On Tuesday evening (November 16th, which was the day I was originally supposed to be induced), I was having regular contractions for a few hours, and I asked Katie to "pray, pray, pray these continue." They were getting stronger, and I SO wanted our baby boy to come naturally, having been given some extra days to let my body do its thing, in God's perfect timing. At 9:10pm, Katie wrote and told me she had been thinking all day about that dream she had the night before, wherein I had a great birth. "I feel God. I'm praying really hard! In the name of Jesus, bring this child forth!!" Katie texted. I'm so thankful to have had this kind of support from her, not only as my doula, but as my spiritual sister in Christ. Much of the details, in this second part of our son's birth story, I must thank Katie for recording for me, as I was a wee bit busy at the time.
Well, fortunately, I got about four hours of sleep that night, and stronger contractions woke me up early. Around 5:20am, I was kind of nauseous, and couldn't move during contractions. This birth must be happening sometime very soon, I thought. Things were starting to get intense, and I wasn't sure whether to eat something or just drink fluids. But, Katie assured me that if I was hungry, to go ahead and eat something, because "we didn't know how long this could take" and that I would need the energy. Katie wrote at 5:25am to ask if I've had any "bloody show" yet, and if I was ready for her to come. I told her to stay with her family a bit longer, and that I didn't have any "bloody show" yet. Within two minutes after sending that message, I was writing her back that the "bloody show" just appeared! This was less than ten minutes after she had originally asked, interestingly enough, and was a very good sign!
As was the case in my labor with Emmi, all of my contractions were very frontal, pulling down towards my pubic bone area. At this point, labor was not painful, just getting more intense; I just focused on breathing through the contractions. Around 6:45am, I did my make-up and brushed and flossed my teeth, thinking we could be headed to the hospital at any time, so I wanted to be ready. Well, when I flossed, all my gums starting bleeding! I'd never experienced this before, but Katie reassured me it was just the flood of pregnancy hormones affecting my body. The time was nearing 7am, and the contractions were mellowing out a bit. They became quite tolerable, after I had emptied my bowels. This made sense to me, because there was less pressure and more room for contracting movement. (I will definitely drink as much water as possible next time I'm nearing a delivery, and I'll eat much more lightly at that time, as these things helped labor at a certain point to be smoother.)
Around 7am, I got ready and headed to see our chiropractor, Dr. Jim Bob Haggerton, of Lifetime Family Wellness Center. One of my hips had been bothering me for the past couple of days, as the baby was trying to move lower, so I needed an adjustment to try and help balance everything out. All the while, I was optimistic, believing God for a great labor and delivery. The adjustment was just what I needed, and my hip started feeling much better after I left Lifetime Family Wellness.
By 9am, contractions had stalled again and became irregular. Thankfully, Dave was home, and I somehow immediately feel asleep in our front office (which is odd for me, because I am rarely able to fall asleep for a nap during the day.) The contractions subsided enough for me to sleep at least an hour and a half, and then a big contraction woke me up. As I noted the pattern of contractions, they had really spread out again. Katie suspected a position problem with the baby, and she encouraged me to try some different techniques and positions to help our baby boy move downward in the correct position for an efficient labor and birth. She suggested that the baby's head may be "Asynclitic" (meaning it's cocked at an angle.)
http://www.spinningbabies.com/baby-positions/all-positions/asynclitism
Amazingly enough, I felt the baby come forward and then settle back down again; however, I'm not sure it worked the first time. So, we did it again. Per Katie's e-mail, I also got on my hands and knees a lot, trying to help open up my pelvis, and later did some "curb walking" (walk next to the curb with one foot stepping up and one foot on the street), which for me personally didn't help so much. We also tried some "sifting," which seemed to be helpful. We learned about this technique from Jamie Hinton of Ordinary Miracle Childbirth Services, who taught the natural birth classes we attended, and then Katie reminded me about it. For the next few hours, into the afternoon, contractions went from regular for a little bit to very irregular, with some being strong and others weak.
Around 4pm (we are still on Wednesday, the 17th), Dave and I left Emmi at the house with Aunt Sara, who was still staying with us to help, and took a good walk around the neighborhood, to try and stimulate some labor contractions and balance things out. On this walk, I also spoke on the phone with our ObGyn's nurse, desiring to cancel our appointment to come in at 10pm to start Cervidil, for an induction. Since I'd lost my mucous plug and have had some stronger contractions, I really believed labor was beginning to start on it's own and that I would be in very soon, without needing an induction. Dr. Wai and his staff were still concerned, and his nurse said this would be fine, but that if I hadn't already come to the hospital before morning, to come at 5am, and they would consider rupturing the membranes / breaking my water. I had to keep reminding myself that this was my birth and my baby, and I didn't need to beg for permission to wait a little longer; at the same time, I wanted to respect and prayerfully consider the medical advice of my doctor and his team, since I was over two weeks past the projected due date.
Aunt Sara continued to watch and care for Miss Emmi, as Dave took me on one of the last dates we might have for a while. We went out to Grapevine to eat at the California Pizza Kitchen, and this is where I remember contractions finally starting to become regular again, about seven minutes apart, and definitely increasing in intensity. Towards the end of dinner, around 6:30pm, I visited the restroom and had to stop walking on the way there and on the way back, from the intensity of the contractions. Dave and I discussed what to do, and we decided to go walk around at Central Market in Southlake, since Aunt Sara was putting Emmi to sleep. While walking around in the store, contractions continued to build in severity, and a little after 8pm, we headed home.
Around 8:45pm, I called Katie and told her that the contractions were becoming very intense, and she could tell I was becoming fearful. Katie talked to me about not allowing fear to come in to my labor, and she assured me that my body was doing a great work, not to fight it, but to surrender to it. I wasn't sure she needed to come over just yet, but it would be soon...
This was it... I was confident that true labor had finally begun, and it had to have a light at the end of the tunnel. So, I went to take another shower, before having to go to the hospital. A few minutes before 10pm, I called Katie and let her know I was ready for her to come over. At 10:35pm, Katie arrived at our home. I was having good, strong contractions, but the pattern was a bit inconsistent again. Katie was suspicious that the baby still hasn't found an ideal birthing position, which has prolonged this early stage of labor. I labored at home for almost another hour, and after discussing some things with Katie and some strong admonishment from my Aunt Sara, we headed out to Baylor Grapevine Hospital around 11:30pm.
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Just after arriving at Baylor Grapevine,
in between contractions... |
Right about midnight (Thursday, the 18th), we arrived at the hospital, and this is when I remember contractions really starting to become "someone-hold-me-and-let-me-squeeze-your-hand" painful. I was so thankful we'd decided to come, at that point, and very grateful I wasn't in a vehicle with this kind of painful labor. Everything seemed nice and quiet in the Labor & Delivery area, as we proceeded to check in. Unfortunately, my own vocal agony later changes that atmosphere.
Well, the nursing staff was very kind and efficient, and I was finally checked. At the time, I was a bit discouraged and somewhat fearful to learn I was only at 3-4 centimeters dilated, because I was already in a lot of pain during contractions. It reminded me of what happened during our daughter Emmi's birth in 2009, which was a total of 24 hours. So, I hoped and prayed I didn't have many more hours of this to endure. Also, I was told the baby's head was at -1 station. Katie assured me that all this didn't mean too much, and that we were going to get the baby situated in a better position.
While the nurses were still assessing me and our baby boy, they noticed that he had three heart decels on the monitor. So, they then wanted me to get into the bed, on my side, with some oxygen and fluids, to help our baby boy inside. He responded perfectly to this assistance, and after about 30-40 minutes, the nurses were able to take me off of everything and let me out of bed.
It's about 1am, at this point, and I asked to be checked again, before getting up from the bed. They discover that I'm progressing and am now at 4-5 centimeters dilated; however, the baby was at -2 station! Our nurse told us that she had never seen this before, a baby going up to a higher station during active labor, but she was sure the baby was truly at -1 station an hour earlier. At this point, Katie and I made eye contact, and we both knew what was happening -- God was answering our prayers! He had somehow allowed the baby to go up a bit to find a better position, in order to better travel down through the birth canal. I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing, but I praised God that He was helping me and our baby boy! I was encouraged and optimistic and decided to move, to labor on the birthing ball. This was one of the most helpful positions for me during the entire labor, on the ball, and I made great progress there. Also, the nurses were wonderful and very supportive of me laboring naturally. I couldn't have asked for a better group of nurses, truly, and I was very specific in things I wanted, going into a hospital labor and birth. They were professional and firm, when I needed them to take initiative and give advice, and they were also nurturing, encouraging, and gentle, when I needed them just be available while my body did its job. I could say more, but just know we were all impressed at how wonderful they were at Baylor that night, supporting me to have the natural childbirth that I wanted.
The heat is definitely on, by now, and Dave takes out the page of scriptures that I brought, in order to read some to me. Here are a few of them...
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song I will praise him.
Psalms 28:7
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge, and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
Psalm 91:1-2
I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
Psalms 46:1-3
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.
Psalms 56:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 26:3-4
I stayed focused and God gave me the strength to labor, holding either Dave or Katie's hand or both, through every contraction, as it came.
By 2:15am, our nurse wanted to monitor our baby's heart rate throughout three contractions. The nurse allowed me to stay laboring where I was at, and she held the monitor in place, on my belly. All was indicating that our baby boy was strong, healthy, and doing very well. Everything was getting more and more painful, but I was managing well through the contractions.
At 2:30am, the nurse checked me and I had progressed to 7 centimeters and -1 station. I remember feeling nauseous, and Katie immediately took out some peppermint oil for me to inhale its aroma...and, it worked! I didn't need to vomit, like I did at that same point in my labor with Emmi. I was a little nervous about transition approaching, but mostly grateful to have moved along so quickly to that point! Our nurse then suggested that perhaps I try laboring in the garden tub across the hall, for about 20 minutes, to see if that could help me relax. I was definitely willing to try it. While the tub was filling, I used the bathroom and had more bloody show. Katie thought that I had probably made it to 8 centimeters, at that point! Unfortunately, the tub was not very deep, and it ended up being more awkward and uncomfortable than helpful. So, after a little while, I asked for help to get out, and we returned to the delivery room. The time was 3am.
So, the nurse checked my cervix again, and I'd made it to 9 centimeters, with the baby at 0 station! This was great news! I'm struggling to not panic during the huge contractions, at this point, and just holding on for dear life! During this time, I remember experiencing a number of double peak contractions, and I just thought, "oh no! I need a break! oh please!" each time. But, they were most likely just helping our baby boy to get here more quickly. My body felt like a bucking bronco...and it felt like that bronco was about to split me right in two!! Katie just kept encouraging me, "you can do this," even when I was yelling "I can't do it!" She also reminded me to take a good breath, now and then...and slowly blow it out during the contraction. It's amazing what you forget to do, when you think you are about to split in two!
