Just a day past my due date. It had been kind of a long night, with getting
up about every hour needing to use the bathroom, which was just slightly
more than usual much not much. I don't think I was really in labor during
the night but I suppose you could consider it prelabor. Every time I got up
I was having an {unpainful} contraction. Or commonly known as annoying
Braxton hicks. And would have to waddle, waddle, waddle to where I needed to go.
Anyway, about seven o'clock in the morning I was woken up by a slight pop and a BIG gush of fluid. I semi loudly exclaimed to Matt beside me, "oh my goodness. oh my goodness. my water just broke" to which he replied, "are you sure?" Haha, I just said, " get a towel, quick quick" cuz it just kept coming! No doubt about what just happened.
The next thing he said was "well I better go milk the goats" (up until that point I had been the one doing that-nice of him to give me the morning off 😄) (And between him and Lillie, they have done all the milking since)
On his way out to the barn he went and woke the boys telling them it was baby day. (Lillie was at church camp). As I was in the bathroom getting cleaned up, I heard Zethan dancing up the stairs (imagine-Zethan dancing, huh?) saying in a sing song voice, "It's baby day, it's baby day". So cute!
I texted family that it was baby day.
Anyway, I figured we probably had plenty of time before any contractions started, so I took a shower. But the contractions started practically right away. And let's just say, there is a LOT of fluid surrounding that baby! So after having to change my clothes a time or two, I just sat on a towel.
The contractions weren't painful per say, but they were definitely noticeable and being as I really had no idea how fast my labor would be this time around and I had never labored at home before (since this was the first time it got started on its own without pitocin) I was a little anxious to get going.
Matt and the two older boys were outside finishing up the chores and Simon was wanting me to help him go find something he wanted to take to his cousins house. I told him I couldn't help him and he was getting so
Anyway, about seven o'clock in the morning I was woken up by a slight pop and a BIG gush of fluid. I semi loudly exclaimed to Matt beside me, "oh my goodness. oh my goodness. my water just broke" to which he replied, "are you sure?" Haha, I just said, " get a towel, quick quick" cuz it just kept coming! No doubt about what just happened.
The next thing he said was "well I better go milk the goats" (up until that point I had been the one doing that-nice of him to give me the morning off 😄) (And between him and Lillie, they have done all the milking since)
On his way out to the barn he went and woke the boys telling them it was baby day. (Lillie was at church camp). As I was in the bathroom getting cleaned up, I heard Zethan dancing up the stairs (imagine-Zethan dancing, huh?) saying in a sing song voice, "It's baby day, it's baby day". So cute!
I texted family that it was baby day.
Anyway, I figured we probably had plenty of time before any contractions started, so I took a shower. But the contractions started practically right away. And let's just say, there is a LOT of fluid surrounding that baby! So after having to change my clothes a time or two, I just sat on a towel.
The contractions weren't painful per say, but they were definitely noticeable and being as I really had no idea how fast my labor would be this time around and I had never labored at home before (since this was the first time it got started on its own without pitocin) I was a little anxious to get going.
Matt and the two older boys were outside finishing up the chores and Simon was wanting me to help him go find something he wanted to take to his cousins house. I told him I couldn't help him and he was getting so
We get to the car and the boys have packed their own things for staying
at their cousins. Simon ended up with just the clothes he was wearing,
which were a mismatched shirt and shorts that were a mile too big on him
and wouldn't stay up. No shoes. And about 6 blankets. Haha. Good thing
my sister has boys. She found some things for him to wear.
She met us along the way to pick them up and we got going.
There was road construction all over the place and every time I saw it coming up, I was thinking, oh great, how long is this gonna take, Matt's gonna have to go tell them he has a wife in labor and to let us through!!! Thankfully we pretty much got right through all of it without having to break any rules.
By now I had soaked through another towel and my clothes. So when we got to the birthing center, I had the embarrassing walk of labor. Trying to hold a towel between my legs and and keep everyone from seeing the giant wet spot on my backside! I guess it didn't really matter at that point. At least they didn't question wether I was in labor or not.
About 8:30 or so we got checked in, the nurse asked if I had a birth plan, if I wanted a hospital gown or my own clothes, how I felt about being monitored, whatever I wanted. They were very kind and I felt they really wanted to respect my plans and ideas of how I wanted things to happen.
At 8:50 they checked on things and I was dilated to a 5, and 100% effaced. I rated my pain at a 2 maybe a 3. Not bad.
Then about 9:20 they put the IV lock in as a precaution. I could have refused it but it gave me peace of mind too, that if they needed to act quickly it was there ready to go. It wasn't going to be hooked up so I was still very mobile if I wanted to be. The first nurse took a couple goes and about 15 minutes of trying getting to get it in but couldn't. I told her last time it took about 5 tries. So she didn't even try again and went and got a different nurse. She got it the first time (after careful deliberation) on the other hand. Thank you Lord!
She met us along the way to pick them up and we got going.
There was road construction all over the place and every time I saw it coming up, I was thinking, oh great, how long is this gonna take, Matt's gonna have to go tell them he has a wife in labor and to let us through!!! Thankfully we pretty much got right through all of it without having to break any rules.
By now I had soaked through another towel and my clothes. So when we got to the birthing center, I had the embarrassing walk of labor. Trying to hold a towel between my legs and and keep everyone from seeing the giant wet spot on my backside! I guess it didn't really matter at that point. At least they didn't question wether I was in labor or not.
About 8:30 or so we got checked in, the nurse asked if I had a birth plan, if I wanted a hospital gown or my own clothes, how I felt about being monitored, whatever I wanted. They were very kind and I felt they really wanted to respect my plans and ideas of how I wanted things to happen.
At 8:50 they checked on things and I was dilated to a 5, and 100% effaced. I rated my pain at a 2 maybe a 3. Not bad.
Then about 9:20 they put the IV lock in as a precaution. I could have refused it but it gave me peace of mind too, that if they needed to act quickly it was there ready to go. It wasn't going to be hooked up so I was still very mobile if I wanted to be. The first nurse took a couple goes and about 15 minutes of trying getting to get it in but couldn't. I told her last time it took about 5 tries. So she didn't even try again and went and got a different nurse. She got it the first time (after careful deliberation) on the other hand. Thank you Lord!
About 9:55 (thank you mom for the notes, as I was pretty much totally
unaware of time) they checked me again and I was at a 6 with
contractions coming about every 4 minutes.
Another hour passed, now it's 11am, another check and I was at a 7, contractions about 2.5 minutes apart. Honestly I would never have guessed they were that close. I was feeling pretty good still at this point and felt like, yes I was having to concentrate but I was just taking one at a time and I felt like I was getting plenty of rest/down time between them. I was just mostly sitting up in the bed, breathing quietly to myself with my eyes shut. At one point the nurse thought I was sleeping. I can assure you that I was not. I knew being at a 7, I was likely to be going into the "transition" phase and knew it wouldn't be too terribly much longer before I could hold my baby boy. But I still deliberately was only thinking about each contraction as it came. No dwelling on the one I just had, no thinking ahead to the next one becoming worried about how much more pain it would bring.
I think I may have got up to use the restroom and then stood holding onto to Matt for a few contractions. Then I got back to sitting in bed. It is just what seemed like I should do and how I could concentrate the best. Every other contraction I could tell was getting stronger and stronger, and I would try to completely relax my whole body and breathe in through my nose, out through my mouth. And as the contraction peaked, I would visualize it getting me more and more open for baby to come through. Seemed as though I could actually feel it opening. I just kept breathing and having my eyes shut. I was almost in a trance seemingly to myself. If someone would ask me a question I would have to have them repeat it and when I opened my eyes it was hard to focus on anything.
My mom and nurse were just chatting away during a lot of this. At one point the nurse asked if the talking was bothering me, but it wasn't. Matt and my sister in law were mostly just sitting on the couch. Hanging out, just waiting! Towards the last hour or two, my breathing was getting much more noticeable so Matt came to my side at that point and rubbed my shoulder and was there for moral support.
Another hour passed, now it's 11am, another check and I was at a 7, contractions about 2.5 minutes apart. Honestly I would never have guessed they were that close. I was feeling pretty good still at this point and felt like, yes I was having to concentrate but I was just taking one at a time and I felt like I was getting plenty of rest/down time between them. I was just mostly sitting up in the bed, breathing quietly to myself with my eyes shut. At one point the nurse thought I was sleeping. I can assure you that I was not. I knew being at a 7, I was likely to be going into the "transition" phase and knew it wouldn't be too terribly much longer before I could hold my baby boy. But I still deliberately was only thinking about each contraction as it came. No dwelling on the one I just had, no thinking ahead to the next one becoming worried about how much more pain it would bring.
I think I may have got up to use the restroom and then stood holding onto to Matt for a few contractions. Then I got back to sitting in bed. It is just what seemed like I should do and how I could concentrate the best. Every other contraction I could tell was getting stronger and stronger, and I would try to completely relax my whole body and breathe in through my nose, out through my mouth. And as the contraction peaked, I would visualize it getting me more and more open for baby to come through. Seemed as though I could actually feel it opening. I just kept breathing and having my eyes shut. I was almost in a trance seemingly to myself. If someone would ask me a question I would have to have them repeat it and when I opened my eyes it was hard to focus on anything.
My mom and nurse were just chatting away during a lot of this. At one point the nurse asked if the talking was bothering me, but it wasn't. Matt and my sister in law were mostly just sitting on the couch. Hanging out, just waiting! Towards the last hour or two, my breathing was getting much more noticeable so Matt came to my side at that point and rubbed my shoulder and was there for moral support.
I knew that soon, every contraction could be the one to bring my baby
into the world. My body was kinda shaking with the force of each
contraction and I was starting to sweat.
My doctor came in at 12:52 (again, notes from my mom!), he said I was at a 9 and baby was at 0 station. He said at if I felt pushy at all to go ahead and push. I think he forgot that 2 of my last 4 babies were born on the bed without really even pushing. So he left the room to go check on someone else, I suppose. But about 2-3 contractions after he left, I looked over at the nurse and said the baby was coming. I could tell that because my contractions were producing little grunts and were just about unbearable. Haha.
Anyway, she was watching for certain things on the monitor that usually tell her when she should get the doctor instead of listening to me, (and my mom-who told her that if I pushed at all the baby was going to just come it-the nurse assured her since I was at a 0 station, there was plenty of time). WRONG.
Just about 15 minutes after my doctor checked me, out baby Jacob was coming! I still had the blanket on my legs and my mom said she could see his head moving the blanket. Oh my! My mom on one side and Matt on the other, they pulled the blanket back. My mom trying to tell me to breathe to give the nurse/doctor time to get there, me not being able to stop pushing him out. Jacob made his grand debut with no doctor and the nurse still sitting on her stool looking at the monitor.
To give her some credit, she had already laid out all the tools and such so at least that was ready! And she really did do a good job and was super nice!
The cord was around baby's neck and my superman husband is the one who got to his son first. The cord was wrapped around his neck and he got his fingers under it and made sure it wasn't too tight. He wasn't sure exactly if he should pick him up or move him or what since the cord was still attached to me obviously. He was lying face down on the bed from when he came out. Matt wasn't even nervous! But he didn't have to decide too much since the nurse came right back and took baby and moved him around.
The nurse had had to run to the door to summon help, I guess the call system wasn't working right so she couldn't get through to anyone on her phone thing. Anyway a bunch of nurses came and the resident doctor. They took baby, wiped him a bit and put him on my chest, (where he stayed for 2 or 3 hours I think!) Then my doctor got there, pretty quick after he was born, and he helped get the placenta delivered. Matt got to cut Jacobs cord.
My doctor came in at 12:52 (again, notes from my mom!), he said I was at a 9 and baby was at 0 station. He said at if I felt pushy at all to go ahead and push. I think he forgot that 2 of my last 4 babies were born on the bed without really even pushing. So he left the room to go check on someone else, I suppose. But about 2-3 contractions after he left, I looked over at the nurse and said the baby was coming. I could tell that because my contractions were producing little grunts and were just about unbearable. Haha.
Anyway, she was watching for certain things on the monitor that usually tell her when she should get the doctor instead of listening to me, (and my mom-who told her that if I pushed at all the baby was going to just come it-the nurse assured her since I was at a 0 station, there was plenty of time). WRONG.
Just about 15 minutes after my doctor checked me, out baby Jacob was coming! I still had the blanket on my legs and my mom said she could see his head moving the blanket. Oh my! My mom on one side and Matt on the other, they pulled the blanket back. My mom trying to tell me to breathe to give the nurse/doctor time to get there, me not being able to stop pushing him out. Jacob made his grand debut with no doctor and the nurse still sitting on her stool looking at the monitor.
To give her some credit, she had already laid out all the tools and such so at least that was ready! And she really did do a good job and was super nice!
The cord was around baby's neck and my superman husband is the one who got to his son first. The cord was wrapped around his neck and he got his fingers under it and made sure it wasn't too tight. He wasn't sure exactly if he should pick him up or move him or what since the cord was still attached to me obviously. He was lying face down on the bed from when he came out. Matt wasn't even nervous! But he didn't have to decide too much since the nurse came right back and took baby and moved him around.
The nurse had had to run to the door to summon help, I guess the call system wasn't working right so she couldn't get through to anyone on her phone thing. Anyway a bunch of nurses came and the resident doctor. They took baby, wiped him a bit and put him on my chest, (where he stayed for 2 or 3 hours I think!) Then my doctor got there, pretty quick after he was born, and he helped get the placenta delivered. Matt got to cut Jacobs cord.
At that point I was really hurting, to me the first 30+ minutes after birth are
the worst. They said I got real pale and they decided I should have a
saline drip going, so they got that hooked up. And for full disclosure sake,
at some point here I asked for some pain medicine through the IV. They
gave me some morphine and boy that was much better! After that though
I just had some Motrin the rest of my stay.
Jacob was born at 1:08pm at 8 lbs 2 oz. Just six hours after my water
broke. Perfect and beautiful.
