I spent nearly 3 full days of what some call "prodromal" labor after spending 3 wks on bedrest for preterm labor. On Saturday, November 23, 2002, I woke up feeling exhausted and powerless over my body and the upcoming birth of my son. I wondered if I would have the energy to give birth to him if this labor pattern continued. I spent some time that morning talking to my baby and telling him that it was OK to come if he was ready.
I relaxed, checked email and helped my husband check out our birthing supplies to make sure they were all in order. Around 1pm that afternoon I was fatigued and yet feeling tired of sitting home having labor patterns that would start and continue for an hour to only stop for a couple more hours and repeat itself. My daughter and I decided to go to the grocery store.
We spent much time in the store picking up items we would need for at least two weeks just in case baby decided to make his appearance. But at this time I was feeling as though baby was not ready and he was not coming anytime soon. After getting home and putting the groceries away I was overly tired and fell asleep around 4pm. At around 7:30pm I woke up to find my family "hungry". So up to the kitchen I went. I noticed that I was feeling as though something were dripping from my vaginal area and so I went to the bathroom to check. There was much more bright red blood and mucous than I had for the three days prior. I was also feeling as though I was having light menstrual type cramping. My daughter told me of a couple of people that called while I was napping so I decided to return some of those calls while cooking dinner.
I returned my midwife's call around 8pm and told her how I was feeling. I was happy to find out that her husband had thrown her a surprise birthday party and she was enjoying herself. We talked about if anything were to happen that I was to call her right away or I could call her apprentice, Dolly.
At 8:30 I felt a bit of a "pushing" feeling that let up quickly right over my tail bone. At the time I thought it was just a cute baby movement but then noticed a few minutes later that I was leaking a bit more "fluid". So off to the bathroom I go. I didn't have a lot of "fluid" leaking other than the continued "bloody show" so I called Dolly to let her know I thought maybe my water was broke but wasn't sure. Around 8:40 I noticed a bit more fluid and decided to test it with ph paper. To my surprise it was dark green. I was ecstatic. I called for hubby to check and remind me that yes, green was positive for amniotic fluid. So I called Dolly to be sure. She said she would be over to see me and see how things were going.
My midwife Melanie then called me, I told her I was going to sit down and eat some dinner and that to take her time, I was thinking I had plenty of time before things began moving along. I was still in denial that my amniotic sac had ruptured. As I sat down to eat I became nauseated and couldn't take but two bites. My husband, Gary, looked at me and he must have assumed that things were going to pick up quickly since he came downstairs and began to get the birthing supplies set up and to add some hot water to our birthing tub. I then began to feel strong menstrual type cramps and had maybe 1 or 2 mild contractions along with large gushes of fluid. I called my brother and asked him to bring my 7 yr old son Alex home and called my mother to let her know I was pretty sure my water had broke. It wasn't but 10 minutes later than my son was here.
I got myself a glass of ice water and while talking to my brother I had my first strong rush. I knew then by the feel of the rush that it wouldn't be long before baby arrived. My guess at this time was two hours! A couple of minutes later I was on the phone with my father and then got my second strong rush. I handed the phone to my brother and decided to head to our family room. As I began down the steps my front door opened and it was my midwife Melanie. She looked radiant and I was incredibly happy to see her here. We greeted with a hug and kiss and came down stairs. As I was telling her how things have changed since we last spoke I began to have a stronger rush than before. She began getting her things set up while we chatted. Dolly then showed up and we greeted with a hug. I was delighted to see her. We joked a bit about how Melanie got here faster and had to have driven incredibly fast to make it here when she did. I think it was about 9:20pm at this time.
All of a sudden I got a rush that I had to really stop and concentrate on. Dolly checked on babies heart tones and they sounded great. I think around 162. I was surprised that my little man was still moving a lot during all this. I believe he was getting himself positioned for his birth. I then sat on the birthing stool. Dolly came over and checked my bp and pulse and Melanie wanted to check to make sure there wasn't a prolapsed cord. The cord was clear and I hear Melanie tell my husband that I was 8 cm dilated. My response to her was "8 cm ALREADY?" My daughter came and asked me if it was a good time to have grandma come over, I told her "yes Brittany, now would be a really good time, baby will be here soon". I then had two or three more contractions while on the stool. Dolly used some hot compresses on the lower part of my back that felt WONDERFUL. I asked Melanie if I could get into the birthing tub and she said, "of course you can".
While getting in I had a stronger rush and stood over leaning on the tub until it was over. During this rush I could feel my body tensing up. I remember talking to myself and visualizing each of my body parts relaxing. The rush was so much less intense once I relaxed and let my body work a miracle. I was happy, relaxed and felt very calm. I could hear my mother coming through the front door at this time, I was happy to know she would make it for the birth. I got down into the water and it felt wonderful. I had yet another rush and during this rush I could feel a lot of burning and my babies head moving into my pelvis. It was a strong but yet pleasurable feeling. I remember telling Melanie and my husband Gary that it was going to be time to push soon. I moved around in a couple of different position until I found one that I liked.
With the next contraction I felt baby's head move even more into my pelvis and an incredible urge to push, but I didn't want to push yet. I wanted to let my body move my baby by nature and not by my force. My body began to naturally grunt small pushes as baby moved further down. I told those present that baby was coming. I could hear my children present. They were saying quietly " yeah the baby is coming, yeah". I looked up to see my mother there smiling at me, my daughter with tears in her eyes and the biggest smile on her face, and in front of me was my husband. I hear him say "you're doing wonderful mom" as tears filled his eyes. I smiled at him as I felt a strong rush and more burning. I told Melanie quietly that this is the part I don't like and that it burns. She smiled and said "yes Ginger, it does burn, you are doing terrific". I expected to feel more urges to push and more burning and I didn't.
I asked Melanie why everything just suddenly stopped. She reassured me that it was my bodies way of resting and catching up. A few minutes went by and another rush came, with this one I had no control over pushing, my body naturally pushed my babies head to where it was more than just crowning. I could feel his head and all the hair on his head. I asked my husband Gary to come feel the baby. He put his hand in the water and felt our baby. I looked at my 7 yr old Alexander and asked him if he could see the babies head, and looking brighter than the brightest star he smiled at me and said "yes mom, I can see our baby".
My family was here….all of them with smiling eyes and their comfort beside me. I was pleased that everyone was respectful and remained quiet and a good physical distance from me. I had to tell my daughter one time to stop whispering! She was just so excited to be witnessing her brother's birth. The burning was getting more intense and I knew that I didn't want to tear so I massaged my perineum surrounding our babies head and gently pushed back my labia a little at a time. I had to keep reminding myself that I had to let my body slowly bring my baby out and that I was doing the right thing by holding back from pushing. I then felt and incredible rush and gave one small push. My baby's head was out. Melanie said quietly "Ginger look down at your baby, he is looking at you". I looked down and seen the more glorious sight. It was my baby facing me as I was looking down at him through the water. What an incredible feeling that was to see him there. Melanie said to reach down and pull up my baby as he was moving himself out more. I was using one hand to lift myself from the bottom of the tub and had one hand free. I asked Melanie to help me as I used my one hand to pull him to my chest with her help. I could feel his entire body as I lifted him out of my womb.
At around 9:48pm I was holding my beautiful son. He was so peaceful. He let out one small cry and lay there in my arms. What a wonderful feeling it was to finally have my son in my arms, my little Zachary. Melanie placed a hat on him and covered him up while I stared at this miracle. In my mind I was gleaming with joy. I DID IT! I gave birth to my son and did it at home with no interventions! We stayed in the tub for a while; the children came over and felt the babies cord and how it was pulsating. They were amazed at how strong and vibrant the cord was! We noticed after about 20 minutes that Zachary was needing a little bit of help with breathing so Melanie asked me if she could give him a little bit of oxygen. I told her to "yes please do so". He continued to have a little bit of expiratory grunting so we decided to get out of the tub. The placenta was still attached and the cord was still pulsating strong. I laid on the couch with my baby as we gave him some oxygen. He looked around a bit, his color was a nice pink and he was very responsive to touch, but appeared to continue to have some troubles with breathing. We tried a few breaths with the ambu mask and it seemed to help some but not enough.
We decided after about 45 minutes of his birth that we would take him to the hospital to be checked out. Melanie gave me some angelica to help with the placenta since it was still attached and beating strong and I didn't want to have my baby go to the hospital and me not being able to go with. After a few short minutes the pulse stopped and we were able to clamp and my husband cut the cord. A few minutes after that Melanie asked me to give a big push and that my placenta was right there. Birthing the placenta was difficult but after a few good strong pushes it came out. We then got dressed and went to the hospital.
During the drive I noticed my Zachary rooting. I nursed him on the way there while Melanie held the oxygen tube by his face. What a wonderful baby, he latched on and suckled without any difficulties and nursed the entire 15 minutes to the hospital. We took the placenta with us as well. While there we were told baby weighed 6 lbs 1 oz and measured a long 19 ½ inches. I was pleased with his measurements especially since he was born at 36 wks 1 day gestation. My placenta was weighed and they said it was a LARGE 11 lbs. It even appeared much larger than my baby but not to be 11 lbs. I let them admit me so I could be close to my son.
He was being admitted for what they called "probable transitional fluid tachypnea". I asked the neonatologist what that was caused from and he told me with rapid births such as my Zachary's that as the baby comes through the birthing canal it squeezes the alveoli open in the lungs allowing the amniotic fluid to drain and since he was born so fast this didn't take place. He said this was common in babies born via C-section but it was more of a concern with preterm babies. They put him on oxygen via nasal cannula as they felt this would force the alveoli open. I was allowed to sleep in the NICU with him in my arms and nurse him as he wanted. He was given an IV and, being a nurse, I knew that it was best to have this just in case.
I was allowed to hold him and talk to him throughout all procedures. This was of great comfort to my son. I remember him crying briefly one time. My ob was called and she came to check me over. I was feeling on top of his world but yet worried about my little man. I had no tears and my uterus was shrinking as it should. After the first four hours there my Zachary's breathing was terrific. He had sneezed and coughed up a lot of fluid during the time prior to that and I was told it was amniotic fluid and that he was going to be fine. We spent the next 30 hours at the hospital. Our stay in the NICU was pleasant. The staff was incredibly supportive and the neonatologist was a very compassionate man. Every time he checked on Zachary and listened to him he was very gentle, quiet and touched him softly. I was confident in the care he was receiving and knew that is where he needed to be at that time!
We brought him home and shortly after, the children came home from school. It was a glorious moment to have my family all here together. The birth of my son was amazing and truly inspiring for me, my husband and children. We all grew from the experience of being able to share such an intimate moment together. One we will cherish always!
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