The morning of November 4th, I had an appointment
with my midwife at 42 weeks according to my estimated due date. We talked about my options of being induced,
but I decided to check on my baby girl through ultrasound before making a
decision. I asked my midwife to sweep my
membranes, and she did. Then I went to
GNC to buy a few last minute items that I had read about to help start labor
(after it all though, I truly believe the body starts when it’s ready). I went for my ultrasound and found out that
little Miss Priss was doing great. Since
there were no health concerns for me or the baby, I decided to wait it
out. That afternoon, I did not take the
nap that I had become accustomed to, so I headed to bed early around 9:00
p.m. After trying one more thing to help
get labor started, I tried to sleep but noticed my contractions felt a little
stronger than usual. I dozed off a
little, but by 9:30 p.m. I realized that this was probably real labor! I started using my contraction timer app
and saw a consistant pattern of about 7-8 minutes apart. I was so excited, that I could not even think
about sleep (though I should have). When
Allen came to bed around 11:00 p.m. I told him that I was in real labor. Finally around midnight, I started really
needing to breath and focus through contractions. I tried different positions, using the
birthing ball, a warm bath to keep comfortable.
This time around, I learned that relaxing through a contraction is MUCH
better than tensing up through every contraction! We called the midwife around midnight to let
her know that I was in labor with contractions around 4 minutes apart. Allen’s mom came over around 3:00 a.m. to
stay with our other three children. We
arrived to the hospital around 3:30 a.m.
This time we bypassed the ER and went straight up to Labor and
Delivery. After settling in, we diffused
Young Living Purification in the hospital room.
When the nurses first checked, I was around 6-7 centimeters. I had an approved birth plan which allowed
only intermittent monitoring of the baby (once every 15 minutes and before,
during, after a contraction). The nurse
would hold the monitor to my belly wherever I happened to be. This meant that I was not limited to labor in
the bed. Actually I mainly stayed out of
the bed choosing to labor in the awesome jacuzzi tub (used Epsom salt,
lavender, and frankincense), on my birthing (exercise) ball, on the couch, standing,
and leaning on the bed with squat bars.
Also, a great bonus in a drug-free birth is snacking during labor, which
I really didn’t feel like doing too much of that. At 5:30 a.m.
I was measuring 8 centimeters.
After this point the progression of my labor really slowed down. The labor was strong in my back as we found
out that she was presenting posterier (facing up towards my abdomen). Through every contraction, Allen either
massaged my lower back with oils (PanAway) or placed a cool wash cloth on my
back with pressure. My midwife offered
to break my water a few times, but I passed as I wanted to avoid any
intervention. We did try a natural form
of back relief: saline water injections.
I had two injections of pure saline water in my lower back, and I felt
immediate relief! The relief was not
long term, but it was a welcomed break in back labor. At 9 centimeters I was walking around,
chatting with the hubs, and taking selfies.
I even decided to rest and dozed off briefly in the bed.
Selfie at 9 cm!
Finally, my water broke, the baby girl
decended, turned, and it was pushing time.
I know some ladies who pushing is their favorite part, but it is my
least favorite part! I honestly don’t
know how many times that I pushed or how long it was, but I did have to change
positions a few times. As soon as I
gave birth at 10:04 a.m., I was so grateful to have immediate skin on skin with
baby Abigail. She did not leave my chest for the first 45 minutes or so of her
life! That means we did not know her
weight, etc. until after she has been earthside for nearly an hour. She nursed during that time which helped my
uterus to contract and placenta to be expelled naturally. That’s right, no pitocin at all! I could not have asked for a better birth experience! Later that after I did ask for an ibuprofen :D I was very pleased with the
hospital this time around. I could not
have asked for a better experience with the OB nurses or the Nursery nurses,
and my midwife and student midwife were AMAZING! The nurse took Abigail to the nursery for
maybe 1-2 hours and then again the next day for a few hours. I asked to be released from the hospital
early (the day after giving birth), and luckily we were both released! It was so nice to be home and sleep in my own
bed with my sweet family under the same roof.
First picture of Abigial Olivia Carr
9 pounds 11 ounces
20 inches
First family photo
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