I took my last belly picture on July 7, 2013. 40 weeks and 6 days. I was 154 pounds. I gained about 24 pounds with this pregnancy. I was having more braxton hicks contractions than usual and I had some bloody show. I knew the time was getting close.
Dusty and I put the kids to bed and then watched Warm Bodies (a comedy about Zombies). After the movie (about 11pm), Dusty went to sleep and I tossed and turned. I had heartburn and needed to sit up, so I went downstairs, sat on the couch, and browsed the internet.
At about 2 AM (July 8, 2013), I noticed my contraction were becoming regular and increasing in intensity. I opened my contraction app and they were 7-12 minutes apart lasting 50-90 seconds.
Around 4 AM, I decided to get in bed and try to sleep. The contraction were getting stronger and more painful but they were not getting closer. I tossed and turned and tried to sleep until 5:30 AM when Dusty's alarm went off. I got up to use the bathroom and he asked if we were going to be having a baby. I said, "I'm not sure. I'm tired and sore and I need to sleep". He responded with, "Today is the worst day to have a baby". He had no choice. He had to leave for work. It was supposed to be the first day of recruiting school and he could not miss it. He headed out at about 6AM to pick up some paperwork a few miles from home.
I called the midwife and she told me that it's not real labor and it could be days before I give birth. I hung up with her and tried to get some sleep before the other 4 kids woke up. I maybe slept for 40 minutes total. It was broken sleep and I started feeling desperate for the pains to subside.
Dusty came home at 7:30. He insisted that I get up and go with him to San Diego. He suggested that I walk around the shopping plaza at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot with the kids while he goes to school. I had an appointment for a regular visit at the birth center that afternoon at 3:45PM. We live close to an hour from the birth center and recruiting school is only 10 minutes from there, it made the most sense.
He packed the van and dressed the kids. We left just after 8AM.
Dusty parked the van in in the parking lot of the shopping plaza on base and went to the school house. I gave the kids food and an iPad to keep them busy while I continued to time contractions. After just a few minutes, the contractions stopped. I was exhausted, so I sent Dusty a text saying that labor stopped and I was going home. He called me and said that his orders were wrong and school doesn't start July 8. It starts July 9. He was headed back to the parking lot. We let the kids out to eat lunch and run off some energy. It was about 10:45 AM and it wasn't worth going all the way home, just to come back for my appointment.
I called the birth center and they changed my appointment from 3:45 to 2:15PM.
We decided to kill time by browsing the stores and then we took the kids to the park to play. My contractions started up again around 1PM. It was hot and I was wearing flip flops at the sandy park. My feet were filthy. I was sweaty and stinky. My mental state was deteriorating. I wanted to cry because I was sore and exhausted. I never wanted to leave the house in the morning and I felt like I was being dragged around all day.
2PM:
We showed up for my appointment which ended up being 2 hours long! My NST and AFI were good. Contractions were irregular but getting painful. I was 2cm. After all of that pain. All of those contractions. Only 2 cm!!!
4PM:
I left the birth center with my family. I was feeling defeated. The pains were now coming every 1-2 minutes and walking to the van was difficult. About halfway home, he realized how close my contractions were, and he called the midwife and told her that we were coming back.
5PM:
We arrived at the birth center and the midwife checked my cervix. I was still 2cm. She told me that I could not be admitted. I begged her to let me lay down because my husband was refusing to take me home and I was exhausted. She agreed and I went upstairs to the birth room to rest. A friend arrived at 5:15PM to help with the other kids. She got food and helped Dusty get things unpacked from the van. Dusty tried to set up the camera on the laptop, but the WiFi was down.
6PM:
The midwife checked and I was still 2cm. She told Dusty that she didn't think it was real labor and I could not be admitted until I was 4cm. I was crushed. The pain was unbearable and there was no break between contractions. I sat on a birth ball and leaned over the bed while Dusty rubbed my back. The baby was posterior and the back pain was like nothing I had ever experienced. When the midwife left the room, I told Dusty that I needed him to take me to the hospital. I needed someone to believe me. I was IN LABOR! REAL LABOR! I wanted to assurance from the midwife and she was so doubtful. It was making me feel even more out of control. Dusty refused. He said it was not what I wanted and he assured me that I would be having a baby very soon. I went back to the bathroom and decided to get a grip on myself. I started envisioning myself as a train going through a tunnel during each contraction. I started saying "I can do this, I can do this" over and over in my head.
7PM:
After another hour of contractions and horrible diarrhea, the midwife checked again and I was 3cm. Finally some change! She told Dusty, "I see this all the time. It can still stop before she gives birth. It could take a few more days". I posted a status on FB that said, "I'm in labor but it's slow and harder than my previous births". We again discussed setting up a live camera but the WiFi wouldn't work. I told the midwife that I needed some relief from the pain. My back hurt and the pressure in my vagina and inner thighs was unbearable. She said it was too soon to get in the tub, so I asked her if I could get in the shower. She agreed. Dusty used a handheld sprayer to cover my belly and back with hot water. It felt so good. The contractions switched and suddenly I felt the urge to push at the end of each contraction. Dusty asked the midwife to fill the tub and I got back on the birth ball to help baby turn from posterior to anterior. Sure enough! It worked. As soon as the tub was full, I climbed in! Ahhh! It felt so good! My body relaxed and I caught a break from contractions for a few minutes. The midwife checked my cervix and said I was complete! I was clear minded and I could talk to my kids and my husband just like normal. I was so relieved that it was almost over.
8PM:
The kids were lined up at the edge of the tub while a stained and pushed through each contraction. It was PAINFUL! I felt like I was pushing out a bowling ball. I used my fingers to feel where the baby's head was and each time I pushed I felt him come down a little bit more. As he started to crown, I felt the bag bulge and pop. I braced myself. The midwife checked for a nuchal cord and I kept pushing. It burned as he was coming out but I didn't want to stop! It was almost over!
My baby BOY was born into my hands at 8:06PM. He was squishy and big, and coated in lovely vernix. Welcome to the family, Reid Evan! We are so happy to have you!
Aly cut the cord!
Time for bonding and resting!
This was my most difficult birth. I'm not sure why exactly. Maybe my husband telling me that it was the worst possible time to have a baby. Maybe it was my state of mind. I wasn't ready. I felt like I needed to rest and shower. Maybe it was the midwive's attitude and comments about it being false labor. Maybe it was all of the cervical checks and my personal expectation to have things move faster. No matter what it was, I'm glad I went through it. It was a tremendous learning experience. I'm thankful that Dusty didn't take me to the hospital. I'm glad he was there to encourage me, rub my back, and tell the midwife when to fill the tub. He's my best friend.
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