Birth Story

This birth story begins weeks before baby was actually born.  I often have false alarms and because of how my labors have gone in the past we have to pay attention to those too; since we can't really be sure.  On Friday Feb. 11th I was having some regular contractions.  I wasn't convinced it was "the real thing," but enough was happening to cause me to cancel my plans (going to Bible study) that day and keep in touch with Rob regularly that day.  By early in the afternoon I suspected this was not "it" and sure enough it all fizzled out in the next couple of hours.

About a week later on the 18th things started up again.  We had quite a few plans that day and my contractions were so strong that even if I wasn't in labor it really was not safe for me to be driving around.  We canceled the day's plans.  In another hour or so I thought it may be a good idea to have Rob start the process of coming home since I knew it could take a while.  A little while later the midwife was on her way over.  We thought I was making progress, but after a few hours we realized the contractions really were not very productive.  My awesome midwife realized what was most likely going on (muscle spasms that felt STRONG, but were unproductive).  She recommended some supplements and a few other things to do to try to stop this if it was indeed false labor.  Oh how I love her!  Not only did it calm and stop the contractions, but I had not felt so good in weeks!

The day I hit 39 weeks baby decided to start spinning.  First it just went to breech and stayed there for 3 days.  Then it started going to transverse and back up for a day.  After that it kept going up and down.  At 40 weeks my baby was still spinning.  While this little stinker was taking this much farther than any of it's siblings, this is not out of the "normal" range for me.  I've had several babies spinning, even over due.  We were not too worried and decided to just wait and see what the position was when I went into labor.  Given that baby was so actively spinning there was no point in doing anything about the situation.

At 40 weeks +2 days I had an appointment with my midwife.  It was time to talk about plans for helping baby out.  Baby was transverse.  We decided that it would be in both my and baby's best interest to move things along as soon as she went head down next.  After a quick ultrasound to verify baby's position the midwife gave a gentle nudge in the right direction and sent me on the way.  I was to let her know the next morning if baby was head down....or just next time it was in position.  We'd be staying in touch the next few days.  Miss E and I headed to Costco.  By the time we were there I could tell baby was head down.  The walking helped keep it there.

The next day happened to be Rob's birthday.  Baby was head down.  The midwife was texted with the info and she said she'd be by later to get things moving as long as baby really was head down.  Rob got his first gift...the day off while we figured out what was to be done and prepared for a (likely) birth.  My wonderful midwife showed up a bit after noon.  We verified, yes, baby was still head down.  It was time to move things along before baby decided to spin again.  She broke my water and after monitoring us for a while headed out for a quick appointment.  She'd be back in a couple of hours.  In the mean time we were told to find a funny movie and laugh while we waited.  It's supposed to be good for labor.  Another option was given as well...just watch the antics of Miss A, she was especially cute that afternoon.  It was nap time though, so  we watched a movie. :)

Around 3 I could no longer sit comfortably, walking didn't feel that great either.  I made them pause the movie and start filling the birthing tub.  I really had to focus on those contractions.  The midwife's assistant showed up and helped me change to get into the tub.  That tub could not fill fast enough, those contractions were strong!  Getting in the tub felt so much better.  The contractions were still very strong, but they were different; like pressure instead of pain.  I was only in there for a little while when I felt ready to push.  I could hear my midwife coming in.  I let her know it was time.  The plan was for Miss E to deliver, and that was what happened.  My midwife directed her and helped her as baby was born "sunny side up"

It's a girl!  Baby girl was born on her Daddy's 40th birthday, delivered by her oldest sister!  Over the next couple of hours we had some bonding time as older sisters and brothers came in to admire their new sister.  This was our first home birth and it was just as great as I had hoped.  Laboring in the comfort of my own home was so much more relaxing and easy.  The kids could come and go as they pleased and I was able to go right to bed and stay there bonding with my little one.  Want to know more about why we would choose a home birth?  Check out this post