WARNING: THIS IS A REAL BIRTH STORY WITH ALL THE DETAILS. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Friday, April 8th was like any other - I had a great nights sleep, went to the gym to run 3 miles and do some light weightlifting, watched some trashy tv, we ordered pizza, went to Sherman's to get some ice cream and ended the night on the couch with my hubby discussing our lovely childless weekend ahead. We were going to meet some friends for lunch, do a little baby shopping, get the treadmill out of storage and maybe fit in a run. Oh the thought....
Saturday, April 9th I woke up at 7:00am to a gush of water between my legs and got up to go to the bathroom to find even more liquid making its way out. It was obvious - my water broke! At that time, I turned to Matt to wake him up and said "We've got a problem!" (which of course wasn't really a problem) and began to get nervous about what the day would bring. Matt calmed me down a bit and we headed upstairs to call Sara, our midwife. Sara calmly told us to relax, that contractions would begin anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours from now. Relax! Riiiight. We also woke my parents and told them the news and to turn up the water heater and get the hose ready to fill the birthing pool that Sara and team would bring.
After that, Matt and I went back downstairs and laid in bed. It was so nice to just chat and relax and do a little reading - but wow, was I feeling super nervous! Around 9:00am we got up and decided to take the dogs on a walk in the woods. During this time, 9:30am-ish, contractions began. We had no idea what to expect - but they were about 15 seconds long and 5 minutes apart and about a 2 on the pain scale. I had my usual breakfast of oatmeal, peanut butter and grapefruit juice which would end up being my last meal before becoming a mom!
My sis Amanda came over after hearing the news and of course had an iPhone app ready to go to time my contractions. We checked in with Sara again because the contractions were close together (again, no idea what to expect) and she said they needed to last longer and be a little closer together to be making something happen. So we put a Teen Mom 2 rerun and Amanda and Matt began "contraction watch and record". Over the next hour they got a little longer, maybe 45 seconds, still 5 minutes apart and making there was up the pain scale to a 3 and 4. Soon after, Kristin (midwife apprentice) arrived and filled us in. Turns out, Sara and Jen (doula/assistant) were at another birth and.....the other woman and I were at about the same place in our labor. And the birthing pool was set up at the other woman's house. Uh oh! Kristin had it under control, and her and Amanda headed to Wal Mart in search of a pool for me. Matt and I headed downstairs to relax on the couch. During this time "contraction watch and record" was aborted because I wanted to throw the phone out the window. Pain scale: creeping up to a 5.
Around 2:30pm Amanda and Kristin returned with a pool (which they had to get from some back storage room using a fork lift, after they told the employees what it was for of course!) and Amanda began filling it up. Kristin thought it'd be best and help with my pain if we got in the tub so we headed up to my parent's bathroom and the only tub in the house. Ahhhhhhhh.....that felt oh so good, still a 5 on the pain scale and managing a smile!
Now is when I lose track of time. I stayed up in the tub for an hour or so until the other pool was filled in the basement and Sara and Jen arrived. They helped me move downstairs and I climbed in the pool, which was still being completely filled. Apparently, it takes a lot of hot water and we didn't have enough, so Amanda and my mom had to boil pots and pots and pots and pots to keep the water warm. I was oblivious! At this point, the pain had gone up to a 7 and I went into a quiet trance like state. I moaned and yelled through the contractions and was silent in between - I think my eyes were also closed the whole time.
After awhile in the pool Sara suggested I go to the toilet to be more upright so we did that. It felt good to be in that position. At this point I felt like I had been working really hard and I wanted to hear that Jack was almost here, and Sara thought that he was. Unfortunately, what we did not know was that his head was at an angle and it would be awhile. After the toilet I went back to the pool, but nothing about being in there felt good. I wanted to rest between contractions and just couldn't get comfortable.
Next Sara suggested the bed - where I thought I would never, ever end up! Matt sat behind me while I laid down and began having really tough contractions. I can only describe the need to push like dry heaving - you just can't hold back. I also thought I wouldn't be one of those women who moan and groan throughout labor - but yep, I did and it was instinctual! Sara kept me encouraged by telling me that the baby's head was just molding to fit and that's what was taking so long. After some tough pushes, she suggested Matt and I just lay down and try to relax for a bit and then she and her team left us. Left us!! I know they were giving us some alone time, but nope, I couldn't just "relax"! I felt like my urge to push was too strong to lay down and not try to make progress, so when Kristin came in to check on me I told her I needed to keep going.
The only perception of time I had at this point was that it was getting dark, which meant I was going at this for a long time. Sara had me in a squatting position on the floor, Jen was massaging my back, we tried leaning over the bed but nothing was comfortable (why did I think I needed to be comfortable?!?!?!). I returned to the bed, buckled down, and was ready to get that baby out of me! Who knows how long it took, but I began to feel the head coming out and could tell by Matt's face and words of encouragement that I was finally REALLY making progress! His head made it out, I heard him cry, and then yelled at Sara to pull him out. A big no no in the natural birth process, but I just couldn't take it anymore! Luckily, Sara obliged and Jack Matthew was born at 8:20pm!
As you can see from the picture above - I was in shock! And I was in shock for quite some time. His head and some of his body were covered in vernex (the white stuff), but rather than clean him off hospital style we were told that it would absorb into his skin and is a great conditioner - it did and it was! This was the nicest part about being at home - Jack was never taken away from Matt or me at any time. No poking, no prodding, no needles, no bathing, no diaper, no hat, no clothes, nothing....just a lot of loving on our little guy. It was such an exciting time with my 2 sisters, parents, and even brother-in-law joining us to welcome Jack.
Next up - delivering the placenta. Gross, I know. I didn't know what to expect but I thought I could give some baby pushes and out it'd go. Nope. Sara and Kristin kept checking on me in between cleaning up and starting some laundry but that thing didn't want to come out. Almost two hours and one big push later, it was out! Soon after, Sara, Jen and Kristin said their good byes and I was eating pizza and vegan chocolate chip cookies in bed with Matt and Jack by my side! It doesn't get any better than that!!
A big thanks goes out to Amanda, who was a silent helper from the very first contractions! She timed my contractions, supplied my favorite lemon lime Gatorade, went all over town to get me a pool, boiled water with my mom, took pictures and just observed as quiet as can be.
Another big thanks goes to the other woman who gave up our shared midwife and doula so they could come support me. I read her birth story and she would agree - I needed them more than she did! Who would've thought we'd go into labor on the same day and have our babies only minutes apart!
What an experience. Would I do it all again? You bet!
