birth story
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From: cjra on 26 Dec 2009 12:16 It was Tuesday Dec 8 at 3PM that I posted the following on facebook: " Dear Baby: Please stay inside me until 1)we finish the sheetrock and primer, 2)your Papa finishes the massive amounts of work he has scheduled this week, 3) your mommy finishes the massive amounts of work scheduled this week, and 4) we buy a new washing machine and have it delivered and installed. Then you are free to come any time. Thank you." Apparently I either knew something might be up, or this kid doesn't listen to me...Iâm not sure why I posted that. I had my usual post- lunch pains and Iâd been feeling more tired and distracted than usual, but nothing signaling labor. I left early for my midwife appt at 5. When she arrived, I noticed some extra mucus and wondered if it was the mucus plug, but it was clear. I didnât even think to mention it.. She measured me, all looked normal for 38 weeks. I continued to lose mucus, but knew it could mean labor was hours, days or weeks away. By late evening I started to have my loose bowel syndromeâ¦which is how labor started with DD. But again, it wasnât as obvious. I did tell DH not to be shocked if labor began, but I didnât think it would. At 2am I couldnât sleep so emailed my midwife just to let her know what was happening and Iâd call in the morning. In the morning I wasnât feeling well so stayed home, but still wasnât sure. No obvious contractions yet. DD went to daycare, DH told me to call if I needed him, the sheetrock guys came. I tried doing some work but couldnât focus, as the contractions started to become more obvious. Sometime after 10 I called my midwife to describe them, and she agreed they didnât sound consistent enough â long stretches between contractions, nothing close to 1 minute long yet, and irregular. I called DH with an update and he said heâd plan to come home a bit early. I had planned a Girlsâ Night for Wednesday, and debating keeping it on, thinking if this was pre-labor, some wine with friends might be good. But then decided I should probably cancel just in caseâ¦. By 11AM, there was no doubt....1 min long, 3 min apart. I was trying to be discreet so as not to alarm the workers. As it turned out, I was about to tell them they needed to leave for the day when they said they were finishing up for the day. Called my midwife and she said sheâd be right over. Called DH and said âI think you need to plan to come home soon!â I tried taking a walk. Didnât get very far and just walked around the house. By then, the contractions were powerful. DH got home, and got the room ready (it was full of stuff from the hallway due to the sheetrocking work). By then I was in the bathtub, with the shower jets on my back. Midwife #1 (midwife) arrivedâ¦. I was 4cm dilated at that point, water not broken. DH went to get DD about 3pm. She was so sweet when she saw me, very concerned, very calm and almost shy. I told her she was to become a big sister today! Eventually midwife #2 arrived with the birthing tub and I moved to that. Still painful, but much more comfortable than kneeling in my bathtub. Sometime around 7pm I had the urge to push. DH got in the tub with me, and eventually so did DD, who was ever so helpful rubbing my back and pouring water on my back. Midwife #1 said if I felt the urge to push, go with it. So I did. Throughout, I was in pain but pretty calm and mostly quiet. After some time of that and feeling like the baby was moving down, she said to feel for the head. I could feel something but it wasnât obvious. More pushingâ¦.nothing. Eventually she checked me again â I was only 8 cm, and my water hadnât broken! I was sure it had as Iâd felt a gush and saw some membranous material and bloody show. Nope. So, out of the tub to walk around and NOT push for awhile. Now this is when the real pain began. It was so hard to walk at this point, but DD took advantage of the free tub to swim ;) She checked me again, Iâd moved to 9cm, but still water bag totally in tact and not budging. While Midwife #2 checked, trying to see where the baby was to decide if it was ok to break the water, it broke. Relief. And then the REAL pain. I was definitely ready to push. It was about 9:20 then. Some intense rough pushing, finally movement there. DD watched for awhile, even putting on gloves to âhelp.â But then got a little worried by âmommy is upsetâ (my âOuch oh dear god this hurts!â comments)â¦not quite shouting, but intense enough. She wasnât scared, just concerned. She left the room for a bit. I kept trying to get back into the tub but too many contractions/urge to push I couldnât move. When I finally had a break I almost ran for it â once I got into the tub, HEAVEN. 2-3 more pushes and I heard âsheâs crowning!â which was all I needed to hear, another push and there was the head, one more push and the baby popped up. He came up sputteringâ¦.I turned around to sit, they moved him they checked the length of the cord (they left the cord attached until the placenta was delivered). Covered him immediately with a towel, so we hadnât yet checked if he was a he or a she. DD had already returned to the room, touched her new sibling and was so peaceful â she was just in awe! He immediately moved to my breast and tried to latch on and DD said âMommy, the baby likes your boob!â Maybe 10-15 minutes later the cord had stopped pulsing, and I had another urge to push, and pop, out came the placenta. A welcome relief after last time when the OB had to dig it out. The placenta grossed out DD a bit â she said âOh yucky!â Eventually they clamped the cord and we took a look at who we had ï All in all, a wonderful experience. Not painless, but mostly tolerable. DH said he thinks it was more painful for me this time around. Iâm not sure â the pushing experience was totally different (with DD, emergency in hospital, lots of screaming by nursesâ¦) I had a similar frustration that this baby was not coming out, so had lost my âzoneâ of focus, but I wouldnât change it for the world. I loved birthing at home. Overall, very peaceful, and a wonderful way to add to our family.
From: dejablues on 27 Dec 2009 13:14 "cjra" <cjrohr31(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message news:c6940e5c-67d4-42b8-a733-443432cd2fc6(a)a21g2000yqc.googlegroups.com... It was Tuesday Dec 8 at 3PM that I posted the following on facebook: " Dear Baby: Please stay inside me until 1)we finish the sheetrock and primer, 2)your Papa finishes the massive amounts of work he has scheduled this week, 3) your mommy finishes the massive amounts of work scheduled this week, and 4) we buy a new washing machine and have it delivered and installed. Then you are free to come any time. Thank you." Congrats! :-)
From: Betsy on 28 Dec 2009 07:36 cjra wrote: > All in all, a wonderful experience. Not painless, but mostly > tolerable. DH said he thinks it was more painful for me this time > around. I'm not sure – the pushing experience was totally different > (with DD, emergency in hospital, lots of screaming by nurses…) I had a > similar frustration that this baby was not coming out, so had lost my > “zone” of focus, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I loved > birthing at home. Overall, very peaceful, and a wonderful way to add > to our family. > > Great birth story! Thanks for posting it. I'm glad it went so well and was so different from the first. I've found birthing at home much less stressful than even a good hospital birth experience. --Betsy
From: Welches on 28 Dec 2009 17:59 Congratlations! Debbie "cjra" <cjrohr31(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message news:c6940e5c-67d4-42b8-a733-443432cd2fc6(a)a21g2000yqc.googlegroups.com... It was Tuesday Dec 8 at 3PM that I posted the following on facebook: " Dear Baby: Please stay inside me until 1)we finish the sheetrock and primer, 2)your Papa finishes the massive amounts of work he has scheduled this week, 3) your mommy finishes the massive amounts of work scheduled this week, and 4) we buy a new washing machine and have it delivered and installed. Then you are free to come any time. Thank you." Apparently I either knew something might be up, or this kid doesn't listen to me...I'm not sure why I posted that. I had my usual post- lunch pains and I'd been feeling more tired and distracted than usual, but nothing signaling labor. I left early for my midwife appt at 5. When she arrived, I noticed some extra mucus and wondered if it was the mucus plug, but it was clear. I didn't even think to mention it. She measured me, all looked normal for 38 weeks. I continued to lose mucus, but knew it could mean labor was hours, days or weeks away. By late evening I started to have my loose bowel syndrome.which is how labor started with DD. But again, it wasn't as obvious. I did tell DH not to be shocked if labor began, but I didn't think it would. At 2am I couldn't sleep so emailed my midwife just to let her know what was happening and I'd call in the morning. In the morning I wasn't feeling well so stayed home, but still wasn't sure. No obvious contractions yet. DD went to daycare, DH told me to call if I needed him, the sheetrock guys came. I tried doing some work but couldn't focus, as the contractions started to become more obvious. Sometime after 10 I called my midwife to describe them, and she agreed they didn't sound consistent enough - long stretches between contractions, nothing close to 1 minute long yet, and irregular. I called DH with an update and he said he'd plan to come home a bit early. I had planned a Girls' Night for Wednesday, and debating keeping it on, thinking if this was pre-labor, some wine with friends might be good. But then decided I should probably cancel just in case.. By 11AM, there was no doubt....1 min long, 3 min apart. I was trying to be discreet so as not to alarm the workers. As it turned out, I was about to tell them they needed to leave for the day when they said they were finishing up for the day. Called my midwife and she said she'd be right over. Called DH and said "I think you need to plan to come home soon!" I tried taking a walk. Didn't get very far and just walked around the house. By then, the contractions were powerful. DH got home, and got the room ready (it was full of stuff from the hallway due to the sheetrocking work). By then I was in the bathtub, with the shower jets on my back. Midwife #1 (midwife) arrived.. I was 4cm dilated at that point, water not broken. DH went to get DD about 3pm. She was so sweet when she saw me, very concerned, very calm and almost shy. I told her she was to become a big sister today! Eventually midwife #2 arrived with the birthing tub and I moved to that. Still painful, but much more comfortable than kneeling in my bathtub. Sometime around 7pm I had the urge to push. DH got in the tub with me, and eventually so did DD, who was ever so helpful rubbing my back and pouring water on my back. Midwife #1 said if I felt the urge to push, go with it. So I did. Throughout, I was in pain but pretty calm and mostly quiet. After some time of that and feeling like the baby was moving down, she said to feel for the head. I could feel something but it wasn't obvious. More pushing..nothing. Eventually she checked me again - I was only 8 cm, and my water hadn't broken! I was sure it had as I'd felt a gush and saw some membranous material and bloody show. Nope. So, out of the tub to walk around and NOT push for awhile. Now this is when the real pain began. It was so hard to walk at this point, but DD took advantage of the free tub to swim ;) She checked me again, I'd moved to 9cm, but still water bag totally in tact and not budging. While Midwife #2 checked, trying to see where the baby was to decide if it was ok to break the water, it broke. Relief. And then the REAL pain. I was definitely ready to push. It was about 9:20 then. Some intense rough pushing, finally movement there. DD watched for awhile, even putting on gloves to "help." But then got a little worried by "mommy is upset" (my "Ouch oh dear god this hurts!" comments).not quite shouting, but intense enough. She wasn't scared, just concerned. She left the room for a bit. I kept trying to get back into the tub but too many contractions/urge to push I couldn't move. When I finally had a break I almost ran for it - once I got into the tub, HEAVEN. 2-3 more pushes and I heard "she's crowning!" which was all I needed to hear, another push and there was the head, one more push and the baby popped up. He came up sputtering..I turned around to sit, they moved him they checked the length of the cord (they left the cord attached until the placenta was delivered). Covered him immediately with a towel, so we hadn't yet checked if he was a he or a she. DD had already returned to the room, touched her new sibling and was so peaceful - she was just in awe! He immediately moved to my breast and tried to latch on and DD said "Mommy, the baby likes your boob!" Maybe 10-15 minutes later the cord had stopped pulsing, and I had another urge to push, and pop, out came the placenta. A welcome relief after last time when the OB had to dig it out. The placenta grossed out DD a bit - she said "Oh yucky!" Eventually they clamped the cord and we took a look at who we had ? All in all, a wonderful experience. Not painless, but mostly tolerable. DH said he thinks it was more painful for me this time around. I'm not sure - the pushing experience was totally different (with DD, emergency in hospital, lots of screaming by nurses.) I had a similar frustration that this baby was not coming out, so had lost my "zone" of focus, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I loved birthing at home. Overall, very peaceful, and a wonderful way to add to our family.
From: Kat on 12 Jan 2010 08:39
"cjra" <cjrohr31(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message news:c6940e5c-67d4-42b8-a733-443432cd2fc6(a)a21g2000yqc.googlegroups.com... It was Tuesday Dec 8 at 3PM that I posted the following on facebook: " Dear Baby: Please stay inside me until 1)we finish the sheetrock and primer, 2)your Papa finishes the massive amounts of work he has scheduled this week, 3) your mommy finishes the massive amounts of work scheduled this week, and 4) we buy a new washing machine and have it delivered and installed. Then you are free to come any time. Thank you." <snip> Wow. I haven't even checked in here for soooo long, but came to see this lost in all the spam. Congrats!!! What a great story! |