I went to visit my midwife on Tuesday morning in hopes of stimulating labor but since the team had attended another birth overnight I was asked to wait. Fine. But Keegan had other things in mind. Chris stayed home with me that afternoon and I felt pretty good. In hindsight it was probably some early labor happening. Tuesday night is also the night we usually go to our birth class and I wanted to go. Chris said he didn't and knew I wouldn't drive there myself. Instead, my friend and massage therapist had some time for me and offered a massage. Sure, sounds good. I told her that I had some light cramping but nothing serious. She said that it probably wasn't labor either since it was focused low and in one place instead of my entire abdomen or in my back. I tried not to get my hopes up but I continued to take my homoeopathics and bounce and eat and drink and do everything that I mentioned in my last post.
I finally tuned into my body later that night and decided I would keep track of these little cramps since they started to become more rhythmic. I wrote down the time on the back of an envelope and looked at the time between them while Chris napped on the couch. I told him he could go to bed but he decided to rest there. I decided I would continue doing what I was doing since the contractions were not easing up but getting more intense.
One of the lovely mommies in my midwife centering group said when she had her daughter she would breathe through the contraction and on the exhale she would say "open". I went with that and before I knew it I woke Chris up and told him we needed to get the bed ready for the home birth.
Now, when birthing at home they recommend that you put down a shower curtain over your made up bed then put an old sheet set over the curtain. I helped Chris do this while I was in active labor. A few weeks ago I put all the towels and needed items together in a laundry basket so we bought that into the room with us for easy access.
I remember thinking, it's going to get worse. I thought it was a good time to jump in the shower to see how the water would feel with my contractions. It was nice but I felt it slowed things. I really wanted to make sure I was doing whatever I needed to keep them intense and close together. I got out of the shower and decided that since they continued to be intense while standing that I would go with that. I stood near the high dresser in our room where I could put my head down and focus through the contraction. Still, I remember thinking, it's going to get worse. For something that I have no control over I certainly felt in control for the moment.
After a few more contractions while timing them with my app (yeah, there's an app for that) I told Chris to call the midwife pager. I even remember thinking, ha, poor suckers. They didn't want to push me into labor but I went on my own anyway. Cassie was the primary on call midwife and I spoke to her for a moment. She asked to hear me through a contraction. Ok. Here goes. She said that I was certainly in active labor but there was still some time. She told me to keep doing what I was doing and she would swing by Tim Horton's and grab a coffee and she would be at my house in about 45 minutes. I told Chris to move the car so she could park close to our townhouse. Visitor parking is hard to come by. While he moved the car I decided to hop in the shower. Chris has been helping me through contractions by rubbing my back. It felt good and it reminded me that I was going through all of this for us. I remember thinking, it's going to get worse.
Cassie got to our house and brought all her things into our bedroom. They carry with them the equivalent of a level one hospital so she had a few things to say the least. When she checked me I was 5-6 cm dilated and fully effaced. Rock on! I was afraid I would be one of those women who experience all these contractions and be one cm. Nope, this mama was working hard and it was paying off. I continued to labor standing up.
I remember standing and the contractions were coming hard and fast so I said to Chris "transition". He told Cassie who listened and agreed.
Cassie called the student midwife, Tanya, who got to my house at some point. This is where things get a little blurry.
They checked me after 5 hours of active labor and this mama was ready to push. I actually pushed a few things while standing before I could tell her I needed to push. After a few positions that I said no to they wanted me to push while on the toilet to see how it was going. I did that for a bit and then they asked if I wanted to try side lying. I hated the pressure the caused but it was effective. That is the best thing about the midwives is that they ask, not tell... well, to a point. I went with it and spent the rest of pushing on my side. I had to move in a few different ways a couple times but for the most part it was side lying. Jane, the back-up midwife got to my house at some point while I was pushing. After about 2 hours of pushing the most incredible moment came to pass. Tanya, the student midwife caught Keegan James Doody and was placed on my tummy at 8:28 am on 3/13/13. He was pudgy and beautiful and absolutely perfect. I couldn't believe it! He was finally here. Chris watched the whole time and was so supportive and amazing.
After some time with mommy, they took him to weigh him. Holy smokes Batman! He's 9 lbs even! Wow! No wonder it took two hours of pushing. Oddly enough, it never got worse. I never felt like I couldn't handle it or that I needed drugs.
I remember this was the first time I opened my eyes in a long time and the sun was shining in through the window and the birds were singing. I was told that it was so warm and spring-like that morning. I was more enamoured with the beautiful little being in my arms. Perfection. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and I can't imagine doing it anywhere but in my home and on my bed. Thank you to my incredible midwives.
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