Truly, words cannot begin to express how wonderful her birth was, but I will try.
I woke up on Monday morning at 2 am with what I thought was a tummy ache. We had gone to a friends house the night before and had stuffed red bell peppers, and I thought maybe they weren't agreeing with me. So I laid in bed for a while, and felt all crampy and finally got up to go to the bathroom. A while later, I was completely empty...
So I thought I'd feel better. I laid in bed for another hour and realized, "Hey! This isn't the red peppers...I'm in LABOR!!!"
I was determined to stay relaxed and focused. I stayed in bed (I've been sleeping in the guest room for about a month, since I have been so uncomfortable late in pregnancy) and read some of my new book, just trying to pass the time. At about 5, I got up and paced around a little, trying to keep things going. My mom lives with us and gets up at about 6, so she saw me, and figured I was in labor. She went to work at 7:30, and asked if I needed to have her wake dh. I said no, I wanted to be alone. So I let dh and dd sleep in until about 9, when he burst out of the room and said "WHY DIDN"T YOU GET ME!!!" (My mom had called him to check on me and he didn't know I was in labor!) He kind of got a little frantic, so I told him "That's why. Calm down, relax." I continued to labor in the living room, while dd played around me. He called the midwife, and she wanted to talk to me. I kept telling her, "I'm fine, contractions are 3-5 minutes apart, lasting 30-60 seconds, but I'm fine. I can walk and talk through them. Take your time, dont rush getting here." Well, obviously she is WAY smarted than I am because she got there rather quickly, and I was already 7-8. SHe didn't ever check me internally, just guessed by my contractions and how I was acting.
My first labor with dd was horrible, it was back labor, I was terrified and panicked. This time, I was SO calm. I couldn't believe it. I never screamed or cried out, and TOTAL difference from my first labor, where I screamed and cried for 12 hours. Kelly (our midwife) got there at about 10:30, and I got in the tub about an hour later. After a bit in the tub, Kelly asked if I wanted to push. I remember thinking, "That's it? That's as bad as the contractions will get??? Wow, I can do this!" I honestly thought the contractions would keep escalating, but they didn't. I am still so surprised at how peaceful it all was, everyone talking and joking in the bathroom with me and I was in the tub with my eyes closed and relaxing. My dd had her little friend over and they both kept popping into the bathroom to see what was going on. I started pushing, which lasted just under an hour. Towards the end, the midwifes assistant suggested maybe I should squat (I was on my side with my leg on the side of the tub) and as soon as I did I felt the baby MOVE! Two pushes later and her head was out. I remember just really feeling her push out, and thinking that it was absolutely incredible. One more push and she just slithered out and Kelly pushed her between my legs so she would end up in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her float up toward me.
I had labored for a total of 11 hours and pushed for one. Only once (while pushing) did I say "I can't do this" it was more of a whine than anything, not panicked or anything. Kelly in her sweet, calm demeanor let me know I could, and was doing it. I love that she and her attendants were really THERE, but they just let me be. They didn't check me or offer many suggestions at all, just let me really be in tune with my body and what needed to be done. I never thought I would be the type to do it all on my own, I thought I would need more direction. They were just great, always staying near me, but at the same time, carrying on with their things, Kelli crocheting Ella's first hat, and Mary and Celeste (her attendants) just talking and drinking tea. It was the most natural of environments, the focus wasn't on me and my pain, but on the marvelous thing that was happening, and letting it just happen naturally.
She was perfect, beautiful in every way. She cried for a little bit, until she found the boob and nursed like a champ. We stayed in the tub for about 20 minutes, until the cord stopped pulsing and the placenta was delivered. I took a shower and daddy held Ella for a bit. Then we both laid down and Kelli examined me, I was fine, no tears or anything. Then we just rested and nursed for an hour while Kelli and her team cleaned up, did a load of laundry, brought me drinks, and just made everything as perfect as can be. My mom and sister were there to help with dd and to see the birth and it was just a magical time. I love that dd was born into such a loving environment, in total calm and peace. No one took her from me as soon as she was delivered, no one manhandled her, I was allowed to rest and just BE with my baby. The midwives waited about an hour and a half, until *WE* were ready for her to be examined. Kelli was so gentle and loving and Ella did great on everything. She weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 21 inches long. After this experience I can not imagine anything different. I can not imagine going to the hospital again (barring an emergency of course!) it was just no comparison to have my dh and dd there, my mom and sister, and just the wonderful team of midwives. Everyone was so wonderful.
She is 3 days old and we are doing wonderfully. She is nursing great, sleeping a ton, and is just as peaceful as can be. I feel incredible, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This birth makes up for my first labor and delivery, which went horribly. There was so much riding on this birth, for me to have another chance to 'do it right'. And it went better than I could ever have imagined. I can not wait until my next birth.
I woke up on Monday morning at 2 am with what I thought was a tummy ache. We had gone to a friends house the night before and had stuffed red bell peppers, and I thought maybe they weren't agreeing with me. So I laid in bed for a while, and felt all crampy and finally got up to go to the bathroom. A while later, I was completely empty...
So I thought I'd feel better. I laid in bed for another hour and realized, "Hey! This isn't the red peppers...I'm in LABOR!!!"I was determined to stay relaxed and focused. I stayed in bed (I've been sleeping in the guest room for about a month, since I have been so uncomfortable late in pregnancy) and read some of my new book, just trying to pass the time. At about 5, I got up and paced around a little, trying to keep things going. My mom lives with us and gets up at about 6, so she saw me, and figured I was in labor. She went to work at 7:30, and asked if I needed to have her wake dh. I said no, I wanted to be alone. So I let dh and dd sleep in until about 9, when he burst out of the room and said "WHY DIDN"T YOU GET ME!!!" (My mom had called him to check on me and he didn't know I was in labor!) He kind of got a little frantic, so I told him "That's why. Calm down, relax." I continued to labor in the living room, while dd played around me. He called the midwife, and she wanted to talk to me. I kept telling her, "I'm fine, contractions are 3-5 minutes apart, lasting 30-60 seconds, but I'm fine. I can walk and talk through them. Take your time, dont rush getting here." Well, obviously she is WAY smarted than I am because she got there rather quickly, and I was already 7-8. SHe didn't ever check me internally, just guessed by my contractions and how I was acting.
My first labor with dd was horrible, it was back labor, I was terrified and panicked. This time, I was SO calm. I couldn't believe it. I never screamed or cried out, and TOTAL difference from my first labor, where I screamed and cried for 12 hours. Kelly (our midwife) got there at about 10:30, and I got in the tub about an hour later. After a bit in the tub, Kelly asked if I wanted to push. I remember thinking, "That's it? That's as bad as the contractions will get??? Wow, I can do this!" I honestly thought the contractions would keep escalating, but they didn't. I am still so surprised at how peaceful it all was, everyone talking and joking in the bathroom with me and I was in the tub with my eyes closed and relaxing. My dd had her little friend over and they both kept popping into the bathroom to see what was going on. I started pushing, which lasted just under an hour. Towards the end, the midwifes assistant suggested maybe I should squat (I was on my side with my leg on the side of the tub) and as soon as I did I felt the baby MOVE! Two pushes later and her head was out. I remember just really feeling her push out, and thinking that it was absolutely incredible. One more push and she just slithered out and Kelly pushed her between my legs so she would end up in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her float up toward me.
I had labored for a total of 11 hours and pushed for one. Only once (while pushing) did I say "I can't do this" it was more of a whine than anything, not panicked or anything. Kelly in her sweet, calm demeanor let me know I could, and was doing it. I love that she and her attendants were really THERE, but they just let me be. They didn't check me or offer many suggestions at all, just let me really be in tune with my body and what needed to be done. I never thought I would be the type to do it all on my own, I thought I would need more direction. They were just great, always staying near me, but at the same time, carrying on with their things, Kelli crocheting Ella's first hat, and Mary and Celeste (her attendants) just talking and drinking tea. It was the most natural of environments, the focus wasn't on me and my pain, but on the marvelous thing that was happening, and letting it just happen naturally.
She was perfect, beautiful in every way. She cried for a little bit, until she found the boob and nursed like a champ. We stayed in the tub for about 20 minutes, until the cord stopped pulsing and the placenta was delivered. I took a shower and daddy held Ella for a bit. Then we both laid down and Kelli examined me, I was fine, no tears or anything. Then we just rested and nursed for an hour while Kelli and her team cleaned up, did a load of laundry, brought me drinks, and just made everything as perfect as can be. My mom and sister were there to help with dd and to see the birth and it was just a magical time. I love that dd was born into such a loving environment, in total calm and peace. No one took her from me as soon as she was delivered, no one manhandled her, I was allowed to rest and just BE with my baby. The midwives waited about an hour and a half, until *WE* were ready for her to be examined. Kelli was so gentle and loving and Ella did great on everything. She weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 21 inches long. After this experience I can not imagine anything different. I can not imagine going to the hospital again (barring an emergency of course!) it was just no comparison to have my dh and dd there, my mom and sister, and just the wonderful team of midwives. Everyone was so wonderful.
She is 3 days old and we are doing wonderfully. She is nursing great, sleeping a ton, and is just as peaceful as can be. I feel incredible, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This birth makes up for my first labor and delivery, which went horribly. There was so much riding on this birth, for me to have another chance to 'do it right'. And it went better than I could ever have imagined. I can not wait until my next birth.
: What an inspiring story! Look forward to pics 
you are too funny. how great to have a sense of humor while in labor like that.
