Delaney's Birth Story

So I had a baby in the bathroom...

Allow me to preface this by saying that a few months ago, Kevin and I looked into doing a home birth.  You know… the super crunchy, dim candle light, soft music, warm water tub, calm midwife encouraging me through contractions while my husband held my hand or massaged my back.  Yeah that kind.  Unfortunately, due to insurance/financial reasons, we learned that this type of birth was just not in the cards for us and we made preparations to deliver at the same hospital Kennedy was born at.  I searched for a while to find a midwife that I felt would be receptive of a relaxed, intervention-free birth and I vowed to do my part to make sure this baby’s birth was completely different.  Not that Kennedy’s birth (Kennedy's Birth Story Here) was anything less than special… it just wasn’t the empowering, medication/intervention free birth that I wanted to experience.

On to the story…

So Friday morning at 11am I had my last midwife appointment before the baby’s due date (which was Saturday).  Going in, I was on the fence about whether to have them check me for dilation/effacement.  Up to this point, I had declined internal exams, because I believe in trying to go the full 40 weeks if at all possible, and I didn’t want anything to get stirred up during the exam.  I consulted with some girlfriends and asked Kevin if he wanted to know… he was supportive either way.  I figured with the due date being the next day, it wouldn’t hurt.  I had also decided that since I am late for… well… everything, it would be shocking if any of my kids were on time (Kennedy was 5 days late) let alone early.  The MW checked me and said I was 2cm and 80% effaced.  These are the exact stats I received when I checked into the hospital with K, after my water had broken, so I couldn't help but laugh at the irony.  She offered to strip my membranes and I declined.  I had to work Friday (and Saturday) overnight, still had some laundry to do and things to pack/unpack.  I had a letter to write to Kennedy (which I planned to use as a distraction during early labor) and one last baby bump picture to take.  My (and Kevin’s) curiosity was satisfied so I headed home.

Around 12:30-1pm I took Kennedy out to lunch, to our favorite little café in Liverpool, Café 407.  I had taken her last week thinking it might have been our last mommy/daughter date before her little brother or sister arrived, so I was very thankful to be able to sneak in one more lunch date.  I started feeling crampy during lunch and on the drive home, but I chalked it up to the internal exam and really didn’t think much of it since the “cramps” were sporadic, varying lengths and not any more intense than annoying period cramps.  By this point, I was so set on going past my due date that I even sent my friend (Kennedy’s sitter) a text asking if she wanted to go get pedicures on Sunday. 

Around 2-2:15pm we got home from lunch and I tried to put K down for a nap.  Normally on work nights, I nap with her to get some extra sleep in before staying up all night.  She nursed for a while, but neither of us could get comfortable enough to fall asleep and I began to notice the “cramps” beginning to feel a little more intense.  I turned on the contraction timer app on my phone, just for kicks, to see if these were anything worth worrying about.  To my surprise, they were coming regularly about 5 minutes apart and lasting about 45 seconds-1 minute.  All the while I was still trying to get Kennedy to nap so I could either nap with her or hop in the tub to see if these contractions were going to stick around or fade away.  This went on for about half an hour.  She was kind of restless and I guess I was too, so I finally gave up and sent Kevin a text at work around 2:45.  I told him I wasn’t sure if it was baby time yet, but I asked if he could possibly come home early to take care of Kennedy so I can either rest or get things moving.  He left right away and made it home in record time (excited, much?) around 3:15.  I also texted My friend who was going to watch Kennedy when I went in to deliver (who literally lives right behind us, but just happened to be 45 minutes away that day, which NEVER happens, lol!).  She was planning to be home by 6pm anyway and I told her not to rush, since I wasn’t really sure if this was it or not.  Plus, I kept thinking in the back of my head that with Kennedy, I went in WAY too early and was stuck there for hours… which lead to Pitocin and an epidural.  I knew this was not what I wanted and that I did want to labor at home as long as possible.  So I told her I just wanted to give her a head’s up but to carry on as planned  I used 6pm as my focus point.

By this point (about 3:30pm), I was still on the fence as to whether this was the real deal or just the aftermath of the internal exam earlier that day.  I still hadn’t called the midwife or called in to work for the night, because I didn’t want to jump the gun.  I was waiting for the contractions to become more intense, closer together, last longer… something. 

By about 4pm the contractions were about 3-4 minutes apart, lasting about 1- 1 ½ minutes and definitely increasing in intensity… I was pretty sure this was it.  I called into work, but for some reason, held off on calling the MW.

The next hour is kind of a blur.  I alternated between the bath tub, birthing ball, my bed, the floor and pretty much everywhere in between.  At one point, I drained the tub and thought I would take a shower.  Next thing I know, with shampoo in my hair I decided “the heck with it, back in the bed”, then back in the shower a minute later, this time curled up on the floor.  I was now absolutely positive this was it, but questioning my ability to get through the next 2 hours.  I just kept focusing on 6pm (when my friend/K's sitter was planning to be home and I was planning to drop K off and head to the hospital), but the minutes were dragging.  I was picturing arriving at the hospital shortly after 6pm, writhing in agony, only to be told I was at 5cm or something like that and that I still had hours to go.  I began to mentally prepare myself to give in and beg for an epidural since the pain was unbelievably intense by this point.

Somewhere around 4:45pm, I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.  I finally decided to call the midwife who told me to head in to the hospital.  I told her my sitter was about 45 minutes away, but that we would head in as soon as she arrived.  I then texted my friend and told her I changed my mind, lol.  I asked if she could leave soon and head to our house.  She was on the road in minutes.

Around 5pm or so I started to feel like “I’ve got to POOP!” so I sat on the toilet.  Then Nurse Monica took over for a second and it hit me.  “Holy !^%@#^ … rectal pressure… this is a surefire signal that delivery is imminent”.  I yelled to Kevin that we needed to leave NOW.  He got Kennedy dressed and sent our sitter a text asking her to just meet us at the hospital.  I put my yoga pants on, only to rip them off during the next contraction and hop back on the toilet.  It was the only place/position that felt even remotely tolerable.  This process (between contraction- pants on, everyone get in the car, I can totally make it to the hospital in time… during contraction- pants off, back on the toilet, I’m not going to make it!!) for a few contractions.  Not sure why, but during one contraction, I decided to reach down and check what was going on down there.  To my shock, I felt the bulging bag of waters and a firmness (head?!) just inside.  OH.MY.GOD!

By now it was about 5:15pm.  I yelled to Kevin again, who ran upstairs and must have caught the look of terror on my face.  I told him there was no way we were making it to the hospital in time.  He asked if he should call 9-1-1 and I said “I don’t know!”.  I waivered back and forth… call 9-1-1, don’t call, try to get to the car, screw it stay right here, “grab towels!” (the only piece  of my EMT training that surfaced during this whole debacle).  Finally Kevin just said “executive decision… calling 9-1-1” and I was thankful that the decision was made.  Sweet Kennedy was so worried about me… she kept coming in the bathroom to rub my back or pat my hand and say “it’s ok, mama.  Don’t cry”.  Then Kevin would ask her to go play in her room and she would sit on her bed with a doll, pouting.  She is so incredibly sensitive and was no doubt scared.

The 9-1-1 operator told him to make me get off the toilet immediately.  I was mad, but in retrospect, it was definitely the right thing to do. 

So there I was… laying on my bathroom floor (which is *about* the size of a small closet) in nothing but my bra.  My loving husband had one phone up to his ear talking to 9-1-1, a second phone in his left hand texting the sitter to tell her to come straight to our house asap, and his right hand applying “gentle pressure” to somewhere down there per the 9-1-1 operator’s direction.  <I need to interject here and remind everyone of my idea of a home birth… with the whirlpool tub, candles, soft music, my husband massaging my back during contractions, my dignity still intact.  Yeah that.>  Anyway, a few contractions later, my water broke and I felt like I had to push immediately.  Gulp.

Just then, I heard the ambulance crew announce their arrival at our front door (and I’m pretty sure Kevin heard angels singing).  They ran up the stairs and Kevin dove for safety as the paramedic donned his gloves.  Less than a minute later, our sweet baby was born.  A feisty little baby girl.

Kevin cut the cord and took her to meet her big sister while the paramedic and EMTs checked me over.  They did make me sit on a stair chair to exit the house (mortifying!) then hop on the stretcher (with half of the neighborhood rubber necking, awesome) and baby girl and I enjoyed our first ambulance ride together to the hospital where we were given a clean bill of health and a few dozen “wtf”s.

So that’s it.  That is the story of how our sweet, spunky Delaney Grace came crashing into our world.  She was born Friday September 5, 2014 at 1738 at home, in our bathroom.  She weighs 7 pounds 13 ounces and is 21.5 inches long.  She has a full head of dark hair and beautiful long eyelashes, just like her big sister.  Kennedy is just smitten by her baby sister and my super awesome, multi-tasking husband (so proud of him!) is listed as the official delivery “attendant” (kind of cool, right?) on her birth certificate.  We all now have a story to laugh about for years to come.

So… if you ever hear about someone delivering a baby in an awkward, less-than-desirable, unplanned location and wonder “how the heck does that happen?”… now you know.

Introducing My Beautiful Daughter

Kennedy Ann Boles was born Sunday July 29, 2012 at 9:46pm

She weighs 8lbs 10oz and measures 21in long

Kennedy's Birth Story

**Before you begin reading, let me warn you that this is detailed and graphic... but then again, what birth is actually clean and pretty?  :)

So Friday night (40w 2d) I went to work (3:30pm-midnight) and came home to a super drunk husband.  Cue super pissed off pregnant lady.  After a 2 hour argument, I started having contractions.  They were somewhat regular, but not clearly timeable so I decided to take a bath and relax the best I could.  About 4:00am, they seemed to be fairly regular (about 5 minutes apart, lasting about a minute), but I wasn’t convinced it was the real deal.  They weren’t terribly painful, just annoying.  I decided to get some rest and over the next few hours they faded to nothing.

Saturday morning I was trying to decide whether I should go into work that afternoon or not.  I consulted with my OB who said it sounded like I was in early labor and their advice would be to walk it out… I could walk at home, at the mall or go to work and walk around… whatever I felt comfortable doing as long as I didn’t do anything crazy.  At this stage, it could still be a few days before I went into active labor, so I figured I may as well go to work… so I did.  I worked my full shift Saturday night and came home around 12:30am Sunday morning.

Shortly after I got home, the contractions started again and I thought “grrrreat… here we go again… another few hours of pointless contractions…” so I tried to just get some rest.  The contractions were a little more painful than the night before so I wasn’t able to fall asleep, but they still weren’t too bad.  After an hour of feeling them regularly every 5-7 minutes, I decided to bounce on my birthing ball, then take a bath and see if things progressed.  They still were not very painful, but they did seem to be getting more regular.  Around 4 am, I went to bounce on my birthing ball again after my bath and felt something dripping down my leg.  I woke up my husband and told him I was pretty sure I had not peed myself… so I might be leaking fluid.  It was a very slow dribble, so I thought I might try again to get a little rest, knowing that I would have to go into the hospital soon if my water had broken.  The contractions became a little more intense and were now between 4-5 minutes apart… rest was just not happening.  I walked around my house and bounced on my ball for about 2 more hours then finally called the on call OB.  He told me it sounded like I was in labor and that I should come to the hospital.

So I did what every rational, laboring pregnant mama would do… I took a shower, shaved my legs, ate a little breakfast, did my makeup, took my last bump picture....

 

  and repacked (for the 16^th time) my hospital bag.  Kevin played around with the car seat and decided it was a good time to read the instruction manual.  Lol.

We got to the hospital at 8:00am and went to triage.  I was swabbed and told that my water had broken, so I would be admitted.  Then I was checked and told I was at 2cm.  Crap!!  This was one of my nightmare scenarios… getting to the hospital waaaay too early and being stuck in L&D jail for days.  Bleh.  I was pretty bummed, but on the upside, I knew baby would be arriving at some point within the next 24 hours… but I knew my hopes of a med-free delivery were a little lower at this point, because you can only go for so long with ruptured membranes and if I didn’t progress quick enough on my own, I would have to turn to meds.  So I headed to my L&D room and the ball bouncing/hall walking began.  I walked and walked and bounced and bounced for 2 hours straight.

*I should add here that the entire time I was in my room, I had The Food Network on TV.  Why, I don’t know… I was only able to have clear liquids and the food looked so so yummy.  It was TORTURE!!!

At 10:00am, the on call doctor came to see me and suggested we start Pitocin to move things along.  I was pissed!  Umm… hello, dude, I haven’t been checked in 2 hours, this is the first time you have ever seen me let alone my hoo ha.  Umm… no.  I asked if I could have one more hour then get checked again to see if I was able to progress on my own rather than jump straight into the Pitocin.  He reluctantly agreed.  Sooo… I bounced and bounced and walked and walked some more.

Around 11:30 I was checked again.  Still.a.2!?!?!?!  Gaaah!!!  I was pretty upset.  Come ON cervix.  Do your JOB!!!  

At noon I was started on Pitocin and within an hour or so the contractions started to become intensely painful and closer together.  I now needed continuous monitoring (because of the Pitocin) so I decided to just stay in my room and walk, rock, bounce on my ball.  I could have continued to walk the halls, but the portable monitors are a pain in the butt and, to be honest, I was starting to get really discouraged anyway.  Soon each contraction became more and more painful and they seemed closer and closer together.  I felt myself fighting the pain and tensing up, but I couldn’t help it.  Pitocin contractions feel unnatural and completely different from the contractions before.  I was pretty miserable.  

A few hours later, maybe 3:00pm or so, I started to get nauseous then started throwing up.  I got some IV Zofran, which took the edge off, but not for long.  I was feeling completely defeated and frustrated… I planned on nothing going as planned… but that didn’t make it any less frustrating.

Around 4:00pm, my nurse came in and had a conversation with me that salvaged my entire birthing experience.  She told me that she knew I wanted to try a med-free natural birth, but that I was tensing and fighting through the pain and, as such, not allowing my body to progress as it should.  She empathized and told me that she understands how much different the Pitocin makes everything and that she thought, if I would consider it, an epidural would be good for me in this instance.  She had not steered me wrong up to that point and I trusted her.  I asked to be checked once more (which is standard before an epi anyway) and then I would decide.

I was checked again shortly after and was only a 3.  I wanted to cry.  A freaking 3!?!?!?  All of that pain and I had only progressed one stinking centimeter.  Not cool.  This cemented my decision to have the epidural and it was placed at 4:30pm.

The epidural was an interesting experience.  It took 2 tries (which I thought was pretty good.  I have mild scoliosis, so I was prepared for a rough time if I went for an epi).  I think the thought of it is 1000x worse than the actual procedure.  The local anesthetic felt like a tiny pinch, but because of the location it just seems scarier.  The epidural itself felt like a little pressure going in… once in place my legs felt really warm, then heavy, then tingly.  At first only my left leg felt this way and I was nervous.  The anesthesiologist and nurse encouraged me to tell them everything I felt, and assured me over and over that everything I was feeling was normal.  My blood pressure did drop a little low after the epi kicked in, so I was given epinephrine which corrected it quickly.

Once the epi was in place, my nurse placed a catheter (second best thing ever!) then helped me to lie on my side.  She asked “Are you feeling those?”… “feeling what?”… “you’re having a very strong contraction”… “I am??  SWEET!!  I don’t feel a thing!!”… It was glorious.  She suggested that I try to get some rest and suggested Kevin go grab something to eat… I told him he better not bring anything back to the room… I was still starving.

Within minutes I was zonked out.  Once I was asleep, Kevin left to grab some food.  An hour or so later, he poked his head back into the room and said he was going to be in the bathroom for a few.  Umm… ok?  Then I saw him sneak in a Subway bag.  I was pissed!!  He looked really upset and told me that Subway was closing so they kicked him out with his food and he didn’t have anywhere to go eat, plus he was worried about me so he just came right back.  Lol.  I told him to just come eat in the room since I was half asleep anyway.  Poor guy.  To his credit, he did keep a steady supply of juice, jello and ice chips at my bedside.  Love that guy!

Around 7:30, a resident came in to check me and I was a… wait for it… wait for it… 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Holy crap!!  It took me hours and hours of walking and bouncing and painful contractions to go from a 2 to a 3… now in 3 hours of napping and relaxing I went from a 3 to a 9.  Umm… heck yeah!!!  The epidural had allowed me to relax enough to progress with the contractions.  Woohoo!!!

About 30 minutes later I was a 10 and given the option of doing some passive decent (sitting straight up, maintaining very very light pressure and allowing gravity to help the baby descend through the birth canal) or doing some practice pushes.  I was so happy with how I was able to progress with the epi that I decided to let my body do its thing and do some passive decent.  The nurse helped me to sit straight up and I did this for about half an hour, then it was show time.  I was pretty much the happiest laboring, ready to push pregnant lady ever... thank you, epidural!!!

The doctor mentioned turning off the epidural and I was terrified!!  He explained that some women have a difficult time pushing effectively with the epidural.  I told him “I promise I will be the BEST pusher ever… please don’t turn it off!!”.  He laughed and said “ok, we’ll give it a shot.”  I pushed and pushed and pushed… he was pretty impressed and said we could leave it on.  Thank goodness!  I was able to feel pressure… lots of pressure… but not really any pain.

*Let me add here that the entire time, I totally felt like I had to poop.  And not just poop, but I swear I thought if I pushed with ALL my strength, I was going to totally shoot a turd straight across the room.  I actually held back a little on the pushing because of this.

So the doctors and nurse helped to coach me on when to push and when to just maintain pressure.  Kevin held my hand, leg, ice chips… he kissed my forehead and was my biggest cheerleader.  I was really impressed with how well he did.  With each push I knew I was getting closer, because his eyes got wider and wider.  During one push, the resident said “holy hair!” and Kevin agreed that he could see a lot of hair… this motivated me to push even harder and longer.  Soon I felt the infamous “ring of fire” and felt the baby crowning.  About this time, I was starting to feel pretty exhausted and I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.  The nurse lifted my head up and told me to look at my baby!  Holy crap!?!?!  My baby!?!?!  I could see my baby’s head!!  Oh my gosh!!  I pushed through 2 more contractions and out the baby came at 9:46pm, wiggling and screaming.

The doctor held the baby up for Kevin to get a peek at the goods… Kevin looked at me with tears in his eyes and said “It’s a GIRL!!!”  Time stood still.  If I could live in one moment for all eternity… this would be it.  This one single moment was absolute perfection.  I felt like my heart was just going to explode with love…. My husband’s eyes, my baby crying… just wow.

The nurse laid my beautiful baby girl on my chest and I was complete.   

 

She nursed like a champ then daddy got to hold her while I delivered the placenta.  I ended up without a single stitch or tear… very very lucky.  Shortly after, during my first fundal check I passed a huge clot and started to bleed quite a bit.  The nurse had to page the doctors back into the room to make sure I wasn’t hemorrhaging.  It was pretty unnerving, but everything ended up being ok.  They checked me internally then increased the Pitocin and did some fundal massage.  Oh… and they put Miso up my butt.  Yeah… that’s right… up my butt.  Not awesome… but I was on such a high staring at my beautiful little girl that I hardly noticed.

 

So that is the long (long, long) version of Kennedy’s grand entrance into this world.  She weighed 8lb 10oz and measured 21in long.  We are so in love and so truly blessed to finally hold our rainbow in our arms.

Proud Daddy!!

40 Week Check In

So today is the day we have been counting down to since we first saw those two pink lines.  Today is our due date and, while it's pretty clear that baby will not be joining us today... it's still a very exciting milestone.  I can't believe we really made it to 40 weeks!!  Back in November it seemed like this day would never come... and now that it's here, it seems like time November 11th was just yesterday.  What happened?  Where did the time go?  As excited as I am to become a mom and to finally meet my little wiggle worm... I'm not sure that I am ready to not be pregnant any more.  :)  Ready or not though, this little one will be joining us very very soon!!  Eeeeeek!!!

How Big Is Baby?

• So apparently, this is a jackfruit.  I really have no idea what a jackfruit is, or what it tastes like.... but I can tell you that it takes up an awful lot of room in my belly.  Cheers to my baby jackfruit!!

Baby’s Development

• Baby will be here at any moment!

How Big Is Mommy?

 

• Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen... that's right... 40 weeks pregnant and wearing- make that ROCKING- some super cute wedge heels.  Go me!!!

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  All things considered, I feel pretty darn good.  I haven't felt any contractions and, although several people have told me I look like I have "dropped" (and for each that has said I dropped, another has said that I am still carrying very high... lol)... I really haven't felt a thing.  Laying in bed isn't super comfortable, but I am so exhausted after a long day of work (yes, I am still working... go me again!!) that I usually have no probably falling right to sleep.
• Emotionally:  I am so excited to meet this little one... but at the same time not ready to not be pregnant anymore.  What a twisted combination of emotions.  I can't believe how fast the time has flown by and I am doing my best to savor every last moment that I have left.  It's crazy to think that baby could be here any day!! 

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• My appointment last Thursday went really well.  I discussed by birth plan with my OB, we reviewed signs/symptoms of labor and what would happen if I went past my due date.  I am scheduled for my "post due" appointment tomorrow.

 Love/Hate:

• Love:  The look on people's faces when they ask when I am due and I respond "today"... priceless!!!
• Hate:  That the end of this amazing, emotional, exciting, terrifying pregnancy journey is almost over.  I wish I could hit pause for a few and just soak it all in.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment is TOMORROW!!!  :)  I am scheduled for an ultrasound (to check size, position and fluid level), an internal check (to check dilation and effacement) and a Non-Stress Test (to check for contractions and make sure baby is handling everything ok).  Fingers crossed for a good appointment and the thumbs up to allow baby to keep cooking just one more week!!