Sunday even I started having back pain (in Costco of all places...my favorite!) which was probably some sort of back labor, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions about it. We came home and I laid down, which mitigated it for the most part. At 2:30 AM on Monday, I woke up to pretty intense contractions that were lasting about 2 1/2 minutes each. I was relaxing through them, and was able to handle them, but I wasn't able to do anything but lay down and concentrate on relaxing--so there went my putsy-putsy time! I had all of these activities planned for this "easy time" that we were promised--making lemonade, baking brownies, vacuuming, painting my nails. But my body decided that none of these things was important enough to make time for in the labor process. Finally I got in our tub around 4 am and labored for another 3 hours there. but the contractions were about 3 minutes long and I only had about 3 minutes between them. We called Leigh and she said we could head in, because the length of the contractions was concerning her (and I think she could tell that I was overwhelmed by the difference between "typical" and what I was feeling). I was also having the shakes, and had convinced myself I was close to transition (for you labor noobs, that means that the first stage was over, which was SO FAR from the truth!)
When we got to the birth center, I was only 4 cm dilated. This was really disappointing to me, since I thought I was further along to the 10 cm goal than that. We were that couple that arrived too early because they misread their labor signs. Leigh suggested that the contractions seemed so long because there were multiples piggybacking on each other with little to no distinction between them. She recommended that we keep timing them, but at the first sign of weakening, mentally let go of it, and convince my body to stop. This helped for a bit which was good. We walked around the parking lot and the room, and every few hours Leigh would check me, but each time I was only be another 1 or 1.5 centimeters further along. That was frustrating because it felt like my body was working so hard and not moving forward much. As I look back, I should have been thankful that I was moving forward at all, but at the time I was frustrated. I never actually said that I wanted to go to the hospital, but I heavily hinted at it. The pain was pretty bad, and I couldn't sit or lie down without experiencing intense pain. Luckily Jim (who was a fantastic coach--he earned that laminated card for sure!!) and Leigh didn't even acknowledge the possibility, and we moved past that frustration. I got into a bit of a rhythm again in the tub and found a different position that made things a bit easier (and my body finally gave me some break time once i found this). Then I guess transition kicked in, I vomited a bit (even though I didn't have much to get rid of). Finally around 9PM, after building my reputation as a mom with the "mouth of a sailor" who listens to gangsta rap while birthing, I was fully dilated and started to work on getting the urge to push. My water still hadn't broken, and the pressure building around my hips was getting to be really unbearable and preventing me from wanting to push. So around 10, Leigh broke my water. She said that the bag was very strong, so it turned out to be the right move, since there was some debate over it.
2nd stage was nothing compared to 1st for my labor! I felt like I was getting a few more breaks between contractions (though again, not as long as those described as "typical"). It was much easier than I anticipated, but I think only because it was a more active thing that I could control, rather than just dealing with like 1st stage contractions. I pushed from about 10:30 until 3:37 when the little guy came out!! I pushed on the toilet, one-legged kneeling on the bed, standing up, lunging, and most helpful was on the bed, Jim behind me holding my legs back, and Leigh in front of me telling me to "push to here" where she was putting pressure on my perineum. The last bit went by so quickly. I thought we had another 40 min of labor and then the next thing I knew, we were looking at our baby. We birthed on the bed, even though i did most of my laboring in the tub and shower. I will never forget the feeling of having the baby slide out of me and onto the bed in front of our very eyes. After so much work, you almost forget that there is a goal in mind--having a baby--so when you see him in front of you, having just come out of your body, it is pretty shocking!
He was completely healthy and perfect! 8 lbs 7 oz. 22 in long. 14 1/2 in head. 10 fingers, 10 toes. Completely perfect! Leigh cleaned him up while I caught my breath and processed what just happened, and Jim and I stared at him and each other in awe. I remember saying, "He's so CUTE! He's actually cute!" (In general I think newborns are pretty gross looking). Leigh wiped some vernix on my hand (the white "cheese" that babies are covered in in utero to protect their skin from getting pruny in the amniotic fluid) and told me that it's the greatest lotion ever, and that I should rub it into my skin when I felt capable of it. She was right--it is the greatest lotion ever! Leigh finally handed me our beautiful baby and Jim and I cried and stared and cooed and stared and kissed and cuddled and breathed. We had done it! After I birthed the placenta--and examined it very closely, it is fascinating!--we cut the cord. I was very sore and tired, but Leigh helped me into the shower to get cleaned up. Then I climbed back into bed. The next thing I remember is waking up with the baby in my arms and Jim next to me. We were able to leave the birth center after Jim went to get us some Bojangles' biscuits.
Leigh, Damaris (another midwife who joined us for the last few hours of labor), and Jim were the greatest team I could have had, and I felt like our Bradley training really did help us stay on track. Not only because of the laboring skills we learned, but also because of the knowledge that we were doing what was best for Baby and Mom.
G.G. greeted us at the house and we all breathed a sigh of relief that our sweet little man was here. I went up to bed and stayed there for the next day and a half. I couldn't have survived without my mom! I will spare the details, but your body is pretty much a mess after giving birth! I was glad to have some help taking care of myself since I had to take care of the baby. I will be forever grateful to my mom for the week and a half she spent with us after his birth taking care of all of us--cooking, cleaning, everything!
Momo and Grandaddy came by later that afternoon (for those that don't know, they now live in Charlotte!) to meet their grandson. It was such a special time for all of us.
This was definitely an experience that I will never forget. I think it was the perfect birth for us (although it could have been a little shorter, in my opinion!). I was proud that we had chosen to bring our baby into the world in such a positive, supportive environment. And I was glad to have my wonderful husband by my side the whole time, as we met our beautiful son for the first time.
JJ in the car on his way home from the birth center!
JJ and GG gliding and getting to know each other!
WE CAN'T STOP STARING AT OUR BABY!!!!!
A visit from the Van Fleets to meet their grandson!
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