I want to remember everything I can about this birth. This is a long birth story.
My mom flew in 1 day before my due date (12th) and planned on staying for a week and a half. Since I was a week late with Carson, then induced, I decided I needed to do everything I could to get this baby here.
Monday morning (13th), I went to the midwife (Beth) and she stripped my membranes. I really wanted her to be the one to deliver but she said she wasn't on call until Thursday. After my appointment, we went grocery shopping and walked around the store. I had some cramping and lost some mucus plug but that was it. I was also only dilated to a 1 and 50% effaced. Boo.. :( Monday night Marci did acupressure on my feel and my friend Krista--who sells DoTerra, gave me some clary sage oil which can help get labor going.
Tuesday I applied the clary sage to my belly and calf area all day! I also went walking in the mall with my mom and Carson for awhile. Nothing happened though.
Wednesday, my mom dropped us off at the mall while she went to the Y. We walked around for a good 2 hours. Caden was REALLY low this day. I was nervous my water was going to break at the mall. I had to stop and breath a few times because the pressure would take my breath away. But it this was NOT pressure waves. Just weird low cervical pressure. Like he was trying to escape.
I had a really neat experience at the mall. I was discouraged that I still hadn't had the baby. I was worried that my mom was leaving in a week. And I was just feeling low. I had been praying all week that Caden would come soon. As I was walking, I suddenly felt the Spirit so strong. I was told the baby would come soon! And things were going just as they should. I was reminded of how I felt while trying to conceive Caden. It was the same feeling. We only had a few months to try. I was praying all the time that I would get pregnant. But it didn't happen right away and it was really hard. I did get pregnant on the Lord's time though. The Lord reminded me that everything worked out then and it would now. I got the biggest smile on my face as I walked around the mall. I had just gotten really excited! I knew Caden was coming soon and I couldn't wait!
That night Marci did acupressure again on my feet and I kept applying the clary sage oil. Then I begged Marci to let me do black and blue cohosh tea. Which she had and let me use! I took one cup at 10pm. I didn't feel anything so I took 1 more cup at 11pm right before going to bed.
Thursday: At 2 am I woke up with the strongest/worst braxton hicks of my life because I had to pee so so so bad. (Or so I thought that's why I was having this awful BH) Right after I went, I immediately started having pressure waves. I also noticed some bright red/pinkness when I wiped. I sat in the bathroom for awhile wondering if this was labor. I downloaded an app to start timing my pressure waves. They were about 3-5 min apart. I couldn't sleep and I realized I hadn't packed anything for the hospital, so I started packing. I also listened to the birthing affirmations track. All while Cory was sound asleep may I add. I texted Marci and told her what was going on even though I knew she wouldn't get my text until the morning.
Around 3am the pressure waves changed and were 2-3 minutes apart. I spent some more time in the bathroom. My body was clearing itself out! And I noticed more bright pinkness.
Around 4am the pressure waves changed again. They were now more like 5 minutes apart. I went downstairs to pack some more things but got really tired. I fell asleep on the couch at 5am and turned off the birthing affirmations track. At 5:30am Cory came downstairs. He asked me what I was doing on the couch...? ha ha. He told me I needed to go back to bed to try to get some good rest. I slept in bed until 8:00am. I woke up a lot during pressure waves to time them. I kept waiting for them to become consistent. I thought labor was having constant pressure waves. And they only lasted what felt like 30 seconds long. They say they need to last 1 minute long. So I didn't think I was actually in labor. Marci told me to look for leaking fluid and bright red/pink blood or discharge. I told her I had had that early this morning. I didn't think it was significant. But she said it was a sign of cervical change. She told me later that once I told her that, she knew I was in labor. I was still clueless.
That morning all I wanted to do was sit. I didn't want to get up or do anything. So I sat on my butt for a few hours doing nothing. If I had known I was in labor, I would have been more active to speed up the process. My mom took Carson to story time at 10am. I was so grateful for that! I decided I needed to take a shower and wash my hair. (which I'm really glad I did) Marci told me I needed to call the midwives and let them know what was going on and see who was on call. When I called, they asked me to come in so they could just check and see what was going on. I thought that was weird. I was expecting to just go to the hospital when it was time to have the baby. I kept telling Cory, "Why do I need to come in? I don't need to go." But we did.
We got to the midwives at 1pm. Lydia was there. She checked me and said, "Whoa, you're doing really well. You're a 6 and 90% effaced!" And she said the bag of water was bulging. I grinned so big! I then knew I was actually in labor. She said we could go to the hospital if we wanted. Or I could go home for awhile and do a NST at the office. I told her we would just go to the hospital. And we found out Beth was on call until 10pm!!! I'm glad we went in because then we didn't have to sit in triage. Lydia just admitted us. And who knows how long I would have stayed at home wondering if I was in labor or not. We went back home to get our stuff and tell my mom. Carson was napping. Cory gave me a wonderful blessing right before we left too. I specifically remember him saying something about not having fears. I didn't think I had fears, but I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I was worried about the possibility of having fears--which sounds weird. But I was immediately comforted.
We got to the hospital at 2:30. On the way, the pressure waves started to change. They got more intense. As we were walking in from the parking lot, I had a strong one. I had to stop and lean on Cory for awhile. Longer than usual. I kept trying to walk through it because it was freezing outside! But I couldn't! Cory asked if I needed a wheelchair. LOL. No way. Marci got there at 2:45 and put in Easy First Stage into the cd player. I had been sitting in the bed not really having any pressure waves. Beth came in and stayed pretty much my entire birthing time! Marci got me a birthing ball to sit on. I was there for awhile maybe 30 minutes or so.
Then I wanted to walk around and stand. I did that for awhile. During a pressure wave, I would lean on Cory and sway. He was glad my pressure waves didn't last very long. :) Then I wanted to use the bathroom again. I sat on the toilet backwards for a little while.
At 4:00pm I got into the big tub. That felt so nice. Every time I had a pressure wave, I would rest my head on the edge in front of Cory. (He was outside the tub by the way) He would rub my shoulders. Beth and Marci were behind me and would rub my low back. That helped immensely! And my whole birthing time, they made sure I kept having sips of water to stay hydrated. Beth asked me if I wanted a Popsicle or jello or something. I said sure..? Cory fed me Jello in the tub. That was nice! I also realized I was starving! I wanted more! But they told me to eat it slowly. ha ha.
After awhile I started getting really sleepy. All I wanted to do was lay down and take a nap. They told me I needed to use the bathroom first and empty my bladder. At 5:00pm I got out of the tub and sat backwards on the toilet for awhile. I was there way longer than I thought I would be. They got pillows for me to rest on and I almost fell asleep there! I eventually made it to the bed. I laid on my side and Beth and Marci made me really comfortable! Pillows were everywhere. I slept for a little bit. I actually had a long break between pressure waves. I think somewhere between 5-10 minutes and I slept and actually forgot I was having a baby. I woke up and remember having to think about why I was in a hospital for a second. Beth asked me if I wanted some chicken broth to sip on. I said, " I don't know. I guess." I really cannot make decisions during my birthing time. She brought me some and had me sip on it. I think she wanted me to get some energy before the pushing phase. At some point the Pushing track came on too. Marci said at this point I started making sounds during my waves. I was trying to moan and "Ahh." During one wave in particular, I remember feeling Caden move down over my tail bone! That was crazy cool! I told everyone but I think they thought I was insane.
After a few minutes, I couldn't lay anymore. I NEEDED to sit up. This was around 6:00pm. I leaned over the top of the bed with my arms hanging up over the edge. Marci wanted me to wiggle my hips but I couldn't move. She ended up physically moving them around for me. ha ha. She said at this time I started making moaning sounds that sounded like pushing. I did all of a sudden have the urge to push. And I did push. But I didn't tell anybody! I didn't want to freak everybody out in case it wasn't really time yet. I remember Marci asking if I wanted Beth to check me. I don't remember what I said but it was probably something like, "I don't know. I guess." I do remember that I did want her to check me! I just couldn't communicate that. There was also a little sense of urgency in the room because Beth had stepped out. Marci was saying, "Where is Beth? We need Beth now!"
At 6:10pm Beth checked me and said I was 10 cm and 100% effaced. I was thinking," well, duh. I knew that." She said I could push if I felt like I needed to. But yeah, I already knew I was ready for that too. The next pressure wave, I made sure to tell everyone that I was pushing.
At 6:15 my water broke on it's own during a push and I all of a sudden could feel Caden crowning! I then thought, "Whoa, he's coming. I'm almost done." I honestly thought I would be in the transformation phase for longer! I didn't realize I was done already.
I pushed 2 more times and at 6:20pm Caden was born. I was sorta on my hands and knees at this point. Beth just kind of handed him to me underneath me. I grabbed him up and just hugged him! He was screaming his little head off. I just held him there on my chest for a little. It was such a sweet moment. And I didn't tear! That was one of my goals. He started nursing right away! And like swallowing! He's an excellent nurser. That's all he wanted to do for like an hour and a half! We waited to weigh him and stuff until a couple of hours after he was born. We just held him and loved him.
Also, he was born with tooth! His blood vessels in his eyes broke from coming out so fast. Poor thing.
I feel really grateful that Caden came at such a perfect time. Heavenly Father really knows me and I feel blessed He gave me what I wanted out of this birth process. Thursday was the day Beth was on call. And Caden's pediatrician was on call this week as well. I had an amazing doula! I really did have an, "easy, comfortable childbirth!" It was a piece of cake. As long as there is no pitocin involved and my water stays intact, I feel like I could have 20 kids! (Which I'm not) I'm really going to miss having babies here at this hospital with these midwives and with Marci! And I love hypnobabies! I was so prepared and confident. Heavenly Father gave me exactly what I wanted for this birth. I'm nervous that I'll have some lessons and trials for my next babies.
Caden Eugene was 7 lbs 6oz 20 in long. He is such a little sweetheart.
Carson adores Caden! He smothers him! The first and second day home from the hospital, Carson would randomly say, "Yay! Caden's home!" It was as if Caden had always been around for Carson. I really feel like they have known each other for a very long time. He loves his brother.
