Jacob Anthony
3-15-09 5:15pm
6 pounds 10 ounces
20 inches
You could say I was in labor for weeks... Since Latent Labor is the time it takes for effacement and dilating to 4cm. This step had started back at 34 weeks. I am NOT going to sit and jabber on about the last 4 weeks LOL
I'd rather just skip to when Active Labor started. :)
4:45 am I woke up and went potty. When I laid back down, a contraction started, and this one wasn't a Bh one. Not even a STRONG Bh one like some of the others were... This one was REAL, but there is plenty of time. I went back to sleep and was doing pretty good at sleeping through them, until Dh playfully tickled me at 5:30.
(Did I mention Dh rented Fireproof for me, watched it with me, and plans on BUYING it??)
Anyways, I lay there timing things for a while and we were 6-7 min apart. When I got up and moved around they would speed up... but even laying down they were no-matter-what every 6 min. I don't know if I missed a few, or if my body was trying to be kind, and give me breaks, but occasionally I would have 14-20 minute lapses. The intensity was raising though... Yup, plenty of time.
At 7:30 am I text messaged my friend, M., “I hope you don't have plans for today.” She's asleep, we've got plenty of time. I mentioned to Dh that we need to set up the pool and the bed, since baby wasn't going to wait until St. Patrick's Day. Wow! He starts to panic... Slow down honey, let me breathe... LOL We got plenty of time. M. called back, and decided to get some more sleep before coming down (she lives an hour away). I called my mom and let her know that today is the day. She started her morning routine, and would be on her way. Dh and I start setting up the pool, setting up the bed, and putting out supplies. By 10:30 am Dh had cleaned the kitchen, mom had arrived, and M. was on her way.... I am still 6 minutes apart, but unable to walk during one. I am surprised to discover that effaced means GONE.
Yes, I had called the midwife. She was working on trading in a vehicle, and I didn't feel the need for her just yet. I told her to continue taking care of business, I would call her when things changed. I was to continue calling back every hour or so and let her know where I am at.
Mom ended up deciding that I was still working up to it, and we had plenty of time, so she went back home to prepare for her workshop. I took “Call me when we're closer to time” to mean: “Call me when you call the midwife.” This worked out well, for everyone :) M. fed the kids and got them cleaning up the house while I timed contractions and put more supplies together. Dh laid down for a nap after vacuuming the house. It's about 1 pm, I am still a wandering 6 minutes apart, and it is getting difficult to talk during a contraction. We go for a walk. 1 block. All the way around. Contractions are so strong, I am starting to tense up and fight them, 6 min apart.
We finish the walk by 3:50 and putter around in the garage for a bit. I go sit in the recliner and sit back. After 20 minutes, I am puzzled by the lack of contractions. Then they started hitting, 2 minutes apart, hard, and strong, and relentless. I was unable to speak or move, but soon M. noticed and her eyes widened. “Are you ok? How fast are they now? Is that Another one?? (yes or no questions please!!) Should I call the midwife?” (Nod) It's 4:14 pm and the midwives are now on their way. “Call my mom” I gasp out after another crazy ride.
I decide my bed might be a good place to be... while i wait for my hot water... “honey, you need to wake up... It's time to fill the tub” The tub takes a half hour to fill, and the minute it is deemed ready, I am in there. The heat is wonderful... but it does nothing for the pain. LOL I'm in the tub for about 15-20 minutes when the first midwife arrives. She immediately starts putting everything together and asking questions, efficiently catching up to my body's established pace.
3 contractions later, I am climbing the walls of the tub, clinging for dear life, and trying to decide if pushing would help it hurt differently at least. My mom was helping me to remember to breathe, M. was jumping around taking pictures and Dh was holding my hand while I leaned on him. I give a half a push and am surprised by crowning and the un-ruptured bag of waters. I changed my mind. I need to pee. I can't possibly stay here right now.
“I gotta pee.” ” He's crowning” I manage to quietly say. I am trying to be quiet. I was so impressed by my friend who delivered in silence. I am not succeeding though... I am whimpering and whispering “owie” and grunting. Oh well. They all manage to get me back in the water (barely) and I decide the pain will get better if I just finish pushing him out. Maybe I'm at 10 already... 1 push for the head, 1 push for the shoulders... Ok Yea, I was also trying to hold myself together, delivering in this position isn't doing any favors for my parts!
It's 5:15 and 30 seconds when Jacob Anthony is born. He comes up out of the water and starts to cry. They put him on my belly, and I am surprised by the dark hair on his head, and the black fuzz on his shoulders. This little boy looks nothing like his sisters!! I lean back and look at Jacob as I try to relax and breathe a bit. Activity and talking is going on all around me, but I am not paying attention. I decide I need to get out of the water, and they get a spot ready for me on the bed. I sit there holding Jacob and deliver the placenta, which is wrapped up to be looked at later. It takes forever for them to get to cutting the cord, and this confuses me. I am not torn. I am not scraped. I am a bit raw here and there, but all is well.
Eventually, I have a dry naked baby boy in receiving blankets in my arms. He is checked over and all is in proper order. His breathing is a bit rapid (120) but comes down to 90 before the midwives leave. He is weighed, measured, and checked from head to toe. I even know where he is on the percentile charts. LOL The lasagna is done in the oven and supper is distributed to everyone able to eat. People start heading home.. soon it is 9 pm, my kids are in bed, my baby is nursing, and I am exhausted.
Would you believe that sweet boy slept through the night? He only woke when he choked up some flem, and was back to sleep quickly! Here's a few pictures. Hmmm, I can't share most of the pictures... modesty flew out the window sometime after transition.
http://community.webshots.com/album/570552853owwPKj
Peace be with you!
3-15-09 5:15pm
6 pounds 10 ounces
20 inches
You could say I was in labor for weeks... Since Latent Labor is the time it takes for effacement and dilating to 4cm. This step had started back at 34 weeks. I am NOT going to sit and jabber on about the last 4 weeks LOL
I'd rather just skip to when Active Labor started. :)
4:45 am I woke up and went potty. When I laid back down, a contraction started, and this one wasn't a Bh one. Not even a STRONG Bh one like some of the others were... This one was REAL, but there is plenty of time. I went back to sleep and was doing pretty good at sleeping through them, until Dh playfully tickled me at 5:30.
(Did I mention Dh rented Fireproof for me, watched it with me, and plans on BUYING it??)
Anyways, I lay there timing things for a while and we were 6-7 min apart. When I got up and moved around they would speed up... but even laying down they were no-matter-what every 6 min. I don't know if I missed a few, or if my body was trying to be kind, and give me breaks, but occasionally I would have 14-20 minute lapses. The intensity was raising though... Yup, plenty of time.
At 7:30 am I text messaged my friend, M., “I hope you don't have plans for today.” She's asleep, we've got plenty of time. I mentioned to Dh that we need to set up the pool and the bed, since baby wasn't going to wait until St. Patrick's Day. Wow! He starts to panic... Slow down honey, let me breathe... LOL We got plenty of time. M. called back, and decided to get some more sleep before coming down (she lives an hour away). I called my mom and let her know that today is the day. She started her morning routine, and would be on her way. Dh and I start setting up the pool, setting up the bed, and putting out supplies. By 10:30 am Dh had cleaned the kitchen, mom had arrived, and M. was on her way.... I am still 6 minutes apart, but unable to walk during one. I am surprised to discover that effaced means GONE.
Yes, I had called the midwife. She was working on trading in a vehicle, and I didn't feel the need for her just yet. I told her to continue taking care of business, I would call her when things changed. I was to continue calling back every hour or so and let her know where I am at.
Mom ended up deciding that I was still working up to it, and we had plenty of time, so she went back home to prepare for her workshop. I took “Call me when we're closer to time” to mean: “Call me when you call the midwife.” This worked out well, for everyone :) M. fed the kids and got them cleaning up the house while I timed contractions and put more supplies together. Dh laid down for a nap after vacuuming the house. It's about 1 pm, I am still a wandering 6 minutes apart, and it is getting difficult to talk during a contraction. We go for a walk. 1 block. All the way around. Contractions are so strong, I am starting to tense up and fight them, 6 min apart.
We finish the walk by 3:50 and putter around in the garage for a bit. I go sit in the recliner and sit back. After 20 minutes, I am puzzled by the lack of contractions. Then they started hitting, 2 minutes apart, hard, and strong, and relentless. I was unable to speak or move, but soon M. noticed and her eyes widened. “Are you ok? How fast are they now? Is that Another one?? (yes or no questions please!!) Should I call the midwife?” (Nod) It's 4:14 pm and the midwives are now on their way. “Call my mom” I gasp out after another crazy ride.
I decide my bed might be a good place to be... while i wait for my hot water... “honey, you need to wake up... It's time to fill the tub” The tub takes a half hour to fill, and the minute it is deemed ready, I am in there. The heat is wonderful... but it does nothing for the pain. LOL I'm in the tub for about 15-20 minutes when the first midwife arrives. She immediately starts putting everything together and asking questions, efficiently catching up to my body's established pace.
3 contractions later, I am climbing the walls of the tub, clinging for dear life, and trying to decide if pushing would help it hurt differently at least. My mom was helping me to remember to breathe, M. was jumping around taking pictures and Dh was holding my hand while I leaned on him. I give a half a push and am surprised by crowning and the un-ruptured bag of waters. I changed my mind. I need to pee. I can't possibly stay here right now.
“I gotta pee.” ” He's crowning” I manage to quietly say. I am trying to be quiet. I was so impressed by my friend who delivered in silence. I am not succeeding though... I am whimpering and whispering “owie” and grunting. Oh well. They all manage to get me back in the water (barely) and I decide the pain will get better if I just finish pushing him out. Maybe I'm at 10 already... 1 push for the head, 1 push for the shoulders... Ok Yea, I was also trying to hold myself together, delivering in this position isn't doing any favors for my parts!
It's 5:15 and 30 seconds when Jacob Anthony is born. He comes up out of the water and starts to cry. They put him on my belly, and I am surprised by the dark hair on his head, and the black fuzz on his shoulders. This little boy looks nothing like his sisters!! I lean back and look at Jacob as I try to relax and breathe a bit. Activity and talking is going on all around me, but I am not paying attention. I decide I need to get out of the water, and they get a spot ready for me on the bed. I sit there holding Jacob and deliver the placenta, which is wrapped up to be looked at later. It takes forever for them to get to cutting the cord, and this confuses me. I am not torn. I am not scraped. I am a bit raw here and there, but all is well.
Eventually, I have a dry naked baby boy in receiving blankets in my arms. He is checked over and all is in proper order. His breathing is a bit rapid (120) but comes down to 90 before the midwives leave. He is weighed, measured, and checked from head to toe. I even know where he is on the percentile charts. LOL The lasagna is done in the oven and supper is distributed to everyone able to eat. People start heading home.. soon it is 9 pm, my kids are in bed, my baby is nursing, and I am exhausted.
Would you believe that sweet boy slept through the night? He only woke when he choked up some flem, and was back to sleep quickly! Here's a few pictures. Hmmm, I can't share most of the pictures... modesty flew out the window sometime after transition.
http://community.webshots.com/album/570552853owwPKj
Peace be with you!
beautiful boy! he looks like you...course I haven't seen Daddy so I can't say if he looks like him ;)
ReplyDeletecongrats
enjoy your babymoon
congrats, Misty.
ReplyDelete