Birth Story : Part 2 - Levi's Birthday

I am writing this for myself so I will remember this day. I will try not to be too graphic with the details, but there's a chance it might be gross, so be forewarned. 

The night before Levi was born, I did not get much sleep. I was uncomfortable the whole night. Around 5am, I woke up and realized I was having painful contractions. I didn't want to wake Daniel up just yet, so I got up and grabbed a Gatorade so I could relax on the couch for a while. After having one contraction on the couch though, I realized that wasn't going to work out. They were much more painful while sitting down. I walked around for a while and timed them. They were 4-5 minutes apart and 1 minute long. After half a hour, I decided it was time to wake Daniel up. I was really needing to focus and breathe through each contraction. He got up and took a shower while I finished packing the rest of our things. I told him that since I already had my regular appointment with the midwife scheduled for 9:30 that day, he should just go in to work. He could come pick me up and take me to my appointment because I didn't think I could drive myself. Apparently that was a dumb suggestion, because he laughed at me and said "I just turned on my 'out of office' auto reply on my work email. I'm not going in, you're in labor!" I jumped in the shower and then started drying my hair. I had to put the hair dryer down for every contraction and lean on the counter to get through it. Daniel had called my parents to let them know, and he called the birth center as well. Dad was going to stay here with Gunner and Mom was going to go with us to the birth center. At 7:30 Dad arrived. Gunner was pretty excited to see him! I was running around trying to get ready and make sure everything was taken care of. Mom showed up a little later, I can't remember what time. I think Dad was worried I was going to give birth right then and there because he kept asking if we wanted him to load the car or call 911! I was getting pretty vocal through each contraction and it was becoming tough to do anything else. Daniel and I loaded up to head to the birth center at 9, while Mom ran to grab some more Gatorade to take with us. 

A few weeks before my due date, we bought Gunner a bike! We wanted him to have it when Levi was born, kind of as a big brother gift. We kept it hidden in the attic. Right before we left to have the baby, we got it down to give to him. He loved it! As we were pulling out of the driveway, he and Dad were waving at us and trying out Gunner's new bike. I sat in the car and sobbed because I knew the next time he saw us, everything would change and he wouldn't be our only baby. It was tough! I was so excited for him to be a big brother, but I was really afraid he would have a hard time adjusting to everything. It was an emotional ride to the birth center. I had two contractions in the car, and after the second one I said "I don't want to have another one in here!!!" 

We arrived exactly at 9:30 and went inside. From here, my midwife logged everything into my file as it happened, so I have detailed accounts of what happened and when it happened. I remember getting to the room and wondering if they needed to weigh me and check my blood pressure for my normal appointment. They thought that was funny because they laughed and said "Uh, no! We're having a baby!" I had been concerned the whole pregnancy that I would have another long and slow labor, and that I would get to the birth center too soon and have to labor for ever and ever. We decided that it might help me not worry if she checked me to see where I was. I was 5 centimeters, 60% effaced and the baby was at -3 station. I was a little disappointed because I was hoping to be more effaced, but the midwife assured me that it was great progress and that it would probably happen fairly quickly. 

I remember laying on the bed on my side for about 10-15 minutes to rest since I had been on my feet all morning. Once I got up, I wanted to wear a robe, but then decided I was too hot so I took off my tshirt. I had on a spaghetti strap shirt under that for some reason. I guess I wanted to wear layers that day! They put a big yoga ball on the bed with a towel over it for me to lean on while I stood up. That was a great position because it allowed me to lean over a little and still rock side to side, which I think helped the baby decend. 

Around 10:15, I REALLY felt like I needed to go to the bathroom. I did not realize that the baby was already low enough to be causing that much pressure. So obviously nothing happened, but I did have what is referred to as "bloody show."  (I warned you it might be gross!!) Just par for the course, and things were progressing very well. 

I went back to standing and leaning on the yoga ball, and around 10:30 we decided to try the shower. This was my favorite position. I was able to stand up and lean on the ball (which was raised on a stool) with the hot water on my lower back. While I was standing in the shower, I started pushing. I didn't realize that was what was happening, because I didn't realize your body just does it on its own even if you don't try! It wasn't forceful and I wasn't straining, but it was the start of small, short pushes. They were asking me if I was pushing and I kept saying no, but they eventually let me know that I was indeed and it was perfectly fine. I have heard stories of moms pushing too soon and it causing swelling of the cervix, making the baby get stuck and ending in a c-section. I was pretty concerned about it but my midwife assured me it was not a problem. 

Around 10:40, I moved to the birthing tub. This was "relaxing" mostly because I didn't have to be on my feet. I was starting to get really worn out and it was nice to just rest between contractions. The notes on my file state that it was at this time where I was "visibly bearing down", so the contractions were getting much more intense. My mom was sitting on a small stool to my right, and Daniel was sitting on the "dad stool" to my left and kind of behind me. They were both holding one of my hands, and taking turns getting me water and putting a cold cloth on my forehead. I labored in the tub for about 20 minutes, and the contractions were starting to space out more and more. My midwife let me know and suggested moving to a different position to keep things going. They put the ball on the bed with a towel over it, and I got up on my knees and leaned over the ball. I'm pretty sure this was when I hit transition, because I was having a hard time even staying upright. My contractions were getting very intense and I was sweating like you see in the movies when women are in labor. I was a mess, and couldn't NOT push at this point. I got up on the bed at 11:18, and at 11:22 my water broke during a contraction. Everyone in the room heard it because it made a loud POP sound. My midwife told Daniel that at this point things were going to get pretty intense. She started to explain to me that things were going to start progressing very quickly, and I said "No don't tell me that! I don't want to know!!" I think I just needed to really focus and didn't want to think too far ahead of what was happening at that moment. At this point I was at 9 centimeters, 90% effaced and the baby was at -1 station. 

At 11:40, I got back in the tub. I was starting to really push with each contraction, and I could start feeling the baby getting lower. From what I remember, I was able to push on my own for quite some time. I remember getting to the point where I could literally feel the baby's head move in the birth canal, and that was totally weird. After that contraction, I then felt him move back up and that was WAY weird. My mom suggested I try pushing as they counted to ten. That was harder than I thought because my pushing was really being fascilitated by my contractions, I wasn't really doing a lot to make it happen. It was kind of just happening on its own and I was going with it. I had to really focus on them counting. It was starting to get pretty uncomfortable because he was beginning to crown, though I didn't realize he was already that far down. I remember thinking "This is the worst it has felt so far, and I am worried he will never be born!" What I didn't realize was that his head had come out at that point! Because I had good breaks between my contractions, I stopped pushing after his head was delivered. I didn't realize this had happened, but there wasn't a lot else I could do because I was so exhausted. They kept telling me to push one more time but I couldn't until the next one started. Once it did, I did one small push and I remember opening my eyes and he was coming out of the water! They put him right into my arms and he was screaming and pink as could be! It was 12:03. Daniel was right there and Mom was taking pictures. I loved hearing him cry! Poor Gunner had lots of fluid in his lungs so he just gurgled and barely made any noise. I was so worried about him. This was so different, and I couldn't get enough of Levi wailing away. 

One thing I had requested to have done in the hospital was delayed cord clamping. They didn't seem to care too much to make that happen, and kind of shrugged it off as if it was a silly request. With the birth center, they automatically try to do that if they can. We were able to delay the cord being clamped and cut for 8 minutes after he was born! My mom said she could see how quickly he was turning from whitish purple to pink as the blood started working its magic in his little body. After Daniel cut the cord, they helped me get up and out of the tub and onto the bed. 

Daniel quickly threw his shirt off so he could do skin to skin with Levi. It took about twenty minutes for the placenta to deliver, and that wasn't fun. I had torn pretty much exactly where my episiotomy was so I ended up with a few stitches. After that was all taken care of, I was able to try to nurse him. Thankfully he latched a few times and we had a good start on breastfeeding. Mom ran and picked up lunch for us, Daniel laid down to rest and I cuddled the baby. 

About 3pm I wanted to get cleaned up so I took a shower and got dressed. We were able to get in the car and head home around 5:30! That's one of the great things about the birth center. As long as mom and baby are doing well, they let you go home within four hours of the birth! It was SO nice to be able to start recovering in my own home instead of in a hospital room. 

The next day, one of the other midwives came to our house for our follow up! Home visits have been part of the package of the birth center, but because they have become so very busy they are phasing it out. I was so lucky to be one of the last few moms to get a home visit. She checked on me and my recovery and checked Levi and did his heel prick. 

My mother in law stayed with us the first week, and my mom stayed the second week. We had tons of people bring us meals and had lots of help. We are so thankful and blessed to have so many people in our lives to take care of us during this huge life changing time. 

Levi's birth was a really amazing moment in my life. I had been preparing for that for more than a year. There is nothing like delivering a baby naturally. It did hurt, but not like I thought it would. It was not unbearable. It was not impossible. I could totally see myself doing that again if we decide to have another one. I'm pretty sure the postpartum recovery was more uncomfortable than the actual labor and delivery. I have been recommending the birth center to anyone in the area who is pregnant or wants to have a baby. They took such good care of us and made this experience seem easy. 

Birth Story : Part 1 - Prep Work

This is for me. If someone wants to read it, cool beans. I'm not writing this for anyone else except myself though. I want to have it written out while I still remember it. Part one is about everything leading up to labor and delivery. 

Having gone through one labor and delivery already, I constantly compared what I thought the second time would be like to the first. The two pregnancies were very different too. I knew the two labors wouldn't be anything close to the same. 

With Gunner, I had a very easy pregnancy with little to no complaints until the last few weeks. (Towards the end, no one is comfortable and everyone is ready for it to end!) I chose the traditional hospital route with all the things that come along with it, including the epidural. It was the exact right choice for me at that moment in my life. The labor was long (18 hours) and we were in the hospital for two nights and nearly three days. I hated every moment of that hospital stay after he was born. I was miserable, uncomfortable, exhausted, annoyed by everyone and everything, and didn't feel like I was able to bond with my child like I heard everyone talk about. Once we got home and more used to having a newborn, things seemed better and life took on a new "normal". My second pregnancy was much more uncomfortable. I started feeling aches and pains much sooner. I had morning sickness more, though thank goodness it only amounted to lots of nausea. I started showing sooner. I was more moody and irritable than the first time. It was a lot more exhausting too. Very different!

As we started discussing baby #2, I had a few more opinions on how I wanted things to go the next time around. I was toying around with the idea of delivering at a new birthing center just minutes from our house. I didn't know a lot about how that would work, but I knew two things. 1- I would have almost complete control over everything that happened during labor and delivery, within reason. 2- I wouldn't be able to have a pain free labor. The first point was super appealing. The second, not so much. As we weighed our options, the birth center seemed like a really good choice. We started doing our research and preparing for a totally unmedicated birth. 

For the people in my life that know me well, this seemed like a terrible idea. I do not deal well with pain or being uncomfortable. This was going to be a mind over matter task, and I needed support from those who knew how to handle me. Those two people were Daniel and my mom. We all started watching lots of videos regarding natural childbirth and ways to cope with pain. Daniel and I took a class which really helped, and I got a lot out of hypnobirthing videos on YouTube. (It sounds hooky, but it's actually pretty interesting and informative) We all took turns reading The Birth Partner, which was really good at breaking down labor into detailed stages. We took a tour of the birth center and decided this was the way we wanted to go. (If you haven't heard of it, check out their website! http://bcnwa.com) They accept several of the major insurance providers in this area, and when it was all said and done we paid a lot less than we did with baby #1! Along with arming ourselves with information, we took lots of walks for a while. There was a span of several weeks where I didn't get in many walks because I was having a ton of lower back pain. Towards the end of the third trimester, we made a point to take one long walk every evening. It was NOT fun. I was waddling down the walking trail just aching and whining the whole way. I'm quite sure it helped with getting the baby down in the right position though. I walked a ton the first pregnancy, and Gunner was born on his due date! Levi ended up being born the day after his! 

A little about the birth center...

This birth center is not physically attached to a hospital, but it is right across the street from Mercy. The main concerns that were raised in the beginning all involved the safety of the baby and myself in the event of an emergency. They have many ways to deal with different emergencies at the center, and if they determine that a transfer to the hospital is needed, the ambulance can zoom over quickly. The thing that keeps them from having too many emergencies is the fact that they only accept very low risk mothers. They are very particular about who they will see, and that is in the best interest of everyone. I was lucky enough to be low risk and a perfect candidate. 

Instead of seeing a doctor for my prenatal care, I saw certified nurse midwives at the center. They were wonderful and I really felt like we got great personal care with each of them. 

The facility looks and feels like a high end hotel. The rooms are so nice and comfortable. (Check out the photos on their website!)

You do not have to wear a hospital gown or have an IV there. I was able to move around and labor like I wanted, which is not usually something you are free to do at a hospital. I was also encouraged to eat and drink during labor. 

I had regular appointments, just like I did at the hospital. They post everything from each appointment online under your secure file so that you can log in and see it if you want. I had direct contact with everyone there (including the midwives) through email, and they always replied very quickly. I really loved that, because if I had any questions or concerns I could get in touch with someone fast. 

Probably my favorite thing about the birth center was that they let you go home within 4 hours of delivery, as long as mom and baby are doing well. 

Throughout my pregnancy people would ask me where the baby was going to be born or which doctor I was seeing. I would say that I was seeing a midwife at the birth center. I got a few funny looks when I would tell people that, and often they would ask why I wasn't seeing a doctor and why I would ever want to have a natural childbirth. I can very much relate to that question, because that's exactly how my mind worked when I was getting ready for the first baby. I never even entertained the idea of a non medicated birth. It was epidural all the way. It would have been AWFUL if I had attempted a natural birth the first time around. I was in no way mentally ready for something like that, so I am glad we didn't try it. I'm pretty sure it would have ended up with an epidural anyway! There are several factors that went in to the decision the second time. The first time around, I wasn't really allowed to be mobile in the hospital to help things progress. I was more encouraged to stay laying down in the bed. This kept things from progressing much, slowing down my labor. The second time, I was encouraged to labor at home as long as I could and to be up moving around. At the hospital, I had to get an IV for fluids and medication. Unfortunately, the nurse who gave me the IV ended up busting the veins in both of my hands before finally getting it set up in the vein on my thumb! Ouch. I think I complained about that in between contractions the most. No IV needed at the birth center. They actually don't hook you up to anything, and use a little Doppler to monitor the baby's heart rate throughout. You aren't supposed to eat or drink anything at the hospital, but at the birth center they want you to eat (nothing too heavy) and drink water during labor. The main points that drove me to choosing a natural birth had to do with things after the baby was born. I had a difficult time coming off all the drugs after the first baby. It gave me a terrible headache and made me feel all around bad afterward. I didn't have that natural high you are supposed to experience immediately afterward. I couldn't move my legs for about 4-5 hours afterward, so I couldn't get up for quite some time. I didn't get the chance to breastfeed until more than an hour after he was born, and at that point he was entering the deep sleepy phase that babies hit shortly after they are born. We continued to struggle with that for the entire ten months that he nursed. At the birth center, I wouldn't have to worry about the side effects of any drugs. Also, one of the things they really encourage immediately after delivery is skin to skin with the mom and breastfeeding as soon as possible. Something I had requested at the hospital was delayed cord clamping, but they didn't seem too concerned with making that happen. We were able to delay any cord clamping with Levi for 8 minutes! 

There were lots of things that made me want to completely change things up the second time. I am totally happy with how it all went! If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't change a thing. 

Stay tuned for Part Two - Levi's Birthday!