Introducing bC

Wanna know how this little fella got here?

Before cC was born, I kept saying that the perfect scenario would be for me to be in labor during the day, but still go about doing what needed to be done.  Then after getting the kids in bed, birth a baby.  Well, my perfect scenario totally went down.

I figured if I could will it to happen that time, why not this time?  I decided this time it would be perfect to get a good nights sleep, wake up at about 5 a.m. to some contractions, have the baby by 10 a.m.  

I'd been having light contractions off and on for a couple weeks.  Before I went to bed on Saturday August 9, I was having light contractions.  I didn't get my hopes up too much, since that's what was going on the previous Saturday when I went to bed, and I woke up to nothing.

However, when I woke up just before 5 a.m. on Sunday to go to the bathroom, I was having contractions, and they were pretty strong.  I laid in bed for the next several hours, trying to sleep, but trying to pay attention to how far apart they were, and listening to the soothing sounds of juC snoring.  Since things progressed so quickly with cC once my contractions were strong, I didn't want to wait too long to let my midwives know and risk them not making it in time.  The contractions I were having were pretty intense from the get go, so I thought I had actually willed my perfect scenario into reality again.  

So at about 6:30 I texted my midwives to let them know I was having pretty strong contractions.  I figured I still had some time, so if they didn't get the text right away that was ok, and I'd call later if I felt the urgency.

A little after 7 a.m. I gave them a call.  The contractions were quite strong and since they live about 40 minutes away, I wanted to be on the safe side.

A little before 8:30 the first midwife arrived.  I was still in bed just trying to relax while I could.  She quickly listened to the babies heart beat, checked my blood pressure, etc, then said she'd get out of my hair and let me relax.  The other midwife arrived as she was finishing up, and they went down stairs to hang out and let me do my thing.

But that was the problem.  No "thing" was happening anymore.  I was able to sleep for a little bit, but in 2 hours time, I had maybe 2 faint little contractions.  What the heck?!  Soooooo...I guess no 10 a.m. baby after all?

Very sadly, I went downstairs and let my midwives know that it must have been a false alarm because nothing was going on.  They decided they'd pack up their stuff and be on their way.  They'd be around for a bit so if things changed I could let them know and they wouldn't be far.  I was still having some contractions but they weren't very strong, and were all over the place.  We got the kids ready, and a friend came and picked them up to have lunch at their house and to take the kids to church.  juC and I had lunch and there was just nothing going on.  I was so disappointed.  I went back upstairs to lie down.  

I'd also had this...fear... during this pregnancy.  Both luC and cC were pretty "easy" deliveries.  What if this one wasn't, and what if I couldn't handle it?  The contractions I'd been having in the morning were pretty strong and then just stopped.  Was this an indication of what was to come?  Were my fears about this coming true?

After lying down after lunch I rested a bit, and then started having some intense contractions again.  They weren't horrible, but they were just strong.  It was weird because with luC and cC, lying down would make contractions stop, and walking was what got them going strong.  But this time being up stopped them, and lying down got them going.  I texted one of my midwives to ask her what that meant, and she just said that my contractions were more effective when my body is relaxed.  I continued to have these contractions for a bit.  Then decided to take a bath to see if that would help, too.  

A little before 6 p.m. one of the midwives called to say she was headed back home, and we decided she'd come check in on me.  By the time she got here, my contractions were strong, and although not regular (my contractions never are!) they were close together at sometimes.  She checked my blood pressure and all that stuff again.  Then we talked about some of my fears.  This labor was already so different from my others, and I was just so thrown off.  We couldn't decide if she should stay or go since my contractions were all over the place.  I didn't want her to stay and nothing happen, but I also didn't want her to go and things happen quickly and she not be back in time.  She decided to go give the other midwife a call to talk it over with her.

While she was gone I talked to juC and asked him to pray about things and see if we should just go to the hosiptal.  I told him that I felt uneasy, and I couldn't tell if it was my own fears, or if I was being prompted.  He went and said a prayer, and said nothing about it, and seemed at ease.  Even though we didn't get a chance to talk about it, his demeanor was a comfort to me and I felt like even though it may be difficult, everything would be ok.

My midwife decided to check me for dilation to decide if she should stay or not..  She couldn't really tell where I was at, and decided that since my contractions were still far apart at times, and that I was still not having super strong contractions that she'd go.

About that time, the kids got home and it was time to get them ready for bed.  I decided that I'd take another bath since the contractions had picked up again before the midwife came and hopefully the bath would help move things along again.  I got up and was walking around doing different things, but was having to stop every 2 to 3 minutes because a contraction would come, and since getting up, they were getting even stronger.  They continued to be close together so at 8 p.m. I called my midwife back and said "ummm...I think you need to come back."  

Dang it!  It had better be real now, since she was on her way home to get dinner since she hadn't had anything yet.  I did wait until my midwife got here, though, before getting in the tub.  With cC, I got in the tub and he was born about 15-20 minutes later.  

I believe she got here at about 8:20.  I got in the tub, and contractions started getting stronger.  Like ridiculously stronger.  After having intense contractions all day, I really thought this had to go quickly.  After a little bit, the other midwife got here.  They were hanging out downstairs and would occasionally come in to check the babies heart rate.  

I obviously wasn't staring at a clock during all of this, but g'zz Louise, it seemed to be going so slowly.  I was having a really hard time getting comfortable, and the contractions were getting so strong, but nothing seemed to be happening.  The only progress that seemed to be happening in that room was juC progressing in his facebook stalking of all of his friends.  Otherwise, it seemed as though nothing was being accomplished.

I thought for sure that with as strong as the contractions were, this baby would be coming soon.  But the urge to push still wasn't there even though the contractions were so strong.  I still couldn't find a comfortable position and my legs were tired from all of the semi-comfortable positions I'd been in.  Slowly, but surely, the urge to push came.  Now, mind you, my previous 2 births went ridiculously fast once pushing began.  That's what I was used to, and mentally prepared for, but was worried wouldn't happen.  My babies are always "high" and with cC it was about one push to get him "low", about one push to get his head out, and about one push to get his body out.

bC, however, not so much....

It seemed as though my body was pushing and pushing, and no progress was being made.  I still couldn't feel him coming down.  I honestly was feeling defeated, and mentally couldn't wrap my mind around why nothing was "happening".

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I could feel him moving down and could tell he was close.  Still it took several pushes and his head started coming out, but slowly.  After his head was out, surely the rest would be quick right?  Yeah...not so much.  Contractions one after another and several pushes later, he wasn't budging.  It became clear to my midwives that his shoulder was stuck.  After efforts to free his shoulder where I was in the tub weren't working, I had to quickly get out so that they could free him.

I won't lie to you folks,  I have never experienced so much pain.  I will spare you the details, but freeing a shoulder of a birthing baby isn't rainbows and roses.   It was about 5 minutes from the time I felt his head emerging to the time he was born, but it felt like a lifetime.  He needed oxygen, but soon after they laid him on me he began crying...and crying and crying (another thing my other babies didn't do).

There is something truly amazing about the things you are feeling during birth, and then the instant relief that is felt as soon as the baby is born.

Now, if you are still with me... It was an intense birth.  Thankfully (although I wasn't feeling thankful at the time) I'd read a book by Ina May Gaskins that had a lot of home birth stories in it.  As I read the stories, which I read thinking I'd find inspiration, I was feeling all sorts of scared about my upcoming birth.  Sure, I'd done this before, but these stories I was reading were freaking me out, man.  So many stories were about women who had previous births go quickly and smoothly, and then had super difficult labors with a 3rd or 4th baby.  Several were about a baby whose shoulder got stuck during delivery.  It all just freaked me out.

But I am so glad I read those stories.  In those intense moments when we were all panicking a bit, I could remember those stories, and remember what needed to be done, and was able to focus and do what was best.  I think leading up to his birth that I could sense something was off and that's where my anxieties were coming from, but also knew that it would be ok.  I could sense that things were going to be much more difficult than before, but could sense that we would get through it.

Every time I experience a new life coming into our family, I can't help but feel overwhelmed at how amazing it is.  I don't know how anyone can experience it and not know that we have a loving Heavenly Father.  I am so thankful for these fresh from heaven little ones that remind me how amazing life is!  I am so thankful that I have been able to experience fresh from heaven little ones 4 times!  There's nothing like it!

(side note--Finding someone to take pictures during the birth...best decision ever!  I love the moments and images that were captured!  Thank you Caroline Hefner Photography!)

Not sure where jC's story is.
luC's story--http://itsmeanic.blogspot.com/2011/01/shes-here.html
cC's story--http://itsmeanic.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-about-birth.html