singin_mama
06-29-2008, 04:34 PM
Well, I woke with contractions on Monday morning about every 10 minutes apart. By that evening I was 2 cm. Not much but things were moving, or so I thought. Tuesday night I was only 2.5 cm. That was discouraging. My mom came out on Tues because I had been so sure Monday that the baby would arrive soon.
Wednesday and Thursday passed with no change, still having contractions about every 10 minutes and they were a little stronger each day but just not enough to get anything done.
Thursday night I slept great! And then Friday morning I went back to bed after my morning devotions because I was falling asleep while reading. I didn't get up until 11!
Friday I decided that I was just going to ignore the contractions because it was obviously pointless to think they were doing anything.
So Mom and the kids and I went to Sam's and then to the library and then back home. I took another nap then. When I got up Mom and Emma and I went to the grocery store. While at the store there was a noticeable change in the contractions. They would not be ignored anymore. We hurried up with the shopping and went home.
The midwife had already intended to come by and try stripping my membranes that day but I really didn't want to do that and am glad that she had ended up going to another town to deliver a baby early (1 am) that morning, so I called and told her I didn't want to do that and what had been going on that day. She said that she was going to take a nap because she knew I'd be calling her at 1 am! lol
I decided to go ahead and go to the discipleship meeting we have every Friday. By the time we left there at about 10 pm I was pretty sure that the baby was really coming! My dh was busy chatting and I had to tell him I needed to leave.
We got home and dh and the kids set up the birthing pool and Mom and Kyla and I set about cleaning up the house. I didn't do too much, I was busy with contractions. I called a friend that offered to come and watch the kids. By the time she got here though only Wes and Kyla were awake.
When the mw came (at about 1am) I had prepared myself to hear that I was only 4 or 5 cm so when she said 7 I was thrilled!
I had already been in the pool for a little before that and then after I got back in. Time seemed to be moving fast for me. I remember asking once what time it was and it was 2:30 and it just didn't seem like it had been that long.
Wes got in the pool with me for a little bit the first time I was in it. I wish I'd thought to get a picture of that. He was wired the whole time. I couldn't believe he stayed up through the whole thing. Kyla went to bed about 2 and Cora got up about the same time. Gilbert woke up just before the birth.
The water was nice. I had wanted to get out to deliver but when I got up to get out and while dh and my friend and my mom were getting the towels and my dry clothes another contraction came and I said, "Forget it, it's too late." and got back down in the water. Dh said that he felt rather useless because I didn't seem to need anyone, but I was very thankful for his presence and encouraging words.
The urge to push came on gradually. Starting out it was just at the peak of contractions. I would push just a little with those. I never paid so much attention to what my body was feeling and what it was telling me to do.
The mw had been dozing on the couch until I got to where I was pushing hard and could feel Sara's head. That was amazing!! I had never felt the desire to do that before, but it was just such a wonderful thing! When I could feel her head I started talking to her. Dh said that he thought that was really special.
I have no idea how long I pushed, my perception of time was way off and no one else can give me an idea because most of the time I was pushing they were unaware I was. I had a bit of trouble with her shoulders, or at least it seemed so to me. Dh says it didn't take any time at all but I felt like it was taking too long.
When she was born and I lifted her out of the water I didn't even look to see if she was a girl or boy right away. I just looked at her and held her close. She was so perfect! Her color was good and she was moving around. It took the mw suctioning her mouth before she cried. After a few minutes of admiring her I finally thought to see if we had a boy or a girl.
Dh was so funny. He was so worried about her being in the water! LOL He kept saying, "Shouldn't we get her out?". I don't know how long we stayed in the water but it was quite a bit longer than poor dh felt comfortable with. We sent all the kids out while I got out. Dh cut the cord and I got settled on the couch. Delivered the placenta and then the kids came back in.
Wes was so cute, he said, "Mama, I like this baby." Cora was a little disappointed because she had wanted to catch but I was in the water. But she couldn't have been any closer without actually catching so she is satisfied.
Dh got the kids off to bed and I got cleaned up a little and then dh crashed. The mw left about 6 am and Sara and I were left alone in the quiet of early morning. I am in awe of the whole thing. I couldn't have gotten any closer to an unassited childbirth without actually having one. I enjoyed the whole experience. It makes me smile to think how it went and to remember it all. My only regret is that we didn't video it. Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers.
If you read all that, bless you!
Wednesday and Thursday passed with no change, still having contractions about every 10 minutes and they were a little stronger each day but just not enough to get anything done.
Thursday night I slept great! And then Friday morning I went back to bed after my morning devotions because I was falling asleep while reading. I didn't get up until 11!
Friday I decided that I was just going to ignore the contractions because it was obviously pointless to think they were doing anything.
So Mom and the kids and I went to Sam's and then to the library and then back home. I took another nap then. When I got up Mom and Emma and I went to the grocery store. While at the store there was a noticeable change in the contractions. They would not be ignored anymore. We hurried up with the shopping and went home.
The midwife had already intended to come by and try stripping my membranes that day but I really didn't want to do that and am glad that she had ended up going to another town to deliver a baby early (1 am) that morning, so I called and told her I didn't want to do that and what had been going on that day. She said that she was going to take a nap because she knew I'd be calling her at 1 am! lol
I decided to go ahead and go to the discipleship meeting we have every Friday. By the time we left there at about 10 pm I was pretty sure that the baby was really coming! My dh was busy chatting and I had to tell him I needed to leave.
We got home and dh and the kids set up the birthing pool and Mom and Kyla and I set about cleaning up the house. I didn't do too much, I was busy with contractions. I called a friend that offered to come and watch the kids. By the time she got here though only Wes and Kyla were awake.
When the mw came (at about 1am) I had prepared myself to hear that I was only 4 or 5 cm so when she said 7 I was thrilled!
I had already been in the pool for a little before that and then after I got back in. Time seemed to be moving fast for me. I remember asking once what time it was and it was 2:30 and it just didn't seem like it had been that long.
Wes got in the pool with me for a little bit the first time I was in it. I wish I'd thought to get a picture of that. He was wired the whole time. I couldn't believe he stayed up through the whole thing. Kyla went to bed about 2 and Cora got up about the same time. Gilbert woke up just before the birth.
The water was nice. I had wanted to get out to deliver but when I got up to get out and while dh and my friend and my mom were getting the towels and my dry clothes another contraction came and I said, "Forget it, it's too late." and got back down in the water. Dh said that he felt rather useless because I didn't seem to need anyone, but I was very thankful for his presence and encouraging words.
The urge to push came on gradually. Starting out it was just at the peak of contractions. I would push just a little with those. I never paid so much attention to what my body was feeling and what it was telling me to do.
The mw had been dozing on the couch until I got to where I was pushing hard and could feel Sara's head. That was amazing!! I had never felt the desire to do that before, but it was just such a wonderful thing! When I could feel her head I started talking to her. Dh said that he thought that was really special.
I have no idea how long I pushed, my perception of time was way off and no one else can give me an idea because most of the time I was pushing they were unaware I was. I had a bit of trouble with her shoulders, or at least it seemed so to me. Dh says it didn't take any time at all but I felt like it was taking too long.
When she was born and I lifted her out of the water I didn't even look to see if she was a girl or boy right away. I just looked at her and held her close. She was so perfect! Her color was good and she was moving around. It took the mw suctioning her mouth before she cried. After a few minutes of admiring her I finally thought to see if we had a boy or a girl.
Dh was so funny. He was so worried about her being in the water! LOL He kept saying, "Shouldn't we get her out?". I don't know how long we stayed in the water but it was quite a bit longer than poor dh felt comfortable with. We sent all the kids out while I got out. Dh cut the cord and I got settled on the couch. Delivered the placenta and then the kids came back in.
Wes was so cute, he said, "Mama, I like this baby." Cora was a little disappointed because she had wanted to catch but I was in the water. But she couldn't have been any closer without actually catching so she is satisfied.
Dh got the kids off to bed and I got cleaned up a little and then dh crashed. The mw left about 6 am and Sara and I were left alone in the quiet of early morning. I am in awe of the whole thing. I couldn't have gotten any closer to an unassited childbirth without actually having one. I enjoyed the whole experience. It makes me smile to think how it went and to remember it all. My only regret is that we didn't video it. Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers.
If you read all that, bless you!