Kates birth story

Tuesday March 6th 2018   I woke up at 5 to work and began to have some pressure waves and continued working to keep my mind off them.  They came and went, not consistent enough to time.  They continued for about 2 hours.  I began to get the kids ready for the day.  They slowly pittered off and stopped.  I had an appointment with my midwife that morning at 9:20.
I hadn't had my midwife check me at all yet because I didn't feel it was necessary, and I knew it would just discourage me.  I was 40+3 now so I figured I would have her check and strip my membranes at this appointment.   I was at a 3 and 80% which is my standard.  I was that with my last baby for a few weeks.  I was kind of guessing I would be right about that.  We talked about coming back friday before the weekend set in and check again and strip again just to see.

I tried to keep busy the next few days to keep my mind off of it.  Thursday I had set up an appointment with my chiropractor to see if that would help any.  I figured it couldn't hurt to be aligned a little bit better for the birth.  It could only help it go faster if I were perfectly aligned.

Friday March 9 2018  I woke up at 3 am to pressure waves again... they were about 15 min apart. I came out to the couch to lay/sit up and listen to my hypnobabies tracks.   I started work at 5 and worked my normal shift. They were still about 15 min apart.  It was a great distraction to be working and it made it go by fast.   They died down a bit when I started to get up and get the kids ready for school.  I got the two oldest off to school and headed into my appointment.  She checked again and said I was at a 4 and 90%.  That was very encouraging to me in just 3 days I had at least progressed that was great news.  She stripped my membranes again and I went on my way.   On my way home the pressure waves picked back up and I was getting excited.  I had talked to my midwife about how I felt that the pressure was in my back more than it should be.  She said that could be a sign that she is posterior.  So she showed me some positions to try to get her to flip over.  When I got home I tried out some of those positions to help assure that she would be the right way.
By 10:30 they were close enough to start timing them.  I was still just moving around playing with my 3 year old.  He was getting frustrated with me because I would have to stop playing his spot it game for a minute to have the pressure wave pass. 
11:30 am they were to 7-5 min apart lasting for about 1 minute.  This is when I let Shannon my Doula know things were picking up.  I got into our big tub and soaked for a little bit.  It felt good to sit and soak in the warm tub. I only stayed in about 20 min and then I got out and wanted to move around.   I started to have Jared lift and tuck my belly during the waves and it helped. I remembered doing this for Sawyers birth at first and it helped the pressure. 
12:00 I let my midwife know that they were about 3 minutes apart and that if they kept up we would be coming in the next few hours.  I just kept moving around and swaying through the waves.  Shannon showed up about 1 and she brought a rebozo wrap.  We tried a few positions with that and the most comfortable way for me was upright and she would tighten the wrap around my belly during the waves.  It was amazing the difference it made.    We continued to walk around my front room tightening and walking,  tightening and walking. 
Grandpa came over to be with the boys downstairs so they were out of the room.  Sawyer the littlest just wanted us to be with him.  We had to lure him away with popcorn. Hes a big mamas boy.  One of my goals/plans with this delivery was to stay home as long as possible.
2:30 pm they were about 2 min apart and getting a little more intense.  I talked to Shannon about getting in the shower to help.  We decided it would be better to go and get checked in at the hospital and then get in just because I felt that we were getting close.  So we took off.
The hospital was only 8 minutes away so it was a quick drive.   When we got to the hospital we didn't know exactly where to go but we made it to the admit desk and I just leaned on the chair as they were checking me in.  They were having some printer issues and we were getting very frustrated with them.  I was in some pretty good pressure waves and my water had broke.  I had some maternity leggings on and I could feel with each pressure wave a little fluid leak out and down.  I was afraid it was going to gush out and then they wouldn't be so worried about their printer.

3:30 pm They finally sent the L&D nurses down to get us and take us to our room.  We made it there and they talked about putting a saline lock in and I said I really don't want to. They said humm ok we can put it off for a minute and see how fast you progress.  They did check me real quick to see where I was at  I was at a 7.  I was partly discouraged that I wasn't at a 10 yet haha.   At the same time I thought ok that is good a 7 is getting close I was just at a 4 a few hours ago.
I tried leaning over a birthing ball on the bed and that just wasn't working well.  I said I want to get in the shower so I did.  I kept my laboring bra on and jumped in.  It felt wonderful.  Jared came in and stood outside the shower with me whispering my hypnobabies words to me to help me remember to relax and let my body do the work.  He was wonderful!!! 
For a while I let the water hit my back during the waves and was leaning into the corner of the back of the shower.  It was great.  At one point we turned the water off so we could check the baby and we couldn't hear the monitor with the water on.  When we turned it back on it was ice cold water and I screamed.  The midwife came running in saying is the baby coming out...... no.... just ice cold water in the middle of a pressure waves.   It was kind of nice to have a little funny/not so funny moment.    I decided to turn around after a while and let it hit the front take some pressure off there. 
It was amazing the feelings I could feel.  I really was feeling her move down and get engaged in my pelvis and I could tell when they were intensifying.   It was an amazing feeling.
It didn't seem like long after that I could tell it was transition and I told Shannon that I said this is it.  She is coming.  I think it was at this point someone said "do you want to go out?"  meaning out to the room.  I was stuck and said nope this will work.  I wasn't about to get out of the water it was still feeling pretty good. Plus gravity will help right?  I felt like I needed to put one leg up on the side of the tub to open up my pelvis a little more and it felt great.  I could literally feel her move down a little and the urge to push was too much I couldn't not push.   I would sway with the push urge and open up my pelvis a little more.  I almost wanted to squat but I knew at the point my body wasn't strong enough to support me in that position.  Looking back I love that I was able to listen to my body and do what felt good and it worked so well.  I kept feeling to see if I could feel her head and I could it was an inch or two up still but I could feel it.
It only seemed like it was 2-3 waves of the crowning phase and I heard the midwife say look at her hair.  I had had dreams that she had dark hair and lots of it.  So this was exhilarating to hear she really did have hair,  and that she was crowning.  I remember thinking this is the point where you think I can't do this anymore..... that is the moment you are just about there.  The next wave I could feel her head moving out and the midwife was doing something it felt like she was turning or putting pressure on her.  Turns out she was slowly helping the head come out to prevent tearing.   Then I hear her say to Jared come down here and you help catch her.  I don't want to drop her with how slippery she might be.  The next wave I feel her squish out.  It was so relieving to feel all of that pressure gone.  I turned to see Jared holding her and she was so clean, no blood or vernex.  She had a head full of dark hair.   Jared held her for a minute while they threw pillows and towels in the shower for me to sit.  They turned the shower off at this point I believe too. I just looked at Jared and Shannon and said Yes I did it.... again.... She is here.   She is finally here!!!

They passed the baby through my legs and helped me sit down and handed her to me so I could do skin to skin.  I remember looking at the bathtub and my legs thinking is that a normal amount of blood?  I had always been on the bed for my other 3 births.  They said yes that is normal just sit down and relax.

  I had wanted to keep the baby attached to the placenta until I had released it and take pictures of that. Its called a lotus birth, well partial because after the placenta is birthed we would take a few pictures and then cut the cord.   It was beautiful to sit there and hold her.
 After a bit maybe 10 min It started to be a little uncomfortable so I said can I go out to the bed and sit.  So they laid a path of towels and had me walk.  As I walked there was blood dripping down and going everywhere I said oh sorry. They said its the red carpet walk.  I said yes its going to be!!!   They were so good to me there. They were so accommodating.    I sat on the bed for a bit and she checked me out and after a while she said ok its been a half an hour and that is about what we like it to be before the placenta needs to come out.  Within a few minutes I felt the urge to push again and out it came.  it looked good and everything was good.  They took baby and placenta and took some pictures.  She then came and stitched me up I just had one little tear inside.

As soon as they cut her cord they brought her back to me and I held her for another good while.
 It was amazing.  I didn't end up needing the saline lock which I was sooo grateful for.  I didn't end up on the bed delivering like I had with the other three.  I was so proud of my self.  Everything went better than I had planned.  I couldn't have asked for a better birth.

Sawyers Birth Story

Sawyers Birth story all starts back at 20 weeks pregnant with him.  My OB’s nurse had called me and said “Dr. Z is retiring as of today.”   Wait WHAT?!?  I just saw her yesterday and she didn’t say anything.  She can’t retire mid pregnancy.  That means I have to find another dr.   I was not too happy with that.     

So my journey to find a new dr started.  I had always wanted a natural birth.  I “tried” with my first but I was induced and once I got that pitocen it was over.  My mom had always told me that out of her 7 births her natural one was by far the best.  So I went in search of a Midwife to have a more natural birth.  I interviewed two of them and the one I really wanted my husband Jared wasn’t to fond of because she was new, so she didn’t have much experience.  So I went with the second one.   I started to check out books at the library about different  methods of natural birth.  I also started talking to my friends that had had natural births.  Jared's cousin, Shannon had done hypnobabies and said I could borrow and look at all of her stuff.  I read though it and liked it.  She was also in training to become a Doula so she suggested the Doula that she was working with.  She said she was the best.    I had Talya the Doula come over and talk to me about what services she would provide as a Birth Doula.  This got me really excited and set on Hypnobabies and using her as a Doula.  Shannon Jared's cousin would also attend the meetings and birth.  Two for the price of one.  Great deal. 

I ordered my Hypnobabies home study course because I  was too far along by then to attend the classes.  I started listening and doing all of the class work.  I was skeptical at first that I would be able to do it.  As I listened and practiced in the next few weeks I felt like I was getting it and feeling more confident in my abilities. 

My previous two births I had gone over 40+4 and 41+1 so I was really really hoping I would go on my own this time since it was my third birth.  I started using EPO at 38 weeks and developed a rash on my hands after a few days so I stopped.  I was trying all of the natural methods to induce labor at 39 weeks because I figured it would help me not go too far past 40.  I was just prepared to go to 42 so I wouldn’t be disappointed when I actually would have to go that far.  I was bouncing on my birth ball all the time.  I was walking on the treadmill.    I really really wanted this baby to come on his own because I was going to birth this baby natural.    At my 39 week appointment she stripped my membranes but said they did not really strip well.   I went into my 40 week appointment and my midwife said he is looking rather large, I don’t want you to go too much farther.  I had previously told her a few times I am ready to go to 42 weeks before we medically induce.  So I said we can schedule a day but not until 41, Earlier than I had originally wanted.   She was starting to scare me with the big baby talk.   She stripped my membranes at this appointment and said they stripped a lot better than last week.   She said hopefully we’ll see you in the next 48 hours. I was at a 3 and 80%  I just laughed and said sure.   

I was feeling pretty discouraged at this point.  Just the morning before I had a breakdown talking to Jared about how bad I wanted this natural birth and how I had worked so hard to get it.   I didn’t feel like it was going to happen.  So when I started with some small short contractions on the way home to pick up the other kids, my hopes began to pick up.   I called and talked to my Doula and she said that this midwife is known to want to induce early and the ultrasound measurements can be bigger than the real baby.  So I prayed and really thought about the induction date,  I decided I was ok to go to 41+3 so I called my midwife back up and told her.  The kids played as I bounced on my birth ball and timed my pressure waves they were all over, not really consistent at all.  Still my hopes were up because I was having some pressure waves I had never experienced these before.  They were on and off all day.  We went to eat at a local sandwich shop and I felt like people were staring at me thinking “Man when is that lady going to have her baby…. Or…. Is it twins?”   I felt Large.   

So during dinner I continued to time the pressure waves they were 5 min apart but not strong or anything so I was still hopeful.    I said to Jared, “Lets go over to the church so I can walk around the gym and hopefully get these going somewhere”  So we did and after about 15 min of walking around they totally stopped and went away.   I kept walking for 30 more min in hopes they would come back.   They never did.  I went to bed feeling very disappointed.  I woke up at about 1 am with terrible pressure waves and I just thought it was a bad dream.  The second one I sat up and thought I can’t lay here anymore.  I came out to the front room and turned on my hypnobabies tracks and started relaxing.  I started timing the pressure waves and they started out about 5-6 min apart. I just relaxed through them.  I said if they go an hour consistently I will wake Jared up.  No sense in him waking up for a false alarm.   

After an hour I went in and woke him up and said “ we are having a baby today dear”  He woke up really quick after that.  We packed the last few things we needed and I called Talya our Doula.  She said whenever you want me to come over I will.  So I said ok and I continued to labor here in my front room.  They got to be 3 minutes apart and I called her back after only 30 min and said ok I’m ready for you to come.   So we also called my father in law to come and be here when the kids woke up.  My father in law got here first and my daughter came up stairs and wanted me to hold her. I gave her a hug and said you can go sleep in my bed.  It was about 4 am at this point.   When Talya got here she said we can go to the hospital whenever you feel like you need to.  So we waited a little bit and then Shannon showed up and I decided it was time.  The pressure waves were only about 3 min apart at this point.   They weren’t painful at all they were just that, pressure.  We drove to the hospital and they were right when they said any little bump on the road was 100 times worse than when you’re experiencing a normal pressure wave.   I would say to Jared “slow down just a bit”  We finally made it and we walked into the hospital up to L&D.  They put me in triage and checked me I was a 4. Lying down on that bed was so uncomfortable. I just wanted to stand up.   So the nurse said walk around for a bit and we will call your midwife and let her know you are here.    We walked around for 30 min and during the pressure waves Talya would lift and tuck where she would “lift” my belly up, it was extremely relieving.  It almost took the pressure away. 

                                 

  After walking for a bit they wanted to check again to see if I could be admitted into the natural room.  During all of this the pressure waves were still 2 min apart we didn’t understand why we couldn’t just get in.  These weren’t going to stop they were only going to get closer and stronger.  I was at a 5.  The nurse wanted to get an IV in my hand just in case we needed it later. I didn’t want it but they said they needed to.  So after three times of trying my midwife showed up and said no stop she doesn’t need it.  Thank goodness because it hurt so much when she was trying to get it in. 

The midwife also said go ahead and go in the room the tub is full and ready for you.  That was music to my ears, this is the part I had been looking forward to the most.  I had wanted a water birth but none of the hospitals around us allowed them.  You can only labor in them and then get out for the actual delivery part.   So to labor in the tub was half of my dream birth.   Once I stepped in the tub I was so relaxed and in heaven.  While I sat in the tub Talya put a wet towel over my belly and Shannon would poor the warm water over it .  It was so relaxing.  I stayed in the tub for about an hour and the nurse said I was starting to get hot.  So they put cool rags over my forehead and chest.

                                        

 I didn’t want to get out because it was so relaxing and I could hardly feel the pressure waves.  After about 10 more minutes they had me get out to check me and cool off.  I was at a 9.5/10 and fully effaced.  My midwife said the bag of water was bulging and talked to me about breaking my water.  She said he would most likely come quick after we broke the water.  So I said ok.  So as I was walking around the bed to get onto it so she could break my water I was having pressure waves . 

                            

  The midwife squeezed my hips together and it felt great it relieved the pressure.  I crawled onto the bed and she broke the water and she said ok it’s a little bit stained with meconium so she proceeded to tell me what would happen when he was actually born if he had swallowed some of the meconium.  I had told her I did not want to labor in the bed but she suggested I turn around and lay over the back of the bed for a while.  It was a good thing because the pressure waves were much stronger after she broke my water.  I was gripping onto that bed so hard.  I had felt very in control of the pressure waves until this point.  This was a different kind of pain  I could feel him moving down and it hurt.  I had a hard time trying to relax and let my body do the work.  This is where I felt like I lost my hypnobabies relaxation. I began to think I can’t do this…  I would moan in low tones like Talya had talked about and I was amazed at how my body naturally pushed when I would do that.  There were some where I would go higher pitched because the pain was so strong.  

Talya kept reminding me low tones keep them low.  I could feel the baby coming down and it was a wonderful feeling. I had never felt that with the others due to having the epidural.  I loved feeling it but at the same time there was so much pressure.  After what only seemed like 10 minutes of hanging onto the bed , the midwife suggested I turn around so she could see why he wasn’t coming down any further.  So I sat down on the bed, the last way I wanted to labor.  Jared and Talya I believe grabbed my legs and helped hold them up.  I continued to groan,  he was right there.  I had a few times where I would scream not really a scream but a high pitched moan if you will.  I remember Talya saying Lara look at me…. So I did…. You can do this!    I could feel his head crown and WOW.  I had heard the burning ring of fire sensation but now I knew it was true.  I could feel myself stretching and she said ok slow down.  There was just a very very strong urge to push almost like I couldn’t stop it.  I felt his glorious head come out and it was such a release of pain.  I knew I had to get his shoulders out but I knew that was nothing compared to the head.  So I waited until I felt that urge to push again and I grunted in low moans.  Out came his body and I remember distinctly the midwife holding him up in the air.  He was all sprawled out and I looked over to Jared who was standing next to me.  “I did it”  I couldn’t believe it. I was so amazed at myself for actually doing it.  My biggest fear is that I wouldn’t be able to do it and I would be disappointed in myself.  I did it. I had birthed my baby naturally with no pain meds or anything.  

 I saw Shannon standing there next to Jared and she was almost in tears.  The midwife placed him on my chest and we tried to get my dress I was wearing open so he could be fully skin to skin and he had pooped all over me.  So we struggled to take off the dress.  He just laid there for a bit, the midwife was suctioning out his mouth.  He hadn’t swallowed any of the meconium so he got to stay with me.                      

The next part is kind of a blur.  I remember holding my sweet baby and the nurse came up and said I am going to give you this shot and put it into my thigh.  I didn’t know what it was and I was not warned of this shot.  Apparently it’s when you don’t have pitocen they give you this to help contract your uterus back up and get the placenta out.  After I delivered  the placenta I felt like the midwife sweeping my uterus like part of it didn’t come out. I am not sure to this day what happened there.  

She then stitched me up I had a 2^nd degree tear.  I had that also with my previous two children.   Then began the pushing of the uterus and it hurt I guess before I had always had the epidural so I couldn’t feel it as much.  This was almost more pain the the actual birthing part. 

I sat with my baby boy on my chest for about an hour and he started to root around so we started trying to nurse him and he latched pretty quick.  He has been great ever since.  After he nursed they took him and weighed him  8 lbs 11 oz.  and 22 inches long. 

I felt so great knowing that I did it all on my own and it was only 6 hours from the time I woke up with  regular contractions until he was born at 8:28 am.  I loved being able to feel it all happen and be in control.   I will for sure be birthing the rest of my children this way if not in water.