Friday October 29, 2010 we had our weekly appointment with our midwife Rebecca. Everything went picture perfect just like every other appointment we have had. We did a Non-Stress Test (NST) which was great and then went ahead with a vaginal exam. To my surprise I was 2cm and 50% effaced! I have never been that far along before labor. Both Steve and I were happy, excited and optimistic for this birth. Later that night I had a massage. It definitely helped me relax. The next day was my EDD but I knew I wouldn’t be having him that day. So we went about our Saturday of getting things done and the kids ready for Trick r Treating. We had fun at grandmas and nana and papa’s. The next day proved to be a little different. We headed out to Steve’s work and then to drop of the umbrellas and coat back at grandmas. We then went to Costco and that’s when I started having contractions. They weren’t painful and were sporadic. So we walked to see if we could get them into a regular pattern. Unfortunately we couldn’t. But on the way home at about 3 p.m. they were coming every 4 minutes and lasting about a minute. I was thinking there is no way this could be it but maybe it is as well. So we called my sister to come spend the night and then they became sporadic again. By morning they came back and both Steve and I were battling back and forth as to whether it was the real deal or not. We agreed that by 8:30 a.m. if they were still coming we would call Rebecca. Shortly after 8 they became non-existent. Very frustrating.
Tuesday gave us more contractions but we knew it wasn’t the real deal. So Steve too the rest of the week off and we kept busy with menial tasks to take our mind off of it.
Thursday morning I resolved myself that I will be pregnant for a while longer and to just enjoy the weather and life itself. Steve was getting frustrated just because of everyone asking every hour if the baby was here. We went for a morning walk and came home and relaxed. I made sure I took a nap as a “just in case”. After nap time we went to McDonald’s to let the kids play. At 4:30 p.m. I felt my first contraction. It wasn’t painful and they were spread out but it felt different. Steve wanted me to time them but I said no. No sense in psyching ourselves out if it wasn’t the real deal. At 5 we headed home and I cooked dinner. Still having contractions but nothing that took my breath away. At 6 I needed a moment to myself so I went and got in the tub. I was having contractions but was able to have a conversation with my grandma. At 6:30 I got out and we went for another walk. This is where things picked up. Halfway through the walk I had to stop. We were averaging contractions every 4-5 minutes lasting about 45 seconds. They were very hard to time since they would linger in my back area. We got home and called my mom to come out. By the time she arrived I knew I was in labor but the logical part of my brain was still in denial. (False labor will do that to you). We called Rebecca and headed out to grandmas. I had 2 good contractions in the car that I really had to focus on. We arrived at grandmas at about 8:45 p.m.. We called Rebecca and let her know how the ride was and we decided 10:30 would be a good time to meet at the birth center. So the next hour and a half was spent laboring at grandmas. We laughed and joked and I focused when I needed to. At 10:30 we left for the birth center.
Once there and settled in, we did an initial set of vitals and everything looked great. Contractions were at 3-5 minutes lasting 45 seconds to a minute. I was able to cope really well. I labored on my birthing ball and danced around the room. Steve just watched and waited for me to ask for his help. I was managing real well. Around 2 a.m. I decided to get in the tub as the contractions were getting more intense and I was having to focus more. Steve got in with me which was nice. After a couple of hours I got out and labored by the bed and in the bed. I hadn’t used any of my hypnobabies as it annoyed me but when I lay in bed I put it on and it helped me sleep some. This is where time starts to get fuzzy. I started getting nauseous so I labored on the toilet and threw up a few times. I also felt a bulge but it wasn’t a head or a bag of waters but we knew progress was being made. Around 5 Rebecca suggest we break my water or to take some blue and black cohosh. I was not mentally ready for breaking my bag of waters and when I saw what the blue and black cohosh was I couldn’t do that either. Basically I would have to do a shot and I’m not a drinker so that was hard. At this point I started to feel some defeat. So I got back in the tub. Contractions spaced out a bit which was nice. I was able to get some much needed rest. It also recharged me mentally. During contractions I sang a lot. Steve stayed right by my side and did wonders on making sure I had water and food when needed. At 8:45 a.m. I was ready for her to break my bag of waters. Little did we know what this would entail. My cervix was still high and it was painful. It also proved to be difficult to break. His bag of water was bending the amniohook. She had never seen anything like it. At this time I was still at a 3-4 cm. So back to the tub. She went and did a couple of appointments and we labored right along. Still singing when needed. This is also when I started getting a bit primal. I had very low lioness sounds coming out. It felt good. At 10:00 a.m. we attempted to break the bag of waters again. Still bending the amniohook. But progress had been made. I was 4-5 cm and 80% effaced. Back into the tub I went. At 10:45 we attempted the bag of waters again. This time we were all determined to get it broke. I was a solid 5 cm but still 80% effaced. Success was achieved. It was painful but I knew what would happen once this bag of water broke and I needed an end in sight. Once it broke I just laid there. Then the contractions got intense and off it was to the tub. About a half hour after we broke my bag of waters things became so intense. Contractions were coming every 1-2 minutes and lasting 60-90 seconds. I felt like there was no break. Steve did such an awesome job at reminding me to use low tones as all I wanted to do was scream. I just felt I couldn’t do it anymore and I said so but both Rebecca and Steve reminded me that I was doing it and that I can do it. Finally my body started taking over and would just push. So I went with it. I would plant my feet down by the faucet and squat in a laying position and bear down. I felt like I had some control then but not really. I was ready to tap out! But to my amazement not once did I ever ask for drugs. Finally I started to feel this pressure. I checked inside of me and felt what I thought was a head. Rebecca checked and told me that his head was right there and that I had a little lip left but that I was complete. I remember that my eyes widen with excitement and I knew what I need to do. I started to bear down with every push as it was what my body was doing. Finally I started feeling this ring of fire. It was the most excruciating thing I ever felt. But I knew it was a head. I felt down there and at first it felt weird but now I find it fascinating. At this point my body was pushing and it was so hard not to push with it but some how I managed. Steve had been right behind me being my support person. I held his hands while he would squat and I would basically pull on him when I needed to push. He stayed like this for almost an hour. Once his head came out I felt relieved and then to feel his shoulders moving one by one was the most amazing feeling ever. He came tumbling out with the cord around his neck once and was placed on my chest. I immediately started crying. I couldn’t believe I just had a baby the way it was intended. No medications, no doctors taking my baby away, no continuous monitoring. Just a completely normal birth.
Hudson was born on November 5, 2010 at 1211 p.m.. He weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 20 inches long.
It didn’t take me long to deliver the placenta and his cord wasn’t cut until it stopped pulsating. To feel that lifeline was indescribable.
This is the most amazing experience I have ever had. It was also one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I had to dig into a place I knew existed but had never had to go to before. I also have one of the most amazing partners ever. He knew what to say and when to say it. He never really had to touch me but his strength at the end is what I needed physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I’m still in awe that I did it and never asked for drugs. I would do it all over again and have no regrets. We found an amazing midwife that was perfect for us. I am so thankful for this experience and it is just what Steve and I needed after having to medicated births before. It is truly amazing and I hope I never forget how I have felt about this.
You sure have made life wonderful, baby boy. I'm excited to see what new things you through at me in you second year of life.
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