Doodlebugsmom
05-19-2003, 05:24 PM
After a relatively smooth and easy pregnancy, my water broke at 12:15 a.m. on 2/14/02. I was approx. 37 weeks pregnant. Dh and I were planning on doing a cast of my belly the following evening, but we hurried downstairs to do it just after my water broke! I wasn't feeling any contractions, so we went to bed to relax. We were both too excited to sleep so we stayed up all night watching the winter olympics. I started having some very mild cramping at about 4 a.m. It wasn't painful at all, so I figured we had a long time before the "real thing" started. We had an appt. with the midwife the following morning, so I figured we'd go see her and decide whether or not to check in to the birth center. Well, at about 7:30 a.m., I had a very strong contraction and was beginning to feel nauseous. Dh called Cindy (midwife) and she said to come on to the birth center which was a forty minute drive for us. We got our things together and I was having contractions that were 2 minutes long and 1 minute apart. They really weren't too painful, so I wasn't concerned. We get into the car and after about 5 more minutes of close, but relatively mild contractions, I had a very intense contraction. It lasted for about 15 minutes and I can't really remember anything from that time. Dh says that it was like I was in a trance. I wasn't saying anything or moaning, just breathing steady. Well, at that point we were about 20 minutes from the birth center. Suddenly my body began to push forcefully! I told my husband and he instantly freaked out! He began to drive very fast as I tried very hard not to push with my body. We finally got to the birth center and Cindy wasn't there yet! The nurse checked me and said the head was "right there!" She told me to go ahead with some little pushes if I needed too. I got onto my hands and knees and was very comfortable. Cindy finally got there and told me just to do whatever I felt I needed to do. I just stayed on my hands and knees and pushed when I needed to. She sat beside my dh and instructed him on what to do. He delivered our daughter! To feel her come out of me was the most amazing thing in the world!Cindy never even touched her! Dh placed her onto my bare chest and she immediately latched on and nursed for about 30 minutes. She weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. and was and still is the most beautiful thing I've ever laid my eyes on! Such a sweet Valentine's Day gift.