Grace Willa Warnick-Her birth story!
I woke up the morning before my due date (July 16th, 2009) with wet underwear. I dismissed it as urine and went about my day. As the day went on I leaked through many pairs of underwear, 2 pairs of pants, and about 4 pads. I spent the day cleaning and getting ready as something deep down in me told me that it was soon. I was still in denial that my water was leaking as it had never happened with my other labors. At around 3 I started to get crampy but nothing more. Around 5 I was getting small contractions and decided to take a shower. I peed and then as I went to get in the shower realized I could watch myself in the full length mirror and could see the steady stream of fluid leaking out. SO I knew it was my fluids. I didn't want to head to the birth center before my contractions got to strong. At about 7:30pm I called the birth center to find out which midwife was on call and when I should head in. I was told to go ahead and come in so I could get checked out and everything, which was fine because I have a history of fast births and live an hour out.
We stopped at the grocery story and picked up some fruit and juice. At about 10 till 9 we arrived at the center. I was having contractions about 10 minutes apart. When we arrived we were greeted by our midwife Jean who was there delivering another baby. They have two birth rooms available and unfortunately my birth room (the only one with a tub) was being occupied. It was fine by me though because my labor was very slow at that point and the women was 9 1/2 cm already. I was checked and was at a 3 so we walked. We walked for about 2 hours. When we got back we sat and sat and sat which felt like FOREVER. (Oh yeah my mom, husband, and 3 year old were there). We listened to the other women scream for a good 30 minutes and then a beautiful baby cry. It was so sweet. The mom did have a good tear and had to be stitched which I overheard and could hear her crying as it was being done. I felt very bad for her. I was still very comfortable and managing contractions very easily. Finally Jean was able to focus on just me and checked me...still a 3. I went back into our labor room while Jean went to help the other women get ready to go and everything so they could clean up the other room for me to use. As I was sitting on the bed I had a contraction. I closed my eyes and breathed, it wasn't bad at all but enough to make me stop. All of a sudden in the middle of the contraction I heard two popping sounds come from inside of me and my contraction went from manageable to "OMG WTF!" LOL! (This happened at exactly 1:31am, I remember my mom saying something about the time)
Jean came rushing in and checked me....I was a 4. I tried the birthing ball...nothing. The only two ways I was comfortable was leaning against Gabe and "dancing" her out or on all fours. I was trying to do my hypnobirthing but everything was in my back and I was having a good deal of pain. The hypnobirthing did work for me with helping me focus and have an easier birth. I was able to manage the pain decently. It felt SO good to moan loudly. I would relax my jaw and remind myself that it would be over in a few and that I could do it. The contractions were less than a minute apart and I wasn't catching a single break. I was exhausted. Finally on all fours on the bed I was feeling the urge to bare down but thought this was simply because I hadn't gone to the restroom in a while. My mom and Gabe both rubbed my back and they both reminded me to breath. I got really annoyed with my mom because she was telling me "you're losing it" and I kept having to snap back at her (dh also did) that I wasn't losing it but that this is how I was managing. Jean came in a few minutes later and told me we could finally have the other room with the tub. I was SO relieved as I had been begging for the tub. When we got in there the water was running in the tub. I immediately asked if I could get in but Jean had me wait a few more minutes so the bath could get a little more full. When I finally got in the water was SO nice. I immediately felt like I could do it when I got in. I was still feeling the urge to bare down but again still thought it was simple that I hadn't gone to the restroom in a while. I kept reminding myself of all the natural birth stories I had read and that it was so close. I kept remembering every time I said I couldn't do it that that meant I was probably almost done. As I was laying in the tub (after about 5 minutes) I felt a very slight burning sensation and told everyone. Jean came and checked me and confirmed I was complete and she was right there.
I started to gently bare down. I asked the midwife if Gabe could still catch the baby, she said sure but that Grace was coming out super fast and the water that maybe it was a better idea if she do it. She left it up to Gabe who didn't hesitate to let her take charge. He just sat on the side of the tub and stroked my hair. It seemed like it was taking forever and I kept feeling to see if I could feel her head. Finally Gabe told me just to bare down with all my might. I'm so glad he told me to because as soon as I pushed as hard as I could her head came right out and her body followed with one more gentle push. I immediatly grabbed her out of the water and started to pull her up to my chest. Jean stopped me from pulling her all the way so she could untangle the cord from around her arms. I held her for a few minutes before they said her cord was almost done BUT they wanted to go ahead and cut it because they thought I may be hemmoraging. I hesitated but was a little worried so I said ok. DH cut the cord.
I didn't hemorrhage, it was my placenta coming out just as fast as Grace had come out =)...thank goodness. We just were not expecting it to come flying out so fast. My bleeding did great and is fine now. And I'm proud to say I didn't tear! I never tore with my other babies either.
Grace got to nurse about 5 minutes after birth. She latched on perfectly!!! She is a super nurser and already wants to nurse constantly.
We got to come home 2 hours after the birth. I am sad to say that this first hours home have been VERY difficult. I'm having HORRIBLE uterine contractions that I think are worse because of lack of sleep. We got home and everyone else is asleep. Gabe's mom got up and held baby for a little while but other than that NO ONE here (4 other people capable of helping) offered to get up and help. Gabe and I are both exhausted and now that he's asleep I can't get him back up. I feel so bad, he's SO tired. I got about an hour and a half before the kids got up and now I am in bed with them watching cartoons while the girls ohh and ahh and fight over who gets to hold the baby! They both ADORE her so much! Emma is such an overprotective big sister and insists on being the only other person to hold her except myself. It's very sweet. I'm feeling okay now but earlier I was miserable and tired.
Thank goodness dh has the next 4 days off as I have been directed BED and nursing ONLY for 3 days. No taking care of the older kids. I know when dh gets his sleep he will help more than ever!
We are adoring Grace and her tiny fluffy butt! She is just beautiful!!
OH YES, she weighed 8lbs 10oz and I'm not sure how long, dh knows. And she was born at 2:27am...one hour from when i heard the popping noise. Here are some photos from the birth!
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wow, great story and pictures...thanks for sharing. the pictures are great! congratulations!
Meet Kelseyciarah
This Virginia mom never wanted to get married or have kids - but now she's a happy a SAHM of two little ones!
Kaitlynn Christine Allen
- EmmasMummy11
on Jul. 18, 2009 at 1:48 AM