Casey and Sarah's blog

I started this blog with Casey's birth story, so I want to include Sarah's as well. It's very long, no need for anyone else to read it, but I want it recorded here.

Made the eggplant parmesan sunday night, but didn't eat it till
Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Supposedly works after two nights
:)

crampy surges started thursday morning around 1:25 am. 7 minutes
apart. After an hour I woke Michael to tell him, meanwhile sleeping
in between. I called Silvie (our doula) who said she was with another
mom at a nearby hospital, did I need someone now? No, so she said
have some wine and keep sleeping and keep her posted. I also called
the midwives to give them a heads up, but they said call again as
surges got closer, like 4 minutes. Called my folks to let them know
since they would have to come get Casey. Had a few sips of wine to
relax and calm down as I was so excited to actually go into labor on
my own!. surges started getting slightly more intense towards 6am, so
my parents were called again and would be here by 8. But, as they got
here and Casey got up and Silvie the doula arrived, things slowed down
a lot (despite my getting in the shower -I hadn't washed my hair in
days!) So now surges were every 15 minutes, so I made breakfast and
Casey left with my folks. Silvie left. Michael and I went for a walk
outside but it was so cold so we went to the Mall to walk, saw some
friends, but was able to talk through surges, just would stop to rest
during them. Meanwhile used my hypnobirthing visualizations and
breathing as I had done through the night to stay relaxed. Had lunch
at the mall and headed home for a nap. Surges still about every 12
minutes and just crampy.

We watched a movie, I took another shower, thought about going to
dinner, but around 5 or so things got more intense, although surges
were still every 7 minutes. I remember Silvie saying things would
probably pick up in the evening. We ate dinner at home, but around 7
the surges were getting more intense and i needed Michael to push my
sacrum (as I was resting with my knees on floor and hugging the labor
ball). We called Silvie and I told her things were still slow but
more intense. <Michael> she suggested getting in shower and so did
that for 35 or 40mins but were still 6-7mins apart. Got out of the
shower and within 10mins was more powerful, called silvie again and
asked her to come over even though michael thought it was too early.
<end> By the time she was arrived the surges were now every three
minutes and really hard. I called her again to ask where she was and
she was outside thank god so Michael let her in. Within a few minutes
Michael was loading the car with the final things (mostly the car was
loaded in the morning) and I got in the back with Silvie. Silvie told
Michael to call the midwives and tell them we were leaving, we didn't
wait for a call back. surges still coming on really strong and only a
few minutes in between.

In the car I faced backwards hugging the back of the seat and head
rests, on my knees (Which acted as a spring/cushion as the roads have
so many potholes!). I told michael just drive, don't call my folks,
just drive. The midwife called on the speaker so Silvie told her we
were going straight to the hospital (about 50 minutes away) directly.
She repeated directly, as things were moving so fast and we would;t
have time to meet her at the birthing center first! Poor Michael had
to deal with me complaining about how cold the car was, then how hot,
cold etc (it was like 5 degrees out).

half way through the ride I started feeling the urge to push. my
hynobirthing breathing was basically out the window, but I did a lot
of vocal toning. my feet were falling asleep. Silvie rubbed my back
in between, told me to breath, say Ah, and did the sacral press for
each surge. She didn't want me to push so she kept saying breath it
out, I started going foo foo foo instead of pushing, but it was so
hard not to push. Almost impossible. she kept saying my water didn't
break (I thought it had during the ride a small amount and sat on a
towel but it didn't). In between surges I told them maybe we should
go to a closer hospital, but Silvie kept her cool, it was fine. I
joked if I get there and am only 4 cm dilated I would freak out, but
that was unlikely given the pushing urges I was getting with each
surge!

finally we arrived at 10pm, Michael was going to park but I just
yelled to pull over so I could get out, Silvie had him drive the wrong
way in the parking lot. My legs were weak from the hour sitting on my
knees but I walked in. Michael stayed with me, SIlvie ran ahead to
get the elevator, I was yelling at the security guard "Labor, Labor,
what floor!. I walked fast through a surge to get to the elevator and
finished it in the elevator, meanwhile yelling and groaning through
the surge. Got out, the two midwives Katie and LInsday were there, I
think Silvie told them what was what, walked to the labor area - was
told room 4, but someone was in there! so went to a different room. We
would do admission work later as it was too late.

Got undressed with help (Silvie?) except for my tank top and socks,
got on the bed on my back so they could check me, fully dilated but a
slight lip (but said it was stretchy and fine). I told them I needed
to turn over for the next surge and was on my hands and knees.
Someone raised the top of the bed upright so I could lean on that in
between surges and rest. I asked about the tub, they said no since I
was already pushing! Big bummer. I kept thinking this was so hard
and crazy, my breathing was not happening, but I kept vocal toning
and saying low, low, even through apparently my voice was high at
times. I thought I would have one urge to push with each surge but I
often had a few urges towards the height/end of each surge. Michael
was close, telling me how great I was doing, Silvie kept telling me to
go with what felt right. She rubbed my back and did the sacral press
I think? i told them I couldn't do this, I needed an epidural, they
said it was too late. Kept telling me i could do this, I was like,
what are they crazy? I pushed and pushed and screamed Get Out, Down,
etc, and I felt myself open and birthed the head and the shoulders at
the next urge (not next surge even!). Apparently the midwives broke
my water five minutes before Sarah was born, I had no idea.

They showed me the baby under me between my legs, cord still attached,
wild wild. They helped me turn over and put Sarah on my chest, I was
crying and shaking all over and Silvie or someone held Sarah on my
chest. Michael told them to cut my tank top off, so silvie did that.
I started nursing with Silvie's help at some point, I kept saying oh
my god we have a baby!! we did it!! I was kind of crying, kind of
laughing and smiling. The cord stopped pulsing and Michael cut the
cord, at some point I birthed the placenta which felt gooey. I had
torn (second degree) so Lindsay sewed me up, which was really
uncomfortable, w katie assisting her.

Eventually I couldn't take lying on my back. It was like my legs and
low back couldn't relax. I turned on my side a bit while they weighed
and checked sarah. Michael and Silvie were amazing. Michael did skin
to skin too so I could try to get more comfortable. He just took off
his shirt like the pro he is ( he was the first to do skin to skin w
Casey). I was proud of him!!!

They started the admission process. Like what was my pain scale when I
got to the hospital? Ten!! I think Silvie massaged my feet and legs.
My dad arrived at some point. Saw our car parked outside like in the
movies. Dad drove Silvie home. I think i spoke w my mom on the phone
and kept saying we did it!!! A vbac!!!! I have a baby girl!

A few more thoughts and notes.

Apparently as I was asking for an epidural there was a baby nurse
getting the warming bed ready, that's how close I was. Again that was
all behind me, my butt in the air.

The midwife the next day, not who attended the birth, said most obs
wouldn't let me birth on my hands and knees. I had no idea. I knew I
chose the midwives for a reason!!

Despite not getting in the tub or using the wireless monitors the
nurses during the delivery were great. The nurse who put the iv in did
it in between two surges (I was group strep b positive but luckily
water didn't break till so close to birth). One nurse who put the
monitors on me basically held them in place and kept adjusting, I
remember her under me a lot and moving down as the baby moved down.
What a job! I didn't make it easy :) not once was I told to change
what I was doing to make it easier for anyone else. Maybe I was asked
to extend my hand but that's it.

The back up ob came and introduced herself early on, no idea what we
discussed as I was focused. Not sure why she came in anyway, kind of
distracting.

At one point they asked if a resident could come watch , I said no.
Michael said that was good because there was no room left in the room
, I had no idea as they were all behind me. Maybe I should have let
the resident in to see my natural birth on hands and knees on the
bed!!! And so he could see how great the midwives were, and my butt
sticking out for all to see.

Next time will have to be a home birth so I can get in the tub. If
there is a next time.

I really can't express how amazing my husband was through the
pregnancy as we decided on providers and hospitals (third times a
charm!).

And through the whole labor process I built a community of support so
I was always surrounded by people who knew my vbac was a real
possibility. At the core is my husband.

And in no particular order....
Then there is Silvie, my amazing doula. The physical therapist melissa
donaghy. My chiropractor (who had a vbac herself!) Michelle McCoy.
Beth Gibney and her creation yoga community at full circle (which I
started attending two years ago for prenatal with Casey, then mommy
and me, then women's yoga, back to prenatal!). The ICAN group. The
stroller strides community encouraging me to keep exercising
throughout my pregnancy. My parents (who needed to read the NIH
consensus on vbacs to really understand what this was about). The
hypnobirthing class taught by Cynthia Overgard.

Ultimately we changed providers three times to find the right
provider and hospital for a real chance at a vbac. It was stressful
and confusing, but worth doing the homework even of we switched at 36
weeks to the midwives!

How quickly things moved (despite labor starting at 1 am)
7.38pm called silvie to tell her things getting more intense not more
frequent. She suggested i get in shower. 30 min in shower and urges
getting closer.
8.39 called silvie to come over as things were picking up fast.
8.51 silvie arrived
9.02 called midwives,
9:12 midwives called back, we were already in car for a few minutes.
10 pm arrived at hospital
10:25 sarah born