A Birth Story
You've heard the news, you've seen the photos, now here is the story:
This birth story actually begins the day before he was born(Tuesday, Oct 7, 08).
I was feeling really ready to have this baby! I was already a week overdue. I was emotional and having almost constant lower back pain. I went to see my doctor.
He told me that he would be away for the weekend(it was our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend) and if the baby came then, he wouldn't be available to deliver.
He also said that on the following day(Wednesday) there was one opening left at the maternity ward for an induction and if we wanted, we could book it.
We decided to go ahead and book it.
Being induced didn't bother me, like I said I was really ready!
So, he stretched my cerv*x and stripped the membranes and I went home and vacuumed my house from top to bottom!
I vacuumed under furniture and under couch cushions. I cleaned my kitchen, got caught up on laundry...etc.
You might say I was 'nesting', but I also knew that keeping myself active would help bring on contractions!
I also ate about 6 Reese's Peanut Butter cups!! (Just in case the rumor was true!)
Well, later that night, at about 2am I was awakened by contractions.
They were strong enough to keep me awake, but not strong enough that I thought I needed to go to the hospital. They came at about 10-15 minutes apart and I kept hoping they would stop because what I really wanted was a good night's sleep! (see here)
I had had contractions that had stopped with other babies, so I was expecting that these would too.
Well they didn't!
In fact, by about 5am they were getting more intense. I was having to breathe through them. I knew that Hubby would be awake at 6am because we had to be at the hospital by 7:30am anyway. We had babysitting for our kids already planned and I wanted to labour at home as much as possible.
When Hubby got up, he was surprised to see me in labour, and I was in a hurry to get to the hospital.
We called to let them know we were on our way and I was having contractions, but I don't think they realized how intense they were until they saw me. I couldn't walk from up to the ward, Hubby had to get me a wheelchair!
The nurses got me into a room quite quickly!
I was a little disappointed to find out that I was only 5cm dialated! I had wanted to be more than that, I just wanted to get to the 'pushing part'!
Anyhow, they got me all settled, hooked up the fetal monitor, an IV(because I'm a VBAC) etc.
My Dr came around 8:30am to break my water. I also asked for 'drugs'. I knew that the contractions were only going to intensify and I wanted to be prepared! They gave me a little phentalon(sp?) and only a little, because I had said that I was feeling light headed. It helped me relax in between contractions, which by now were beginning to feel like one looong contraction.
I was having back labour and the pain didn't go away in between.
Anyhow, I think they expected me to take a while to get fully dialated. Every time my Dr hinted that he might leave and come back, the contractions seemed to get stronger!
When I finally got that 'urge to push', I felt like I wasn't going to be able to do it. I even said that! But my Hubby was very encouraging and prayed with me.
It only took about 3-4 pushes and he was out. It was 9:58am.
They put him on my tummy and I was so releived it was over, excited to see my baby, and exhausted!
I hardly had enough energy to push for the placenta!
I remember asking if he was a boy. Nobody announced it when he came out. I have to confess that we knew it was a boy, but I wanted to know for sure.
I also remember being very hungry!
I hadn't had anything to eat since dinner, the night before! Thankfully they had saved my breakfast tray and I had my handy-dandy trail mix!
I was so glad that I had gone into labour on my own. At least I was half way there by the time we got to the hospital! I also had no tearing or stitches and so I felt really quite good!
I had a student nurse in on my delivery. Actually she was in on just about everything! The Dr. and nurses were getting her to do almost everything to give her hands-on experience. It was her second day in the ward and my baby was her very first delivery! I totally didn't mind, in fact, I was excited for her!
I was so glad that my Dr. was able to be there. He was there for all of my other babies. He's a Christian and he always prays with us. He popped in later in the day, when our kids had come to visit, and prayed. It was a special time with all of our family there.
My 4yr old kindly pointed out that I still had a fat tummy! And he thought that 'the new baby looked like Yoda'! (He's never seen the movies, just pictures in books.)
One thing that I must share is that 6 years ago on October 8, I had a miscarriage. And this baby just happened to be born on the anniversary of that date! I said 'just happened', but I know that it was planned by God. Here I was, a week overdue and waiting to have this baby and God already knew what day he would be born on. A definite testament of Hope and His Faithfulness!
It has taken me a while to get this typed up and posted, needless to say, I'm a little busy right now! But all is going well. I consider myself real lucky if I get a nap and a shower in the same day!! Chickadee is a big help.
Hubby has been great too, cooking dinner and doing dishes.
He's always in awe of the birthing process and is amazed at what I endure to deliver a baby. He's been buying me treats like this
and this.
(I had commented on this cute moose in a flyer and Hubby came home from work one day with it!! A perfect red accent for my living room!)
Thanks for stopping by and reading this lengthy post.
Blessings!
