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Samuel's Birth Story
Well, he did not exactly fall out, but..........
I woke up Sunday, April 21 to my dh shaking the bed, yet again, telling the baby he should come so dh would not have to go to work. After days, weeks and even months of contx, I was already dilated to 4cm, head engaged and 75% effaced. I started losing the mucus plug at 33 weeks. My MW was concerned I would go into preterm labor or labor so fast she would not make it. I had toyed with the idea of UC anyway and did lots of research and prepped dh for such an occurance. But when I finally reached 37 weeks, the safe time to have this baby at home, I got a huge sinus infection that lasted til I delivered. I was pretty upset when I realized I was getting sick since I knew that I would not go into labor sick. At the same time, I wondered if labor would knock it out of me and I would get better upon delivery. But again, I have learned that baby knows best.
Dh left for work at 7am and I managed to sleep til 8am even though the kids were running around the house. Daniel came in and asked me if I would make him a hot chocolate so I got up to do that and have some coffee. I noticed that I was feeling somewhat better. As I was pouring my coffee, I realized that I was leaking fluid. I had to stop and think a minute since everytime I coughed or sneezed I literally lost my bladder. No, I did not cough or sneeze so it could not be pee. I squatted and sure enough, more fluid. I was happy and sad too. I had really wanted to labor with membranes intact this time, but realized it was not an option. Even so, I drank lots of water through the day.
With Kaysha my membranes ruptured this same way and true labor did not start til seven hours later so I figured I had some time. I called my MW, Toni, who was elated that she would actually make it to the birth. I told her no contx and I would call her later. I called dh's mom who agreed to pick up the kids at noon. I called dh at work and told him he finally got his wish. We agreed he would also come home at noon. So I spent the day cleaning up, and getting ready. I ate a good breakfast, and had a good lunch once I realized that no labor was real imminent. Dh's parents did not arrive til 1pm. I told the kids that Samuel would be coming out of mommy's tummy today and that they would be going to Nana and Papa's for the day/night. I don't know if they were happier to be going there, or that the baby was coming, LOL!
I thought once they left that labor would pick up. Dh came home, but no such luck. I had spoken with Toni a few times that day to tell her nothing was really happening, just sporadic contx that did nothing but let out more fluid. I told her I was going to take a nap. We agreed she would arrive at 4pm to do the abx since unfortunately I had a weakly positive GBS test. I was going to refuse the abx initially, but then I got sick, and then my membranes were ruptured, so that ended that in my mind. It was a tad disappointing, but I got over it quickly.
I was unable to nap so got up after tossing and turning an hour. Who can sleep when you know you are going to have a baby? Plus I was leaking with every movement but it was a great opportunity to see how absorbant the cloth menstrual pads were.
Dh did rest and was watching a movie when I came back downstairs. I was starving again so I ate lightly this time. Toni arrived at 5pm, late as usual, don't set a clock by her, LOL! I was suprised that she brought everything and stated she was not leaving til the baby was born. "I know you," she said. I have told her every visit that I do not plan to labor long. I told her contx were still between 5 and 10 minutes apart and easy. She told me her thought was that only the outer bag was ruptured and the inner was not. We would see later. She set up, and proceeded to do the abx. By the time it was done, my clothes were completely wet from fluid. At that point I changed to those lovely diapers for PP. But we had a lovely chat. She called the other MW, Mif, who delivered Kaysha, and assisted on Daniel's birth. Asked her if she could attend. Her mom was in town for her birthday and she was not sure if she could get away. Toni told her she would page her later when things got going.
She checked me at 6:30, found me to be 5-6cm 85% effaced, and the baby still had a membrane covering his head. She snagged the bag and the rest of the water went out. Then she could feel his hair. Let me just say that AROM was not what I wanted initially but at that point after leaking all day, and dh taking half the day off, I was ready to L&D so I agreed. Immediately, I started having contx and they were not the fun variety either. I knew that with the water gone, it would not be easy. Baby was positioned on the right side and Toni thought he would move to the left side, which is more advantageous for speedy delivery, but he did not. As a result, I had very sporadic contx from then on. They would last a minute, and then 30 seconds later an "aftershock" as Toni called it. Then maybe two minutes would pass and another huge one. Dh made a fire which I enjoyed about five seconds before forgetting about it. I walked and breathed through contx and coped well. I must have gave dh a terrible look that made him ask me if I was going to cuss at him soon. I asked him when I ever did that in labor and he replied that I was acting suprised at how the contx felt. But I literally went from no pain, to major contx. Probably what it must feel like when an epidural wears off and you get hit big time with active labor. Apparently I asked dh three times if he put batteries in the digital camera but I guess it took that many times for the answer to sink in as I was literally in another place. About 7pm the contx felt pushy and I let Toni know. She checked me again at 7:30pm to find I was 7cm. I admit I was disappointed after an hour of labor, I figured I was farther. But she paged Mif, and she was able to come and did arrive at 8pm. I was very happy about that. She came in and hugged me between contx. I told her I was happy to see her just in time to be hit by another contx. At that point I had stopped walking through them and was leaning forward at the kitchen table now "shushing" through them. Toni felt my neck to see if it was sweating yet, no, it was not. But the next contx found me in a major sweat. I decided to tie up my hair at that point and try to go to the bathroom again. Toilet labor was more that I could even bear. I decided to get in the tub at that point. I hoped it would al be over soon. The MW's brought their stuff near and then Toni checked me again. I was 8cm. Why did this seem so SLOW?
But labor changed for about ten minutes when I got in the tub. The contx were easier and more time passed between them. A lovely break. The MW's stayed pretty much in the kitchen from that point on drinking coffee and enjoying the cake I made for our anniversary the day before. Dh and I each were pouring water over my stomach through contx. After my short break of "easy" contx, the big ones came again and were as sporadic as ever. Some seemed to last forever. At some point I could no longer pour the water on myself so it was just dh. He said his arm was really sore the next day! We talked in between the contx and the MW's brought me a glass of water. I asked them for some alcohol, just for comic relief!! I was amazed at how thirsty I was in between and immediately felt sorry for women who are not allowed to eat and drink in labor. Even my stomach started growling at one point and boy was that annoying. Not to mention my nose dripping off and on. Between contx I would tell dh, "that was awful, we aren't doing this again, are you praying for me?" Once I asked him to pray for me, things moved right along. He never left my side. One contx made me want to claw the wall and I reached for it and dh then took my hand and held it the rest of the time. I grabbed one of the kids' toys on the other side and squeezed it during contx. At some point I felt inside myself to see where the baby was and how much cervix was left. I felt his head, and hair, and could tell that I was completely effaced, but was unsure of where the cervix was. The MW's must have felt the contx were getting the job done so they came back in to check. Mif had come in occasionally to snap a pic or two. She had never used a digital cam before and found out how fun it was and ended up with great pics for us to enjoy after. Toni checked me at 9pm to find I was complete and baby was right there. However after sitting on my butt for an hour, it must have fallen asleep as I had no urge to push at all. The contx kept coming and were not pleasant either. Toni kept telling me I was almost done and I am sure I gave her the blank stare as I thought, uh, huh, right. Dh had his hand on my leg and the other still holding my hand. He took his hand off my leg and I remember vividly feeling alone and asked him to keep it there and don't ever move it again. We all later thought I was drawing strength from him. The next day he was more tired than I. The MW's commented that I would just "shush" the baby out. I tried to push at the end of a contx and realized that I still could not feel a thing. Then I realized that what I thought was me pushing was not pushing at all. I felt done, like I could take no more. I decided I was going to be done at that point and with the next contx, pushed for all I was worth. Here I thought I could push without screaming, but no such luck. I felt him move, finally, and out came his head. I felt the ring of fire briefly, but pushed on. The MW's told me to stop and blow, but no, I pushed again and was suprised that his body was SO BIG. I pushed it out while saying something like it is stuck when it was not, it was just another big push. So out he came in two pushes and though I really wanted to catch him, I was too busy pushing to even remember. Toni caught him and put him on my chest. I was SO relieved, I cannot even tell you how thankful I was. Samuel was born at 9:05pm, came out screaming. No need for suctioning. He cried and cried and I felt so sorry for him and his rude entrance into the world. Mif was taking pics like crazy and after Samuel was out, I felt amazingly better than ever. They brought the warm towels from the dryer and Samuel stopped crying, finally, I thought he would cry forever. Everyone commented on how much he looked like Daniel. He did. The placenta detached from me after about five minutes which is a feeling I never felt before. Out it came before we even had the cord cut. Then the huge gush of blood. There was no blood til that point. Toni let the water out and began to fill the tub with more but I was ready to get out and see how big this baby was and get a good look at him. So they helped me rinse off and dh took Samuel. Samuel nursed at 9:20pm, weighed in at 8'15" and 21" long. Apgars of 9 and 10. I hoped he would be bigger to make up for all the weight I gained, LOL. But he was just perfect and now very content to be with me, nursing and just wrapped in warm towels. I was checked and had no tears, etc. The MW's ended up staying til 11:30 checking out the digital pics, visiting, and doing the charting. Then they were off to eat some dinner while we did the same at home.
It was truely our best birth experience yet. Dh commented that the time we were alone laboring was about as "on our own" as he was ready for. In retrospect, it was a very bonding time for us. The birth wasn't my "dream" birth, but then that was of me waking up with him crowning!! So all in all, I am very happy with the outcome.
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Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31) No weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17) Let the redeemed of the Lord say so (Psalm 107:2) We are the redeemed! Glory to God always!
