It's kinda long so grab a snack:
It all started as I was awakened to light contractions at around 3:15 a.m. I could not get back to sleep. I moved to the living room to avoid disturbing Carl. He was going to need all the sleep he could get. I was SO anxious to wake him up! At this point, I could handle the contractions alone. I downloaded a contraction timer from the Internet. The contractions were 3 minutes apart lasting 30-55 seconds. I was able to get through these by counting to 15 and breathing. The timer had a picture of a blossoming flower. In our child birth class, we learned the phrase “I’m opening like a flower.” It made me chuckle every time I looked at it.
At 6:30, I went to the bathroom where I started to have a "bloody show." I was beginning to think this really is labor. Hence, I became nervous. My mother is set to come out in a MONTH. I was supposed to have a baby shower that night. We had been waiting on purchasing baby needs until after the shower. I hope somehow that this was just pre-labor and would subside in a few hours. However, I don't think Carl is going into work today. I woke Carl up at 7 a.m. I informed of the recent events to which Carl confirmed my fears with “I think we’re going to have a baby today.” After showers and breakfast, we began cleaning and preparing for the sooner-than-expected arrival. Carl vacuumed and I folded laundry. At this time, the contractions did decrease to five minutes apart, but became a little more intense. With each contraction, I continued to breathe and count. On some I needed to lean over, while others I walked through. Carl was there to lean on or was close by giving verbal support. His simple touch aided me in coping with the pain. I think what helped the most that he himself stayed calm. All the while, Brady simply played and watched some T.V. as if it were a normal morning.
We called Carl’s sister, Gretchen, to inform her of the impending delivery. Brady would be staying at her home. When informing her of a pre-scheduled appointment Carl had with his graduate advisor, she insisted that Brady and I should not be alone while I labored. By 10:45 a.m., we were at her home, while Carl enjoyed a wonderful lunch at The Whole Hog Café. He tells me the lunch special is amazing!! But he needed lunch for the final stretch of laboring as well as the meeting with his advisor for pending graduation. While Carl was away, I kept breathing through contractions while sitting on the end of the couch. Gretchen and I coordinated child care for the remainder of that day. Her husband, Dave, was scheduled to leave town that afternoon and would be unable to care for 4 kids. Since we wanted Gretchen present during delivery, we made other arrangements for child care for both families. Brady would now stay with our friends, the Allens. Before leaving the LaVetter’s, we talked to Brady to tell him his baby sister was coming today. He shouted for joy, not knowing if he fully understood that his world was about to be turned upside down.
Carl returned just in time at 12:15 p.m. My contractions were getting stronger and more painful. Yet, instead of making our way to the hospital, we decided to go further away…back to our home to pack the hospital bag. While at home we also set up the bassinet. Even putting it together became very cumbersome between contractions. I rested on the birthing ball while Carl figured it out. Everything got packed in the car, but I still was skeptical on if we needed to go to the hospital. One big thing that I kept hearing with trying natural delivery was to labor at home as long as possible. The contractions were painful, but I was still able to move around between them. We called our natural childbirth educator, Lisa, to get her opinion on the matter. Without real hesitation, she urged that it was time to go. She would attempt to make arrangements to meet us at St. Bernard’s to assist in any way.
We arrived at the hospital at 1:40 p.m. While en route the breathing that helped me so much through the contractions transformed into deep moaning. Lisa was able to meet us as we pulled in the emergency room. Not only is she a well-informed child birth instructor/doula, she makes for an efficient pack mule. We made it with all our belongings in one trip. The hospital staff brought a wheelchair that I thought I wanted. But one look at it and I knew I’d be better walking. While making my way to check in, I’m fearful that I’m only dilated to 6 centimeters or less and that I still have a long way to go. If it hurt this much and I still had that long to go, I was afraid I’d need pain management. We really wanted to experience a natural labor and delivery with minimal interventions. We had spent the previous two months in preparation for a natural child birth and we didn’t want to see this education not be utilized. I felt like I’d be letting myself down if I couldn’t handle the pressure. Fortunately, by ten minutes to 2 p.m. we were notified I was dilated to 8 cm. Thus, the option for pain medication went out the window.
I was excited at the news I was so far along. I had made it all the way to 8 cm, with little effacement and -2 station! It was short-lived, however, as the cloud of fear accumulated. I had to endure the natural child birth. They strapped me in the bed for a few minutes to get vitals on the baby and insert a HEP Lock. Instead of receiving an I.V. and being attached to a pole, a HEP Lock would allow me to be mobile and only receive fluids as needed. It seemed to be the longest few minutes. Lisa had started running water in the tub, and I wanted to get in as soon as possible. While it may not have been the best idea to get in the tub at 8 cm, I was intent on getting in. That had always been part of the way I thought my labor would unfold. The tub portion of labor lasted 15 minutes max. Apparently the tub may be more useful earlier in labor. The ‘transition’ portion of labor was beginning. The contractions were so intense that I could not move. I got confused as to how to manage them. I shouted “I don’t want to do this anymore!” It’s a phrase that we learned that is commonly said in labors. It happened in Brady’s labor too. At this point, Carl briefly struggled with how to offer support. Lisa mouthed the word ‘transition’ to Carl as she blatantly ignored the all-to-familiar labor cry with “would like to try the birthing ball in the tub?” It wasn’t too much longer when shouts of surrender transitioned to a grunt. Carl and Lisa picked up on the change in tone. Lisa asked “Stephanie, do you feel like you need to push?” I replied without hesitation “I feel like I need to push!”
I was slowly assisted out of the tub and on to the bed. The steam and sweat from the tub excursion caused my HEP Lock to fall out. There was no need attempting to reinsert it. Gretchen had just arrived to add to the support team. She aided in getting me positioned on all fours with the back of the bad raised up. I was checked again by the nurse who gave us the good news the active labor and transition were through by the two word response of “she’s complete.” That meant I was dilated to 10 cm, fully effaced and ready to deliver. It was time to push this baby out. I was afraid to push. It hurt. But if I didn’t push, the pain wouldn’t end. I made the choice to accept my body’s urging to deliver the baby. By 2:45 p.m., I began pushing. Dr. Fields made his presence to my room in anticipation for delivery. He was surprised to Gretchen, who has had 4 natural child births, and was her OBGYN during her last pregnancy. Having her, a doula, and Carl there, he stood as a bystander saying very little. He knew Gretchen well enough to know that I was in good hands. My labor support team encouraged me to bear down with each contraction and push through them, breathing when I need to. Carl continued provided support and supplying me with endless amounts of cold compresses to my back and face. Pushing became more effective as I verified what it should feel like. As I pushed, I could feel the baby descend through the birth canal and then ascend slightly during breaks. It was suggested that, because baby was coming quickly, I move to my side to avoid tearing. My water had broken on the bed so the nurses were preparing the bed for a position change. After the next contraction I was going to make the change…The change never happened, but the tear did. Normally, babies are born in two pushes; one push for the head and the next for the body. Not Abigail. Dr. Fields peered from his idle position 4 feet from the bed just in time to scoop up Abbie from the bed. She shot out like a cannon in to this world at 2:59 p.m. The nurses looked shocked that they had just seen that happen. The support team, including Carl, burst out laughing. It was the first time any of us had ever witnessed something that one might think isn’t possible. I peered through the 5-hole (my legs) to see my baby. Dr. Fields remained holding Abigail patiently for 2-3 minutes while we all got a grip and I was finally able to turn over. I held Abigail in my arms and we rejoiced over her arrival. We couldn’t believe she was here. We were elated to have an intervention free, natural birth. I felt awake and alert ready to enjoy our baby.
Abigail Jean Behunin was born at 2:59 p.m. Thursday, June 10th, 2010, at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Welcome Abbie!
To Devious Planner.
Abigail had her 2 week appointment today. She is back to birthweight. YEA!! She eats, sleeps and sometimes poops. She already likes to watch her brother and his crazy antics. She's also a social girl. She doesn't want to be in her bed while something important, like breakfast, is going on. I am in love with her curls! I pray that they will stick around. Even if they don't, we'll still keep her.
Proud Big Brother Brady the next day.
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