Started coming Tuesday, July 1 - Born Thursday July 3, 2014
Hannah is already 4 months old; but I've wanted to capture in writing her amazing entrance into this world. I want to remember the beautiful details of her birth and give glory and honor to God for her safe delivery.
TUESDAY, July 1
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
-Regular mild contractions begin -Wes stayed home for the morning
-Played frisbee with Ben and had our regular dance party in the living room; at one point, when I was having a contraction, Ben exclaimed, "Let's listen to the chicken song"...no idea what that was...but it was super funny.
- Couldn't nap, didn't feel super great, but Wes went to work in the afternoon
- Packed and went to bed early, in case we'd end up at the hospital in a couple of hours
-Had contractions ALL Day.
- Laid down, had 1 super painful contraction and pressure that brought tears
WEDNESDAY, July 2 (our anniversary)
12:00 AM - 8:00 AM- called doula at midnight and Wes' parentS to come down from Cedaredge.
-Contractions 7 minutes apart and getting stronger
-Doula arrived at our house, Ben slept whole time
-Wes slept while doula and I walked our neighborhood - some guy was playing electric guitar at 3 AM! (I went in and found Wes with his shoes still on in bed!! So sweet - he was ready to go)
- Contractions 3 to 4 minutes apart
- Played piano with my headphones on (hymns, jazz, classical)
- Contractions slowed a little - doula and I put away some baby clothes in the dresser
8:00 AM
-Wes' parents arrived - I'm still contracting (it's been 24 hours now...I cried a little, because Ben was born after 24 hours)
- Ben asks, "What are you doing in the hallway, Mom?" "Just stretching..." - but really having contractions :)
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
-Went to midwife, Tiffani Young, to get checked
-Only 2 centimeters!! But 70% effaced. Hannah was way low though. I cried in dissapointment
-Took an Ambien to try and get some sleep - we got Zoup for lunch and went to our doula's house (she let us labor there - so awesome - walked, prayed, visited)
- Afternoon: napped 30 minutes - laying down and contracting hurt too bad
-My mom arrived at our doula's house.
7:00 PM
-Went to hospital to get checked and ate dinner on the hospital patio (It was HOT and I was loopy tired; Wes and I joked about what a great anniversary it's been
-3 centimeters, 100%effaced, but not considered ACTIVE labor yet...SO frustrating. Midwife said go home...36 Hours now
-Went to City Market and then back to doula's (contracted in the aisles at the grocery store)
-Tried a shower to relax, watched a "Treehouse" show on TV...I needed some distraction. I kept having intense contractions, kneeling A LOT, laying forward on a rocking chair stool.
- Mom, Wes, and Doula kept taking turns napping....I still have only had one 30 minute nap since Tuesday morning...it's now heading into the wee hours of Thursday morning.
-Ate a lot of chicken noodle soup, yogurt, and fruit
- I fell asleep standing up, leaning against the kitchen counter
-Throughout the night we walked our doula's neghborhood til dawn...I wore my PJ gown and tennis shoes all throughout my labor
- 3 to 5 minutes apart still
THURSDAY, July 3
- 8:00 AM - (48 Hours now) Mom, Wes, doula, and Me all napped for an hour!!
- Doula instructed me to stay laying while contracting...actually contracted while I slept a bit - we all praised God for the refreshment
- 9:00 AM - went to hospital (doula's car wouldn't start so she rode with us ) to get checked (my midwife was on call this day, plus it was my due date....I really wanted to have this baby TODAY) - my mind drifed a bit to the health of Hannah and my options and staying with our game plan
- 11:00 AM - Midwife checked me and stretched me to 4 centimeters - and finally had a little (TMI) bloody show!
-Decided to have her break my water to get things going more.
-2:00 PM - lunch and then had my water broken...felt SO good to feel like things might be progressing.
-Labored in the shower, getting a lot more intense
-5:00 PM - 6 centimeters!! (Midwife asked if we wanted to know the number...I was a little deflated it was only a 6, and questioned once about an epidural...my doula reminded me I could do this still! Praise God for her...Wes and my Mom were seriously praying and questioning how much more we could all handle) - probably would have ended in a C-section again if I'd gotten an epidural
- Labored on the toilet a lot, to relieve the pressure and rest - nurses and Tiffani were all super encouraging. This was a lot of time in the bathroom!! (At home Wes' mom was potty training Ben for the first time, unbeknownst to us)
- 7:00 PM - (60 Hours now)
Fully dilated!!!! Still no drugs...4 hours of pushing to go
-Started pushing...tried every which way (knees, squat bar, etc.)
-Semi-reclining was the most restful and effective - my Mom, Wes and doula all took turns holding my legs for me - troopers
-At one point I said, "Get ready people" - because they had relaxed their hold on my legs and a contraction was quickly coming.
- Awesome nurses kept putting cold rags on me; I was very direct in what I wanted and didn't want
-Tiffani finally said, "Maybe you could take your shoes off" - cute - a nurse said at one point, "Why is she wearing shoes?" I had walked a ton and because I wear a heel lift, they saved my back
-It was dim and I was tired so I had Wes play our labor songs finally...and I had them turn the lights on (it was pitch black outside and so dreary in my room) The nurses said, nobody ever asks to have the lights turned back on!
-We listened to the same four songs over and over - they were helping. The words were SO uplifting: "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective, "Overcomer" by Mandesa, a Toby Mac song and some jazz tunes:
"My Lighthouse, shining in the darkness, I will follow You. I will trust the promise, You will
carry me safe to shore."
"You're an over-comer, stay in the fight til the final round, not going under, 'cause God is
holding you right now. You might be down for a minute, that's when He reminds you, you're an over-comer."
- Every push felt like it could be "the one"...but then nothing happened...I prayed each contraction for this to be it, and for Jesus to do this in me, because I had nothing left.
-My doula suggested I not make any more noise and focus all of my energy on each push - this helped.
-I asked Wes to pray out-loud - this was calming and encouraging.
-Finally, Hannah's head started coming - stuck for a LONG time, she had quite a cone, was purple, and bruised and had a cut too...Wes commented she looked like an alien! My Mom was surprised when Hannah turned her head while the rest of her body was still not showing!
- They asked if I wanted a mirror or to touch her head....I said no...too weird
- Tiffany pulled me open more and more to allow Hannah to come through - this was painful and so tough - I just wanted my baby out so bad! The pressure of her stuck head was tremendous.
- Shoulders finally came and then she came too!
-Ended up tearing almost completely, recovery was a little lengthy from this
-10:55 PM Hannah Grace was finally born after 64 HOURS of labor, NO DRUGS. A successful VBAC delivery. She was 8 pounds, 6 oz, with the most adorable chubby cheeks!
-I held my baby girl and tried to pull her closer, but they all said, "she's still connected" :)
-It was an unexplainable rush of joy and relief and love.
-She nursed right away - beautiful moment.
-I looked at Wes and said, "I'm done - no more kids" :) He agreed.
-Tiffani pushed my placenta out - I didn't really feel a thing.
-No real ring of fire - since Hannah's head was stuck forever...it was a mile long ring of fire.
-I remember thinking how hungry I was when I was pushing...that turkey sandwhich after delivery was the best thing I've ever eaten.
-My delivery nurse said, "Do we give awards...you should get an award!" :)
-I was transferred down to recover and when the nurses were asking me a bunch of questions past midnight, I had to say , "Can you repeat that, I think I fell asleep." I was beyond tired.
-My mom and Wes stayed the night with me, and my doula finally went home too.
-The 4th of July fireworks the next night were neat to watch from my room too.
GLORY TO GOD. ALL PRAISE BE TO HIM. He alone was my strength. My midwife asked later where I got the strength...I said it was all God. She agreed and said "yes, because it had to have been God...what you did was super-human". In the midst of it all, it felt like forever, but now it is a blur. I give Him credit for the composure and peace and endurance I needed. I praise Him for my loving and supportive husband, mom, and doula. Plus the amazing nurses and my midwife. He kept Hannah safe the whole time and His Presence was felt mightily. I try to guard my heart from boasting about the length and condition of my labor and remind myself that HE did this in me. Thank you Jesus!
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