It’s so neat to me how every birth is so different and completely unique!
For most of October, I had sporadic contractions that were not really intense and varied in length. Sometimes I would have them off and on for three hours. The uterus was just working out, but they were plentiful enough to dilate my cervix 3cm.
Then at 8 o’clock at night on Sunday, October 22nd, the contractions started again and wouldn’t go away despite being the easy, bearable ones (the ones you can talk through). I lost my second mucus plug. After the contractions continued for more than four hours, I called my mom to alert her. She decided to leave her home and drive here in the middle of the night.
The contractions lasted for 25 hours but never really got more intense. I climbed into bed at 9 o’clock Monday night exhausted from staying up the entire night before, and the contractions stopped. I slept nine hours straight! Apparently, it was all early labor.
Then on Tuesday, not only did I not feel like moving but the baby got still and hardly moved at all. (This happened with my other two the day before labor —storing up energy for the big journey down the birth canal.) I, also, had another Ob/Gyn appointment — baby had dropped super low, 85% effaced, and 4cm dilated now. The doctor thought I would most likely not make it to November or even to the weekend. So, all those contractions the day before were doing something!
I had a feeling that I’d be up again that night, so I headed to bed early again at 9 o’clock. I slept for two hours and woke with contractions. We timed them for over an hour before getting up. I had lost a third mucus plug and called my doula to tell her what was happening. We woke my mom. I spent the next hour drinking lots of water, changing positions and locations, and going potty. The contractions were bearable but would not go away.
I internally agonized over whether or not to head to the hospital yet. In the past I would not go there until the contractions became intense and active labor started. I really did not want to labor much at the hospital because I’d feel the pressure to progress in labor instead of just relaxing and letting my body take the time it needs to birth my baby. But I knew that there were a lot of signs I couldn’t ignore — early labor, dropping, dilating, stillness, mucus plugs, pottying a lot, and constant contractions. And this was my third labor, so I didn’t know what it would be like. Maybe active labor would be super quick, and I was not prepared to have him at home or in the car.
All things considered, I felt like he was coming soon. We should just go.
Called the doula and the babysitter (to stay with the big kids) to tell them to come on over.
Still having bearable contractions.
We left around 3 a.m. for the hospital. After we got in, they put the fetal monitor on for a little (with my permission) and gave me an hour to dilate more before admitting me. The stress I didn’t want!
An hour passed, no progress. And Ricky napped during this uneventful time. They called my doctor to ask what to do. (My OB/Gyn said to call him even if he wasn’t on call, and he would try to do the delivery if he could.) He said to give me two more hours before checking me again at 7 o’clock.
I couldn’t wait to get into the nice, big bathtub in my room. So in I went! The water came up high. Ricky sat on the big corner ledge and napped again. We played worship music (Will Reagan) and relaxed!
Half hour later (6 a.m.) I had my first contraction that I couldn’t talk through — active labor had begun! No going back now! (Note: It was resting in the water that allowed my uterus to relax and let the contractions intensify.)
When they checked me again, I had dilated 1cm, putting me at 5cm. I could stay. My doctor was going to stop by on his way to work to check on me.
Just as it became eventful, Ricky took his third nap. My mom and the doula stayed up with me while I labored.
Doctor came at 8:15 a.m.; 7cm dilated now! He said to call him at work when I felt the urge to push.
I alternated between sitting on the edge of the bed and the toilet. I kept my eyes closed most of the time because I was so tired and I needed to focus on the
contractions — not fighting them, relaxing, and even welcoming them! I kept reminding myself that they were massaging the baby and bringing him to me — I want contractions! The more I have (and don’t resist), the quicker it’ll be over and I can see my baby. Let them do their work, bring them on!
When Ricky wasn't napping, I had him reading the Scriptures aloud to us, for us, and over us.
Laboring continued for another three and a half hours before I asked for the midwife on call to check me. 9cm. Not 10 minutes later I felt the urge to poop. Twice. But I knew I didn’t have to because I had nothing left after having several bowel movements that morning. It was 11:55 a.m. I knew I’d have to push soon. Time to make the phone call to my doctor! (We joked how God timed the delivery for the doctor's lunch break so he could attend!)
He walked in 20 minutes later, and I let them know that I had to push now!
Pushing was harder than I remembered, and I screamed a lot. The doula kept reminding me to push low, and that helped because I felt like I could do that. (Doulas are a necessity to me!) Pushing felt like it was taking a long time, but in reality it was only 15 minutes. I remember yelling, "Get this baby out of me!” :)
Ricky was beside the doctor and said how impressed he was with the doctor’s skill. I only tore a little and got one stitch.
I gave two shouts of joy once Raphael was out — one of relief and one of victory! (The rush of hormones right after delivery is overwhelmingly strong!) I couldn’t wait to hold my baby. Everyone was saying that he was perfect and healthy. They laid him on my chest, and Ricky cut the cord.
The staff said Raphael did not look 10 days early, except that he didn’t have any vernix yet. He got the highest Apgar score of all our babies. After they measured him, they gave him back to me. He was eager to nurse, which he did for two hours!
The babysitter brought the big kids to the hospital to join us. They were elated!
We had friends visit that evening and left the hospital the next day.
This hospital was the best experience we had for a birth. The staff kept it dark and quiet with minimal intrusion during the labor. We only saw our two nurses, and they not only read our
birth plan but were quoting it to us! That hadn’t happened before. They didn’t avoid us or walk on eggshells around us like we were the weird or difficult patients. They were understanding, respectful, and kind!
Overall, the labor and delivery were the opposite of the rough and tough pregnancy! Natural and vaginal birth with no medication or intervention. No complications and no GBS. Six hours of active labor and 15 minutes of pushing. Postpartum healing is going well. Raphael is healthy and is nursing well. (It took three days for my milk to come in.) We were in disbelief for a while with how flawless everything went!
We are just so thankful to God!
