I woke up bout 3 am with a strong contraction and went back to sleep. Had another and then another and looked at the clock – 3:20am. Oh well – I needed to go poddy anyway. Bloody show.
Now I should tell you, I have had a history of strong, regular contractions with NO (or little) cervical changes and then two days later, “real labor”. But I have NEVER had bloody show and not had a baby that same day. And since I was GBS + and had opted for abx and a water birth, I called my midwife.
She said she’d shower and call me back. I did laundry and DH put together the bassinet we had procrastinated on reassembling. I checked my email and doled out some assignments to my helpers at Blissfully Domestic (Have I announced that I am Editor-in-Chief there yet? I am).
Oh yes – these contractions are the real deal. I called my mom somewhere in there too and she went back to bed having been “faked out” by my labors before. Lol! I told Sidney “My mom thinks I’m joking but I’m not!”
Midwife arrived around 5 or 6? and I was 3, almost 4 and 80% effaced! Woohoo! Active labor! Got a shot in the butt. Yummy
Called my mom – Come on mom! Time to head this way! Left a voice mail.
She didn’t leave Ft Smith until 7 or something. right around 7 and I was in good labor by then. Wondering if she would make it.
The contractions strengthen and I am worried about the kids waking up. Doesn’t feel like Micah’s birth. I don’t want them in. Brianna woke up and came to see me. We talk for awhile but I’m restless and send her out.
I’m relieved when Sidney’s mom arrives about 7:45-8am. The other two kids wake up when they hear her truck but I don’t worry. She’s there. She’s cleaning the kitchen – I hear her tidying up. She asks for the dustpan. Good luck I tell her and everyone laughs.
Into the water I went. Discovered my tub doesn’t seal like it used to and the water is slowly draining out. Filled a ziplock bag full of coins to put over the drain. Regretting doing laundry earlier and am praying the water stays hot enough, long enough.
Midwife checks me – I’m at an 8. Progress! I want to push – but it’s not time yet. I know that. My water breaks. Light greenish.
Baby is very active throughout the labor. VERY. Moves a lot. So do I. Suddenly the tub is not right. I’m nearly complete and am able to push but my body doesn’t feel like it. Contractions are strong and I am restless.
Laying in the tub. Now hands and knees. Now on my side in the tub. Now I want OUT of the tub – that’s a first for me. I’ve never birthed out of the water before. Every contraction the baby wiggles.
Now I’m crying because we hadn’t settled on a name for him. Adam or David? Maybe if he had a name he would come out. I tell Sidney “His name is Adam!” in the middle of a contraction. Sidney does NOT argue with me.
Standing outside the tub now – hanging from my husbands shoulders. His arms feel strong around me. I feel strong.
To the bed we go. Side lying. Crying for my mom. She’s 20 minutes away. I tell Sidney I’m done. I’m leaving now. He can have the baby by himself. He laughs at me and I laugh too. I know I’m being silly. I can’t sit still.
The baby wiggles some more. I start pushing. Lying down. Now squatting. Midwife asks if I want the birth stool and I say no. The next contraction raises me up on hands and knees and I ask for Sidney to hold me. My arms around his shoulders. I think I bit him during one contraction.
My mom rushes in as another contraction takes hold. I’m roaring. Like Brianna’s birth. I feel the baby crowning and try to slow my roll but then he’s out completely. I’m sweating. I hear the baby crying and Gail passes him to me – already laying down more pads and moving pillows so I can just sit right back against the head board.
Adam.
There he is.
Perfect. Astounding. Such a miracle….
I think we were waiting for my mom. I think we were trying to get all our wiggles out. A week early but right on time – placenta, ears and vernix all say – perfect timing baby! He doesn’t nurse right away – a lot is going on. Lots of people to see him.
I have some bleeding and the midwife massages my uterus. Adam latches on about ten minutes later and that helps right away. I let him nurse as long as he wanted – about 25 minutes each side.
The cleaning up. The stats. The phone calls and text messages. The proud siblings and grandma’s. The relief and the rush.
8 pounds, 4 ounces. The biggest one yet! 20 inches long but I think he was so wiggly still I think he’s actually 21 inches long. His feet are HUGE. When you bend them up they go nearly halfway to his knees!
I was most surprised to find out the entire labor only took 6 hours. He was really born at 10am? Just two hours after Gloria arrived? It FELT like forever. It felt like waiting in line for a roller coaster ride….so tedious. So restless. I was glad when I finally had the urge to push. I was glad when he finally arrived.
That’s my story. Such a different birth than the other three. They’ve all been so different. I think that’s what keeps surprising me. I was grateful for a midwife who was so supportive of me and my body’s crazy desire to dance around. Seriously – about a hundred different positions during this labor but it just felt right to move so much.
Not as much “fun” as Micah’s labor and birth – but it was still really nice. No complaints to be sure.
