On Friday January 13th I woke up and made a
grocery shopping list. I asked one of my sisters if she would go to WinCo with
me and started to clean up the house, because my grandparents were going to
drop by some blankets they got for the baby. They called and asked if I wanted
lunch, so they got some Costa Vida for us. We chatted and ate and I showed them
the nursery. Then when they left I went with Lauren and Sarah to WinCo.
We were all wondering when this baby would make his big
debut, and I was starting to think soon because I had been having cramps since
I woke up. Walking around the store I was getting pretty tired and
uncomfortable. When we were done at the store we stopped by my brother’s house
to bring him a birthday present. Then we decided to drive by Lauren’s new
apartment so she could show it to us, her and Kirk were moving the next day, on
Lauren’s birthday.
My midwife, Karla, wanted me to go over to her house that
night after Jordan got off work. We planned to go over at 7. My mom wanted to
come with us, so after Jordan picked me up, we picked up my mom and headed to
Karla’s house.
Karla did a little ultrasound, to make sure Jude was still
head down. Then she put the monitors on my belly and began the stress test that
tracked the baby’s heartbeat and saw how he reacted to my contractions. While I
was being monitored, everything was looking good. Jude did not like the
monitors and started to kick them! At one point, he completely moved away from
the monitor and we had to re adjust! During the time that the monitor was on, I
felt like I had one of my first “real” contractions, after small crampy ones
all day, but maybe it was just because it was the first time I laid down and
actually was paying attention to them. After Karla decided everything looked
good and that baby was doing well, we were all talking about when Jude would
come. Karla said if he didn’t come by Sunday, then we would do castor oil. I
expressed that I really didn’t want to do castor oil, and Karla said I don’t
think you will have to. We should just have a baby tonight! I said that I agreed!
She told me I could get some Clary Sage oil from good earth and rub that on my
belly to encourage labor. So after we were done, we drove over to good earth to
get some oil. My contractions were getting more intense and by the time we got
home I think they were about 3 minutes apart, but I didn’t want to time them
yet! I wanted to make dinner and shower first. I had been craving mac and
cheese so I made myself some for dinner, while I was making them, I kind of watched
the clock and my contractions were about 3 minutes apart, but not lasting a
minute yet. I texted Karla this and asked her when I should update her, she
said to let her know when they are 3 minutes apart, lasting a minute each for
an hour and getting more intense. So I showered and then went and laid down. We
started to time the contractions and realized they were about 3 minutes apart,
lasting 60 seconds, and this had been going on the last hour. So at that point
my sisters and mom were getting ready to come over and Jordan called Karla to
tell her what was going on. She said she would get her stuff together and head
over, and to start getting the birthing tub set up.
Everyone started showing up and the contractions continued
to intensify. The tub was finally ready and I decided to get in to help with
pain. I was able to work through those contractions. Then I got out of the tub
and went to the bathroom. I was then laboring in my bedroom. Labor was getting
pretty intense and my water wasn’t breaking. So I decided to let Karla check me
for the first time. Jude was posterior and didn’t seem to be descending. I was dilated
to an 8. She had me keep changing positions to try and get Jude to turn. I went
to the bathroom again, and I heard Karla asking what hospital I would be
covered at. I started getting antsy and asking what was wrong. And she just
said he didn’t seem to be dropping. Then she checked me again and told me I
could try and push to get him to go lower. I still had the lip of my cervix in
the way. She wanted me to try and push a little to see if she could turn him. And
I asked if there was a way we could get him to move, then she checked me and
said I’m not going to break your water, he’s still too high. But while she was
checking me, I had a contraction and she accidentally broke my water. She had me
try to put my leg over the other, to get him to move. So then I was laboring
like that for a few hours, sleeping in between contractions. I then felt like I
needed to start pushing. She checked me and she could see his head. I started
pushing. I didn’t think I would be able to make it. She was having me push
slowly, and with each contractions I just thought I was going to die! They were
so so intense. Everyone was gathered around the bed and Karla was trying to
turn him when I had contractions. I was pushing for hours, I don’t even know
how many, at least 2 though. I would sometimes get lost in a contraction and
scream, everyone had to help me calm down, I really just felt like I wasn’t
going to ever have this baby. At one point Karla told everyone that I just
needed to listen to her. I could only push when she told me to push, sometimes
big pushes, sometimes little pushes. I was able to listen to her and not push
when I shouldn’t. All I could do was breathe through each contraction.
Sometimes finding something to focus on around the room helped me make it
through. Sometimes someone’s words were what got me through to the next
contraction. I remember Karla’s assistant at one point looking at me and
saying, “You are beautiful! You are so strong! You can do this!” it was things
like that, that got me through the next few minutes. At one point I was feeling
so weak and exhausted and someone got me a spoon of honey to give me some
energy. And they starting giving me some oxygen to help give me strength. At
one point, I remember looking out the window, and I was still pushing, and it
was starting to get light outside. And I just thought, this is literally never
going to end. I’m going to be pushing forever. He is never going to come. I
said at one point, I just need him to come. I need him out. And Karla said, I
know, He’s coming. Then I pushed his head out, and Karla realized the cord was
wrapped around his neck. She couldn’t slip it over his head, it was too tight.
She told people to find the clamps and scissors, she cut and clamped the cord
and then pulled the rest of his body out. He wasn’t crying or breathing, I
couldn’t really see him over my legs, but somehow I knew he would be okay. I just
kept saying oh baby, oh baby, oh baby. Karla was suctioning him and rubbing his
back. He finally started breathing after about a minute and a half. We held the
oxygen by his face and I finally got to hold him. I just remember hugging him
and looking at him, when I looked in his face all I felt was love for this
sweet baby. So much love!! I couldn’t believe I was finally holding my little
baby!! The little baby that kicked my ribs, and danced around in my belly for
nine months! I was in love! He started to want to nurse right away, and latched
with ease! It was the most intense, incredible, tiring, powerful, loving
experience of my life. He was born at 8:23 am on January 14, 2017!
I then was still
feeling really crampy and felt like I needed to push out the placenta. I pushed
it out and everyone was like whoa, that is a huge placenta!!
After a little Karla checked if I needed stitches, I only
tore a tiny bit and needed one stitch! I owe that to Karla, for being so
patient and helping me go slow! I was nervous to get stitched, because my
sisters had said that was the worst part of it all, but seriously, that one stitch
was nothing compared to what just happened, but they tore way worse than me!
Then she weighed and measured Jude, he was 8 pounds 6 ounces and 21 ½ inches long!
Bigger than I expected him to be!
I am so grateful that I get to be Jude’s mom. It has been
such a blessing in my life! I am also grateful for all of the support that I had
during my birthing time, I couldn’t have done it without all of the amazing
people that were surrounding me! Jordan was incredible and such a loving, sweet
husband that was right by my side throughout the whole experience! He is such a
good dad to Jude! I am so glad that I have this sweet baby in my arms. It was
an incredible, life changing experience giving birth and becoming a mom!
