8/29/2004
My Birthing Experience
3:50am
I knew intuitively that Aidan would start his arrival in the early morning. This was the time I always seemed to wake up during my pregnancy.
Sure enough, my little gentleman started contractions at around 3:50am, as I slipped under the covers from my 3:30am nature call. I wasn't sure if they were contractions, because they just felt like little cramps. I started getting excited when I realized that in 3 hours, I had about 5 of these little bumps in the night. My MIL, who was staying with us, was probably awake by now, since she always woke up very early in the morning. I wanted to run out there and tell her, "He's coming", because we wondered excitedly for weeks how he would start his entrance into the world. However, DH was sleeping peacefully and I couldn't dream of telling anyone else before him. So try as I might, I did what my midwives suggested, "Get some rest in the beginning, you're going to need your strength for later".
7:30am
I did nap, but was so excited that I found myself waiting for hubby to wake up. When he did, I told him the good news. So, no, it wasn't like TV where I say, "Honey, it's time!!!" and we start a mad rush to the hospital. Instead, we knew that this was just the beginning of a long marathon. In fact, I still wasn't quite sure I was in labor because the cramps were so slight.
8:30am
MIL and I huddle around the breakfast table talking excitedly about baby's birth. This is it! The cramps were not going away and were getting a bit stronger. I can't believe today is the today! DH has just come out from his home office and has declared that he is going to work from home today. I happen to have my weekly appointment at Special Beginnings at 2pm today. MIL is visiting from Puerto Rico and doesn't drive a stick-shift, so either I'd have to drive or DH will. I'm glad he's staying home. It all seems excessive, because we don't know how far along I'll be at 2pm, but going to work seems like a big risk since it would take DH an hour to get home.
11:10am
My water has not broken yet, and I'm thankful. I've been praying that my water would not break until later because they say it's much more painful then. I call David, the midwife on duty to let him know I've been having contractions. The plan is for me to come to my regular appointment, unless something changes.
12:40pm
I am so happy that DH decided to stay home. There is no way I could have driven myself to the birthing center. My contractions are really coming together now. The neat thing is that I started with a strong contraction every 45 minutes and 2 very minor contractions every 15 minutes between the major contraction. The contractions started evening out so that they were all getting stronger and converging together.
The contractions are 3 minutes apart and are lasting 50-60 seconds. Owwwwwww.....
MIL and I have been timing each contraction and DH had to remind me that I didn't have to time each one, just get a time once each hour.... I couldn't help it though. I'm an Industrial Engineer by trade. Guess I'm used to time studies!!!
1:20pm
This is it. I can't hold out anymore for my regular appointment, so we're off!!! The birthing center is less than 10 minutes away and I probably had 3 contractions en route. I brought my labor bag, just in case.
1:40pm
"Hi, I'm here for my 40th week checkup and I'm also having contractions every 3 minutes!"
As I get examined, I hope and pray that I've dilated enough. I can't even think about them sending me back home. I'm ready to go!!! Thankfully, David checks and I'm at 5cm, already halfway there! Woo Hoo!!!
I'm here in my beautiful suite (bedroom #2) and getting started. I tried laying on my side, but that felt horrible. DH begins counterpressure massage as I kneel by the bed. This, I realize, is a God-send. Unfortunately, DH needed a cigarrette break, leaving poor Kathy, a petite nurse-midwife in training to attempt the counterpressure. DH was gone for one contraction and it was a killer. The counterpressure massage made a big difference! Ironically, I brought all kinds of snacks and a few bottles of Propel, since I didn't want to starve. One sip of the Propel and I made a mad dash to the restroom with the heaves! So, throughout my whole labor, I sipped water and ice chips instead! (I hate puking, so I was afraid to eat or drink). Kathy told me to take a sip of water after each contraction. I never had such a hard time drinking water!
5pm ish
The birthing chair at the birthing center is truly awesome. It is a wooden rocking chair, with props for your feet and a removable center piece in case baby is ready to come out! I actually started sitting in a simpler labor chair, but then I tried this rocker and it was wonderful. I found myself falling into a deep sleep between contractions due to the fatigue. I continued my breathing exercises to work through the contractions as they came. My MIL could not believe how relaxed I was. Kenya, my nurse, or Kathy, would come around every half hour to check our vitals. Invariably, someone would start a conversation with me, but when a contraction started, I just closed my eyes and breathed through it. It didn't matter if I was talking or if someone else was talking to me. I just shut out the world and focused on counting while I breathed. I couldn't count as high as 8, so I just counted to four twice, two sets for each inhale and two sets for each exhale. I had no sense of time. Later, my MIL recalled that I was contracting for 90 seconds and the time between contractions was like 45 seconds. Unbelievable! Those in between times felt great as I slumbered.
The amazing thing is that the contractions felt like a ball scrunching in my stomach. I will never forget that feeling. First the light squeeze, then it would get harder and harder. It was like my body was hugging the baby.
7pm ish
Woo Hoo!!! David says I'm 7 cm dilated and we can get the tub ready. I took his advice and waited until 7-9cm to get in the tub. That way, the water would soothe the pains of active labor. If I was in the tub sooner, I'd get relief from contractions, but wouldn't have help once active labor started. It was all a fog then, but as I remember, the warm water was filled, there were candles and the lights were off and the boom box was moved into the bathroom, playing my 4Him Walk On CD. Very soothing...
9cm
The contractions are getting fierce now, but my water has not broken. Kathy can actually see it when I contract! Strangely, she gets up and leaves the room. Then David gets up and leaves the room. Where are they going???? I need them now! I had just lived thru an excrucriating contraction and my midwives are abandoning me???
Well, when Kathy comes back, I seriously start thinking about getting my water bag lanced. I'm already 9cms and my contractions don't seem productive anymore. She says, "I think it's a good idea, in fact, I went to get the hook". She turns back to David, who returned, to get his opinion and he smiles like the Chesire Cat and shows me his hook! They were thinking the same thing!
The Wall
After my bag was lanced, this is where I hit "the wall". The pain was really excruciating now and I didn't think I could go anymore. Kathy and DH were very supportive. Everyone was cheering me on now. I started the low bear growl grunt and started to bear down. It was the most amazing feeling. My body just knew to push. It felt like an urge to really, really, really go to the bathroom. After a few contractions, I thought I was feeling "the burn", so I was trying not to push. I kept thinking, "OK, you can work through this". Then the real burn came. It knocked the wind out of me! Now, I know why they tell you to keep breathing!!!
I had felt baby's head before, and it felt like a hairy walnut. But now, when Kathy asked me if I wanted to touch baby's head, I was in too much pain. I just wanted to push and get him out!! I don't know how many contractions I had, but I estimate that I was in active labor for one and a half hours.
I felt baby come out and felt his arm hang on as he came out. (He was born with his fists in the air and still sleeps like that to this day!)
Aidan just glided out of me and into the tub. He was placed on my chest and he was the most amazing sight. I'll never forget all that beatiful dark hair and his little hand. My DH got to see Aidan come out and it's something he will never forget. MIL was there also, and it was her first time seeing a baby being born. I cried, DH cried, we all cried. It was undescribably awesome.
Hut-Two!!!
OK, David says I need to get out of the tub quick before the placenta delivers! So, I'm helped up with Aidan, we're wrapped with towels and led to the bed. I could feel the umbilical cord still dangling from inside of me to Aidan. In bed, I start shivering!!!! I'm freezing, but it feels so good to have Aidan in my arms. I think he warms me up as much as I warm him up! Kathy tells me to push one more time and with little effort, the placenta comes out. Compared to the pain from before, it actually feels kinda nice....
Aidan is awake and very alert. His eyes are open, at least for a little while and he catches little snatches of sleep here and there. He's perfect and beautiful.
The Mad Dash...
3:50am
I knew intuitively that Aidan would start his arrival in the early morning. This was the time I always seemed to wake up during my pregnancy.
Sure enough, my little gentleman started contractions at around 3:50am, as I slipped under the covers from my 3:30am nature call. I wasn't sure if they were contractions, because they just felt like little cramps. I started getting excited when I realized that in 3 hours, I had about 5 of these little bumps in the night. My MIL, who was staying with us, was probably awake by now, since she always woke up very early in the morning. I wanted to run out there and tell her, "He's coming", because we wondered excitedly for weeks how he would start his entrance into the world. However, DH was sleeping peacefully and I couldn't dream of telling anyone else before him. So try as I might, I did what my midwives suggested, "Get some rest in the beginning, you're going to need your strength for later".
7:30am
I did nap, but was so excited that I found myself waiting for hubby to wake up. When he did, I told him the good news. So, no, it wasn't like TV where I say, "Honey, it's time!!!" and we start a mad rush to the hospital. Instead, we knew that this was just the beginning of a long marathon. In fact, I still wasn't quite sure I was in labor because the cramps were so slight.
8:30am
MIL and I huddle around the breakfast table talking excitedly about baby's birth. This is it! The cramps were not going away and were getting a bit stronger. I can't believe today is the today! DH has just come out from his home office and has declared that he is going to work from home today. I happen to have my weekly appointment at Special Beginnings at 2pm today. MIL is visiting from Puerto Rico and doesn't drive a stick-shift, so either I'd have to drive or DH will. I'm glad he's staying home. It all seems excessive, because we don't know how far along I'll be at 2pm, but going to work seems like a big risk since it would take DH an hour to get home.
11:10am
My water has not broken yet, and I'm thankful. I've been praying that my water would not break until later because they say it's much more painful then. I call David, the midwife on duty to let him know I've been having contractions. The plan is for me to come to my regular appointment, unless something changes.
12:40pm
I am so happy that DH decided to stay home. There is no way I could have driven myself to the birthing center. My contractions are really coming together now. The neat thing is that I started with a strong contraction every 45 minutes and 2 very minor contractions every 15 minutes between the major contraction. The contractions started evening out so that they were all getting stronger and converging together.
The contractions are 3 minutes apart and are lasting 50-60 seconds. Owwwwwww.....
MIL and I have been timing each contraction and DH had to remind me that I didn't have to time each one, just get a time once each hour.... I couldn't help it though. I'm an Industrial Engineer by trade. Guess I'm used to time studies!!!
1:20pm
This is it. I can't hold out anymore for my regular appointment, so we're off!!! The birthing center is less than 10 minutes away and I probably had 3 contractions en route. I brought my labor bag, just in case.
1:40pm
"Hi, I'm here for my 40th week checkup and I'm also having contractions every 3 minutes!"
As I get examined, I hope and pray that I've dilated enough. I can't even think about them sending me back home. I'm ready to go!!! Thankfully, David checks and I'm at 5cm, already halfway there! Woo Hoo!!!
I'm here in my beautiful suite (bedroom #2) and getting started. I tried laying on my side, but that felt horrible. DH begins counterpressure massage as I kneel by the bed. This, I realize, is a God-send. Unfortunately, DH needed a cigarrette break, leaving poor Kathy, a petite nurse-midwife in training to attempt the counterpressure. DH was gone for one contraction and it was a killer. The counterpressure massage made a big difference! Ironically, I brought all kinds of snacks and a few bottles of Propel, since I didn't want to starve. One sip of the Propel and I made a mad dash to the restroom with the heaves! So, throughout my whole labor, I sipped water and ice chips instead! (I hate puking, so I was afraid to eat or drink). Kathy told me to take a sip of water after each contraction. I never had such a hard time drinking water!
5pm ish
The birthing chair at the birthing center is truly awesome. It is a wooden rocking chair, with props for your feet and a removable center piece in case baby is ready to come out! I actually started sitting in a simpler labor chair, but then I tried this rocker and it was wonderful. I found myself falling into a deep sleep between contractions due to the fatigue. I continued my breathing exercises to work through the contractions as they came. My MIL could not believe how relaxed I was. Kenya, my nurse, or Kathy, would come around every half hour to check our vitals. Invariably, someone would start a conversation with me, but when a contraction started, I just closed my eyes and breathed through it. It didn't matter if I was talking or if someone else was talking to me. I just shut out the world and focused on counting while I breathed. I couldn't count as high as 8, so I just counted to four twice, two sets for each inhale and two sets for each exhale. I had no sense of time. Later, my MIL recalled that I was contracting for 90 seconds and the time between contractions was like 45 seconds. Unbelievable! Those in between times felt great as I slumbered.
The amazing thing is that the contractions felt like a ball scrunching in my stomach. I will never forget that feeling. First the light squeeze, then it would get harder and harder. It was like my body was hugging the baby.
7pm ish
Woo Hoo!!! David says I'm 7 cm dilated and we can get the tub ready. I took his advice and waited until 7-9cm to get in the tub. That way, the water would soothe the pains of active labor. If I was in the tub sooner, I'd get relief from contractions, but wouldn't have help once active labor started. It was all a fog then, but as I remember, the warm water was filled, there were candles and the lights were off and the boom box was moved into the bathroom, playing my 4Him Walk On CD. Very soothing...
9cm
The contractions are getting fierce now, but my water has not broken. Kathy can actually see it when I contract! Strangely, she gets up and leaves the room. Then David gets up and leaves the room. Where are they going???? I need them now! I had just lived thru an excrucriating contraction and my midwives are abandoning me???
Well, when Kathy comes back, I seriously start thinking about getting my water bag lanced. I'm already 9cms and my contractions don't seem productive anymore. She says, "I think it's a good idea, in fact, I went to get the hook". She turns back to David, who returned, to get his opinion and he smiles like the Chesire Cat and shows me his hook! They were thinking the same thing!
The Wall
After my bag was lanced, this is where I hit "the wall". The pain was really excruciating now and I didn't think I could go anymore. Kathy and DH were very supportive. Everyone was cheering me on now. I started the low bear growl grunt and started to bear down. It was the most amazing feeling. My body just knew to push. It felt like an urge to really, really, really go to the bathroom. After a few contractions, I thought I was feeling "the burn", so I was trying not to push. I kept thinking, "OK, you can work through this". Then the real burn came. It knocked the wind out of me! Now, I know why they tell you to keep breathing!!!
I had felt baby's head before, and it felt like a hairy walnut. But now, when Kathy asked me if I wanted to touch baby's head, I was in too much pain. I just wanted to push and get him out!! I don't know how many contractions I had, but I estimate that I was in active labor for one and a half hours.
I felt baby come out and felt his arm hang on as he came out. (He was born with his fists in the air and still sleeps like that to this day!)
Aidan just glided out of me and into the tub. He was placed on my chest and he was the most amazing sight. I'll never forget all that beatiful dark hair and his little hand. My DH got to see Aidan come out and it's something he will never forget. MIL was there also, and it was her first time seeing a baby being born. I cried, DH cried, we all cried. It was undescribably awesome.
Hut-Two!!!
OK, David says I need to get out of the tub quick before the placenta delivers! So, I'm helped up with Aidan, we're wrapped with towels and led to the bed. I could feel the umbilical cord still dangling from inside of me to Aidan. In bed, I start shivering!!!! I'm freezing, but it feels so good to have Aidan in my arms. I think he warms me up as much as I warm him up! Kathy tells me to push one more time and with little effort, the placenta comes out. Compared to the pain from before, it actually feels kinda nice....
Aidan is awake and very alert. His eyes are open, at least for a little while and he catches little snatches of sleep here and there. He's perfect and beautiful.
The Mad Dash...
