disclaimer: I write this as if I plan for my close friends to read it. This is our 3rd labor and delivery, so I'm kinda desensitized to some of these things and may not have a filter. I try not to be gross.
I thought this day would never come ;).
We were given 2 different due dates: July 30th and August 7th. It's hard to say if Burk was early or late. He landed right in between the dates, so right on time I guess!
Monday, August 3rd
I'm a little depressed because here I was grocery shopping again. I thought surely last week would be my last trip. After unloading and putting away the groceries I discovered around 11am that I was spotting a little. WOOT!!!!!! Our first sign! I called Corey, our midwife, Melissa, and my mom to tell them. (This is the "birth team")
I felt crampy through the afternoon. I had contractions through the evening. 10 minutes apart, but only 30 seconds in duration. After putting the kids to bed Corey and I busied ourselves preparing our house... straightening up and cleaning and setting out supplies that would be needed during the birth.
****I will include below what the "supplies" are because I know some are curious about this homebirth stuff and how in the world it works. SKIP if you don't give a rip:
Kitchen: large pot of water for boiling herbs for postpartum herbal tea and herbal sitz bath, herbs, salt, honey (for herbal tea), strainer (to strain out tea leaves after boiling), snacks, stuff for a smoothie if I needed some energy.
Bathroom: crockpot with washcloths for heat compress
Our bedroom: birth pool, towels for drying off, recieving blankets to wrap baby in, newborn outfit, changing pad, diapers, wipes, plastic sheet and "under pads"for protecting the bed.
****************continue
When we finished we watched a TV show while trying to decide if we needed to call Nancy. I had been updating everyone along the way. I was pretty uncomfortable and felt like the contractions were doing a lot of work. I think we were all worried with it being my 3rd that things might progress quickly. We decided to try to get some sleep, and went to bed around 10:00. Between 1:00-2:00 I had contractions every 5 minutes and I was pretty uncomfortable. I was thinking that this was probably it. We called Nancy and she came around 2:30. She checked me and I was only dilated to 2cm. :( I was so discouraged. We all decided to try to go back to sleep. I contracted throughout the night, but slept some. Eventually the contractions just kinda peetered out.
TUESDAY, August 4
Nancy spent the night at our house and checked me at 7:30am and I was dilated 3-4cm. Since the contractions had stopped, and this was similar to what happened during Charlotte's birth, Nancy headed back home.
I asked Corey to stay home from work b/c I really didn't feel all that great at all. My mom came and got the kids so that we could rest during the day since we would probably be back at it tonight. After laying around all morning, I decided that this was too depressing just waiting. I took a shower, got ready, and Corey and I went out for a lunch date. sushi! I was definitely having strong contractions, but only like 2 an hour. We enjoyed our lunch and then went home for a nap. We got some much needed rest, then decided to go to Savoy Tea for something to drink in the afternoon. We sat and chatted laughing that this was labor. (I mean, I knew it was going to get hard, but this break was so strange.) We bought a couple of newborn outfits at Carter's and then drove to Springdale to see the kids and eat pizza with my parents. side note that is TMI- I am "spotting" or as the text book calls it, having "bloody show" all day long. My digestive system also did an epic purge that sent me on about 10 trips to the bathroom throughout the day. Amazing all the things your body does in prep for birth.
Sushi Date:
During dinner, contractions started picking up again. Really not comfortable, so we headed home again, leaving the kids to spend the night. We watched a little TV to pass the time. I'm still not certain at what point I need to call everyone in. I didn't want everyone to have to wait around, I really wasn't miserable just yet. Around 9:30pm we skimmed our Bradley book to try to decide what stage of labor I was in... it looked like 1st stage still. We decided to go to bed again. contractions were 10 minutes apart and 1 minute in duration. The last few as we laid down were spread out further, so I feared that I was stalling for the night again. I tried to read sitting up in bed b/c contractions really hurt my back laying down. I gave up though b/c I couldn't just sit up in bed until labor got serious, so I tried to lay down and dose off. Between 11:00-11:30 I woke up to some mega contractions. I had several really close together that about sent me out of my mind. I woke up Corey to fill up the pool, I needed some relief! I went to the living room and called Nancy and Melissa at 11:40. I needed everyone NOW. Corey contacted my mom and told her to come as well.
I got in the pool before it was finished filling up, I was desperate. OH, I hoped this didn't last all night. I was miserable. Melissa and my mom made it around midnight. My mom, Melissa, and Corey took turns timing my contractions (There's an app for that now!- ha!) Melissa commented that they were continuing to get closer together. I wasn't in any mood to chat. I shushed everyone during contractions b/c they were so intense that noise hurt. I was for sure feeling a lot of pressure. Nancy arrived around 12:30. She was buzzing around setting things out. She got a shush too. I know everyone was excited, but I was feeling the PAIN. I asked Nancy if she wanted to check me. She said that she didn't have to... but I really needed to know where we were standing. I told everyone that this had to be transition, and if it wasn't that I might die when I reached transition. I also told everyone that the birth team was retiring after this. I'm done birthing babes. Melissa said that I didn't have to make that decision in this moment ;).
At 1:10am Nancy decided to check me and managed to do so without making me get out of the water. :) The Lord shined his face upon me in this moment because GLORY I was "complete" Nancy said! Everyone is REAL excited at this point. "So we're just waiting on the urge to push, right??" I said. I changed positions every few contractions, and it wasn't but just a few before I felt the urge to push. I bailed out of the pool and had help drying off before trying to get to the bed before the next contraction.
I attempted the traditional reclined pushing position, but after 2-3 contractions I never felt the urge to push. I had a "lip of cervix" on one side that wasn't quite dilating. I didn't know whether to push through it or wait. My water broke during this time. I decided to lay on my side-propped up on some pillows- on the side that had the lip of cervix. With the next contraction I felt the urge to push again. I wasn't so sure about pushing on my side (feeling kind of like a barn animal), so I had 2 contractions like this and then attempted the reclined position again. I still didn't have the urge to push that way, so I decided that we were going to have this baby laying on my side- not planned, but Nancy said it would work. I may have had another contraction or 2 on my side, I was giving my body a chance to see what it would do if I didn't push with it. (I keep hearing all these stories about babies just falling out on their own. whatever. those things don't happen to me.) So, with the next contraction I push and my body was working with me. (Your body kinda heaves as if you were throwing up) With the next contraction everyone cheered me on and continued encouraging me to push. My mom gives the play-by-play as it's happening- which is helpful b/c I am OUT OF MY MIND in pain and it's nice to know that progress is being made through the pain. Burk was born at 2:13am. He came out crying and healthy and perfect... and without wounding the exit. Praise the Lord.
The next few moments are my favorite. It's amazing how it can be so intense and then BOOM- shut off intensity and pain immediately- and everybody celebrate. There is such a joy and peace and spirit of celebration and worship following. I was thanking the Lord for delivering me... and literally Burk. Corey snaps pictures, Melissa texts the friends, my mom is taking iphone pics and sending them to family and my mom even cut the cord. (Corey and I don't do medical things.) Burk tries out his lungs:
Burk Cruse Granderson was born weighing in at 7 lbs. 15oz. He was a long dude 22.5 inches! I've known all along that he was extremely strong. He kicked harder than anyone in utero. He immediately nursed, and well at that!
We are thanking God for this sweet blessing and for a perfect labor and delivery without complications and with a healthy mom and baby. God is so good.
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