Around 6:30, my doula arrived. I was lying on my bed listening to music from Narnia and Enya on Pandora. My contractions had slowed down to 6 minutes apart, but were getting stronger and lasting close to a minute long. She checked my progress and I was a little over 4cm. (Doula's don't normally check, but she was almost certified to be a midwife, so it was a bonus for me!) Every time I got out of bed, the contractions would get closer together and more painful. We decided I should stay out of bed and see if the contractions would pick back up.
Tim's dad arrived at 7 am to take the kids to his house. I gave each of them a kiss before they left and told them they were going to have a new baby brother today. We headed downstairs around 7:45 am. I found the most comfortable position during contractions was kneeling on the stairs.The contractions were staying regular. Someone always had to apply counter pressure to my lower back during each contraction to ease some of the pain of back labor.
I ate some more toast since labor was progressing. I had to keep my strength up! After I ate, I began squatting during each contraction to see if that would help move things along. They became more intense. I was ok as long as I could get into position quick enough. A couple of times I wasn't in position yet and when I tried to move I would get muscle spasms on top of the contraction.
Around 8:45 am, Tim and my doula discussed heading to the hospital in about 45 minutes if my contractions continued the way they were going. I started getting emotional during contractions. I was so thankful for how supportive and encouraging Tim was being. His words meant so much to me and it really got me going when he told me we'd be meeting our baby soon!
At 9:30 am, my doula decided to check me again. Becoming emotional is a normal progression of labor and she suspected I was entering transition. She was right! I was 7 cm! I was amazed because I couldn't believe how much I had progressed and I was still able to manage the pain! (I had always received an epidural by 4-1/2 cm). She told me that I may not be 7 cm when they check me at the hospital because driving there could slow things down and possibly reverse some of my progress. But, we didn't want to wait too much longer and end up not making it and delivering in the car.
On the way to the hospital, I had 2 contractions. They were very painful because Tim couldn't give me counter pressure on my back. We arrived at the hospital at 9:45 am. I had a contraction in front of the hospital while Tim was dropping the car off for valet. My doula and parents arrived. I was crying because I knew this was it and we'd finally be meeting our baby soon! (and I was in transition)
We got into the elevator to go up to the birth center. As we were waiting to go into the birth center, I had another contraction. The nurse said only one person could come back with me. So everyone else waited. My mom and doula were concerned that it was taking so long. They thought I might end up delivering in triage!
After about 20 minutes, the nurse checked me and I was 7 cm. She asked me how long it took for me to push with my other babies and I told her less than 15 minutes. She said his head was really low, so if I felt like I needed to push then I needed to call her immediately.
I was transported to my labor/delivery room in the triage bed instead of a wheelchair (just to be safe, I guess!). My mom, dad, sister and doula were all there. The nurse asked me if I could get out of the triage bed and into the bed in the room. I got up and then stood at the new bed holding onto the railing as I had another contraction. My doula came right over to talk me through the contraction and Tim was applying counter pressure.
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| Tim applying counter pressure I chose not to wear a hospital gown this time. I bought a birthing skirt and nursing top. It was great to be wearing my own clothes! |
There were 3 or 4 nurses in the room with us. One of them said she would be putting in a port for an IV in case I needed one. She said she'd wait and do it in between contractions. It was 10:50 am (I only know that because my dad had taken a picture of Tim and the clock was behind him!). I told her it wouldn't be easy to get the port in me and my mom told her the anesthesiologist usually has to do it. As the nurse began digging the needle in my hand, I yelled. She was 'fishing for a vein', but was unsuccessful and I was having another contraction.
I wasn't coping well with having contractions while standing up anymore and had to get into a different position. I remember wishing I could be back home kneeling on my stairs! One of the nurses asked if I wanted a birthing ball to sit on. I said sure and then got into the bed on my knees, facing the back and put my head against the top. The nurse came back over and told me to bring my arm up so she could try to get the port in again. I put my arm up and rested my head on the other arm. She still couldn't get it in.
I started having stronger contractions. As labor became overwhelming, I began saying, "No" and "I can't" over and over. Not because I wanted to quit and get an epidural. It was just the only thing I could say in the moment. I remember my doula and Tim kept saying, "Yes, you can. It's almost over. You're doing great!" My doula says she remembers looking over at Tim and seeing a wonderful mix of emotions on his face. He knew he'd see his baby soon and was excited, but also overwhelmed. I was so proud of Tim. He was such an amazing support to me! He had been so nervous about being my labor coach, but he definitely rose to the occasion!
I began feeling a bubbling sensation and pressure. Tim said my voice went down an octave. I vaguely remember the nurses telling me (and asking me) to tell them when I felt the need to push. I didn't know what was happening and couldn't answer them. It was very strange. My doula told the nurse I was starting to push. Then one of the nurses was said it sounded like I was bearing down. They weren't really paying attention though because they still had to get a port in my arm!
All of a sudden, my water broke! Tim said it was so loud it echoed in the room! A nurse asked me if I could turn around and sit down. I felt paralyzed from muscle spasms and thought everyone was going to have to help me because I couldn't move. My doula asked the nurse if the pad under me could be changed first so I wouldn't be sitting where my water had just landed. The nurses scrambled to get a clean pad under me, but it seemed like it took so long. (Sometime in here they called the doctor to come over).
Finally, I sat down on my clean pad and felt the baby coming down. (I specifically remember feeling the 'ring of fire'. I had read about it, but didn't know what it would be like). The nurse was sitting on the edge of the bed getting some gauze out. I thought she was going to check my cervix to see if I was complete. But, it turns out she was actually getting ready to try putting the port in again because she had a job to do and had to keep trying to complete it!
I started yelling at her that he was coming and she didn't believe me. She was saying, "Calm down, don't push. Wait for the doctor." I just went with what my body was doing and ignored her. I didn't really feel like I had much control over what was happening anyway! (I thought about it afterward and I think the nurses aren't used to dealing with women who can't stop pushing at the drop of a hat like you can when you're medicated). She wasn't listening to me at all. I kept saying, "No, he's here! He's coming NOW!" She still wouldn't look to check. Finally, my doula bent over to look her in the eye and said, "Really, look! His head is RIGHT THERE!" She looked down, gave up on the port and grabbed a glove. My doula was about ready to reach over and deliver him! (She was almost certified to be a midwife). The nurse barely got the glove over her fingers and barely touched his head before it was completely out! Then the rest of his body came out without any assistance. She didn't even have time to check for a cord around his neck! Tim says he shot out like a rocket!
The nurse clamped the umbilical cord and asked Tim if he wanted to cut it. He tried, but was so shaky he couldn't do it. The other nurses took the baby to clean him up and get his stats. It was the first time they haven't let me hold my baby right after delivery. I think they told me they were going to do that and I'd get him in a few minutes. Then the "delivering" nurse told me she was going to give me a shot of Pitocin in my leg to help with the bleeding. I was puzzled because I had never heard of that before. (Maybe they always did that and I just didn't realize it because they put it in my IV). I looked at my doula and asked if I needed it and she said no. Then I told the nurse I didn't think I needed it. She then said it wasn't up to me to decide and she'd talk to the doctor. Alrighty then...
Right after that, I remember the doctor coming into the room and the nurse telling him I didn't want the Pitocin. He said that was fine and he'd would see how I was doing. He came over to introduce himself and said he could hear me yelling in the background when the nurse called him, so he tried to get there faster. He went ahead and started cleaning me up. He said I didn't tear. (Praise the Lord!) He was not gentle when cleaning me and a couple of times I told him he was hurting me. (I don't think doctors are used to dealing with women who can feel what they're doing since most women are numb from the epidural!) At some point, the placenta was delivered and Tim went out to see if his mom had arrived. (She got there just after I delivered!) After the doctor was finished, he congratulated me and left.
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| Born on July 29th, 2011 at 11:10 am |
The nurse brought our baby boy back over to us. Tim and I held him. Then my sister and the grandparents held him. I was so relived it was over and he was FINALLY here! One of the nurses said I looked better than I should after just delivering a baby!
Deciding on a name was more challenging this time. I wanted to keep our theme of names ending in 'ah'. Tim wanted to do something different. We finally decided on Josiah. He was a king and a very godly young man. Now we had two boys named after prophets and one after a king!
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| Our fabulous family of six! |
For his middle name, I was still pushing for Graham because that is Tim's middle name. He was still saying no. Finally, he agreed and we had our baby boy's name!
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| Kangaroo baby |
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| Keeping my little guy warm |
I am so thrilled to finally have a positive birth experience to share! My prayers were answered! He came in his own time, I got to deliver naturally and overall, it went smoothly.
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