On Wednesday, February 25th, I started to have contractions about every 7-10 minutes apart at about 5pm. They weren't very painful so I just decided not to think too much of it. Todd came home from work, we went to get some dinner at Zupas and by the time we left they had started to become a little more painful and make me cringe a little bit. We went home and put Troy to bed and started working on getting everything ready for the birth just in case it was the real deal. I blew up the birth ball that I had ordered online (which turned out to be too small and I hated it. haha) and Todd got the tub ready to be inflated and filled with water.
At this point Todd and I weren't sure I was in labor or not yet because I seemed to be doing just fine and I wasn't in too much pain. I texted all the people I wanted to be at the birth to let them know I was pretty sure this was it but I would let them know for sure if it kicked into high gear. I started to have the "bloody show" that is a pretty good sign labor is beginning and I had to go number 2 kind of a lot.
By about midnight my contractions were about 4-6 minutes apart and starting to get to the point where I needed a little more of myself devoted to each one. I labored like this with Todd for about 3 1/2 hours spending some time in the tub and some time in bed with Todd massaging me before he decided I was turning inward and it was time to call our midwife (and everyone else as well.)
He called Kim (our midwife) after I had a few pretty serious contractions right on top of each other and she asked to speak to me. I shook my head and didn't want to talk and then went straight into another contraction. That's when we decided we wanted her to come over. Kim showed up a little while later with her student midwife, Romina, and Danielle, the student midwife that saw us at all of our prenatal appointments showed up as well. My mom and Todd's mom were also there.. I was mostly in the tub at this point. I hadn't eaten in a while so Todd got me some bread and I had been drinking plenty of water so I was having to get up to pee a lot. The contractions I had while walking to the toilet and on the toilet were not my favorite. I liked to be in the water when the came. I also noticed the bloody show was not stopping and that worried me so I asked Kim to come and look and she reassured me that it was normal and the amount that was coming out of me was normal as well. I didn't have any bloody show with Troy so this was new for me.
While I was laboring, Kim, Romina or Danielle would check the baby's heart rate every now and then. One thing I really liked about laboring at home is how hands off everything was. I didn't have people drawing my blood and I wasn't hooked up to machines that restrict my movement. I was able to eat and drink as I needed to. No one was checking my progress either which I actually really like. Kim did say she would check me if I wanted her to though. I just really liked being in control of everything. I also liked not being asked a thousand questions. Everyone just let me do my thing. No one touched me other than to give comfort and relieve pain. Even when I was pushing, everyone just let me do it on my own. They were great at giving me positive feedback to help me emotionally and that was amazing. It's just a nice feeling to look back and realize I did it all on my own. I realize that this can't be the case for everyone and I realize that home birth isn't an option for everyone. I'm just really glad that it was for me and feel very blessed that my pregnancy was low risk so that I could have the home birth I so wanted.
My contractions got to the point where I was starting to moan and writhe in the water and I knew I had to be in transition. Once they got to that point I knew if I pushed it would make them more bearable so that's what I started to do. I don't know if my body was ready for me to push the baby out at that point but I was really only pushing because I knew it would take the edge off. So when each contraction came on I would start moaning and then make myself bear down just enough to control the pain.
I got to the point where I was with Troy when I thought "This will never end," "I just want her out!" and "Holy crap this hurts." When I got to that point I knew I HAD to be close to being done. Todd kept close to me during all of this but a couple of times he got up and walked away to do something or to get me something. I had my eyes on him like a hawk though and as soon as I could feel a contraction coming on I would say "I need Todd!" and he would rush over and let me squeeze his hand or just put his arms around me. He was such a great support to me in labor, just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. Todd is such a rock of faith and positivity so having him there by me really helped me to stay in the right mindset.
After a few more painful contractions, I checked my progress myself and could feel a squishy something and I knew it had to be the sac. During one of the next contractions I made myself push to get through it and my water burst. You could actually see it burst in the water and I felt it pop. A few more contractions and I decided to check again, this time I could feel her head and feel the hair on it! That made me excited to see her cute little self!
Our midwife, Kim, asked me if I was making myself push or if my body was making me push and I told her I was doing the pushing because it helped ease the pain of each contraction. She suggested to try not to push during the next contraction just to see what my body does, so I did and out of no where my body kicked in to high gear and forced me to bear down and push. It was an amazing feeling, my whole body just reacted to the pain and made me push. I don't know how to explain it as well as I remember it, it was just amazing. I pushed through I think three or four contractions before she was born. The pushing once again kicked my trash. I could not believe how hard I had to push to get her out and holy moly that ring of fire burned like no other. I remember wimpering and just saying "OOOWWWW get her OUT!"
During these last contractions and the pushing stage Todd had his arms around me and was basically holding me up in the water so all I had to do was focus on breathing and pushing during the contractions and I could completely relax in his arms in between the contractions . He was so sweet kissing me and telling me how awesome I was doing. Those are the things I needed to hear and everyone was so good to tell me I was doing great. I didn't want anyone but my Toddy though. I needed his strength to help me be strong.
I also remember having what seemed like WAY more time than I had with Troy between each push. I was able to gain my strength and energy back before each push and that REALLY helped. None of that count to ten and take a quick breath and then do it all over again crap. Seriously that part of hospital birth needs to change, especially for natural (medication free) birthing women. I was able to push when my body was telling me to push and helping me push. I also only pushed for however long I could stand it before I needed a break.
I pushed on my side in the tub and her head came out, I could see her full head of hair and her cute face and then when the next one came on I tried pushing in that same position but it hurt so bad and she wasn't really moving so the next contraction I turned over to my knees with my arms on the top of the tub and pushed my little heart out. I could feel her body slide out of me and I backed up while Kim pushed her forward so I could lift her up into my arms. She had the cord loosely wrapped around her body so Kim untangled her and I put her straight to my chest.
I was kissing her and snuggling her and I could not believe I was done. It was IMMEDIATE relief and I felt so so so good. I sat down and kept her in the water so she was nice and warm. We stayed there for maybe 20 minutes and then I felt the need to push again and I delivered the placenta. Once the cord was done pulsating and giving Jules all the blood she needed, Todd cut the cord. After a little more snuggling in the tub, Todd took Juliet to be wrapped up and I got out of the tub and into my bed. I originally planned on showering off first but there was hardly any messy stuff so I didn't feel dirty at all. Juliet was brought to me and we did some skin on skin bonding and nursing.
They (Todd and our midwife) weighed and measured Jules and checked her all over to make sure she was healthy and strong. I cried happy tears seeing my baby girl being weighed by her daddy. She had the sweetest squishy face and most juicy lips ever. I couldn't help but kiss them every 5 seconds.
Kim checked my bottom area and I did tear a little bit here and there but thankfully nothing that needed stitches. I had help getting dressed and all set up in bed and then they brought Troy in to see me and the baby and I thought my heart might burst. My two perfect little sweeties together just minutes after Juliet was born. It was heaven on earth.
Troy had woken up not long after I delivered and was SO happy to see both of his loving Grandma's. Todd took Juliet into his room and he had the biggest smile when he saw her, of course that could've been his so excited to see both grandma's smile. :)
After everyone was able to see Juliet and we got all the paperwork for her birth certificate and all of that stuff done, I was left alone with Juliet. I nursed her and we were able to sleep for a good 5-6 hours. That chunk of sleep was everything! I felt so good after the delivery and for the next few days, actually I'm still feeling pretty awesome. My recovery has been leaps and bounds better than Troy's was. I have obviously had to deal with the hormones and the engorgement from my milk coming in and the pain of healing down there in my lady parts but this recovery has been so much easier. I really feel like a lot of it is because I knew what to expect this time around and I was mentally prepared for it.
I am really thankful everything was okay for me to have the natural home birth I so wanted. If I had needed to go to the hospital because I had this or that problem then obviously I would have but I'm just so glad everything with my pregnancy went so smoothly. Delivering at home was a dream.
