UPDATE: Pics and full story - Piper Elizabeth, born 1:06 am, Nov. 5th

I didn't sleep well the morning of November 4^th. I was up and down almost every hour between midnight and six with contractions that were waking me up. They fizzled out and I got a few hours of sleep between 6 and 10.

Around noon or one they picked back up, but I thought it was related to digestive issues and wasn't really taking it seriously. I ate lunch at my friend Kristen's house and started timing contractions in my head, figuring they were about 5 minutes apart or so. They were uncomfortable but I just went about my day. I came home, put my son down for a nap, and decided I'd better do a few chores in case this was real labor. I cleaned the kitchen and straightened up some clutter, then I worked for a bit (I work from home).

When my husband came home, contractions spaced out for about an hour or so. We did our usual evening routine. My husband made me a nice dinner. I played with our son and folded some laundry. Then we gave our son a bath and put him to bed. I was starting to get kind of irritated and couldn't get him in bed fast enough.

Hubby and I had sex after that - we figured it might be one of our last chances, even if I wasn't actually in labor yet. We figured if I was, this could only help. It was actually pretty enjoyable between contractions and I was surprised.

We took our dog for a walk and my friend Kristen came by to sit with my son while we did so. I normally walk the dog alone, but I figured it wasn't a smart idea in tonight in case I was in labor. I had several pretty painful contractions during the walk and just wanted to get back home. After we got home, she timed a few contractions for me. They were about 5 minutes apart and only slightly more intense than what I had been feeling all day. She thought we should just relax, watch some TV, start filling the birth tub just in case. She was going to leave for a bit and give us some privacy and asked that we call her in an hour to check in - she was to be at the birth and be our support person, watch our son for us, etc.

Right then and there, my water broke. It was about 10pm. I sort of squealed like a little girl, which Kristen thought was adorable. I said, "Well, I guess I'm really in labor," and I started laughing. I went upstairs to check the color and odor of the fluid so we could call the midwife and let her know what was up. I sat down on the toilet and had a MONSTER contraction. I was moaning through it. When Kristen heard, she knew things were happening fast. She used to be my midwife's apprentice before she had her own child. She ran out the door with my son so her partner could watch him and was going to change her clothes and come back. She only lives about 3 minutes away, but before she could get there, my husband was calling her telling her to get back ASAP because we needed her.

I had already stripped my clothes and waddled to the birth tub, which had less than a foot of water in it. I burst into tears because I knew I needed it to be full. The contractions were hitting me every 90 seconds with almost no break in between. I couldn't relax. I couldn't get on top of them. I was already making a LOT of noise and losing control of myself. I was really embarrassed and scared. I was shaking and feeling nauseated, but I didn't believe it could be transition already. I was trying to get down under the very shallow water thinking if I could just get submerged all the pain would go away, but it definitely did not. I was crying, "I wish the tub was full!" I was out of my mind really.

It felt my body starting to push on its own already. I started grunting a bit and Kristen asked if it felt better to push. Whenever anyone asked me a question, I couldn't answer it. I was like, "Yes. No. I don't know. I just don't know." Whenever they suggested a different position or asked what I needed, I didn't know. I wasn't ready to push, but I didn't know what else to do. I could tell the contractions were different and I thought that it might feel better. For a few contractions it felt a bit wrong, but after that it started feeling right.

I pushed for about a half hour, low grunts really. Nothing too forced. The contractions were unreal and I was still losing control from time to time. Kristen and hubby were great at talking to me and encouraging me.  It was about 11pm and the tub was finally full. My midwife showed up about now and I was really discouraged. I was feeling for the baby's head and still felt she hadn't moved down much. She asked if I wanted her to check me, and I did. This was my one and only VE for the whole pregnancy. I thought I should have made more progress and was a little scared that perhaps I was pushing on a cervix that wasn't fully open. She said I was complete and maybe had just a lip of cervix. I couldn't believe it. One hour of what I considered true labor and I was complete and pushing.

From there things are pretty hazy. I just kept pushing and pushing, making VERY slow progress. My midwife asked if she could support my perineum. She had been worried for weeks that my previous 4^th degree tear would be an issue. My body was pushing too hard and my skin didn't have time to stretch. If it weren't for my scar tissue, she may have come out in a matter of just a few contractions. I think that was why I was in so much pain - my body didn't know about the scar tissue and was trying to give me a really fast and easy labor.

I agreed to let my midwife support me, but as soon as she touched me I screamed. I said no, and she stopped immediately. She said I should put my own hand down there for support, which I did. That felt better anyway. A couple of times she poured olive oil into my hand so I could rub it into my skin. The progress I was making was so slow and I was so discouraged. Contractions were still really intense and very close together. I remember I kept saying, "I need a break."

At some point I stopped making progress in the water. I kept shifting positions and I started pushing even harder. Her head wasn't moving. My midwife suggested I get out of the tub and on my hands and knees in the bed. The thought of moving out of the tub terrified me, but I agreed. I just wanted her out, and said so.

As soon as a contraction ended, everyone was debating whether or not it was a good time to get me out of the pool. I knew I only had about 20 seconds and I said, "Let's go. Now! Before I have another one." They lifted me out, and with her head about halfway out, I waddled the 15 feet to the bedroom where they had set up some pillows for me to lean on, with chux pads underneath. I barely got there before another one came. I started screaming - on my hands and knees I couldn't hold my tissues down there anymore and it felt awful. My midwife started stretching me, using warm compresses and olive oil to lube up her head. It was really uncomfortable and I wanted her to stop, but I thought it might help and just pushed through it.

Finally the ring of fire peaked - I had already been burning for an hour or so, but this was unreal. I started screaming that it was too hot - thinking it was a warm compress, and everyone assured me I was just stretching. On the next contraction I pushed her head totally out, expecting relief - but there was none. I felt a new kind of pain, deep inside. I guess it was her shoulders, but I was frantic to get her out. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I thought for sure someone was doing something to me to cause the pain. I pushed and pushed like I couldn't stop. I'm not sure what my midwife did, but she must have helped maneuver her head a bit because she came right out after that.

They passed her through my legs and helped position me in the bed. The traction on the cord was killing me. I was so sore I couldn't lift her very high - I guess the cord must have been short but I forgot to ask. Then I had another contraction, and thought, "well this isn't fair! I already had a baby." The placenta was coming down. I pushed it out, and it came out inside out, which I'm told is rare and special, something called a Duncan? My midwife noticed a gush of blood and started massaging my uterus and dumping Shepherd's purse into my mouth, among some other homeopathics like arnica and afterpain relief.

The baby was crying off and on. I tried to nurse her, but I guess it was too soon. When the cord stopped pulsing, they clamped and cut it. She was born at 1:06am weighing 9 pounds, 9 ounces. Her head circumference was 14 inches and her length was 21 ¾ inches. I have lots of swelling and some small paper-like cuts, but I am intact!

She is just beautiful and is already a nursing pro. We are really enjoying our babymoon, just snuggling and relaxing. All of our friends are bringing food and Kristen is sort of protecting us from visitors for a few days. We were so happy to be comfy and cozy in our own bed, and so satisfied with the whole experience.

Non-vaxing, home-birthing, coffee-drinking, public extended breastfeeding, lactivist, intactivist, anti-CIO, anti-spanking, pro-choice, agnostic WAHM to Aiden (10/30/07), baby girl (11/09), and wife to Jason.