It all began by my getting a massage Wednesday March 30th. Sabrina one of my besties is a massage therapist so she gave me a massage and worked my pressure points that are suppose to put you into labor. So sure enough the next day at 39 weeks I was getting a lot more Braxton Hicks contractions. I chopped it up to be just that though, not wanting to get my hopes up. So I went about the day, made cookies with Ash, cleaned, folded laundry, cooked dinner, all that fun stuff. As the day went by though they started to get a bit stronger & that night they turned into real contractions.
At about 9pm I realized I wasn't going to be able to sleep. For my body the worst place to have a contraction is in bed on my side. I find them a lot more painful that way. So I labored on the ball, paced, laid on the couch a bit. Lots of fun stuff. Mike went to bed around midnight because my contraction times were all over the place. They were all a minute long, but ranging anywhere from 5 minutes apart to 20 minutes apart. Unfortunately they were close enough together that I didn't get any sleep. This continued on the next day. I called my midwife Katia and let her know what was going on. I was getting so so tired and was scared because I didn't want this to be a repeat of Asher's labor. (4 days even though he was breech & I had to have a cesarian) We made an appointment with her to go to the birth center and be checked at 5pm. So at 5 we went there & I was only at a 2!! My thoughts "What?!!! Are you freaking kidding me body?! I've been in labor almost 24 hours!" This was soo discouraging for me to hear. I was also screaming in my head "holy hell I can't do this 4 days again" I was starting to doubt that I would be able to do it without pain medication. 4 days with no sleep was wayyy too long last time. I couldn't even enjoy Asher because I was so exhausted. While I was there to did a sweep & stretch, stretching me to a 4. Then they (Katia my midwife & Halima the student midwife) told us to come back at 11 pm to be checked & do another sweep & stretch to get things moving. So at 11pm we went back my contractions were still all over the place. When we went back I was still at a 4, they did another sweep & stretch & got me to a 6. Then she told me to TRY to get some rest and hopefully we'd have him in the morning or next day.
On the way home my contractions started getting more regular. About 6-7 minutes apart. So when I got home I couldn't sleep. Contractions were too strong & close together. Let me just add that I'm very emotional when overly tired. So I cried. I cried to my mom & Mike. (My mom was at our house with Ash while we went to the birth center) I was just feeling so tired, discouraged & all I wanted to do was have a baby or sleep. Neither was happening. My mom & Mike talked me into going to the hospital. The Nephi hospital.... They talked me into going in to get an epidural & having my baby there instead. That way I could sleep if my body wasn't ready. I was so tired & discouraged I agreed. Even though I loathe hospitals. Don't get me wrong they are so great & there is definitely a time & place for them. We are lucky to have that care, but it's not somewhere I want to be unless I have to.
So we got there and I was immediately regretting it. First the nurse can't find my cervix to check me. I had to tell her it was to the right. I've never wanted to punch someone so bad in my life. Then she comes in & tells us I will have to have a cesarian because Dr. Jones (the doc on call) will not do a VBAC. I was at a 7 and in labor. There was NO WAY I was having a cesarian when I was this close and there was no reason for it. Let alone from a doctor I had never met. I asked her to leave the room so I could talk to Mike. We both thought no, no cesarian. When she came back we told her we didn't want one. She then tried to talk us into it, fought with us & told us a VBAC was too risky. She also told us I was gonna have this baby soon. My thoughts "THEN LET US". Then my water broke. I looked at Mike & told him. He then said "it's a sign, get dressed we are going to the birth center" At this the nurse was freaking out. I started taking the monitors off my belly, she ran out doing whatever. Calling the doctor I think. I got dressed & she came back in telling us "I can't let you guys leave, you are gonna have the baby in the car" I assured her we would not. There were lots of dramatics from the nurse, her begging us not to leave. Telling us the doctor would be there in 5 minutes to talk to us. I told her I'm very sorry we are offending you but we are leaving. She was really pissed. We signed the release form & left. (Oh & during a lot of this after my water broke Mike was on the phone with Katia)
We then headed to the birth center. Better Birth in Spanish Fork. This is where things kinda become a blur to me. I remember most things but I was really tired & the nurse saying I couldn't do it gave me the boost/power I needed. I don't like being told what I can/can't do. Ha ha. So I got in the "zone" my relaxed, deep breathing, meditative zone.
I think we arrived around 1:30am.. Let me just tell you how much I hate having contractions in the car. Ugh the worst. When we got there they checked me (gently) I continued to leak my bag of waters. All over my pants ,his head was really low so it was blocking a lot of the waters. Then they filled the birthing tub for me & I labored in there for 5 hours 18 mins.(yes we had to keep adding hot water)
My poor midwife team & Mike. I had a whole playlist of stuff to listen to, but ended up listening to the same 24 minute track on repeat the whole time I was in labor. (Active relaxation by Lauralyn Curtis) The tub was a dream. I felt so much better once I got in. My team was amazing!! I thought I'd was counter pressure & rubs & all that while in labor from Mike & my doula but turns out all I wanted was peace & quiet. It was perfect!! Lights dimmed, everyone quiet as a mouse. I was sooo in the zone, looking back it feels hazy. The only way I know how to explain it. When I got to a 9 his head was so low that my body was trying to push. It was insane, Katia kept telling me to try and breathe through it. Not to push yet. It was brutal. Like I didn't have control. Then I got to a 10 & was so glad to push. That is some hard work though, I pushed for a little over an hour. I remember towards the end his heart rate kept dropping during my contractions. I didn't put me in a panic though because the midwives didn't seem concerned. I also heard one of them (I believe Katia)say to another that his cord might be around his neck. They also didn't seem concerned about this. I didn't even remember it until later, it was so nice that they didn't put me into distress. Always keeping things calm. Well he was born with his hand up by his face so it made it a bit harder for me to get him out & that good old elbow too!! He is a perfect little man. Born at 6:29 am 7lbs 13oz 20 inches. It was so much better than Asher's birth & makes me feel so sad that Asher didn't get the same. With Ash I didn't get to see him for a couple hours. Rowan was immediately placed on my chest. We cuddled, bonded & he immediately breast fed. He stayed with me the whole time, the cord wasn't cut until the placenta was delivered and Mike cut it. It was a great experience and we are so glad to have him here as a part of our family.
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