Then my little girl was on my chest, and she was looking around wide eyed and alert. Nancy wrapped up the placenta and I was finally able to get onto the bed with my baby. It was over an hour before we got around to cutting the cord, and I did it myself. We examined the placenta and found a tear high in the membrane, which is why my water didn't "break" but just leaked continually during labor. Nancy did all of the measurements on the baby, 8 pounds 12 ounces after passing a ton of terminal meconium, 21 inches, 14 3/4 inch head, 14 1/2 inch chest. I got my exam and was not happy to learn I had torn badly, enough to require stitches. I really wanted to heal naturally, and Nancy usually prefers that as well, but she said she really believed the stitches were necessary. Once the baby passed the bone, she just came out too fast for me to have time to stretch. Getting the stitches was actually a lot easier to handle than I'd feared. And then it was back to holding and staring at my baby!
Nancy and Therese did their magic clean up act. Then I got an herb bath, and Therese made an amazing feast of finger foods for us all. Nancy made sure we got nursing under way, and by 3:00, it was time for them to go. I didn't go downstairs until two days later! My brother took great care of me and the baby. We wondered how nursing would go because she has a short frenulum (tongue tie), which can cause latch problems. But she's done beautifully and has been nursing well. I fell in love immediately and am enjoying being a mama more than I could have even imagined. And I am in awe of every woman who has ever given birth! What an amazing power we have!
Iris Jamison - December 10, 2007 @ 10:35 a.m.
