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The contractions & overall "ickiness" started on Sunday night, I would say around 11pm. It certainly was not an instant "oh this is labor" feeling, as time I progressed and I was still feeling small contractions, I knew that something was up. I was up pretty much most of the night going to the bathroom & just tossing & turning in my sleep.
By noon time I had bloody show & was still having contractions. They were spacing out and very irregular, but I knew this was labor. I could feel it. It was so similar to my early labor with Megan, that went on for a few good days.
Tuesday I decided to go in & get checked out. I wanted to make sure that the bleeding was indeed bloody show and see if I was even making progress. Well much to my amazement I was 5cm, 50-75% effaced & he was -2, so still above the pelvis. This of course scared the heck out of me & as soon as I got home, the cleaning & nesting kicked in BIG time!
I slept great that night, woke up & everything seemed about normal, still having some more contractions, only a little more pressure then before, but I had that gut feeling that today was the day for something to happen.
I got the girls dressed, got them breakfast, turned on Super Why & then went to take a shower. While in the shower I felt a gush of water that was a different temperature then the rest of the water, but for some reason I didn't really think much of it. I got out, went to get dressed. Sat down on the bed as I usually do because bending over was awful.. Went to stand up & then GUSH! Seriously, it didn't stop! I was mortified! I know it was my water, but I was freaking out because I didn't feel like I was ready, LOL.
I called Carlos, who was pretty much 5 mins from work, he turned around. Called my midwife. Everyone gathered together back at the house.
Lynn (the nurse), Carlos & Jenn (my midwife) got everything prepped & ready. We had no idea how long or how short things we go, so better safe then sorry. My contractions were still very irregular & weak.. We went for a walk, ate lunch, walked some more.. Jenn decided that everyone just head out & allow me to rest. She had a feeling that I was in Mommy mode since the girls were awake & that labor more then likely wouldn't start until they were in bed.
Boy, was she right. Pretty much 15-20 mins after the girls were in bed the contractions started. It was around 9pm. They were getting stronger, but still very irregular, but I could feel my body acting differently. I waited an hour before calling Jenn.
Around 11pm she arrived and she checked me.. I was 6cm but very stretchy. She did a really good sweep to help keep the contractions coming. It was pretty freaking painful, but after that the contractions came hard & steady!
Around 2am I felt him a lot lower and the contractions were a lot stronger. We all decided it was time for the tub. So I got in & the contractions spaced out, but that was fine with me. They were so painful. Around 2:30 I could feel my body starting to push so we all knew it wouldn't be much longer. Everyone was awake (minus Megan & Emily) and just kinda doing little last minute things, Jenn was checking on another patient in labor who had transfered to the hospital, Lynn was making sure I was doing well, Carlos was just sort of in a daze.
At about 2:50 I knew he would be coming soon. The pressure was becoming unbearable. But I knew it would feel better if I let my body do all the work, especially since I was so tired all ready. With the next contraction I felt him come down & I could feel him crowning. Lynn said she could see his head, I was just kinda in shock, like wow.. Hes coming!! After I felt his head out I let out a really big deep breath & then I felt his little body come out. Jenn told me to reach down & grab my son.. It was magical to say the least. I pulled him up & just snuggled him right to my chest.
Lynn brought over lots of warm towels and we just enjoyed each other for a few moments.. He was letting out the sweetest little cries, it was just amazing. After the cord was cut, Carlos did some skin to skin with little William & then snuggled up while I delivered my placenta & got checked out. Everything was perfect, no tearing, bleeding was perfect.. Everything was just well.. perfect.
It was quiet, uneventful, just a perfectly calm easy labor & delivery. I'm so glad to have had such a wonderful team on my side to be there with me.
Welcome to the world my love..
William Phoenix Fournier
October 14th, 2010. 3:00am CST
8lbs 5oz 21" long.
What a great story! Is it typical for your labours to take so long? Was Emily's the same? I've heard slow labours are better and less intense. What did you mean when you said your midwife did a 'sweep'?
Congrats! it sounds like a wonderful experience to bring your little guy into the world. And you were so lucky that your girls were asleep! What a great surprise they must have had when they woke up
What a great story! Is it typical for your labours to take so long? Was Emily's the same? I've heard slow labours are better and less intense. What did you mean when you said your midwife did a 'sweep'?
Congrats! it sounds like a wonderful experience to bring your little guy into the world. And you were so lucky that your girls were asleep! What a great surprise they must have had when they woke up
With Emily I had my water break, but I had no contractions - we eventually had to break out the breast pump & I had about 4-5 hours of labor before she came. I would say William's & Megan's were by far the easiest because my body did most of the dilating with the small irregular contractions so the hard labor was a lot shorter & sweeter.
And this is a sweep
Quote:
Usually, a membrane sweep will be carried out by your doctor or midwife either while you're at home or in the doctors surgery itself. They are performed during an internal examination and involve your midwife inserting a finger into your cervix (to stretch it a little) and then making a firm, circular, sweeping movement around the neck of your womb. This movement helps to separate your cervix from the membranes of the sac that is currently housing your baby, and is a procedure that helps to stimulate the release of prostaglandins - the hormones that signal to your brain that it's time to start labour.
__________________
-Brooke
Mommy to:
Miles 2/3/03 5 lbs 11 oz 19 1/2 inches
Ethan 5/23/07 5 lbs 8 oz 17 inches
Amelia Jane 10/25/10 5 lbs 14 oz 18 inches
SO excited for you Debbie!! I just wanted to come on here to see if you were able to have your home birth. I'm so happy that you could. You are an inspiration to those of us who wish so much for a home birth. He's perfect & beautiful! So happy you got your boy Enjoy mama!
Ahhh I love your birth story. That's so awesome that you were able to put him on your chest right after he came out. I could only imagine how that must have felt! Such a precious moment.
Thank you for sharing! 
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