Brennan's Birth II

Brennans Birth Story Part II

At 10:00 pm when I was finally able to lay down to go to sleep the contractions started, fierce and mean. I kept jumping up from bed, not able to get comfortable. They really hurt! I remember timing them as best I could and attempting to talk to Kurt. I kept thinking, they're nothing I'm going back to bed. I did this, laid down and immediately was up again. I don't really remember how long this lasted but standing next to the sink just feeling a little out of control, not knowing how to handle the contractions or anything. I called my mom and told her I wasn't sure how close the contractions were but I just needed her to come. We timed for awhile, called my mom who was already dressed and coming, who called the midwife and they were both on their way. I set up my Our Lady of Guadalupe candle, my lavender scented one, started the music I had all prepared and by the time they arrived 45 minutes later I had figured out how to breath with the contractions while squatting next to a wall and then walking in between them. It wasn't so bad after all.

This went on for a couple hours until I started going into transition - I remember really having to concentrate on the contractions more. The other midwife telling a funny story about her daughter and husband and no longer being able to really laugh and talk much. I found a weird little spot to squat down and started working with the contractions. I don't particularly like this part because I feel like I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. Stand, sit, squat, push, get comfortable or get in a position to make the contractions intense to get this baby out. Of course the last is the good one, but that option stinks. I kind of floated around the room doing this, squatting and really working. I remember them telling me to not waste the contraction but to work with them all to get the baby to come. I wanted to cry, I felt disappointed in myself for just wanting to quit - why couldn't the baby just come out already? I was so exhausted. I didn't remember how to push, what was I supposed to do? I was hating this. By the time I really felt like I couldn't do it anymore, no matter how much I told myself I could - I got into the wonderful amazing birth pool. Kurt was sitting in a backwards chair next to the pool and I was on my knees leaning on the pool next to him. I remember just shutting my eyes thinking how much more relaxing and comfortable the pool was, and that I'm going to just go to sleep for awhile then I can do this, they won't even know. Ha ha ha.. mental. After probably a minute of thinking that I was like. . . what am I thinking? I turned around and asked for them to telling me how to push again - Push like your pooping out a watermelon, okay NO. I had Kurt counting to ten for me so I could push for at least ten seconds without stopping. I remember apologizing because I couldn't make it to ten. Then I remember it just clicking thinking - I can do this, I'm not messing around. I'm made to have this baby and I can do it!The next contraction I pushed and pushed like I was pooping out a watermelon (I love how Kurt has to remind me often about how much poop there is, hey it comes with birth, get used to it), when it stopped I said.. "do you see the baby yet?".. We see about a dime of his head".. Me: "oh no".. the next contraction wasn't much.. the next I pushed that baby out all the way to his eye balls and then a little more so he wouldn't be getting his eyes squished. I remember them asking if I wanted to reach down and touch his head, part of me wanted to but the other part of me needed to continue to work - and this I did. By the next contraction I had my baby in my arms. 3:07am...Woah, that was work! I got him in my arms and Kurt and I just stared at him, thinking the same thing as always.. he's beautiful, perfect, amazing, tears in your eyes a bit. And of course is he okay, are they supposed to be a little purple and is he breathing?? Ha ha, he was completely perfect! I then tried to get him to nurse, he wasn't much interested at first but a little bit. After a minute or two we looked and saw we had a little man and in came our little Amelia and my sister Becca! Kurt cut the cord and I pushed out the placenta. A couple minutes later I, with some help got our of the pool and took a shower while daddy loved up his new baby boy. By the time I was out of the shower things were picked up and I got dressed and into bed. Brennan nursed and then we weighed and measured him and got him dressed. Since it was early I went down stairs and got comfortable on the couch with our new little guy and he cuddled up nursed and fell asleep.

I'm sure there are details and things I do not remember. I remember thinking I did badly with this birth, getting discouraged easily and not wanting to do it, but was told I did great! That's always refreshing. And yes, I want to have another baby - lets just wait a little while. =) I only wish I would have gotten some good pictures of the pool and things. Waterbirth is so amazing, I can't imagine giving birth without it. If you would like to read more information visit Waterbirth International online and here's a video that I really like from their site. There is nudity but it just shows the beauty of birth. This always makes me cry. We are made to give birth and it should be a beautiful experience for us all. God bless!