Little Sister's Birth Story
Little did I know how much Bentley's birth was going to shape and mold me as much as it did. Shortly after his birth, I knew I never wanted another c-section. My recovery wasn't bad... I know many mother's who have much worse recoveries; but it just wasn't something I wanted to go through unnecessarily again. Ever since Bentley was born, I have had many regrets around his birth. I regret letting the doctor induce me. I regret letting my "researcher" side down and not researching that my fluid levels of an 8 is normal at 39 weeks pregnant. I regret letting the nurse talk me into an epidural when I was in no shape or form needing it at the time. I regret having so many people in the room... there were 30 conversations going on at one time while I was laboring on my own. I regret not having a vision in my head for how I wanted my birth to go.
So many things have ate at me since Bentley's birth, so I was determined to have a much better birth with Bailey.
Because of this, every time I saw my doctor for anything, we had a very extensive conversation about VBAC's. How far along would you let me go? Would you consider a gentle induction? If I *have to* have a RCS, would you allow me to go to my due date (at least) as long as the circumstance's allow, or even allow her to pick her own birth date by letting me go into labor before performing a RCS? I had so many questions flooding my mind. Could I have a water birth? Do I have to be continuously monitored? Can I walk around while laboring? How long do you feel comfortable with me laboring at home? I just couldn't stop until I had every little piece of information from my doctor. I had to know his stance. I had to be comfortable with it. I wanted this so badly, I did not want my ignorance to shade my eyes like it did with Bentley's birth.
When we finally got pregnant again (Bailey is our Rainbow baby. I had a miscarriage at 6w5d on July 5, 2012) I immediately started my preparations for her birth. A good friend contacted me about becoming a Doula herself and it was just in time since I was 7 weeks pregnant. I started studying Hypnobabies: VBAC Success since I knew I did not want another epidural, so I was determined to go unmedicated. My Doula and I even attended Natural Coping Methods classes to learn more about ways to relieve pain during labor without drugs.
Fast-forward...
My pregnancy went pretty smooth. Bailey did measure quite big via fundal height but every ultrasound showed a very long baby, not a big baby. One of my doctor's colleagues tried pulling the 'big baby' card and immediately talked a RCS, so for this, I asked to not be scheduled with her again. Our baby wasn't big... she was long and I'm short... my babies can only go out. It's determined that I carry extremely big but yet I have had 2 average sized babies.
Anyways, OK. Back on track here.
My pregnancy was smooth. No complications. Other than measuring big via fundal height, she was growing right on track.
At my baby appointment at 38w3d I was checked. I held off on checks until I requested it. I was having a ton of cramps and some Braxton-Hicks at night, so I wanted to know if I was gearing up at all.
It was a huge disappointment. I was barely a HALF centimeter dilated and 0% effaced. He couldn't even get through to strip my membranes. Even though I KNEW that it meant absolutely nothing as to when labor would start, I was disappointed. My doctor told me after that appointment that he would be leaving on vacation the next week but not to worry as I wouldn't be going into labor any time before my due date.
Boy was he wrong...
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(All ready to go! Bailey's "nursery" is finished and our bags are packed! This was taken Saturday afternoon, less than 12 hours before my first contraction!)
Sunday morning around 3am, only 4 days after my last baby appointment, I woke up to a very sharp contraction. I drank some water and rolled back over to fall back to sleep. I was fighting a really bad head cold that had come on suddenly around Friday so I was annoyed. I was getting little sleep as it was. The contractions came every few minutes. Finally I got sick of being woke up with every one of them and not being able to breathe anyways, I got out of bed and got into the shower around 7am. I did a lot of breathing in the shower and preparing myself that this could be labor since nothing was stopping them.
Around 9am I alerted Hubs that I was having contractions and they weren't stopping...
QUE: panic mode
Hubs had a huge "to-do list" before baby arrived so we were running around trying to get that done even though I was not convinced I was actually in labor. I kept in contact with my Doula via text the whole time. We went to my in-laws and rode their Mule around in the woods cutting branches for Hubs' deer stands and the contractions were getting worse. So bad at this point I had to breathe through them and focus. I still wasn't convinced so I wasn't timing them but they were coming every few minutes lasting around a minute each.
Finally I told him it was time to call my grandma since she was supposed to stay with Bentley and go home to labor. Bentley ended up staying with my in-laws and we went home. My Doula arrived around 4pm, 13 hours after my first contraction. She timed them, they were very inconsistent. 6 minutes. 10 minutes. 3 minutes. 5 minutes. All lasting 30-60 seconds each. So, we walked. We bounced on the birthing ball. We watched TV. I ate. I showered. I listened to my Hypnobabies. I yelled. I cried. I was exhausted.
Finally around 11pm, my Doula went home for a break. Despite losing my mucus plug and having bloody show, my labor just wasn't picking up. I cried. I was done. I wanted it to be over. I tried my hardest to rest but the contractions were getting super intense, I just ended up crying through them. At this point I didn't have anyone helping me focus and utilize my Hypnobabies... so I was losing control.
Finally, I called my Doula at 130am to alert her that I was ready for the hospital. Shortly after I hung up, I found myself in the bathroom throwing up. I had a lot of wishful thinking that maybe once I got to the hospital that I would be damn near complete and ready to push this baby out. So around 3am she arrived back at my house and away we went. We met my photographer there and we all walked up to L&D. Immediately I was changed into a gown, hooked up to monitors on that God-awful table having to cope with contractions without being able to move was awful, awful, awful. After a quick check, I was told I was 1cm dilated and 60% effaced. I cried. After 24 hours, THAT'S all I get?! After losing my mucus plug, THAT'S all I get? After having all that bloody show... you get the point.
I cried. So hard.
Then I begged to walk around. I wanted off those stupid monitors and I wanted to walk.
So we walked.
and walked.
and walked.
and walked.
So I asked to use the shower. This is when it got intense. I was in agonizing pain at this point with every contraction. Breathing through them was difficult. The shower pissed me off. It wouldn't get hot enough, there was a stupid chair in there that was in my way but I found helpful at times. I couldn't sit down, that fucking hurt. I had to stand but my legs were weak. We were going on 30 hours of nonstop labor at this point. I was tired.
After breaking down in absolute tears, yelling through contractions, screaming in pain... I asked to get out.
Back to the bed we went.
Checked again... 1cm dilated 80% effaced. I. was. DONE.
I asked to go home. So they called my doctor to come and talk with me. Once he arrived, I broke down into tears. It was like a person being so strong for so long finally seeing someone they trusted, so the tears just flowed. He asked me what I wanted to do after giving me the option of breaking my water and admitting me right then and there. Being the stubborn person I am, I begged for him to leave me alone but let me go home. Bailey was tolerating everything beautifully. Something that I prayed that Bentley would do when I was in labor with him. I didn't want to chance that with an intervention.
So my doctor, trusting me, let me go home with the instructions to rest, drink Gatorade and take a couple Tylenol 3's to help me rest. He mentioned prodormal labor and I was pretty sure I was going to cut him if he mentioned it one more time. After 30-some nonstop hours, this better be the real fucking deal or I'm going to shoot someone.
So... I received the wheel of shame back down to the lobby, dealing with contractions in the quietest way possible. Somehow got back into the truck and cried. I managed to text a few people, but I mostly just cried. I was exhausted. I was discouraged. A RCS was sounding better and better with every passing moment. But something in me... a flame... a spark, I don't know, but it kept me going.
All the way home I dealt with terrible contractions. I gripped the door handle and center console and did my best to power through each one. Hubs stopped at Speedway for some Gatorade as the doctor suggested and once we were home he had me take the Tylenol 3 and lay down. A few minutes later, I felt myself drifting in-between contractions. Finally able to relax through them and sleep in-between. This was all around 9am.
At 953am, I woke up suddenly with a contraction. Immediately after the contraction let off, Bailey squirmed like I had never felt her squirm before. Then it happened, a POP and a gush of fluid. I was instantly awake. I yelled at Hubs, "BABE! MY WATER JUST BROKE!" and he immediately ran to me with towels to help me get to the bathroom. Once I was in the bathroom and stripped down from my wet clothing I finally came-to all the way and realized what had just happened. I called my Doula and alerted her that we would be heading back to the hospital after a bit. I cleaned up, I processed what was happening and I changed my clothes. Then... they hit. Harder than I had ever had them come before. Contractions. I called my grandma to let her know that my water had broken but I wasn't ready to rush to the hospital yet, just wanted to let her know what was going on. Ben finished the dishes and by that time I was begging to go back. They were horrible. Painful. Coming fast and with each one I was getting soaked again.
So we got to the truck. It took 10 minutes to get heaved up into the truck. Every time I moved they came fast and hard. Every time I blinked they came fast and hard. These contractions were angry.
The ride to the hospital was torture. I couldn't move, even if I wanted to. Once we were finally there, Hubs opened my door and the valet guy came to the door and instantly said "wheel chair?!" without really even needing to ask. He brought it but I couldn't move. I tried so hard to just fall into the chair but every muscle I moved triggered a hard, HARD contraction. Finally I got pissed off and in one swift motion I was in the wheelchair.
I'm telling you, I don't know what it is about wheelchairs but I hate riding in them. I feel like everyone is staring at me and laughing.
But, once again, we were finally back in L&D. Hubs rang the buzzer and the door clicked open. All eyes were on me. I remember wanting to punch the nurse when she asked how I was doing today... all I could muster out was, "my water broke." As soon as I said that, one of the earlier morning nurses came around the corner and stated that I was such-and-such's patient that left only 3 hours earlier and that my room was all ready for me. They figured I would be back soon.
The funny thing about being induced vs. going into labor on your own? You don't give two-shits what nurses you have or who is there... you just want the baby to be born. With Bentley, I made sure to write down each nurses name so I could remember. This time, I was lucky if I remembered their faces.
Once back into that dreaded room with the can't-get-hot-enough-shower, I was in a gown and begging for *something* to take the edge off. Knowing I didn't want an epidural and knowing that I just wanted something temporarily, afterall, I was already up on 33 hours of nonstop, hard labor. I needed something. So I was checked after I changed into my gown, 3-4cm and 100% effaced. I remember feeling like I could do a happy dance, but then a contraction brought me right back to reality. I was elated, don't get me wrong. I couldn't seem to dilate past 3cm with Bentley. But I wanted to hear "you're COMPLETE!" and pushing before I got too excited.
So the shot of Stadol was on-board after my cervical check and Hubs proceeded to get into contact with our Doula and our photographer. Unfortunately, due to circumstances unforeseeable, neither were able to make it back up to the hospital.
So... there we were... two peas in a pod... birthing a baby. Well, I was birthing, he was rubbing my back and I'm sure wishing he had ear plugs to drown out my agonizing screams with every contraction.
Hubs was amazing. He rubbed my back as hard as he could with each contraction. Rubbing my hips, my back, my legs. Anywhere I directed him to and as hard as I told him I needed it. The thing with my labors, I tend to labor in my back. Which SUCKS! With Bentley I labored in my back when I was laying down or sitting up. But if I stood, I would labor in my belly. With Bailey, it didn't matter what position I was in, hands & knees, walking, laying, sitting, swaying, didn't matter, I labored completely in my hips and back.
I slept in-between contractions. The wonderful thing about Stadol was that it didn't help with the pain one bit. Not even a smidgen. But it certainly helped me "melt" into the bed like the nurses kept telling me too. Instead of white-knuckling the bed rails the entire time, I was able to completely let go as soon as a contraction passed.
Around 2pm, I asked for another shot. The "melting" effect had completely gone away and I was back to raging white-knuckles with each contraction. I was asked to walk around so I got up, used the restroom but on my very small walk back to my bed I was shaking so violently. I was afraid to move around much. So I laid back down and was checked again. 5-6cm and VERY low. I was happy with this but it wasn't enough, (story of our lives huh... never happy.)
I was given another shot of Stadol, coming up on 36 hours of labor. But that shot was worthless. Just worthless. It did absolutely nothing. Nothing for the pain. Nothing in regards to the "melting" effect. Fucking nothing. I was pissed. When the fuck would this be over? Why wouldn't my cervix just go the fuck away and birth this damn baby?
Around 345pm I was checked again. 8cm. HOORAY! Finally! Some REAL progress. I remember feeling very excited about hearing 8cm. I remember wanting to do a happy dance for real. Except, I was pretty much crippled with contractions. So I laid there, vocalizing so loudly with each contraction. It's no wonder looking back why I was put in a room in the opposite hall as far away from everyone else as possible. That VBAC lady is CRAZY loud. They didn't need me scaring off all the other laboring mom's.
By this time I was more aware of my surroundings. It's like a new wave of energy and adrenaline kicked in. My body wasn't a failure! It just might be able to birth a baby!
Then it happened. That involuntary push. I tried so hard to stop it... but it felt SO damn good to just PUSH! I yelled at Hubs to call the nurse back and he argued that I was only 8cm. Talk about raging woman with the whites of her eyes showing... "CALL THE FUCKING NURSE, NOW! I HAVE TO PUSH!"
So the nurse comes strolling back in all nonchalant like and stares at me while my body involuntarily pushes this baby out. "I wouldn't be surprised if she's complete!" ... "Oh, honey! You're complete!"
I remember thinking, Oh Thank you JESUS! and pushing with what I had as the nurse directed me to do a couple "practice pushes."
That's when all hell broke loose... I heard "Call Dr. Lars for delivery!" and the entire room sped up to warp speed. The hustle and bustle was deafening. I just kept "practice pushing" this baby out of my vagina the best I could. There was no stopping me. No one told me how damn good it would feel to just PUSH after 36 hours of labor.
Finally my doctor arrived, asked me to roll onto my back which he received a huge "NO THANKS!" and I just kept pushing while laying on my right side. The bed was broke down and I finally mustered getting to my back since it was very uncomfortable on my body once the half of the bed fell away.
As I pushed, I heard them count to 10 and surprisingly it was more helpful than I ever thought it would be. I pushed as hard as I could. It's amazing how hard it can be to give a good 10 second push! I could feel her head coming down with each push and then she sucked back up as soon as I let up. It was 3 steps forward, 2 steps back with each push.
Once my doctor asked if I wanted an episiotomy to "speed things up" and at this point, I had only been pushing for 10 minutes. Thank heavens Hubs knew my birthing plan and declined it for me... I was in no mood to push and talk at the same time. So I naturally tore up towards my front instead of into my perineum. I remember yelling, "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" and being told that I was tearing and to "push through it" which promptly was answered with "YOU PUSH THROUGH IT!"
That shit hurts. It's like someone taking a knife and slicing you... but I'm sure it hurt less than someone ACTUALLY taking a knife and slicing your vagina open. In hindsight, my tear was nothing. It was a breeze to get stitched up and a breeze to heal from! Then the painful stretching attempts started happening as she was crowing. Let me tell you. I love my doctor but if I could have moved my legs that bastard would have gotten a swift size 8.5 in his face. Get your hands out of my vagina! I already tore, I didn't need you to stretch me out anymore! By that time I was just pissed, so I pushed as hard as I could for as long as I could and I didn't stop.
That's when I felt a POP! as her head came out. Another small push produced her shoulders and as the rest of her body slid out, a "SON OF A BITCH" fell out of my mouth. It took me a second but I finally realized that I no longer had any pain. I could open my eyes and a BABY!! was on my chest! A sweet, precious, innocent, BEAUTIFUL baby was right there... on my chest. After 37 hours of labor and 20 minutes of pushing, our sweet baby girl was born!
August 26, 2013 at 4:16pm
7lbs 2oz and 18.5" long
Then we weighed her! Everyone was shocked she was so tiny compared to my big ole belly!
Today Little Sister is 5 months old! I'm still on cloud 9 about my VBAC. It was one of the hardest things I've done but I'm telling you what... it has been the most inspiring, most empowering and most rewarding things I've ever set my mind to do. I would not change a thing. She may have taken 37 hours to arrive from the first contraction to being laid on my chest but I could not have asked or prayed for her to tolerate anything more perfectly.
You can watch Bailey's birth video HERE.
Oh, and remember how I said my doctor would be going on vacation that next week? Yeah, Bailey decided to come merely 2 hours before he was scheduled to leave the office or his vacation! Talk about PERFECT timing!
Until next time, friends
So my doctor, trusting me, let me go home with the instructions to rest, drink Gatorade and take a couple Tylenol 3's to help me rest. He mentioned prodormal labor and I was pretty sure I was going to cut him if he mentioned it one more time. After 30-some nonstop hours, this better be the real fucking deal or I'm going to shoot someone.
So... I received the wheel of shame back down to the lobby, dealing with contractions in the quietest way possible. Somehow got back into the truck and cried. I managed to text a few people, but I mostly just cried. I was exhausted. I was discouraged. A RCS was sounding better and better with every passing moment. But something in me... a flame... a spark, I don't know, but it kept me going.
All the way home I dealt with terrible contractions. I gripped the door handle and center console and did my best to power through each one. Hubs stopped at Speedway for some Gatorade as the doctor suggested and once we were home he had me take the Tylenol 3 and lay down. A few minutes later, I felt myself drifting in-between contractions. Finally able to relax through them and sleep in-between. This was all around 9am.
At 953am, I woke up suddenly with a contraction. Immediately after the contraction let off, Bailey squirmed like I had never felt her squirm before. Then it happened, a POP and a gush of fluid. I was instantly awake. I yelled at Hubs, "BABE! MY WATER JUST BROKE!" and he immediately ran to me with towels to help me get to the bathroom. Once I was in the bathroom and stripped down from my wet clothing I finally came-to all the way and realized what had just happened. I called my Doula and alerted her that we would be heading back to the hospital after a bit. I cleaned up, I processed what was happening and I changed my clothes. Then... they hit. Harder than I had ever had them come before. Contractions. I called my grandma to let her know that my water had broken but I wasn't ready to rush to the hospital yet, just wanted to let her know what was going on. Ben finished the dishes and by that time I was begging to go back. They were horrible. Painful. Coming fast and with each one I was getting soaked again.
So we got to the truck. It took 10 minutes to get heaved up into the truck. Every time I moved they came fast and hard. Every time I blinked they came fast and hard. These contractions were angry.
The ride to the hospital was torture. I couldn't move, even if I wanted to. Once we were finally there, Hubs opened my door and the valet guy came to the door and instantly said "wheel chair?!" without really even needing to ask. He brought it but I couldn't move. I tried so hard to just fall into the chair but every muscle I moved triggered a hard, HARD contraction. Finally I got pissed off and in one swift motion I was in the wheelchair.
I'm telling you, I don't know what it is about wheelchairs but I hate riding in them. I feel like everyone is staring at me and laughing.
But, once again, we were finally back in L&D. Hubs rang the buzzer and the door clicked open. All eyes were on me. I remember wanting to punch the nurse when she asked how I was doing today... all I could muster out was, "my water broke." As soon as I said that, one of the earlier morning nurses came around the corner and stated that I was such-and-such's patient that left only 3 hours earlier and that my room was all ready for me. They figured I would be back soon.
The funny thing about being induced vs. going into labor on your own? You don't give two-shits what nurses you have or who is there... you just want the baby to be born. With Bentley, I made sure to write down each nurses name so I could remember. This time, I was lucky if I remembered their faces.
Once back into that dreaded room with the can't-get-hot-enough-shower, I was in a gown and begging for *something* to take the edge off. Knowing I didn't want an epidural and knowing that I just wanted something temporarily, afterall, I was already up on 33 hours of nonstop, hard labor. I needed something. So I was checked after I changed into my gown, 3-4cm and 100% effaced. I remember feeling like I could do a happy dance, but then a contraction brought me right back to reality. I was elated, don't get me wrong. I couldn't seem to dilate past 3cm with Bentley. But I wanted to hear "you're COMPLETE!" and pushing before I got too excited.
So the shot of Stadol was on-board after my cervical check and Hubs proceeded to get into contact with our Doula and our photographer. Unfortunately, due to circumstances unforeseeable, neither were able to make it back up to the hospital.
So... there we were... two peas in a pod... birthing a baby. Well, I was birthing, he was rubbing my back and I'm sure wishing he had ear plugs to drown out my agonizing screams with every contraction.
Hubs was amazing. He rubbed my back as hard as he could with each contraction. Rubbing my hips, my back, my legs. Anywhere I directed him to and as hard as I told him I needed it. The thing with my labors, I tend to labor in my back. Which SUCKS! With Bentley I labored in my back when I was laying down or sitting up. But if I stood, I would labor in my belly. With Bailey, it didn't matter what position I was in, hands & knees, walking, laying, sitting, swaying, didn't matter, I labored completely in my hips and back.
I slept in-between contractions. The wonderful thing about Stadol was that it didn't help with the pain one bit. Not even a smidgen. But it certainly helped me "melt" into the bed like the nurses kept telling me too. Instead of white-knuckling the bed rails the entire time, I was able to completely let go as soon as a contraction passed.
Around 2pm, I asked for another shot. The "melting" effect had completely gone away and I was back to raging white-knuckles with each contraction. I was asked to walk around so I got up, used the restroom but on my very small walk back to my bed I was shaking so violently. I was afraid to move around much. So I laid back down and was checked again. 5-6cm and VERY low. I was happy with this but it wasn't enough, (story of our lives huh... never happy.)
I was given another shot of Stadol, coming up on 36 hours of labor. But that shot was worthless. Just worthless. It did absolutely nothing. Nothing for the pain. Nothing in regards to the "melting" effect. Fucking nothing. I was pissed. When the fuck would this be over? Why wouldn't my cervix just go the fuck away and birth this damn baby?
Around 345pm I was checked again. 8cm. HOORAY! Finally! Some REAL progress. I remember feeling very excited about hearing 8cm. I remember wanting to do a happy dance for real. Except, I was pretty much crippled with contractions. So I laid there, vocalizing so loudly with each contraction. It's no wonder looking back why I was put in a room in the opposite hall as far away from everyone else as possible. That VBAC lady is CRAZY loud. They didn't need me scaring off all the other laboring mom's.
By this time I was more aware of my surroundings. It's like a new wave of energy and adrenaline kicked in. My body wasn't a failure! It just might be able to birth a baby!
Then it happened. That involuntary push. I tried so hard to stop it... but it felt SO damn good to just PUSH! I yelled at Hubs to call the nurse back and he argued that I was only 8cm. Talk about raging woman with the whites of her eyes showing... "CALL THE FUCKING NURSE, NOW! I HAVE TO PUSH!"
So the nurse comes strolling back in all nonchalant like and stares at me while my body involuntarily pushes this baby out. "I wouldn't be surprised if she's complete!" ... "Oh, honey! You're complete!"
I remember thinking, Oh Thank you JESUS! and pushing with what I had as the nurse directed me to do a couple "practice pushes."
That's when all hell broke loose... I heard "Call Dr. Lars for delivery!" and the entire room sped up to warp speed. The hustle and bustle was deafening. I just kept "practice pushing" this baby out of my vagina the best I could. There was no stopping me. No one told me how damn good it would feel to just PUSH after 36 hours of labor.
Finally my doctor arrived, asked me to roll onto my back which he received a huge "NO THANKS!" and I just kept pushing while laying on my right side. The bed was broke down and I finally mustered getting to my back since it was very uncomfortable on my body once the half of the bed fell away.
As I pushed, I heard them count to 10 and surprisingly it was more helpful than I ever thought it would be. I pushed as hard as I could. It's amazing how hard it can be to give a good 10 second push! I could feel her head coming down with each push and then she sucked back up as soon as I let up. It was 3 steps forward, 2 steps back with each push.
Once my doctor asked if I wanted an episiotomy to "speed things up" and at this point, I had only been pushing for 10 minutes. Thank heavens Hubs knew my birthing plan and declined it for me... I was in no mood to push and talk at the same time. So I naturally tore up towards my front instead of into my perineum. I remember yelling, "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" and being told that I was tearing and to "push through it" which promptly was answered with "YOU PUSH THROUGH IT!"
That shit hurts. It's like someone taking a knife and slicing you... but I'm sure it hurt less than someone ACTUALLY taking a knife and slicing your vagina open. In hindsight, my tear was nothing. It was a breeze to get stitched up and a breeze to heal from! Then the painful stretching attempts started happening as she was crowing. Let me tell you. I love my doctor but if I could have moved my legs that bastard would have gotten a swift size 8.5 in his face. Get your hands out of my vagina! I already tore, I didn't need you to stretch me out anymore! By that time I was just pissed, so I pushed as hard as I could for as long as I could and I didn't stop.
That's when I felt a POP! as her head came out. Another small push produced her shoulders and as the rest of her body slid out, a "SON OF A BITCH" fell out of my mouth. It took me a second but I finally realized that I no longer had any pain. I could open my eyes and a BABY!! was on my chest! A sweet, precious, innocent, BEAUTIFUL baby was right there... on my chest. After 37 hours of labor and 20 minutes of pushing, our sweet baby girl was born!
August 26, 2013 at 4:16pm
7lbs 2oz and 18.5" long
I was able to do uninterrupted skin to skin the entire time we let the cord quit pulsating and the placenta to be delivered. After a few minutes, the placenta slid out (which feels amazingly good!) and my doctor showed me the cord so I could "inspect" it and I never thought I would be so interested in something! The cord becomes a beautiful opaque white color after all the blood has been pumped into the baby and is squishy and clam-y.
After a good inspection of the cord and admiring the life line and placenta that my daughter was nourished through, Hubs was able to cut the cord! This was a much different feel than when he "cut" the cord for Bentley as she was still attached to the placenta.
After a good hour or more of skin to skin and breastfeeding for the first time, she was handed off for the nurses assessment and to be weighed. Since we were all interested in how much Bailey weighed given I carried her in a very HUGE way, my doctor hung out on the couch until I had my skin to skin and breastfeeding time.
Then we weighed her! Everyone was shocked she was so tiny compared to my big ole belly!
After our skin to skin session, breastfeeding for the first time and the nurses assessment, Daddy finally go to hold his Little Girl for the first time!
Around 3 hours old, family started to arrive. One thing I absolutely loved about not getting an epidural was I was out of bed as soon as we had our good hour of skin to skin and our first breastfeeding session. I was able to take a shower while the elated daddy held his little girl for the first time and was all dressed and "presentable" before family started to arrive!
Today Little Sister is 5 months old! I'm still on cloud 9 about my VBAC. It was one of the hardest things I've done but I'm telling you what... it has been the most inspiring, most empowering and most rewarding things I've ever set my mind to do. I would not change a thing. She may have taken 37 hours to arrive from the first contraction to being laid on my chest but I could not have asked or prayed for her to tolerate anything more perfectly.
You can watch Bailey's birth video HERE.
Oh, and remember how I said my doctor would be going on vacation that next week? Yeah, Bailey decided to come merely 2 hours before he was scheduled to leave the office or his vacation! Talk about PERFECT timing!
Until next time, friends
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