~ February 7th 2013 ~
I have a huge journal entry about the birth, I'll just sum it up here. It was my birthday! I turned 28 and was 7 -8 days overdue. I wasn't really thrilled about having the baby on my birthday, I think we should have our own days :) But I was ready to have the baby out!! I had some contractions the night before that I started timing, but after 1 1/2 hours they started slowing down so I went to bed thinking it would happen during the night. I woke up with nothing. Kyle went to work that morning. I was doing some things in my office and really didn't feel well (super nauseous). My midwife asked if she could come over and monitor the baby's heart rate and see if she could get things going. I asked Kyle to come home and help while the midwife was there.
Cathy came over around 12:00? She gave me some herbs and checked me. I was dilated to a 1. Same as with my others. Nothin happens until I'm in active labor. She told me to lay still for an hour while the herbs stimulated contractions. It was up to my body to keep them going after the first hour. She left and went to Costco. I had contractions every 5 minutes and I was breathing through them. She came back and checked me. I was at a 3 and 90% effaced. She was surprised. She had me go for a walk. Luckily it was a beautiful winter day. My Mom and sister were wanting to come visit, bring presents and cheer me up since I was still pregnant and it was my birthday! I called them or texted them on my walk and said hold off for now.. this might be happening. We brought the kids and walked around the block a few times. I continued to have contractions every 5 minutes. Came back and was dilated to a 5. Finally this baby was coming!
My Mom came, gave me a present and some sugar cookies. I said hi, thank you and bye. Kalel kept asking me to call his friends and asking to play with cousins. I was needing to focus so Kyle put Laylah down for a nap and my Mom dropped Kalel off at my in-laws. I got in the shower and that was the best part of the whole labor. Sadly baths don't work for me but man I'd pay to have continuous hot water showers... Seriously though. I had to get out when the water ran out. Now cue Kyle. He needed to push on my back every contraction from now until the birth. If he stepped more than two steps away I had anxiety. When he pushed on my back during contractions, it cut the pain in half. I've had back labor with all three. Things went well, I stood for most of the time. There were times I wanted out of my body, not because of the pain as much as the intensity without breaks. My water broke when I was at a 9+. I pushed for 20? minutes? It didn't seem long at all. The head was a little harder to get out than my others, but his head was definitely bigger.
When I was pushing Laylah woke up.... ya I forgot she was still there. Kyle set up a chair for her right in the middle of it all. It still makes me smile and almost tear up when I remember the sweet audible sound of surprise from her when he came out. She was so great. I loved having her come in last minute there. He cried immediately and then stopped until the next day? He was 8 pounds 4 ounces... wow quite a step up each time. Kalel: 6 lbs 7 oz Laylah: 7 lbs 6 oz Dash: 8 lbs 4 oz. Lets hope this isn't a pattern. I was surprised I had such a big baby though! He was born around 6:45 pm. All in all it was great because it was short but it was super intense, contractions every 0-5 minutes for 6+ hours. And then that sweet baby is in your arms and everything goes away. Except exhaustion and hunger :)
Another home birth. I loved it again. Laboring in the comfort of my home. And then when the baby comes everything is happening right in front of me. I can take all the time in the world, it is my schedule, not the hospitals. And guess what? I get to go to my own bed. Unfortunately afterwards I have to have a couple shots to help with bleeding which makes for a long night but I'm grateful to have them.
Cute big sister.
He looks so huge in this picture it's hilarious. He wasn't that big...
All fixed up and ready to go rinse off. Something I've never been able to do post-birth before.
Blonde Blonde hair! And way more hair than the other two had at birth.
I'm so grateful that I have the ability to do this. It is such an incredible feeling to accomplish something so hard and the reward! I seriously love babies. They are so yummy. It will be hard when it's time to stop having them :) But I do love my breaks in between. And this time I wasn't thinking of ways to convince Kyle we needed to adopt during labor! That is a positive thing! ;) We are so so blessed. I love my life and my family more than could ever be told.
