A quick re-cap of the pregnancy: I was planning a home water birth w/ a midwife. Everything was super great until 30 weeks along. The midwife did the glucose screening and I failed big time. It kinda freaked us both out (the possibility of being on insulin and stuff). So, I switched to an Ob. I managed the gestational diabetes w/ diet and exercise so, it wasn't a big issue after all. But, this particular Ob was concerned that I might have some funky blood clotting disorder because of the two miscarriages I had last year. One of the three blood tests done for this came back a tiny bit elevated. His protocal was to put me on blood thinners (injections 3X's a day in the belly). And he would not allow me to VBAC (vaginal birth after a C-Section) and would not allow me to go past 38 weeks. I followed his protocal for a few weeks but, my gut just wasn't at ease with him. I switched Obs at 35 weeks. THIS new doc was totally laid back but, still on top of my issues. I still had to continue the injections (since I had already started the therapy) but, he thought it was overkill. He was totally on board w/ me going natural, VBACing, and having the least amount of medical intervention possible. We did decide to induce labor because he was leaving town. I wanted to make sure he was my doc because I knew other doctors would not be as laid back with my issues as he was. So.....
APRIL 16, 2008
Our induction was scheduled for 7:30 AM. We arrived a few minutes late (after fighting traffic all the way to the hospital.) Upon arrival the nurses informed us that several women in labor had shown up the night before plus the other inductions..so, we would have to wait a while. Which I was totally bummed about. Once you get all siked up --- it is incredibly hard to wait around. (But, God had a purpose for this wait.)
The pitocen got started around 11:30 AM. The nurses started it very slowly since I have a scar on my uterus from a previous C-section. They didn't want to blast my uterus w/ hard and heavy contractions right out of the gate. So, every hour they would come to turn the pit up a couple of notches. The contractions were nice and gentle. I didn't have to breathe through them much. Sitting on the birthing ball felt nice and the rocking chair. It was going so gentle it felt like it was taking a long time.
The OB came in around 1:00 PM and broke the bag of waters. Still, the intensity of the contractions didn't seem to really pick up. The nurses continued to increase the pitocen.
The strangest thing happened at this point. My original midwife, Dinah, came through my hospital room door. She does not deliver at the hospital so, it surprised me. She had another woman in labor in the next room over, who was trying to deliver at home. Her baby was coming footling breech so, she had to transport to the hospital. I was excited to know that my midwife was just in the room over -- knowing she was near brought a sense of comfort. Plus, I could sorta pretend I was getting to deliver "at home w/ a midwife"...my ultimate dream of a birth journey.
Once the pitocen was increased up to the measurement of "16" (we started at "2") -- I wanted to stand up and rock back and forth. At this point I was breathing through the contractions and they felt more intense and very "edgy and raw". Standing made me feel like I was allowing my body to do its job more efficiently. I just kept focusing on relaxing all of my muscles and envisioning opening up.
The nurse came in to check my progress (I came in dialated at a 3 and had stayed that way until this point, which was discouraging) --- she checked around 5:30 pm. I had to leave my standing up/sitting on the birthing ball position and lay down on the bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow I began to cry with absolutely no control. (I don't like the feeling of not being in control.) I knew in my head that this was the beginning of the transition phase of labor. But, when you hit transition your thoughts are not rational (and you know that at the time, too.) The nurse reported that I was between a 6 and 7 and fully effaced. Baby was heading down, but, still had a ways to come.
I was able to sit up, still crying. My awesome doula kept saying, "No more laying down. The bed sucks. We won't have to lay down ever again." At this point the amount of fear that struck me was incredible. I knew going in that fear would be my issue to over come. Some of this just comes w/ the hormonal flux of this stage of labor. Still I tried very hard to concentrate on relaxing and going w/ my body.
In just a few minutes out came the loud, intense screams of baby getting closer and time to push. I was still sitting in the bed w/ my legs kinda crossed. I didn't want to move at all. But, the nurse broke the bed apart. The lower part of the bed came down so, it was kinda like I was sitting on a bench or a step (kinda like football stand bleachers.) I felt more in control physically. But, way out of control every other way.
The nurses and OB heard the beginnings of my "jungle mama natural labor" calls. And rushed in to get ready to have a baby.
It is the most amazingly intense feeling. Not pain, really, just nature takes a hold of your body and you lose all control. You are aware and I can remember everything. MY MIDWIFE came running in, too. And she was able to stand on my right side during the birth of Raychel. And my doula was on my left side. Neither of them left me the entire time (which, was short but, felt WAY long at the moment.) My OB is so incredibly cool. He just stood back and let us (midwife, doula and me) work together. I remember them saying, "Breathe your baby down, curl around your baby to push her out, low tones (which really did help way more than the uncontrolled high pitch wailing I was doing on my own), you are brave, you are doing this, your baby is almost here." Which to this I replied, "No, I'm not brave, I'm a wuss. I can't do this. I want her out and y'all are lying to me...she is not coming."
The nurse and doula decided to install the squat bar to the bed. Which was wonderful. I was able to reach up and get some leaverage as I pushed.
Then, the most amazing, intoxicating feeling in all the world. My baby's head was crowning. I announced, "I feel her -- she is here." Then, one final push and there she was (at 6:18 pm). Immediately, everything changed. Raychel and I did this all on our own with absolutely no drugs for pain. God had blessed this delivery and given us the birth journey that I had desired...even better.
She immediately went skin to skin w/ me. My OB patiently waited while we fell in love with each other.
Everyone was impressed -- she ended up being a posterior baby (she was born looking up instead of looking down) which, is harder to deliver. I really only pushed for around 15 min -- which was impressive for a posterior baby.
I did have a 2nd degree tear which, is probably because I didn't let my body push the baby out after I felt her crowning. I kinda blasted her out. So, while baby was getting weighed and measured the doc had to do some sewing. Which was uncomfortable...but, my sister talked me through this.
I had an awesome birthing team. I couldn't have done this without them. My doula, Elizabeth, my midwife, my awesome laid back OB, the labor nurse, my mom & sister, and Steve ~~~ all played an essential part in this whole experience.
Raychel and I (and everyone in the room) felt God's presence. We all knew who had orchestrated this birth story because none of us could have planned it any better. I don't have words to describe that day, that moment. Every word I find just isn't right and doesn't do the journey justice. I prayed God would unleash the kind of power it took to blow down the walls of Jericho --- I wanted to feel that kind of amazing power. And He did -- I felt the amazing power of God unleashed in my body. I had glimpses of my angel babies that are in Heaven helping Raychel's journey to earth. Then, when life appeared --- I was intoxicated with love, grace, pride ... emotion at its rawest. As I picked up the new life and placed her at my breast -- my heart was overcome with God's amazing mercy. He has given me a birth journey and a life that I am way not worthy of.
Thank you all for praying so hard for us.
Kristi
APRIL 16, 2008
Our induction was scheduled for 7:30 AM. We arrived a few minutes late (after fighting traffic all the way to the hospital.) Upon arrival the nurses informed us that several women in labor had shown up the night before plus the other inductions..so, we would have to wait a while. Which I was totally bummed about. Once you get all siked up --- it is incredibly hard to wait around. (But, God had a purpose for this wait.)
The pitocen got started around 11:30 AM. The nurses started it very slowly since I have a scar on my uterus from a previous C-section. They didn't want to blast my uterus w/ hard and heavy contractions right out of the gate. So, every hour they would come to turn the pit up a couple of notches. The contractions were nice and gentle. I didn't have to breathe through them much. Sitting on the birthing ball felt nice and the rocking chair. It was going so gentle it felt like it was taking a long time.
The OB came in around 1:00 PM and broke the bag of waters. Still, the intensity of the contractions didn't seem to really pick up. The nurses continued to increase the pitocen.
The strangest thing happened at this point. My original midwife, Dinah, came through my hospital room door. She does not deliver at the hospital so, it surprised me. She had another woman in labor in the next room over, who was trying to deliver at home. Her baby was coming footling breech so, she had to transport to the hospital. I was excited to know that my midwife was just in the room over -- knowing she was near brought a sense of comfort. Plus, I could sorta pretend I was getting to deliver "at home w/ a midwife"...my ultimate dream of a birth journey.
Once the pitocen was increased up to the measurement of "16" (we started at "2") -- I wanted to stand up and rock back and forth. At this point I was breathing through the contractions and they felt more intense and very "edgy and raw". Standing made me feel like I was allowing my body to do its job more efficiently. I just kept focusing on relaxing all of my muscles and envisioning opening up.
The nurse came in to check my progress (I came in dialated at a 3 and had stayed that way until this point, which was discouraging) --- she checked around 5:30 pm. I had to leave my standing up/sitting on the birthing ball position and lay down on the bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow I began to cry with absolutely no control. (I don't like the feeling of not being in control.) I knew in my head that this was the beginning of the transition phase of labor. But, when you hit transition your thoughts are not rational (and you know that at the time, too.) The nurse reported that I was between a 6 and 7 and fully effaced. Baby was heading down, but, still had a ways to come.
I was able to sit up, still crying. My awesome doula kept saying, "No more laying down. The bed sucks. We won't have to lay down ever again." At this point the amount of fear that struck me was incredible. I knew going in that fear would be my issue to over come. Some of this just comes w/ the hormonal flux of this stage of labor. Still I tried very hard to concentrate on relaxing and going w/ my body.
In just a few minutes out came the loud, intense screams of baby getting closer and time to push. I was still sitting in the bed w/ my legs kinda crossed. I didn't want to move at all. But, the nurse broke the bed apart. The lower part of the bed came down so, it was kinda like I was sitting on a bench or a step (kinda like football stand bleachers.) I felt more in control physically. But, way out of control every other way.
The nurses and OB heard the beginnings of my "jungle mama natural labor" calls. And rushed in to get ready to have a baby.
It is the most amazingly intense feeling. Not pain, really, just nature takes a hold of your body and you lose all control. You are aware and I can remember everything. MY MIDWIFE came running in, too. And she was able to stand on my right side during the birth of Raychel. And my doula was on my left side. Neither of them left me the entire time (which, was short but, felt WAY long at the moment.) My OB is so incredibly cool. He just stood back and let us (midwife, doula and me) work together. I remember them saying, "Breathe your baby down, curl around your baby to push her out, low tones (which really did help way more than the uncontrolled high pitch wailing I was doing on my own), you are brave, you are doing this, your baby is almost here." Which to this I replied, "No, I'm not brave, I'm a wuss. I can't do this. I want her out and y'all are lying to me...she is not coming."
The nurse and doula decided to install the squat bar to the bed. Which was wonderful. I was able to reach up and get some leaverage as I pushed.
Then, the most amazing, intoxicating feeling in all the world. My baby's head was crowning. I announced, "I feel her -- she is here." Then, one final push and there she was (at 6:18 pm). Immediately, everything changed. Raychel and I did this all on our own with absolutely no drugs for pain. God had blessed this delivery and given us the birth journey that I had desired...even better.
She immediately went skin to skin w/ me. My OB patiently waited while we fell in love with each other.
Everyone was impressed -- she ended up being a posterior baby (she was born looking up instead of looking down) which, is harder to deliver. I really only pushed for around 15 min -- which was impressive for a posterior baby.
I did have a 2nd degree tear which, is probably because I didn't let my body push the baby out after I felt her crowning. I kinda blasted her out. So, while baby was getting weighed and measured the doc had to do some sewing. Which was uncomfortable...but, my sister talked me through this.
I had an awesome birthing team. I couldn't have done this without them. My doula, Elizabeth, my midwife, my awesome laid back OB, the labor nurse, my mom & sister, and Steve ~~~ all played an essential part in this whole experience.
Raychel and I (and everyone in the room) felt God's presence. We all knew who had orchestrated this birth story because none of us could have planned it any better. I don't have words to describe that day, that moment. Every word I find just isn't right and doesn't do the journey justice. I prayed God would unleash the kind of power it took to blow down the walls of Jericho --- I wanted to feel that kind of amazing power. And He did -- I felt the amazing power of God unleashed in my body. I had glimpses of my angel babies that are in Heaven helping Raychel's journey to earth. Then, when life appeared --- I was intoxicated with love, grace, pride ... emotion at its rawest. As I picked up the new life and placed her at my breast -- my heart was overcome with God's amazing mercy. He has given me a birth journey and a life that I am way not worthy of.
Thank you all for praying so hard for us.
Kristi
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