Before you read my birth story please know that I don't usually share personal details about my life, so writing this story is a bit different for me. It's very special to me and I'm sharing this story just because I know I enjoy reading other peoples birth stories. If you aren't interested in birthing details then you can skip the story and go straight to the pictures below!
It all started Friday evening, July 22, 2016. We had my brother and his family down for supper and my water broke shortly after they came to visit. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but learned very quickly it
really was my water breaking. It was obvious. At first I was really excited, but extremely confused. I wondered if it was possible that my baby would come two weeks early? I guess so :) So I looked up on my phone how soon contractions usually start after the water breaks. I figured I still had a good while to go yet so I pulled Marlin aside and told him that I thought it broke and it wasn't anything to worry about just yet. So we visited with the family all evening and told them nothing of my water breaking. I couldn't decide if I should tell my midwife that evening that my water broke or if I should just go to bed and wait until morning. I ended up texting her that night. She said for me to try and get some rest and let her know how things were in the morning. I asked her if I was really going to have the baby within the next few days, and she said "hopefully within 24 hours". I was so excited. I really couldn't believe it. It was so strange. Everything was ready for the baby, but I wasn't mentally prepared for her to come early, but it was so exciting. I could hardly stop smiling!
Mild contractions started at midnight and were about 10-30 min apart. Between the contractions and excitement I didn't get too much sleep that night. I got up in the morning and went about a normal day stopping my work when a contraction would come. I practiced relaxing through each contraction. I was able to take a nap after lunch. My contractions were about 7-10 min apart for most of the day. I cleaned my bathroom and got as much ready as I could. Marlin stayed home from work and was outside most of the day working on our home addition! I sat outside and watched him, and just had a very relaxing restful day. I even went to the town with Marlin later that evening. It was slightly painful bumping around in the truck when a contraction would come, but I was glad to get out of the house for a little while!
When we got home that evening my contractions started getting closer together. Maybe about 5-6 minutes apart. So Marlin and I sat down on the couch to relax and watch a movie with Little Marlin. During the movie i got down on all fours to labor through the contractions. Around 7:30 p.m they were getting a lot closer and more intense. About 3 minutes apart. I let my midwife know how close they were and she said she was at another birth about an hour away. So she sent another midwife (Rebecca) over to check on me and the baby. Everything was so much better and different compared to the emergency c-section I'd had two years earlier. I was pretty much left alone to labor in peace. No one was poking needles in me, tearing my clothes off, or in my face asking a million questions. I was on my bed alone, laboring in whatever position I felt most comfortable.
While I was laying down on my bed with the door closed Marlin was out on the couch reading books to Little Marlin. None of us knew how close I really was to having the baby.
The contractions got way more intense and I could hardly believe how painful they were. I was doing my best just to breath. It was almost impossible to relax. I got on my hands and knees and went through a few contractions that way. I really felt a lot of pressure in my pelvis and figured it must be the babies head. Then I squatted down on the floor and held onto the railing of my bed. I had a few contractions there. I think squatting down really sped it up. Then I ended up in the bathroom on the toilet. I don't remember if I walked myself or if Marlin helped me, but that's where I wanted to go and that's where I ended up. Once on the toilet the contractions just came one right after another. I didn't realize I was in transition already. Sweat was pouring off my face and everything was wet and slippery from sweat. I was so miserable. I felt as though I was going to die. I could hardly breath. Then for a blessed minute I had a break. During this break I went into a deep rest. I almost fell asleep. Then came the contractions again. I started feeling like I should push a little bit.
While I was in the bathroom Rebecca and Marlin were filling up the birthing pool. If I would have realized how close I was I would have had the pool ready sooner. But it all ended up well.
While in the bathroom Rebecca monitored the baby and Saige was doing just fine. I was told I should get into the tub now if that's what I wanted to do. I said ok, and waited a moment until I felt alright enough to stand up. Marlin helped me walk out into the living room and get into the tub. The tub was soothing and I was glad I got in. I got down on my knees and leaned forward against the side of the pool. Marlin knelt down beside the outside of the pool next to me and stayed right beside me helping me to relax and breath. With each contraction I felt as though I should push, but it hurt so bad I almost didn't want to. A few contractions later I knew she was about to come out and Rebecca asked me if I wanted to feel her head. I felt as though I couldn't move so I never reached down to feel her head, and I never even answered the midwife. Then came another contraction and I squeezed Marlin's sides so hard. I remember thinking how hard I was squeezing him, but I knew he wouldn't mind. I was feeling the ring of fire, I could hardly breath, the pain was so unfathomable, and it was all I could do to keep from panicking. Then the head popped out and I screamed a little. Then the shoulders popped out and the rest of the body slipped out into the water as I let out another little scream. It took me a minute to calm down and turn around to see the baby. Finally I turned around and sat down in the water as the baby was handed to me. Oh my goodness. THE BABY WAS HERE. I felt like I could cry. I couldn't believe I actually birthed a baby. I had wanted so badly to have my baby at home in the water. It actually happened and I was overjoyed as I sat there holding my sweet girl.
Just a couple minutes later the midwife checked the umbilical cord to see if it had stopped pulsing and it had. So she tied it off and Marlin cut it! Then I delivered the placenta. I just couldn't believe I actually birthed a baby.
A few minutes later I got out of the tub and got cleaned up. I sat down on the couch with my sweet baby girl and began to nurse her. Thankfulness to God poured out of my heart as I mouthed thank you over and over again! I knew God's blessings were upon me and that many people were praying that this birth would go smoothly. Thank you to everyone who prayed! My heart is so full. Praise God for his sweet blessings upon me and my family!
I feel really great after having this baby. I can walk around so easily and I've even been helping Marlin keep the house clean and the dished washed. Recovering from a natural birth is a million times better then trying to recover from a c-section!
Thank you for reading my story! Hope you enjoyed it.
Now for some pictures!
