My attempt at a birth story (with pics)

[Tangy]

disclaimer: Photos are graphic for some.. not too bad, but you will definitely see one boob. We all have them, right?

Gosh, I don't even know where to start. My life is so different than it was a few weeks ago. As you all know, my baby boy is here. He's totally changed my world. He amazes me over and over again.

I finally convinced Chris to have sex to see if we could get things going. I had been asking him every day for a week but he constantly refused, I think he just wasn't ready for baby! On Sunday afternoon, Mothers Day, at 2:16pm, I had my first contraction. It felt different than the others had. It was the best Mother's Day present ever, a gift from my unborn baby.. a day filled with anticipation that he was on his way. Would he be my Mothers Day Baby?

As the day progressed, my contractions remained steady, approximately 5 minutes apart and semi-painful. I sent Tanya (my sister) a text message at about 4, informing her I thought I was in labor. It was very cryptic, only saying "2:16, 2:20, 2:25, 2:31, 2:36." She got it immediately. She suggested I go for a walk and see how things moved. My contractions stayed the same, but got a bit more painful.

We had plans to go to my moms for a Mothers Day BBQ. Tanya was coming and she brought the pool and a few other supplies. Chris and I and the kiddos walked over there, I contracted the whole way. We stopped at McDonalds for a large, large coke. Yum! When we got there, everything stopped, including my beliefs that it really WAS labor! I was certain my body was playing tricks on me. It was like it was just too hard to believe.

We hung out there for an hour or two and ate dinner. I checked my cervix while we were there and was shocked to find myself between a 4 and a 5. Checking my cervix started up my labor again and contractions were back, approximately 3 minutes apart.

I talked with Tanya, deciding what we should do and we decided Chris and I would walk home with the kiddos and Tanya would drive over. I thought the walking would help my labor. Chris and I walked back home and contractions continued. We hung out for awhile and Tanya showed up. We left the pool and birthing ball with the instructions to fill them both with air and the pool half with water. We headed to Wal Mart to get some things we didn't need.. but mostly to walk around and keep contractions steady. For the hour we were at Wal Mart, my contractions were regular at 2 minutes apart and increasing in pain level! Ouch!

We left Wal Mart, came home.. and they all but stopped again. All the kids were here, Jack was awake and crabby, everything was chaotic! I decided to just ignore them and hope labor continued. At some point in here, my water broke. This brought on contractions again.. and this time they never went away.

I decided I would sit on the birthing ball for awhile. Baby was still very high, despite my broken water. We moved to the kitchen by the pool at around 11pm. I hung out on the ball for awhile and my contractions increased. From there, I moved to standing at the counter, swaying back and forth, hoping it would settle baby lower into my pelvis.

Contractions were intense now and I decided to move to the pool. I feared it might be too soon for the pool, but felt I could use the relaxation I'd been told it would give. The pool was delicious. I alternated between squatting and leaning over the side. I learned that concentrating on breathing through my mouth made the contractions easier to get through.

Transition is hell. It brings forward a lot of fear and confusion. My contractions were almost on top of each other. The only way I could manage through them was with an ice cold towel on my face. Chris spent more time getting it wet than anything else. It's funny how those little things matter so much.

After checking my cervix and finding it only about a 7, I felt defeated. I had my sister check too and she agreed, 7, and baby was still pretty high, but had come down some. Now, I demanded to go to the hospital. I was sure my baby was stuck and just would not come down. My sister reminded me that I did not want to go. I agreed. I told her, "I'll have to load my pregnant, laboring a** into the car, drive across town, check in, lay flat in a bed on monitors and when I get there they will tell me its too late for an epidural and I'll be FU****!!!!" They got quite a kick out of that.

I continued to labor away now, but needing more support from Chris. I started to hold his hand through contractions and lean on his legs. I also asked that he support me with his forearms so I could squat to get the baby to come down further. I also started talking to my baby, telling him to move down.



Shortly after, I felt my body start to push. I checked my cervix and it was fully dilated and baby was much lower. While checking, I tried pushing to see if it relieved any of the pain. My first push brought baby past my pubic bone. It was the most amazing feeling ever. I felt him move down with my own hands inside my body. I remember rubbing his head at this point. He had this sweet little fat wrinkle. Playing with this distracted me from any pain.. and I just waited for the next urge to push. It came, quite quickly and I pushed again, still feeling his head. My next push brought him to crowning. The burning was so intense, just like always! With no break, I pushed again and his head started to emerge. I rubbed his head, felt how far it was out. As his head came out, I was SURE it was his whole body, that he had to have been breach, because the pain of it coming was more than I'd ever felt before! It felt like it took so long for his head to be fully out, but it was only seconds. I relive those moments in my mind quite often.. and all the emotions involved with them. One more little push.. and his shoulders come out.. and his little body slides into my hands. I sat down.. and pulled him to my chest.



Sitting there, with my family around me, with this new little bundle in my arms... was absolutely incredible. I was so unsure of how I would feel. I wasn't ready for another baby. I didn't know if my mind was prepared enough. The second he was in my arms, I knew. I knew he was meant to be. He fit so perfectly into my arms and my heart. All I could do was hold him close and just look at him, soak him in, wonder how I'd lived without him.



The kids were really interested in cutting his cord, they all wanted to. My niece, Lily, clamped it.



My middle son, Josh, actually cut it. They were so proud of themselves!



He nursed beautifully, which brought on contractions.. and my placenta.



I had serious issues with my placenta. The whole of it delivered, except a very small area stayed attached. I drank some Shepards Purse (which tastes like poop!) and held out, hoping it might detach. It did not. Tanya looked online for some suggestions. I bet you can guess! "Eat some placenta." She said.. almost in a jokelike fashion, because its a bit strange. I told Chris to get the scissors to cut off a piece. The color drained from his face.. I don't think he believed me. However, he got the scissors, I cut off a chunk.. and popped it in my mouth. I know this seems horribly disgusting, but in the throes of childbirth and the aftermath, it's just like.. normal.

Shortly thereafter, out comes my placenta, completely intact, just slow!

Here he is a few hours later..



Here he is today, 2 and a half weeks later.



It had been my dream, to catch my own baby since I had Jack. I'm so thankful that things worked out so beautifully and he was born into the most loving hands of all. His mamas.