Jessilyn's Birth of Mikaela Ann

I took a nap while Briana was taking a nap, which I normally NEVER feel the need to nap. I have always had tons of energy throughout this pregnancy. I woke up at 3:00 pm and felt my stomach muscles tightening. I thought that maybe they were contractions.  I told John that we HAD to go to my favorite restaurant (Khan's Mongolian BBQ) one last time to eat before the baby came. We headed there, ate and left. We brought our girlfriends Angie & Abby home (they drove with us) and on the way back home (about 7:30 pm) is when I actually started feeling the contractions with the tightening of my muscles. 

We got home and I drank a glass of my Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, which I drank religiously throughout my third trimester.  I sat and surfed the web looking for a name for our daughter that I knew would soon be born while sipping my tea and rocking in my recliner.  At this point the contractions were about 12 minutes apart. At about 11:45 pm I thought I should probably go try to lay down and sleep as much as I can before I won’t be able to anymore. I laid on my left side while listening to my labor play list and fell asleep for about 45 minutes.  I woke up and timed some contractions and at this point they were about 8 minutes apart. John and I laid in bed while he did counter pressure on my lower back to help with the back labor and gave me a great foot rub. At about 1:30 am I called my mother and told her I wasn’t sure if this was it, but to come anyway.The contractions were about 6 minutes apart. She said she was packing her things and would be on her way.

I just wasn’t sure if this was it, so I called the on call midwife at 2:00 am. She said that I was talking through my contractions just fine, so it would probably be a while and they may even stop all together. I assured her that I thought it would be tonight and she said she would let the nurses know that I would be in before 6 am. I told John to listen for Briana while I took a shower. I drained the hot water (about thirty minutes) and then got out and proceeded to get dressed. At this point, things were really moving right along.

I started getting the shakes and nauseated. I thought it was just the temperature change and disregarded the classic signs of being in transition. I tried to get dressed, but the contractions were coming so close together at this point. I told John to start the truck, because it HAD to be warm. He insisted I had to get a shirt on to go anywhere. I said I will ‘effin’ go topless - just get the gosh damn truck warm. He ran around getting all the last things ready. I crawled down the hallway (standing up was just not an option at this point).

I went into the bathroom and sat on the toilet. As soon as I stood up, I started to bear down. I thought there was no freaking way I could possibly be pushing at this point.  My mom just walked in and said, “Oh my gosh Jessilyn! You need to go now.” I agreed. All of a sudden I could feel her head coming. I thought, “Shit, this cannot be happening this fast!”  I checked myself and her head was RIGHT there.

My water still hadn’t broken at this point, unless it did in the shower and I didn’t realize it. I told John there was no way we could make it to the hospital and to call 911. He didn’t believe me and said to just stop pushing and he will drive very fast (15-20 minutes away). I assured him there was no way we would make it and her head was coming out now. He got a flashlight while on the phone with dispatch and looked and yelled, “Holy shit! Her head is coming out. You need to hurry!” 

I continued to spontaneously bear down while in the hallway outside of the bathroom (carpet seemed more appealing than cold tile) while squatting.  I was catching her head in my left hand. All I could think was “I am going to tear.” John helped with perineal massage (the best he could) from when he saw the midwife do it when I had Briana. The head was out and the police officers arrived. Then two minutes later, the paramedics arrived. Curt (paramedic) delivered her shoulders and the rest of her body. Curt and Chris (paramedics) were going to cut the umbilical cord right away, but I wouldn’t let them and educated them about delayed cord clamping.

I nursed her immediately and I unfortunately was unable to wait until the cord stopped pulsating. Apparently, their goal is to get mom to the hospital before the placenta is delivered because of possible hemorrhaging, etc. I still was able to wait ten minutes before John cut the cord. I was then put on a stretcher with little bean in a thermal blanket (it was negative digits in MN).

We got to the hospital and I was the talk the WHOLE time I was there. Every one kept apologizing and saying sorry like it was a traumatizing experience. I LOVED it. It was the BEST experience I have ever had. We were given a good bill of health and we were never really even bothered by staff (not sure if that was because I delivered at home or not - with DD I was bugged every hour). We were let go the next day and she has been nursing like a champ since she came out.  Sorry this is so long - I love to blab ;) Next time, I am just planning a home water birth, because I still want my water birth dangit!!

Mikaela Ann    

2/9/11

7 lb 9.4 oz

20 inches long

Apgar: 8/10

Just born

A little oxygen - just in case

Getting ready to take an ambulance ride in a thermal blanket

Our first ambulance ride

In the hospital

Big sister Briana with Mikaela

Tags: home birth, unassisted home birth, accidental home birth, accidential unassisted home birth, birth stories, home birth stories, natural birth stories, birth stories with pictures, free birth, natural birth stories, natural birth stories with pictures, unassisted birth stories

tags: home birth, unassisted home birth, accidental home birth, accidential unassisted home birth, birth stories, home birth stories, natural birth stories, birth stories with pictures, free birth, natural birth stories, natural birth stories with pictures, unassisted birth stories