Juliet's Birth Story

Our little Juliet is 1 month old now.  Time has gone so much more quickly with this little girl, as did her birth.
Preface: Holden was four days post date.  After struggling with preterm labor, we thought for sure he'd be here in May instead of June.  I was nearly "perinatally depressed" (new term, or is it a diagnosis as well?) waiting for his arrival.  Charla was my doula last time as well as this time too.
This pregnancy was very similar as far as symptoms go.  I was incredibly nauseous the first trimester, I felt great second and third trimester, and I had a tad bit of contractions at 24 weeks-26 weeks.  This time around I didn't take a birthing class.  Instead I read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, read natural birth blogs, watched home births on YouTube, and asked for prayer for confidence in my body.  I think the idea that helped me the best this time around is I didn't get over excited about anything.  I tried to ignore contractions, not put to much into changes in my cervix, and be oblivious to any nesting or old wives tells of early labor.  After all, you can't ignore active labor so I knew when it was really time, I'd know.
At my first cervical check at 36 weeks I was dilated to a 2 and 70% effaced.  WaHoo- said the normal woman!  37 weeks, 3 and 80% effaced.  At 38 weeks I was 3-4 centimeters.  And again the same at 39 weeks.  Dr. Collins would say, "maybe I'll see you this weekend."  I'd usually think something to the effect of, Don't count on it.

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

38 Weeks

39 Weeks

Sunday, December 29th I had braxton hicks about every 15 minutes.  This wasn't too abnormal for myself as I have a highly irritable uterus and it does this all the time.  However, every 15 minutes was a bit more active than normal.  I ignored them as I stayed home from church and worked on a mobile for Juliet.

That evening we went to my in-laws for Sunday dinner.  I just noticed that the contractions were a bit tighter.  We talked about how she might be here before the next Sunday dinner.  We also talked about how I was having contractions- but again, no big deal.  We went home and put Holden in the bath and I started feeling uncomfortable so afterwards I took a bath myself.  I felt much better, so I went to bed about 9:30.  At 11:30 I woke up with an abdominal/hip cramp (also not abnormal for me, I tended to have this happen at least once a week).  I walked around the house getting it to let go and as I did this I started feeling a menstral cramp develop.  That eventually progressed to a cramp in my back with the menstral cramp.  I would guess they were about every 5 or 6 minutes at this point.  I kept having to go to the bathroom, so I really didn't know if this was labor or just contractions because of an upset stomach.  I took a shower around 12:30 and held the nozzle over my belly to ease the menstral discomfort while the main shower head sprayed on my back.  In case this was labor, I packed the last few items into the bag and put on pink earrings for my little girl.  I labored in the living room again afterwards.  I switched between laying on my side, being on hands and knees, and leaning forward onto the sofa.  I had a hot pad out that I would smash onto my back during each one.  Still I wasn't for sure if my tummy was just upset.
It was about 1:30 when I woke Bryan up.  I think it went something like this, "Hey, will you wake up and help me?"  "Yeah, what's he need?" (Bryan thought it was morning and Holden needed something).  "No, I'm having pain and I'm tired of doing it alone."  So we hung out in the living room.  I started moving to hands and knees each contraction and moaning as Bryan rubbed my back.  We decided to take a bath and see if that would ease my discomfort.  I texted Charla, "These suck.  I'm getting in the bath."  Charla later said she knew it was go time when I sent that message.  I hung out in the bath and Bryan timed my contractions with my I phone app.  We started playing my labor music and I just enjoyed the warmth.  Contractions were every 3 minutes.  I got out of the bath and decided that if they still continued every 3 minutes that we would go ahead and call his parents to come stay with Holden.
At 3:30 we called his dad to come over.  Even as we made the call, Bryan asked me "Are you sure?"  I replied, "I don't know."  Still I was doubting if this was labor.  I worked around the house getting things ready, falling to my hands and knees each time a contraction would come.  We got the car loaded and my father in-law made it over.  Bryan called Charla to tell her we were heading to the hospital and to come if she could.
I think we checked in around 4:15.  The staff were so respectful and patient with me.  I was checked and was at 5-6 cm. I didn't say it but I was totally bummed.  I thought that I should be a 7 or 8 at that point.  Insert BAD ATTITUDE.

Charla arrived at 4:30 and stepped into action assessing me and my preferences, clicking photos, rubbing my feet, and gently suggesting movements.  Inside my head, I was ticked off.  I didn't want to do this.  I wanted to take the easy road and just sleep while I waited for Juliet.  I continued to labor on all fours with each contraction.

I had a head cold and couldn't breath out of my nose, so Charla would shovel ice in my mouth before each contraction to keep me from getting too dry.  My head cold was my excuse for NEEDING an epidural.  Bryan and Charla didn't think so.  I was so irritated at them.

 

The new doctor came on at 7:00, Dr. Scott.  She discussed my birth plan because she had already taken the time to read it!  She had no objections to it and was ready to help.  She checked me and I was an 8.  Apparently I was very happy hearing this information because I made up my mind that I could in fact do this.  From 7:00- 8:00 I used imagery to help me through the contractions.  I'd never thought of using imagery and have never used it before, but it just happened.  I pictured activities and places with my childhood: rope swings we had, a field we used to play in, dogs we used to have, a neighbors house and his pool that we accidentally swam in time to time.  And it worked!  I could maintain control as long as I used imagery, Charla shoveled ice in my mouth, and Bryan mashed on my back.  I moved to the shower- this stunk as we couldn't figure out how to get the water hot.  After my cold shower, Dr. Scott checked me again at 8:00.  I was still an 8.  BOO!  How could I be?  I did so good this last hour.   She offered to break my water, I agreed.  As soon as I felt that water rush out with the next contraction I had urge to push.  They checked me after a handful of pushes.  My cervix was still an 8 and starting to swell.  Lovely!  So I thrust my hips into the air and "blew out the candle" to avoid pushing at each contraction.  Anyone who's experienced true urge to push knows how impossible it is to stop pushing.  After what seemed like 15- 30 minutes of this, the nurse checked me upside down and said baby's head was right there.
I moved into delivering position for me.  I settled on sitting up and pushing as I saw fit.  Dr. Scott came back in and checked me again, still an 8 and swelling more.  She told me I had to stop pushing because she was fearful I would tear my cervix.  After a couple more contractions of trying unsuccessfully not to push I looked at her and said, "You have to help me, I don't know what to do."  In my mind, I knew the typical treatment was to do an epidural to relax the momma and let the cervix thin out.  But I was pushing, there was no way we had time for that.  So then I thought that our only option was to knock me out and section Juliet out of me while I was unconscious.  Definitely my worst option for bringing this baby into the world.  Dr. Scott then said she would try to force my cervix over her head on the next contraction.  She looked at me and said “I need you to push hard on this next one.”  I was terrified that I was going to rip my cervix and never be able to have another baby.  So the pushing began.  I pushed as long as I wanted, held my breath when I wanted, moved how my body told me.  I was making progress but I did not feel as if I was.  With Holden I could feel that the next contraction was going to be the one.  Juliet was confusing to me.  I lost all pain during pushing, just like Holden, but I didn’t feel she was “right there.”  I felt and told them that I had a tremendous amount of pressure in my bum and urethra.  Dr. Scott kinda giggled and said it’s because she’s right there.  I then decided to try to stop protecting these tissues and just push through the pressure.  I remember exclaiming, “Juliet, I need you to come out!”  I did a lot more vocalizing with Juliet’s pushing.  Some might call it screaming.  After about 15 minutes of pushing, her head was out.  I could see it and knew we were close.  On the next contraction I remember that I just pulled myself up toward the head of the bed.  I’m guessing I pushed and Dr. Scott held on to Juliet because she came out!  9:10am.  She kept Juliet there to allow for the cord to stop pulsing, Bryan cut the cord, and I got to hold my daughter.  My reaction was to cry, and it was a loud cry.

Disbelief

Now its hitting me

Crying

Happy crying

Always my favorite part of giving birth!

Crying Again

Seeing her was surreal.  With Holden it seemed like I just soaked it all in.  With Juliet, it just seemed so fast that I couldn’t believe I was holding her yet.  She looked so much like Holden.  We were nursing within 20 minutes of birth.  And she nursed for over 50 minutes that first time.

Holden met her first.

Then came in family.

Nursing so quick

I could do this everyday!

Complete!

Enjoying the normal part of birth where you get to have visitors

First diaper

She weighed 7lbs, 1oz.  Holden was 7lbs, 13 oz.  I couldn’t believe she was smaller than Holden as she felt so much harder to get out.  Even though I pushed for an hour with Holden.

Having a normal birth this time around was wonderful.  Being able to do skin to skin time, nurse anytime she wanted, change diapers, nap, it was all so wonderful.  My nurse postpartum was great and so helpful to get me out of the bed.  It is a greatly humbling job they have- seriously, they put your underwear on you and help wipe the blood off your thighs all while smiling and talking about your beautiful baby.
Once again, I loved my experience with Washington Regional!  I'm so glad I work there.
Now, on to convince Bryan we could do this again :)