the birth 9.26.11

It all began at 1:00 a.m. on a Monday morning.

I woke up to what felt like strong, achy menstrual cramps in my lower abdomen. I knew right away that it was really happening. Naturally, I walked to the bathroom and rested on the toilet; it was the most comfortable place to be while having contractions during my early labor.

After about 4 contractions that were 5 minutes apart, I woke up Jordan and told him "I think I am in labor, we are going to have a baby soon." He didn't pay too much attention and fell back asleep. I don't think he believed it was true. I mean, it can't really be happening. Can it?

I went back to the bathroom for about the 5th time and noticed that I lost part of my mucus plug. I sat and calmly pondered whether or not to call Linsey, our midwife. I have never done this before and had no idea how fast things would move.

Around 3:00 a.m. my contractions progressed to 3 minutes apart. I walked back into our bedroom and told Jordan it was time to set up the birthing pool. He groggily replied "I will do it in the morning." "It could be too late by then, things are moving fast. I just called Linsey to come over!" I replied. He was shocked - I actually made the call! Shit was about to go down.

While Jordan was setting up the pool I text-ed my sister-in-law, Tori, to come over and bring a big box of strawberry jello mix with her. For some reason I was really craving homemade jello that was just a little bit watery. She was on her way. Not too long after, I hear Jordan call out from the bedroom, "we have a bit of a problem.....the air pump only adapts to a car outlet." Oh, that's a bummer I thought as I imagined him blowing it up by mouth. Luckily he remembered what we learned in our amazing birth class, Naturally Prepared - blow it up with the shop vac! It worked like a charm; it took less that 10 minutes!


Once we had the pool blown up and in the process of being filled with water, Linsey arrived. I felt relief. I was comfortable knowing that if I had to push, I was free to do so. I was progressing so fast that I actually thought I would feel the urge before she got there.

I loved having Linsey as my midwife because she trusted me and my body and just let me do my thing. Linsey was just a fly on the wall. If I needed her she was there, but the majority of the time she just hung back and let me labor.

During contractions, I leaned on my bed and swayed back and forth. The time in between, I laid down to get rest.





When Tori arrived, we stood in my dim hallway and chatted for a moment. As we were talking, I kept getting this gagging feeling in my throat. I didn't feel sick; I felt the need to get the Mexican dinner out of my body. I excused myself and went to throw up. Sweet Linsey came into the bathroom and sat with me. She smiled and told me this was a great sign. I never thought throwing up could feel so good; it felt AMAZING! Just what I needed.

By this time it was about 5:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. and my contractions had gotten further apart. Around 7:00 a.m. I text-ed my mom to tell her I was in labor. I waited for my next contraction to pass, so I could call into work. (My boss later said, "you sounded so happy on the message, I thought there was no way you were in labor!")

The sun was peeking through the blinds in my bedroom as I tried getting in the pool. It was too hot to relax. I got out and asked Linsey if she could check how dilated I was. She said she would, but didn't want me to get discouraged if it wasn't what I imagined. I sat on the end of my bed and Linsey checked my cervix. I am so thankful that isn't one of her routines, just not a big fan.... I was a 7! That was perfect in my book!




Linsey told me there was a small lip of the cervix toward the front that still needs to move so she suggested I get on all 4s and lean over the ball. That was the worst contraction EVER so I quickly changed positions.

Very soon after that I got back in the pool. The warm water really helped to relieve most of the pain and take the pressure off my big contracting belly. I just leaned over the side, so relaxed as Jordan offered me sips of water and bites of strawberry. I accepted both : )




At 9:45ish, it was pushing time! Every time my body contracted, I would automatically push! Such an amazing reflex.

That went on for about 2o minutes. Linsey decided to check me again to make sure the lip of cervix was out of the way. It wasn't. She asked me if I could try not to push (she didn't want my cervix to swell), but it was absolutely impossible. My body was just doing it, an uncontrollable reflex. Then she asked if I wanted her to go in and move the small lip out of the way during my next contraction. Of course I said yes! I was so happy that was a possibility!

She went in and moved it out of the way and I kept on pushin'.

Soon, we could see the head. I reached down to feel it and to my surprise, he had HAIR! That made me so happy. I just wanted to meet him and hold him in my arms! The moment was getting closer and closer and I couldn't wait.

I asked if there was a different position I could be in that would make it hurt a little less because his crowning head was really making it burn at the top of my inner labia. Linsey suggested I move forward and get on all 4s. This really helped to open the passage.

When the next contraction came I pushed so strongly that his whole head came out. I yelled "f*****g ring of fire!!" as I about jumped out of my skin, then relaxed and waited for the next contraction.

I had no idea that his head was actually out until Linsey quietly whispered it to me. She calmly told me that his entire body will be out after the next contraction. In my mind I was SO excited to finally hold the little guy, but on the outside I was focused and ready to push the boy out.

At 10:30 am the last contraction came. I took in a big breath and quietly pushed the rest of his slippery 7lb. 15oz. body out. Linsey told me to reach under and grab my baby, and I did! I was holding my little bean, my little blue peanut! My sweet, sweet, amazing baby. I was holding the little guy who was inside of me less than a minute ago.
I was actually holding MY SON!!!

I remember looking down and instantly falling in love. I could not take my eyes off that sweet wrinkled up face.



Words can not describe this moment. The moment mama meets her baby. Just pure ecstasy.

My world had been rocked so hard; it will never be the same.




I learned a great lesson on this day.

Trust in yourself. Trust your body and your intuition. If you do, you can't go wrong.

Jordan and I knew from the very beginning that Homebirth was the best option for our baby and myself. I am so happy we listened to our intuition. I truly believe that our Homebirth set me up to be the best mother I can possibly be and I am thankful for that.

All things are possible, just believe in yourself!

YOU are amazing. I am amazing.

Oh, what the human body is capable of.