Lindsey's Birth of Joshua

Lindsey's Birth of Joshua

It all started Sunday the 22nd. We went to the mall that day and walked all over for a couple hours. I felt good besides a back ache from all the walking. We got home and I then walked the dog. I was feeling really sore after that. Later that evening Adam and I were watching True Blood that had recorded earlier. It was around 10:15pm and I started to feel contractions. I asked Adam to move from the couch to the chair so I could lay down. They started to get regular and were starting to hurt. I decided to finish watching True Blood another time and went to shower to see if the contractions would go away. That has worked in the past.

After the shower the contractions were still there. We decided to go to bed. I laid there for a couple hours trying to time the contractions but they weren't very regular (some 8mins, then 12mins, then 4mins etc) They were about 3-4 on the pain scale. I couldn't sleep through them. I got up and walked around, sat in the chair, sat on the floor. I tried different things to see if they would go away. I took yet another shower.

I decided around 1:30am to call Peggy (midwife) and let her know that I thought I was in labor. I told her my signs and how I had been loosing pieces of my plug the pass couple days and told her about the contractions I was having since about 10pm. She told me to try and get some rest and if anything changes to call her back and she'll get her things ready and be on her way. I woke Adam up at this point (not an easy thing to do lol) I told him I was still having contractions and I called Peggy. I told him to get up so I can prepare the bed. I had to change the sheets and put the plastic down to protect it. He got up and we prepared the bed.

I thought it would be a good idea to start filling the birthing pool at this point. I was pretty convinced that this was REAL labor. It took us awhile to figure out where to hook the hose up because the adapter that came with the pool didn't fit on our bathroom sink. We got it hooked up where the hot water for our washer comes out. Once the pool was filled I called Peggy back. At this point my contractions were regular at 8mins apart and a 4-5 on the pain scale. I felt at that time that if I were having a hospital birth that would be the point where I would want to go in. Peggy said she would be on her way. That was around 2:30am (I think).....

In the meantime, we are going around the house making sure everything is in place and ready for the birth. There wasn't much to do but Adam did a few dishes in the sink and I made sure all the blankets and Joshua's outfit were downstairs and ready for him. Peggy arrived around 4am. Not long after she arrived, Heidi (student midwife) arrived. Peggy checked my cervix and I was only a fingertip dilated and about 80% effaced. I was so disappointed. I thought it wasn't the real deal and that I called her for nothing and that things would slow down and eventually stop. I was 2cm dilated when labor started with Jordyn. So things were moving slow obviously. Peggy had another mom in labor so she decided to go to her since she was moving faster than I was and Heidi would stay with me.

Another midwife Mysti came not long after Peggy left. So I always had a midwife or student midwife with me. It was about 5:30am and I decided to try and get some sleep since I would need the energy later. I feel asleep for almost an hour. I woke up and noticed my contractions were farther apart....I was thinking oh just great things are stopping...then my water broke! It was 6:40am. I got up and went to the bathroom, told Heidi I think my water just broke. I don't remember my water breaking with Jordyn and we are not sure when it happened either so that was a new experience for me. It just felt like I peed my pants.  

I knew at that point things were not going to stop. I was so excited! I ate a little breakfast (cereal) I got into the water for a little bit. I got out of the water, walked around. I could do whatever I felt like doing. It was great! Mysti checked my cervix I think around 11am but not exactly sure on that. I was 3-4cm dilated. Things were moving but slowly. I went outside and walked up and down my street a couple times. I basically walked during my whole labor. Around 1pm (I think) Peggy came back. The other mom had her baby at around 9 in the morning. I was still in labor....not very far either. I wanted to get back in the water again. My contractions were 3mins apart for a few hours now. They were a 5-6 on the pain scale. I could talk through them and no one could tell when I was having a contraction.

Peggy checked my cervix again at around 2pm and it was 5-6cm. I got into the water and stayed there for 2 hours. Adam had to keep bringing boiling water down to keep the water hot. Him and Heidi would bucket it out and add hot to it. The water was at 96-98 degrees. Around 4pm we all started to get hungry. The last time I ate was around noon (turkey and cheese sandwich). I suggested Peggy and Heidi go try a PHO place right down the street. They would bring Adam and I something back.

Well.....not long after they walked out the door my contractions got intense. They were 2-3mins apart but much much more painful. I couldn't talk through them. I wanted nothing but silence during them. I shushed Adam at one point lol. I started feeling a lot of pressure like I wanted to push. Well I did what most women do while in labor....I had a bowel movement. I got out of the water and went to the toilet and Adam so lovingly cleaned out the water.

I was on the toilet and having major contractions. The worse pain ever felt in my life. I  told Adam to call Peggy and tell her to come back now! The time stamp on the phone says he called her at 4:50pm. They get back at about 5pm. I'm still on the toilet having contractions and clinching anything in my reach during them because the pain hurt so bad. I think I almost pulled the towel rack off the wall. She checked my cervix and I was 7cm. I was thinking OH CRAP only 7cm! I have to deal with this pain for an hour at least! I had one more contraction on the toilet then I got up and went back into the water.

contraction face! beginning of transition...it hurt like hell don't be fooled lol

Next contraction I said HE'S COMING! I got on my knees instinctively. I had said I wanted to squat when pushing but when the time came I just got on my knees with my arms hanging over the edge of the pool. It just felt like the right position. I pushed with the first contraction. I could almost touch his head. I waited for the next contraction and pushed hard. His head came out and I was touching it! I pushed again I felt his shoulders come out...one more little push and he's out! 5:09pm on August 23rd 2010. All during 1 contraction. I reach down and pull him up out of the water and onto my chest. It was so amazing!I'm like OMG I just did what! haha! I can't believe I had my homebirth!

I couldn't believe I just delivered my son at home in the water! Joshua needed an extra minute to start breathing. I pushed him out so fast his lungs didn't get a chance to squeeze the extra fluid out. I was worried during that minute because he was starting to turn gray. Peggy told Heidi to get her oxygen ready but then he cried and started breathing so he didn't need it. Peggy checked his heart and lungs and things were going well. We sat there in the water and waited for the cord to stop pulsating(about 10mins) before Adam cut it. Then I moved out of the water and into my bed. I began to breastfeed immediately. He fed for about an hour and then I needed to deliver the placenta. I handed Joshua to Adam and I got in the squatting position and I pushed the placenta out. It was just over an hour later that it came out, ending labor.

In total I was in labor for 18 hours if you count the extra hour for the placenta to be delivered, 17 hours if you count just to Joshua being born. Joshua was then weighed and measured and checked over again. He was 6lbs 2oz and 19in long. A tiny little guy but perfectly healthy!

We brought Jordyn into the bedroom to meet her new baby brother and she was so excited! She just kept saying "baby!". Peggy cleaned me up and checked me over. I didn't tear or needed stitches (just a couple "skid marks"). My bleeding was normal. I was doing great! About 2 hours after the birth the midwives left. We were a family of four now at home in our own bed just as comfortable as can be! I am completely happy with my home water birth experience! I wouldn't trade it for anything or change anything about it.

I definitely do not think I would have had just as great of an experience in a hospital. I would have been pushed to have Pitocin most likely by how slow things were progressing after my water had broken. I wouldn't have pushed on my knees which probably reduced my risk of tearing. It just wouldn't have been the same. My recovery was much faster than with Jordyn. I healed in 5 days! I believe having a natural birth has something to do with how well you recover. We don't plan on having anymore children but if it ever does happen I would definitely choose home water birth again!

am tired but oh so happy!

Comments

[Scherrill]

Thanks for sharing your very sweet birth with us!