My little girl is here

[Terri Wilson]

On Thursday night I started to lose my mucus plug. By Friday morning, it had turned to some bloody show that lasted throughout the day. I can’t believe how excited I was. I was actually giddy. On Saturday afternoon stopped by to check on the position of August. She wanted to confirm with an internal. At first she thought she felt head, but soon realized it was butt crack, so my daughter had her first rectal exam. She told us that I was definitely 3 centimeters and she felt it would be soon, but she was still breech. She left about 6 and Jeff and I had dinner. A nice steak and potatoes. We had some chips and salsa and I even had a small glass of red wine. (Take a piece of advice from me and don’t have anything red to eat if there is any slight chance you could go into labor). We settled down and watched so tv. As usual, Jeff fell asleep and I told him to just rest. I had a feeling things were going to happen soon, and I wanted him rested. I had contractions, but I was really trying to ignore them, so I have no idea how far apart they were. I worked on a couple of last minute projects and I started to leak a little. I soon realized it was not urine, but my water breaking and the contractions started coming on strong where I had to stop and pay attention. They were about 7 minutes apart and they woke up Jeff. That is when the back labor started and I never really had labor any other place. It burned and took control of my whole body. We called my midwife at 10:45 and she listened on the phone while I had one and then decided to come on over. She felt like things could turn quickly and wanted to be here. She said, if things stopped she would just crash out somewhere or go home and then come back. So Jeff wanted to get in the shower and we needed to get the blow up mattress done for the mw. In between contractions I put some plastic on the floor upstairs in our room. At one point I almost fell on my hands and knees with the contraction and I was really sick. Jeff could not get something to me fast enough to puke in so red wine and salsa went on the floor and the great steak we had. I think I was already going through transition because I couldn’t stop vomiting and I was shaking uncontrollable. By 11:30 the mw was there and helped me get in the shower. However, I soon ran out of cold water and it wasn’t helping at all. She helped me get to the bed and did a quick exam and declared that I was pretty much there, we just needed to wait for the baby to drop and oh yeah, don’t push. The contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. The contractions were horrible, I will not lie. At this point I was on my left side with my right leg up in the air and it was just a waiting game. (I am not sure about timing from this point on) In between contractions the mw checked the heartbeat and August’s heartbeat never dropped below 130. I could feel her move and it almost felt like she was doing some kind of kicking swim thing to move down. Between contractions there was no pain what so ever. I even think I might have gotten some sleep as I don’t remember much. August dropped and my mw told me to try some little pushes once she said that, it was on. I had to get her out. I pushed harder than I ever thought I could. I did not care about tearing or the roids or even shooting this kid out across the room. It was hard, but at some point the butt cleared and the feet fell out. My midwife told me I would have to get up and stand up. I looked at her and almost started laughing because I thought there was no way that was going to happen. I could not move. Somehow though my mw, her assistant, and Jeff got me up. I looked down and saw feet dangling. Now that was a trip. After standing, in one push she was out. I don’t remember anyone catching her but I know she did not hit the floor. Everyone helped me back on the bed and put her on me. The pain instantly went away and I felt so much lighter. She was so slippery and red. At first she didn’t cry and I was a little scared, but then she opened her eyes and mouth and we heard her breath. She was very quiet. It was like she just sneaked in. She was born at 1:10. It took about 45 minutes to deliver the placenta and they left her attached to me until it came out. Then we were able to just take our time and do what we wanted. Jeff cut the cord, I had a quick shower, my mw showed us the placenta and went over every part of it. She even turned it wrong side out and showed us some signs of calcification. It was fascinating. Jeff even got some skin to skin contact before they cleaned her up. She didn’t cry real loud, but just laid there with her eyes opened taking it all in. Everything happened so fast, but it was so surreal and peaceful. It was like everything worked together exactly as it should have. She was 6 pounds 4 ounces 19 inches long born 4 days premature. Ironically, Miranda was 6 pounds 4 ounces 19 inches long born four days premature. I had very minimal tearing and I can’t even feel anything. I am a little sore and stiff, but overall I feel great.
It has been an incredible experience and I would not have changed anything. She is nursing so much better than Miranda did and therefore seems to be sleeping better. Miranda is in big sister heaven. She has been so excited and has almost too much energy. She just happened to have been spending the night with my mom so she came home to a big surprise.

[Melissa]

Congratulations!

[Megan Stuhlman]

Congratulations Terri and welcome to August! What a wonderful birth story!
Megan

[Heather Dalka]

YEAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! You go girl!! This is Heather from Yoga> I am so proud of you I have tears in my eyes. What a wonderful experience. I can not wait to meet her and tell all the moms your story. Take care
Heather

[Kristen Jorgensen]

Congratulations! I am so happy for you. :) I was really looking forward to your homebirth for you since I read your original story. :) I'm glad things went so well.

[Karen Shattuck]

Congrats!
What a great story!!
thanks for sharing!

[Gina Grothoff]

Congratulations Terri and thank you for sharing your birth story. Ever since I heard you posted your birth story here, I have been anxious to read it and hope to soon do the same.
Jason is now 5 weeks old and sleeping better- because he is pooping better- and so I hope to spend more time on this site. this is the first I have been on since he was born.
Hope to see you at an event soon Terri!
You are so brave for knowingly having her breech. it helps that the mw- think we had the same one- has done it before and is so confident- wasn't she great?

[Tammy Hallihan]

I haven't visited this board in a while, but I'm so happy that I popped over today to read your birth story! What a beautiful experience that you will always treasure and I feel honored to be able to read about it. Congratulations Terri on your new sweet family. I love the matching birth data... something they'll always share as sisters.