Our Busy Little World
Aug. 22, 2007 - Birth Story
I know some of you were hoping to hear more about Alyssa's birth, so here goes:
I had expected to have a shorter labor, as my mom's labors always cut in half time-wise (her first was 8 hours, then 4, then 2). Mine seem to be the opposite, after the first one. My first was 12, then 4, then 8, and this one was just about 20 hours. Totally threw me for a loop, I must say - Matt and I were both thinking she wouldn't ever come out! I went into labor around 9pm on the 14th, and she was born just before 5 the next evening. My mom, Matt and I stayed up till midnight playing boggle, assuming the labor would progress quickly. But at midnight I was still 6 minutes apart, so I decided to attempt sleeping. I "slept" most of the night as if I had a snooze alarm - I'd wake up with each contraction, then fall back asleep. In the morning, I got up to get some breakfast and get things ready for the girls' breakfast - that got my contractions to 3 minutes apart and even more painful, so I called my midwife. She came over and said I was 6 cm dilated. A moment later, however, she got a phone call from another one of her clients and discovered that she and I were both in labor! So she ordered me to bed for a bit to slow things down, and my friend/midwife's assistant stayed with me. The other lady was blessed with a quick labor and within an hour or two my midwife was back. My daughter kept asking me why I hadn't had the baby yet, since our friend had her's so quickly. Between painful contractions I tried to tell her that some babies come slowly, some quickly. My wonderful mom watched all four of our older girls all day. We filled up the aquadoula, and I spent most of the day in there. It was definitely a painful labor, but I felt much more in control of myself this time than with previous labors. I was very quiet and still for most of it (until it was time to push - I think this was the hardest one at that point, even though she was little!). Being in the water helps me so much - I can't imagine laboring without a labor pool! I did feel bad that it was taking so long, but what can you do? My midwife knitted, we put on a movie, and everyone was remarkably patient and so encouraging to me as I labored and we waited for this baby! It got to the point that I was exhausted and discouraged, because it was more and more painful, but I didn't feel like anything was happening. But in any case, God was faithful and gave me the strength to make it to the end. I am so blessed to have a midwife and midwife's assistant who are good friends from church, so I spent the day with my husband and two good friends - definitely the most supportive labor environment you can get! By the time Alyssa made her appearance, I was too exhausted to think of anything besides two things: "She's finally out - it is a girl, right?" and "hey, she looks like the others. . . but she has HAIR!" I was SO relieved to have made it safely through this birth, and to finally get to lay down with my new baby girl! She was so healthy - great apgars, no problems at all. I cried, out of sheer exhaustion, relief, and utter thankfulness that all my fears proved to be totally silly. Matt was so wonderful through everything - there's something so sweet about the way he becomes so much more tender towards me after watching me labor - especially this labor that was much longer than the others! Now it's been a week, and I've spent most of it in bed with Alyssa. My midwife and Matt like me to stay pretty much in bed for the first two weeks, so I'm happily complying! Sure makes for great baby-bonding time! The girls are doing wonderfully with daddy, and would come and hold Alyssa for hours if they could! They all adore her - though I think Juliette takes the cake for the most loud and giddy adoration! Thus far we've been quite blessed as Alyssa sleeps very well - I actually have had to wake her up in the night after five hours of sleep to nurse her. Now I don't really wake her, but she still only nurses once at night. I'm sure it helps that she's sleeping in my arms. It's funny - we were too nervous to have our first two babies sleep with us. Neither Matt nor I liked the idea, so they slept by us in a bassinet. Then Juliette changed all of that - she would occasionally just stop breathing, so my midwife suggested sleeping with her so she'd follow my breathing pattern. Her's was the most wonderful newborn time we'd yet had, and we were hooked. She slept with us for a month, then started sleeping through the night on her own. Now Matt and I have realized that we actually feel better having Alyssa sleep with us than in her bassinet - for at least the first few weeks. It's our snuggly time - and perhaps Alyssa will even follow Juliette's pattern in sleeping all night at a month old (I can dream, can't I?) . . . Anyway, I think that's about it for her little birth story. We're just so very happy she's safely here!
Comments
Aug. 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by momco3
Thanks for the deeper story. I'm glad you were able to labor at home and with such good support. The water has always been such a help to me, too.
Annie
Aug. 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by dinghome
Thank you for sharing. I love reading birth stories. My third labor was the longest, and like you, I thought it would be the shortest since I have already done it twice. I got discouraged as well but we eventually made it through and got our baby girl right on our 5th anniversary.
Aug. 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I had a doula for all three of mine and I highly recommend it also. I loved having someone else with me besides hubby even though we were in the hospital. So glad everything went well. I wish I had stayed in bed for two weeks. I bet it really does help the healing process. Instead I am usually up and out and then I get a setback. I guess I just can't stay down for long.
Susan
Aug. 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Congratulations! I had a homebirth with a midwife and doula, back in July and it was wonderful. Isn't birthing where you are comfortable simply the best? Blessings to you!
Christine
www.christine-mary.blogspot.com
