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Eden Aileen was born April 10th at 5:21 AM. She weighs 9 lbs even and is 21 inches long.
The day started rather traumatically. At my routine 41 week appointment we were told Eden didn't have enough amniotic fluid to stay on the inside and would need to be induced. This was so contrary to our plans for a natural birth at our local free-standing birth canter that I was crushed and crying on the ultrasound table. The midwife decided to take a look at my cervix, though, and found I was 3 cm and 90% effaced and gave me an incredibly thorough membrane sweep and said I had until 5 pm to go into labor on my own, in which case I could deliver naturally at the birth center. So, I picked up my husband at work and we went home and got some lunch and went for a walk. I tried nipple stim with my pump, as well. At that point I got a call from one of the midwifes at the practice telling me to go get some castor oil NOW! I followed her instructions and took the castor oil at 2:00. At 3:00 it kicked in and started some bowel cramping and frequent movements.
My parents arrived from out of town around 3:30 and we all hung around talking. I was pacing and occasionally rocking on the birth ball, but afraid to rest or shower because I didn't want to slow down the mild lower back and belly pains that had begun. I wasn't even sure at the time that they were contractions, but my mom thought so. I just felt confused. Around 4:45 we called the midwife and let her know I was having what I thought were irregular contractions and she told me to keep going and call the midwife on call (my dear cousin, Emily!) at 8:30 and see if we had progressed. By 8:30 my uncertainty had vanished and I called Emily to come over and check me and listen to the baby (perks of having the midwife be your cousin. I got to labor at home much longer). Emily checked me when she arrived and I was 4 cm and the cervix was well thinned. I labored until 11:30 at home, alternating between being on all fours on the bed and, once the contractions got stronger, the shower. In the shower I found it helpful to sing loudly for awhile, but couldn't sing out of the shower. By 9:00 I was pretty nauseous and threw up. At 11:30 I requested to go to the birth center because I didn't think I would be able to ride in the car much longer. Emily checked me and I was at 6 cm so we headed to the birth center. The ride was horrible. We arrived at the birth center and I started laboring on all fours on the bed. Things get a little blurry, but I know I threw up twice and eventually got in the shower. The shower wasn't hot enough and was very unsatisfying, so I got out and went back to the birth room. At one point I labored on the toilet and found it very effective, but super intense. I went back into the birth room and labored on the edge of the bed, hanging onto the foot board. I'm unclear on a lot until the pushing stage. That started around 3:30, Ithink. I started pushing in a squat, hanging on to the footboard. After about an hour in a squat my legs got tired and I had to move. The mw and nurse suggested pushing on my side on the bed, but i couldn't stand not being upright. I tried a modified squat on my knees at the squat bar, but it was too un productive. I asked to move back to the toilet and pushed there a long time. When she was getting ready to crown we headed back into the birth room, which was terrible because she was so low. I resumed my place at the end of the bed and I pushed standing up for awhile, then got into a good squat and pushed until I delivered he head. Eden was much bigger than anyone expected and her very broad shoulders got stuck. At that point Emily had me stand up so she could get a better grip and help Eden out. Delivering her body was much harder than I expected' but once she was out the relief was instant. They passed my little girl through my legs to me and we laid on the bed and had to tickle her a bit to get her to cry. She pinked up nicely. I bled a bit much and needed a sot of pit and some other medication in suppository form. I had one 1st degree tear, only 5 stitches. My husband was a steady support through the whole thing, doing exactly what I needed him to do and staying hands-off and understanding I needed to not be touched and giving me plenty of water.Daddy is in love big time...me too!!
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She's perfect and worth every cx!
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P.S. she was so big that the newborn kimono I made her for a going home outfit was too small!
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The day started rather traumatically. At my routine 41 week appointment we were told Eden didn't have enough amniotic fluid to stay on the inside and would need to be induced. This was so contrary to our plans for a natural birth at our local free-standing birth canter that I was crushed and crying on the ultrasound table. The midwife decided to take a look at my cervix, though, and found I was 3 cm and 90% effaced and gave me an incredibly thorough membrane sweep and said I had until 5 pm to go into labor on my own, in which case I could deliver naturally at the birth center. So, I picked up my husband at work and we went home and got some lunch and went for a walk. I tried nipple stim with my pump, as well. At that point I got a call from one of the midwifes at the practice telling me to go get some castor oil NOW! I followed her instructions and took the castor oil at 2:00. At 3:00 it kicked in and started some bowel cramping and frequent movements.
My parents arrived from out of town around 3:30 and we all hung around talking. I was pacing and occasionally rocking on the birth ball, but afraid to rest or shower because I didn't want to slow down the mild lower back and belly pains that had begun. I wasn't even sure at the time that they were contractions, but my mom thought so. I just felt confused. Around 4:45 we called the midwife and let her know I was having what I thought were irregular contractions and she told me to keep going and call the midwife on call (my dear cousin, Emily!) at 8:30 and see if we had progressed. By 8:30 my uncertainty had vanished and I called Emily to come over and check me and listen to the baby (perks of having the midwife be your cousin. I got to labor at home much longer). Emily checked me when she arrived and I was 4 cm and the cervix was well thinned. I labored until 11:30 at home, alternating between being on all fours on the bed and, once the contractions got stronger, the shower. In the shower I found it helpful to sing loudly for awhile, but couldn't sing out of the shower. By 9:00 I was pretty nauseous and threw up. At 11:30 I requested to go to the birth center because I didn't think I would be able to ride in the car much longer. Emily checked me and I was at 6 cm so we headed to the birth center. The ride was horrible. We arrived at the birth center and I started laboring on all fours on the bed. Things get a little blurry, but I know I threw up twice and eventually got in the shower. The shower wasn't hot enough and was very unsatisfying, so I got out and went back to the birth room. At one point I labored on the toilet and found it very effective, but super intense. I went back into the birth room and labored on the edge of the bed, hanging onto the foot board. I'm unclear on a lot until the pushing stage. That started around 3:30, Ithink. I started pushing in a squat, hanging on to the footboard. After about an hour in a squat my legs got tired and I had to move. The mw and nurse suggested pushing on my side on the bed, but i couldn't stand not being upright. I tried a modified squat on my knees at the squat bar, but it was too un productive. I asked to move back to the toilet and pushed there a long time. When she was getting ready to crown we headed back into the birth room, which was terrible because she was so low. I resumed my place at the end of the bed and I pushed standing up for awhile, then got into a good squat and pushed until I delivered he head. Eden was much bigger than anyone expected and her very broad shoulders got stuck. At that point Emily had me stand up so she could get a better grip and help Eden out. Delivering her body was much harder than I expected' but once she was out the relief was instant. They passed my little girl through my legs to me and we laid on the bed and had to tickle her a bit to get her to cry. She pinked up nicely. I bled a bit much and needed a sot of pit and some other medication in suppository form. I had one 1st degree tear, only 5 stitches. My husband was a steady support through the whole thing, doing exactly what I needed him to do and staying hands-off and understanding I needed to not be touched and giving me plenty of water.Daddy is in love big time...me too!!
P.S. she was so big that the newborn kimono I made her for a going home outfit was too small!
