Anastasia's Story

During my pregnancy I kept hoping for a longer labor than my first one!  'Real' labor with Isaiah, my firstborn, took about 1 1/2 hours including the afterbirth, and the recovery was quite difficult.  My wishes were answered for Micah's birth!  The labor was longer and a little harder to deal with, but didn't damage my body half as much. And I got to have the waterbirth that there was no time for the first time around!  I was also glad to be able to have my mom and midwife with me as well as my wonderful husband, Richard.  Here's how it started:

On Saturday we decided to spend the day doing things Isaiah would like, as we knew he wouldn't be an only child much longer.  We went to the zoo, the toy store, and Walmart.  By the time we finished the zoo, I could barely walk, and by evening I was having fairly regular contractions.  I didn't want to believe I was really in labor though, in case it was just more practice labor.  However, I did want to go grocery shopping to have lots of food in the house - just in case.  So we called Richard's Mom to come stay with Isaiah, who was finally having his nap, and we went out shopping again!  First we went to Walmart, where earlier I had seen some sandals that I now  needed to have!  While we were there, I had a couple contractions which were strong enough that I stopped walking while I had them.  I was kind of giggling to myself and thinking, "What on earth am I doing shopping in this condition?"  But we went to the grocery store anyway.  By the time we were at the checkout, I was leaning over hanging onto things when I had a contraction.  Richard and I both agreed that when we got home we should call our midwife, Geri.

When we arrived home I timed two contractions.  These were the only contractions we timed during the entire labor.  They were seven minutes apart and about thirty seconds long.  Then I called Geri, who said she would gather her stuff and come over.  I also phoned my parents.  They said they were coming over immediately, as they didn't want to miss it like last time! 

I felt happy and excited.  I bopped around the house, making our bed with the plastic sheet, gathering my exercise ball and birthing stick, sweeping the floor.... Richard's Mom told me I had better conserve my energy and I realized she was right.  I had already had a big day.  I was still stopping what I was doing when I had a contraction, but they weren't really painful.

My parents arrived, and shortly Richard's Mom went home to nap.  Isaiah was very happy with all the activity!  He also played with my exercise ball, so I never got to use it.  My contractions were gradually getting more intense.  I used my birthing stick that my Dad made for me, which is a tall walking stick with rubber on the bottom for grip.  When I felt a contraction coming on, I grabbed my stick and stood up, pulling on it and swinging my hips.  And, of course, I breeeathed!   Isaiah was interested in this.  We had practiced breathing and noises together before, and he 'helped' me breathe a few times.  A couple times I didn't get to my stick in time, and got stuck on the couch during a contraction.  Ouch!  Not so much fun.  When I used the stick, though, I did have fun!  When I did it right, the contraction didn't hurt.

Geri arrived somewhere during this time.  She asked how I was doing and I shrugged and said with a smile, "I guess I'm in early labor?"  Not having experienced 'real' labor before, I really had no idea!  Geri watched me using the birthing stick, and noted that my back hurt.  She said maybe the baby was moving around from the right side to my left, and was presently in a posterior position.  I felt that swinging my hips using the stick helped the baby shift into a better position.  Geri checked the baby's heart rate and my blood pressure, and got me to go test my urine.  While on the toilet, I had a contraction.  It was very intense in that position, so I dropped on the floor on my hands and knees, and vowed never to get caught without my birthing stick again!  While I was laboring and snacking lots, Geri set up all her stuff downstairs.  When she was done, my contractions were still about the same, so she left for a while.  My Dad went home to get some sleep, but Mom stayed.  We decided to try to get some rest, too.

Richard and I took Isaiah to bed and my Mom said she would nap on the couch.  As I was lying with Isaiah to get him to sleep, my contractions picked up a notch in intensity.  I really wanted Isaiah to sleep, so I used all the self control I had to lie still beside him and not make any noise!  I breathed deeply, and found that gently waving my hands in the air and opening and closing them got me through the contractions.  I also whispered "O-o-ooopen", which felt really good!  I felt a grin crack across my face.  I was actually using the techniques I had read about, and they were working!  They worked that is, until Isaiah fell deeply asleep.

I crawled into bed beside Richard, who was sleeping by this time.  A contraction hit me and I rocked on my hands and knees, moaning.  I knew there was no way I could sleep now!  I woke Richard.  My Mom had heard me and she came down.  She asked if she should call Geri, and I said “Yes!”  Actually, while Isaiah was falling asleep and those intense contractions hit me, I was thinking, "I want Geri here!"  I hoped she would make it back soon.  Richard went to take the cover off the birth pool for me, and I went to the bathroom.  It was about 2:10 am at this point.

I got into the pool, which didn't feel warm enough.  Richard got some hot water and poured it into the pool for me. He asked if I wanted him to get in with me, and I said I did, so he went looking for his swimming trunks.  My Mom came and sat beside the pool.  She told me Geri was on her way, as were my Dad and sisters, and Nora (Richard's mom).

The hot water was very relaxing.  My contractions got a little less intense and they spaced out for a while after I got into the pool.  I wouldn't say it's "the home-birther's epidural", as I have heard it called, but it definitely gave me a little break.

The atmosphere in our designated birthing room was nice, if a little surreal feeling!  The light was warm but soft, and I was so comfy and warm in the pool.  It was like my little birth cocoon!

Soon the contractions picked up again.  Richard couldn't find his swimming trunks, so he put on track pants.  He found the pool too hot though, so he sat on the edge of the pool with his legs in the water.  I was glad just to have him there beside me.  When a contraction came, I really had to focus on it.  I never had this type of contraction during my first labor.  I could feel each contraction gradually building to a peak, tightening my back and belly and nearly taking my breath away.  It felt like a band was being tightened and tightened around me, inside my belly, until it was nearly unbearable.  To deal with this feeling, I needed to moan "Ohhhhhh, ohhhhh, ohhhhhhhhhh," etc. with the rhythm of the contraction.  I supported my arms on a little foam kickboard and moved my hands back and forth in the water, gently flexing my fingers open and closed to keep them relaxed.  Richard would also rub my neck and back when I got a contraction.  It was so helpful to feel his touch - it always relaxes me!  I would also turn my head from side to side, and as the contraction subsided, rest my head on Richard's knee.

I remember my Mom smiling at me at the end of a contraction, and telling me, "You're doing really well," or something like that.  That made me feel good, because part of me did feel a little silly for making noises!  My Mom had talked before about 'staying on top of the contractions' during her labors, and now I finally understood what that meant.  I was glad she was there, for the kinship of another woman who has gone through the same thing, and who did so to give birth to me even!  Richard's support was invaluable, but it was special to have my Mother there and know she understood what I was feeling during those contractions.

I lost my sense of time while I was in the pool.  It felt like I was in there forever, although now I know I was not!  I'm not sure if I closed my eyes during the contractions, but I certainly didn't notice seeing anything except the contraction.  It's a little hard to explain, but I 'saw' the rising and falling of the contraction.  It was like the contraction wasn't happening inside me, but I was right inside it, experiencing nothing else.  I got a little break in between contractions, where I would rest my head and notice my surroundings again for a minute, and then another contraction would come.  I had to get myself set up in the right position with the kickboard quickly or else the contraction would be really tough.  Then, once it happened that I got no break in between contractions!  "Uh-oh", I thought briefly before going inside the contraction again -  but eventually it did end!  It dawned on me that I had just experienced a double peaked contraction, and I mentioned that to my Mom. 

Somewhere in this time people arrived upstairs, and Geri came downstairs.  She dimmed the light even more by placing something over the lamp, which was very nice.  She checked the baby's heart rate with her underwater doppler, and said it sounded good.  My contractions were gradually getting a little stronger and closer together, and I got one or two more double-peaked ones.  I was starting to wonder how much longer I would have to do this.  I realized that this was not constructive thinking, and told myself to focus on one contraction at a time.  This was very hard to do, though!  In the back of my mind, I kept wondering, "Am I close?  Or am I going to have to do this for several hours yet?"{feeling of slight panic!}

As it turned out, I was very close.  Soon, mid-contraction, the feeling suddenly, indescribably changed.  My coping methods were not going to work anymore.  I shoved the kickboard away as my "ohhhh" changed to an "Arrrrgh! - [pant, pant]".  Richard seemed a bit surprised and stopped rubbing my neck/back for a second, which totally threw my concentration and annoyed me!  Geri appeared from somewhere, right by my side of the pool.  The contraction began it's second peak, and as I ROARed, I felt myself bulging down below.  "It's coming, it's coming!" I gasped, surprised.  I got a tiny break as I braced myself for the entrance of our baby.  Geri grabbed a towel to support my perineum.  The next contraction - or was it the same contraction?  I don't even know! - came upon me with violent force.  I roared some more, and as the force of the contraction pushed me up I supported myself on Richard and the edge of the pool.  I was more 'with it' now, aware of  the people around me and comprehending what my eyes were seeing.  I felt the burning sensation as the head crowned... "Nice and easy, nice and easy", Geri told me.  I tried to hold back and pant, not just because Geri encouraged me to, but also because I instinctively felt the need to hold back and try to do it slowly.  I didn't feel I was very successful at that though, as my body took over and with a mighty push, the head was out.  I was dimly aware of a big purplish head between my legs.  “It's huge!” I thought.  Geri asked if I wanted to touch it, but I briefly answered "No!"  I could feel that the contraction wasn't over, and I needed to focus on it.  Geri and my Mom were telling me, "It's beautiful," and "You're doing great!"  Richard had planned to catch the baby, but it all happened so fast that he just stayed beside me.  I'm glad he did, because this was so intense, I needed him right there with me.

As the pushing contraction built up again, I could feel this immense force in me beginning to push the baby's body out.  I felt incapable of slowing it down.  "I can't help it -- I can't help it!" I said, mostly to Geri.  "I know.  It's okay!"  Geri told me. I barely felt the body slither out over the incredibly intense pushing feeling.  I watched as if in a dream as Geri caught him and immediately handed him to me.  I held him closely in my arms.

Richard slipped down into the water beside me to welcome our baby.  The atmosphere was joyous as we all gazed in awe at the perfect little baby.  He took a breath right away and cried a little bit.  I said, "Oh, sweet baby!"  Richard said, "It's another boy!" but I had to check him myself before I fully believed it!  Now we could talk to him by name.  "Hello, Micah," I said.  He started rooting a little bit, but decided trying to suck was too much work and actually had a little nap.  I cuddled him there in the water as he slept against me, and Richard and I drank in our new little son.

Cathy, the second midwife, arrived while we were there like that.  She had missed the birth by only a couple minutes.  I was starting to feel overheated, so Geri and Richard cut the cord, my Mom took Micah, and I got out of the pool.

Cathy and Geri encouraged me to try to get the placenta out, but it took quite a while.  I felt pressured to get it out quickly, which I balked at.  Cathy wanted me to take oxytocin, but I really really didn't want any.  Eventually I went and sat on the toilet and the placenta just slipped out, as it had the first time I gave birth.  I guess my placentas just take their time coming!

I went to bed with Micah, and he figured out how to nurse without any problems!  That was a relief.  Isaiah was awake again by now and was happy to meet his new baby brother.  He was very sweet and gave Micah lots of kisses.

Geri examined me for tears, and found two 'skid marks' and a vaginal tear, probably on my previous scar.  She felt that it would heal well without stitches because my perineum was intact.  Cathy wanted to double-check to provide her opinion, and I agreed.  Soon I was sorry I agreed, though, as this examination was very painful!  I don't know if she was less gentle than Geri or it was just because everything was being touched over again, but I hollered and yelled and nearly begged her to stop.  I wanted to be through dealing with pain by now!  Anyway, Cathy's assessment was the same as Geri's, so I was happy to decline stitches! 

Geri took her time with Micah's newborn exam, and Micah seemed to enjoy the experience, as did everyone watching.  He was absolutely perfect!  He weighed 7 pounds, 2 1/2 ounces and was 20 inches long.

My sisters came down to see me and give me a hug.  They told me both of their boyfriends were upstairs with them the whole time, and heard all the noises I made.  I found this amusing!  Apparently they didn't find it so amusing - they said it sounded like a horror movie, or like I was a ghost wailing.  I hoped I didn't traumatize the poor boys too much!

After everyone left we all went to sleep together in our family bed.   I looked across our bed at all of us and realized we were a family of four!  It felt so good!  Micah made our family complete.