My Life

Happy 7th Birthday Gracie!!!

Then...

Now....

I'm not sure why but blogger isn't showing the paragraph breaks in this but....here's her birth story!

GraceAnne’s story starts in my dreams. About 5:00am, October 19th I had a dream that I was having contractions! I woke up feeling crampy in my back and hips. I used the restroom and went back to sleep. I had another dream where the same was happening. I woke up again about 7 a.m and it was time to pick up Kevan at work.

I noticed the contractions seemed to be coming every five minutes or so. I wasn’t really convinced tho because I had been having contractions like that for the last 3 weeks or so that would stop! I tried everything I could to get them to stop..walking, laying down, bath and nothing worked. Finally about 9 a.m I called the midwife, Tiffany, to see if she would come check me. She got here about 10 a.m., I was 5cm, 100% effaced and baby was at +1 station (at my appointment on the 16th I was 4cm, 75% effaced and 0 station). She gave me a homeopath to help the baby rotate over to the left side (the optimal position for baby’s to be born). My contractions were not uncomfortable at all most of the day.

After a while she checked me again (I can’t remember the time) and I was 6cm and baby was lower, +2 station. The midwife was surprised that the baby was SO low and my contractions were really easy. They were coming every few minutes but not lasting very long. I had been in the pool a while but got out to help the contractions pick up a bit. She gave me a different homeopath a few times over the next few hours to help the contractions pick up.

Emily was in the room with me most of the day. She brought me a blanket once and covered me up. We shared some popcorn at one point. :o) A little after 3 p.m my midwife checked me once again. I was 8cm and the contractions were still feeling like my braxton hicks contractions. After she checked me it felt like my water broke a bit. She tested it and I was right! I kept telling the midwife how surprised I was that I was so far dialated but feeling pretty good!! A while after the water broke I could tell they were starting to feel different..having more of an effect on my cervix. I had a weird “tingling” sensation and told my midwife that it felt like my cervix was changing some. After this point I can’t remember what happened when.

The contractions were starting to pick up some so I got back in the pool. I LOVED (!!!!!!!!!!!) being in the water!! It made the contractions SO much more bearable! Every time I had to get out to use the restroom I had a contraction. Those “dry land” contractions hurt SO bad!! I was amazed at how the water really did have an effect on the pain of the contractions. Emily had been wanting to bring me a popsicle (one of her “jobs” we had talked about in preparing for the birth). It didn’t sound all that great, and my contractions were getting a bit worse, but I had her bring me one because I knew she was so proud about helping me! :o)

I started having some contractions where I felt pressure and needed to bear down just a bit. I didn’t have to push…just let my body relax into the contractions. She checked me again and felt the head and told me I could start pushing if I felt like it. Pretty soon after I REALLY had the urge to push! I was in a sitting position with my feet against the opposite side of the pool. Tiffany suggested that I move to a squat to help the baby come down. I tried it with one contraction and couldn’t bear being up on my feet. I moved to my knees, hugging the side of the pool. The pushing stage of this birth was SO different than both my daughters. With them I had a constant urge to push that ended with the birth. This time I had a painful contraction and had to push, then the contraction would end and I felt great. Then another contraction would hit. It was odd to me to feel so good between contractions! I started to get a little frustrated because I felt I wasn’t making any progress. It was SO reassuring to hear Tiffany behind me, peacefully telling me I was doing great and that baby’s head really was coming down! My girls were in the room, however I was more vocal with this baby than I expected I would be. Abby was a bit scared so both girls went into the living room.

Then the rest of my water burst!! After that baby came flying down. :o) At that point I had the very strong urge that didn’t stop. I could feel my body bulging and I pushed out the head. I stopped for a second after that and Tiffany got my attention and told me to keep pushing!

GraceAnne was born at 5:17pm. We called in to the girls several times before they finally came back in the room. We sat in the water letting her float while waiting on the placenta. It delivered and we got out of the water. Tiffany checked the baby over and I got into the herbal bath. When Tiffany was done we put GraceAnne in the water. She as so peaceful floating there! After our bath we got out and snuggled on the bed. Tiffany then checked me. I had no tearing, no brusing and no skid marks! She said it almost looked like I hadn’t had a baby! She was bit surprised because GraceAnne came out with one of her hands up by her chin! I felt WONDERFUL after the birth!

My Mom took the girls to McDonald’s for dinner. Our neighbor brought dinner over so I had a chance to eat too (he had stopped by earlier in the afternoon to invite us to something the next day. My husband told him that it sure sounded fun but we would have to miss it because I was in labor. :o) ). It was so nice to be at home, free to do what I wanted/needed, and not be forced to stay in bed!