Ok so I know my baby is now 8 months old but I wanted to put down in writing the whole story so I will never forget! It was the best day ever so I want to remember!
So I worked up until the day I had Leia. On Tuesday January 4th I had my last midwife appointment early in the day. I told my midwife I am going to have her tomorrow. She said "I am off tomorrow so that would work good." She checked me and I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced. Not very promising but better than being closed! After the appointment I headed to Brad's school to help in his class room. I was on my feet most of the day constantly tight from braxton hics. (that was pretty normal for me though). I told my boss that I was going to try to have her the next day so they might be getting a call from me and I might not make it in to work. They looked at me like I was crazy and sure ok.
So here is why I wanted Leia to come on January 5th. I was obviously anxious to meet the little lady and I had schedule a foot massage with a friend that was suppose to help induce labor at 10:00 on that day. I had heard promising things about these massages so I just figured it would work. Also the 5th was the 2nd day Brad and Nick went back to school from Christmas break. It let me work full time while they were off and I got to go in to school with Brad to see everyone there one last time before I had Leia. It seemed like a perfect day so I told everyone that is when I would have her.
That night I went home and hung out with Brian. We talked about how I was getting the message and how we will have a baby soon. He asked me to go into labor after he was home from work the next day and I told him I would try. haha like I cared if he was done with work. He went to bed at like 11 and I could not fall asleep. So I played with my nipples lol... Ya I felf kinda dirty with him asleep next to me but I figured what the heck it could help my baby come. I did this for about 20 mins on each side then figured I would try to sleep.
That was not going to happen. I tossed and turned and could not get comfortable. My tummy was super tight and I just couldn't fall asleep. So I went out to the couch and played tetris on the computer, face booked a little, (even posted how I couldn't sleep haha) and watched some tv.
At about 2:15 my water broke... right there on the couch. My heart dropped and I was filled with excitement. I ran into my bathroom and woke Brian up on the way and told him what happened. He looked at me like seriously? haha it was so exciting, I was going to have my baby girl!!! I then looked at him and said "what if I can't do it?" he smiled and said "shut up you will do great. I never have doubted that you can do it." I was going to try to have Leia natural so I didnt want to rush to the hospital so I took a shower, did my make up and got my stuff ready. I called my doula and my mom and told them my water broke. I had my mom run by walmart and get me some spots bras for labor. My doula told me to rest and call her in the morning.
My contractions started about 45 mins after my water broke so there was no resting for me. They were not too strong at first but coming every 2-5 mins from the start. I walked around the house getting our stuff together and waiting for my mom to come over. She showed up and I labored a little longer at home. They started to be about 2-3 mins apart so I decided to head to the hospital. My mom and I both felt my labor would be pretty fast and I didnt want to be in triage in transition so we headed to Mercy Gilbert. I called my Doula and told her I was heading in so she could come down if she wanted to. We got to the hospital about 5:00 am.
Brian filled out the paper work in the ER while I labored on all fours. I made deep low moans to deal with the pain and didnt care who saw me. A nurse then came to take us up to labor and delivery. She saw me and said she would be right back with a wheel chair. I looked at her and said ,"can we just walk? I want to just get up there." She said sure and we were on our way. We walked the halls up to triage and luckily found a wheel chair on the way which helped us get there faster. Brian and I went to triage while my mom waited in the waiting room. They said she could come back when I got a room.
I was checked in triage to confirm my water had broken. I was at 4cm and 100% effaced so making good progress. I couldn't wait to get in my room and fill up the pool I had brought to labor in. Finally we got a room. Brian started setting up the tub while the nurses monitored the baby for about 20 minutes. Then I was able to get in and boy was that heaven. I loved the pool. It made the contractions about 100x more bearable and allowed me to fall asleep between them. I labored in the dark with Brian next to me in silence. This was my favorite part of the birth. Brian would give me water and just watch me as each contraction came. Between them I would lay my head on his leg and rest. It was truely beautiful sharing that time with him.
Around 7:50 I had a killer contraction and decided I wanted to be checked. I got out of the pool and onto the bed and learned I was at a 7. The nurses and my doula and mom all said that was great but I had wished I was further. I had to decide if I wanted the epidural. When I had gotten out of the pool Leia must have turned over because I was now having back labor. And back labor is worse! Every contraction I would signal to my doula to press on my back which helped so much. After a couple hard contractions I said quietly to Brian I think I want an epidural. The nurse stopped and asked if I did and my doula quickly said "No" then turned to me and said lets try another position. I then rolled off the bed onto the birthing ball and labored some more. I went back and forth from the ball to the toilet. The next hour was the hardest. They call it transition and it is when you think you will die.
Finally I got back into the pool. I decided to go on all fours and man did that do the trick. My next contraction I felt the undeniable urge to push. I screamed "I need to push!!!" My doula ran into the bathroom and told me to blow it out. When the contraction ended I jumped up and jumped in the bed. Seriously jumped! I was ready to have this baby!!!
About 9:00 my midwife, who had been popping in and out came in and checked me. She said I was at a 10 and to push when I wanted to. I never felt the urge to push super hard but I was very anxious so I did. I pushed and pushed and about 15 minutes later the head was out. My midwife told me to reach down and pull out my baby. I reached and grab that slimy little thing out.
She was blue... she had the cord around her neck and didn't make much noise at first. She just laid on my chest until she got her color back. She was amazing. I just held her and cried. All the pain was gone and I had my girl!
