TBA

It all started this morning at 1:07 am when my water broke.

Actually that's a complete lie.  "Labor" has been going on for days really, but because I always deliver late I was looking forward to weeks of on-and-off contractions.  Add to that the weird 48-hour virus that ran threw our house, taking us down one at a time this week.  I was excited.  By which I mean I was dreading it but my mom had already bought her plane tickets for June 9th and my calendar is full of swim lessons, baseball, T-ball, family dinners and other beginning of summer festivities so baby was just going to have to wait.

I was sick Tuesday and Wednesday and woke up several times each night thinking I was either dying or going into labor.  I then reminded myself that 1. I have late babies and 2. my water breaking is always the start of labor.  I rolled over and went back to sleep.  Thursday the off-and-on contractions started.  Nothing regular but intense enough to notice them and not be able to label them Braxton-Hicks.

Friday Greg and I took our last trip to the temple, which is nearly 2-hours away.  I still couldn't breath from the virus earlier in the week and was having some harder contractions all the way down.  I spent the 2 hours planning how and where I would give birth in the temple and contemplating names I'd have to give a baby born in the temple.  Luckily, we didn't have to put my plan into play.

Saturday I woke up to my mucus plug falling out.  I was starting to realize that this baby might not be as late as I thought as first, but also tried not to get too excited, because you never know and the day had to go on.  Greg stayed home with the little two so they could continue to recover, while I took Rex to his game, ran home, switched out Rex for Henry, went visiting teaching, and blah blah blah.  It was a packed day.   All while having well-spaced but noticeably intense contractions.  We put the kids in bed around 9:30 and put the last few things in the hospital bag, checked my list again and commented to Greg, "Well, that's it.  Everything is packed." At 10 pm, Greg started making fun of me for doing dishes so late, but we had invited his parents and brother over for dinner on Sunday and I was just trying to get a head start on things.  I fell sleep on the couch sometime around 11:30 while trying to prepare my lesson for Young Women's.  I finally got in bed around midnight.

At 1:07 am I woke up to myself flying out of bed, punching Greg and noticing a huge puddle on my bed.  My water hadn't just released like it had with the last two--it gushed.  A lot.  Greg asked if I was sure I hadn't just peed the bed.  Um, yeah, I'm sure.  We both changed, called the neighbor to come sleep with the kids, and the midwife to meet us at the birth center.  We were gone by 1:26 and arrived at the birth center without hitting any traffic (which was a concern if my water had broken in the later morning like it had with the last two).  This was actually a fairly pleasant drive, 1. because there was no traffic and 2. because my contractions were still at the same intensity level as they had been the previous two days.  It was nice driving while not in active labor.  By the time we arrived I was questioning my decision to rush to the birth center.  I hated the idea of just hanging out in that little room with nothing happening.  

I unpacked the bag, changed (again) and not knowing what else to do, decided I'd take a nap since I'd only had an hour of sleep.  I put my headphones in since the lady in the room next to us was being rather noisy.  Greg offered to go to Wal-Mart and pick up a sound machine to block her out.  But I couldn't breath.  I'd forgotten the fast-acting decongestant.  Greg looked up near-by 24-hour drug stores and was about to leave when the first real contraction hit and I decided I wanted him close by.  I spent the next few hours alternating between sitting on the toilet and reclining on the bed trying to reach my zen state but the 3 midwives at the clinic made a few too many ins-and-outs for me to really be able to concentrate.  Towards the end I decided I wanted to stand up for a few contractions, then I went to the bathroom again, which is Greg's clue that we are almost done.

Now here's the part that I practiced the most: the birth.  I've read  a lot about breathing a baby down and not actually pushing.  I'd tried this method with Henry and failed because sometimes, you just want to be done so you push as hard as you can to get the baby out.  However, this can be counterproductive as pushing a baby against a not completely ready cervix can actually cause the cervix to swell making the whole process take longer.  Besides, pushing hurts.  So with each contraction,  I took a deep breathe and then breathed down for 6 counts and then started again.  I also used a birthing stool this time, which was lovely because usually I get tired of holding my weight up  so it was nice to be able to sit.  I also made Greg rub my back while I held my hips together as they felt like they were ripping apart.  I have no idea how long this went on.  It definitely felt longer than the pushing phase with the other kids, but it was also more comfortable and less energy-consuming.  Finally I felt the baby come down so I gave one push and out came her head and moments later second push and there she was.  I even said, "Well that was easy" as the midwife handed her to me.  Because it was much easier than Henry.  This is also the part I am most proud of.  I delivered baby without a single scream, grunt, or other weird noise.  Just a quiet, peaceful entry into the world, which was the goal.  Everyone was pretty impressed, especially after the patient in room 1.  It was 4:19 am.  Considering active labor didn't start until after 2, I'd say not bad.

We moved to the bed and did a few of the necessities (deliver placenta, cut the cord, which Greg did with his own knife again, take a few vitals) and then nothing.  Baby nursed for 2 hours, I snacked and looked at my phone, Greg attempted to sleep, but the midwives managed to come in for something or other just as he was falling asleep every time. Eventually they came and did the newborn examine then Greg held baby while I showered and made myself pretty.  

Greg's knife with umbilical cord blood

Chilling with Dad

New born exam

Ready to go.

Then we left.

We got home just in time to help Becky get Henry dressed for church.  We sent them all to church and took naps.   We were a little tired.  And now the fun continues.  By which I mean, labor and birth are only the first horrible steps weeks of pain and lots of baby crying.

Alice is completely obsessed but in a pretty bad way.  We have to keep a pretty close eye on her.

Rex looks pretty interested here, but for the most part, he doesn't care about the baby.

Henry is warming up to her.  Whenever she cries, he says, "Baby crying.  Take a nap."