Baby Salma was born August 25th, 6:21am, 7lbs.1oz., 19in. long..I'm in babymoon heaven....
My early-early labor started on Saturday, I had a feeling the baby was probably coming soon. DH was on an organization frenzy trying to fix, clean and buy everything needed in anticipation. I told him I felt different that day, and for the first time in my pregnancy I was not comfortable. I wanted to sleep all day and actually ended up going to the car and taking a nap while DH and DS were shopping at Home Depot. I couldn’t keep my eyes open at all. I was also starving, eating anything that was in front of me and drinking loads of water to fuel up for what I knew was coming soon.
Later in the evening I had some bloody show and was getting nervous and excited knowing that it was almost my birthing time. DH made a fabulous nourishing dinner and I went to bed early. I started having contractions in the night, but nothing that kept me up for very long, they were very manageable. The next morning, Sunday and throughout the day I was having stronger contractions that I had to stop and breathe through, but they were very irregular and sporadic, no regular timing to them. We went out for a drive and to pick up some essentials to help keep me energized for the day. Protein bars, hot cereal, energy drinks. We did some shopping and even though I was having contractions I wasn’t convinced it was going to get regular until much later. DH thought the baby would come by Wednesday or Thursday.. I told him not to judge the progress of my labor by the look on my face! I was sure she could be coming soon.
Later that evening DH made another great dinner, rack of lamb with grilled veggies. I went to bed early again, around 10pm, but this time when I lied down the contractions were getting stronger and more painful. Active labor started around 9pm and contractions were getting regular and stronger as the night progressed. We put DS to sleep and I kept trying to organize and clean more things in between contractions. I tried different things to get it to slow down or at least be less painful. I got in the tub which felt great, the hot water took the edge off. I got really sleepy in the tub and thought it would be good to get out and try to sleep. I lied down on the living room floor with the lights out and the TV on and everytime I had a contraction DH would time them. I threw up around 2 am and after that the contractions started getting much closer together. Looking back I see that was the beginning of transition already! DH kept timing them and by 5am I started shaking and getting really cold, the contractions were powerful….to say the least! I told DH it was time to go to the hospital. He tried to convince me to wait 30 more minutes and time some more contractions, that was the one and only time I yelled at him to “Forget the damn timing! Let’s go!” In between 4-5 minute contractions I was able to call the midwife and tell her we were on our way…no one could believe I was able to be so calm. I still have no idea how I was either! DH was getting everything to take to the hospital and went down to the garage to bring the car closer. He came back, got DS and we all made the long painful walk to the garage. On the way to the hospital I told DH I was worried because all of the contractions I felt were in my butt and not my uterus, I was afraid she was in a bad position to birth….of course in hindsight I was actually ready to push! We arrived at the hospital at 5:15, DH asked me if I could walk I said yes..yeah right! A lady came to take me in the wheelchair, and while I was being taken to L&D she tried to make small talk with me during a powerful contraction. I couldn’t breathe, much less talked..I think she got the idea!
Once in the labor room I threw my shoes off and the nurse, a very sweet lady, held my hand until DH came back and the midwife was able to check me internally. When the midwife came, I was hoping and praying to be at least 7-8cm. At first she said I was 10!!!! Then she said there is still a little lip and….my water hadn’t broken yet, so I was about 9-9 1/2cm..YEAH!!! It was around 5:50am by now and the midwife told DH “We’re going to have a baby soon!”
I yelled for DH and told him I was almost going to push, he was so excited. As soon as the midwife left the room my water broke at 6:06 am and I was fully dilated! DH came to my head, held my hand with his left hand and held DS with his right hand…DS witnessed his sister being born! It was very intimate, lights dimmed, just a nurse, midwife, my doula and DH and DS. DS wasn’t scared at all, even with my screaming..he just looked at me very calmly. After 3-4 pushes Salma’s head popped out, the midwife told me to stop pushing because she had to unwrap the cord from around her neck and with a couple pushes more she told me “To reach down and take my baby!". At 6:21am, after 15 minutes of pushing I did reach down and pull her up on to my chest. Lots of crying, lots of laughing and DS kissing her on her vernix covered head..and me screaming over and over, “I did it! I did it!”
Salma's Birth story
My early-early labor started on Saturday, I had a feeling the baby was probably coming soon. DH was on an organization frenzy trying to fix, clean and buy everything needed in anticipation. I told him I felt different that day, and for the first time in my pregnancy I was not comfortable. I wanted to sleep all day and actually ended up going to the car and taking a nap while DH and DS were shopping at Home Depot. I couldn’t keep my eyes open at all. I was also starving, eating anything that was in front of me and drinking loads of water to fuel up for what I knew was coming soon.
Later in the evening I had some bloody show and was getting nervous and excited knowing that it was almost my birthing time. DH made a fabulous nourishing dinner and I went to bed early. I started having contractions in the night, but nothing that kept me up for very long, they were very manageable. The next morning, Sunday and throughout the day I was having stronger contractions that I had to stop and breathe through, but they were very irregular and sporadic, no regular timing to them. We went out for a drive and to pick up some essentials to help keep me energized for the day. Protein bars, hot cereal, energy drinks. We did some shopping and even though I was having contractions I wasn’t convinced it was going to get regular until much later. DH thought the baby would come by Wednesday or Thursday.. I told him not to judge the progress of my labor by the look on my face! I was sure she could be coming soon.
Later that evening DH made another great dinner, rack of lamb with grilled veggies. I went to bed early again, around 10pm, but this time when I lied down the contractions were getting stronger and more painful. Active labor started around 9pm and contractions were getting regular and stronger as the night progressed. We put DS to sleep and I kept trying to organize and clean more things in between contractions. I tried different things to get it to slow down or at least be less painful. I got in the tub which felt great, the hot water took the edge off. I got really sleepy in the tub and thought it would be good to get out and try to sleep. I lied down on the living room floor with the lights out and the TV on and everytime I had a contraction DH would time them. I threw up around 2 am and after that the contractions started getting much closer together. Looking back I see that was the beginning of transition already! DH kept timing them and by 5am I started shaking and getting really cold, the contractions were powerful….to say the least! I told DH it was time to go to the hospital. He tried to convince me to wait 30 more minutes and time some more contractions, that was the one and only time I yelled at him to “Forget the damn timing! Let’s go!” In between 4-5 minute contractions I was able to call the midwife and tell her we were on our way…no one could believe I was able to be so calm. I still have no idea how I was either! DH was getting everything to take to the hospital and went down to the garage to bring the car closer. He came back, got DS and we all made the long painful walk to the garage. On the way to the hospital I told DH I was worried because all of the contractions I felt were in my butt and not my uterus, I was afraid she was in a bad position to birth….of course in hindsight I was actually ready to push! We arrived at the hospital at 5:15, DH asked me if I could walk I said yes..yeah right! A lady came to take me in the wheelchair, and while I was being taken to L&D she tried to make small talk with me during a powerful contraction. I couldn’t breathe, much less talked..I think she got the idea!
Once in the labor room I threw my shoes off and the nurse, a very sweet lady, held my hand until DH came back and the midwife was able to check me internally. When the midwife came, I was hoping and praying to be at least 7-8cm. At first she said I was 10!!!! Then she said there is still a little lip and….my water hadn’t broken yet, so I was about 9-9 1/2cm..YEAH!!! It was around 5:50am by now and the midwife told DH “We’re going to have a baby soon!”
I yelled for DH and told him I was almost going to push, he was so excited. As soon as the midwife left the room my water broke at 6:06 am and I was fully dilated! DH came to my head, held my hand with his left hand and held DS with his right hand…DS witnessed his sister being born! It was very intimate, lights dimmed, just a nurse, midwife, my doula and DH and DS. DS wasn’t scared at all, even with my screaming..he just looked at me very calmly. After 3-4 pushes Salma’s head popped out, the midwife told me to stop pushing because she had to unwrap the cord from around her neck and with a couple pushes more she told me “To reach down and take my baby!". At 6:21am, after 15 minutes of pushing I did reach down and pull her up on to my chest. Lots of crying, lots of laughing and DS kissing her on her vernix covered head..and me screaming over and over, “I did it! I did it!”
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