Semaiah's Birth Story--Very Long

(I wrote this several days ago, but was interrupted by a baby who needed to nurse :).)

Haven and Semaiah are napping peacefully, the other children are playing outside in the woods, Cameron is painting our book shelves that he and his dad built, and I finally have a free moment to "blog". It has been almost a week since Semaiah was born. Cameron and I were just marveling this morning that the week leading up to her birth felt like a month, but this past week has flown by! It was already a week ago that Cameron and I headed into the hospital hoping that THIS time labor was really starting :).

Here is my birth story:

Last Wednesday night, June 18th, I started to have contractions around 9 pm. They were not too painful, but uncomfortable and every 12 minutes. Around midnight, I still couldn't sleep and got up to eat something. After 30 minutes or so, I decided to get some sleep, knowing that if it was "real" labor, things would pick up. I slept fitfully that night. I awoke and got up around 6 am to have my quiet time. I read Psalm 70 and was struck by the sixth verse which says "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." I knew that God was telling me that He was in control of the timing of this baby's arrival and that I did not need to worry. At the same time, my contractions picked back up and were about 8 minutes apart. Cameron decided that he did not want to go into work and leave me at home with potentially no way to get to the hospital if I went into active labor. We live about 30 minutes from the hospital. So, we decided that I would go into work with Cameron and walk around until he finished at noon. If things progressed, great, we were already at the hospital, if they didn't, we would just come home.

I spent the morning walking while Cameron worked. However, my contractions began to spread out and lessen in intensity. By the time we made it to my ob appointment at 1:45 that I had already previously scheduled, it was clear I was not in labor. The midwife checked and I was 3-4 cm dilated. She told me to get some sleep because if labor did begin soon, it was not good to go into it sleep deprived.

I took a benadryl that night and slept peacefully until about 3. After that, I slept fitfully until 6 am. Friday morning: I began to have more intense, painful contractions, about 5 minutes apart. Cameron and I began to prepare to go back to the hospital, but within 2 hours the contractions stopped. We decided to have a "normal" day. We swam in the pool with the kids and had fun NOT thinking about this baby coming! lol. I made a big dinner of spaghetti bake and doubled it in case I did go into labor--then there would be enough for the children's dinner the next day. While I made dinner, I started to contract AGAIN. I ignored it this time and didn't even say anything. We had a friend to dinner that night. During dinner, my contractions became even more intense. By the time we had cleaned up from dinner, the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and I was breathing through them. We got ready to go back to the hospital. We put the kids to bed and left our friend in charge until a babysitter could get to our house who was prepared to spend the night.

When we got to the hospital--around 9-ish, my contractions were back to 8-10 minutes apart. We were discouraged, but determined to see if I had progressed. An examination showed that I was still only 4 cm dilated. The doctor recommended breaking my water to get things started since I was already contracting, 80% effaced, and 2 days from my due date. I declined because if they did break my water and labor didn't progress, I would be stuck with pitocin. So . . . we walked and my contractions picked back up. They were regular and painful, but not enough. It is funny, at one point we were walking through the hospital and a man was pushing his very pregnant wife through the hallway at top speed and she was groaning and panting and holding her belly, clearly in labor. Here I was, sauntering through the hospital with my contractions 8 minutes apart, thinking I was in labor! (Little did I know that I was, but it was such a stark contrast!)

After an hour and a half of walking, we went back to labor and delivery to be checked again. No progress. We were so discouraged and confused about what to do. I wanted to go home and sleep. Cameron didn't think it was wise to be so far from the hospital because clearly I was on the cusp of going into labor. I again declined having my water broken and we prepared to leave. First, Cameron prayed that God would make it clear what we were supposed to do. I really didn't want to keep contracting for days, losing sleep, losing strength for when "real" labor kicked in. Well, I went into the bathroom and had a contraction that took my breath away. It was very painful. I went back out and told Cameron that we could not leave, clearly I was in labor and most likely if they broke my water I would not need pitocin. I just had a peace that this was God's timing. (just so you know, my water broke with Haven on its own and labor did not start and I needed pitocin. I also needed it with Elyse and Katria. It is VERY different than a natural labor, which I had with Jonas and Anna. The pain I felt at 10 cm with them was what I felt with the 3 others at 4 cm). So, Cameron went to tell the doctor, residents, and nurses that we were staying and I heard everyone cheer down the hall! (He works with all of them and they were excited). Soon afterward, they had an emergency c-section and could not return to put us in a room for 2 hours. During that time, my contractions picked up--in intensity--but were still 8 minutes apart. By the time we got to a room, I told the doctor that I knew I was in labor and did not want my water broken. I really wanted to see if I would progress on my own since the contractions were becoming more intense. I also had told her that I would only stay if I could eat ;). (That's what I did in triage while we waited for them to come get us!--ate a big turkey sandwich. I also had an apple and some chocolate covered pretzels later).

My nurse was incredible--she had given birth at the birthing center and was all for me doing this natural, whatever I wanted, and not offering me any medication. She also encouraged me not to have my water broken. She even humored all my whims--for example, I wouldn't even get into a gown--in my pictures after having Semaiah, I am in a gown, but that is because right when I was ready to push, I made them put a gown on me over my shirt. As soon as I had her I took it off. I don't know why I even bothered. I think I thought that it would give me some modesty during pushing, but really . . . who cares, right? It was actually liberating NOT to wear that gown and feel like a patient.

I continued to contract and at 3:30 the doctor checked and I was 5 cm, 100% effaced. I was encouraged. I was making progress on my own. But, I was SO tired and hit a wall and begged Cameron for an epidural just so I could sleep, not because the labor was that bad. I think someone commented on this blog that many women hit a wall at 5 cm and ask for drugs and if you can make it past that you will go into "auto-pilot" and just labor. Well, I hit that wall. Cameron talked me out of it and I continued.
And I DID go into a mindset in which it did not even occur to me to ask for meds. Once I made it over that initial "hurdle" God gave me the strength to persevere!

My contractions were STILL 8-10 minutes apart! Throughout the entire labor it remained like that, until the very end. It was funny because I didn't want to lay in bed and be monitored, so the nurse would take a hand-held doppler and listen to the baby's heartbeat during contractions--at least every 30 minutes. Well, my contractions were so far apart that she would come in to monitor me and I would tell her that we had to wait for 7 minutes for the next contraction! They were really painful though and I would beat my head against this metal door frame and it really helped me cope with the pain--that and groaning. Cameron kept telling me I was going to have this big bruise on my forehead! I didn't end up with a bruise, but I was sore the next day! I didn't want to get into the tub or sit on the birthing ball. In fact, I couldn't sit at all. All of the intensity of the contractions was not in my belly, but in my bottom and I just could not sit. I stood for almost the entire labor! Sometimes, I would pace between contractions and when I felt one coming on, I would rush to my doorframe for comfort and some head-banging! LOL

At 6:30, the doctor checked me again and I was 7 cm. This encouraged me again and renewed my resolve to keep going. I also knew it would be fast and I started to pray that I would have her by 8:30 am. Around 7-7:30 was shift change and a new nurse (another GREAT nurse) and a midwife came in. Things were getting more intense and I was on my knees with my arms and chest on a swivel stool. They tried to get me to lean on a birthing ball, but I was thinking, "That thing is just going to roll away!". At 7:45-7:50, I asked to be checked, I just needed to find out how close I was to being done. My contractions were about 3-5 minutes apart during this time and I was showing signs of being in transition. I kept thinking I was going to throw up and I was beginning to shake. The midwife checked and I was 9 cm--almost there! I asked for my water to be broken at that point. She agreed and when she checked me a few minutes later to break my water I was 10 cm! She broke my water and we waited for a contraction. The next contraction I started to push (and scream). This was the WORST part for me, so so painful. I remember praying out loud and yelling and Semaiah was born at 7:55, 3 minutes after they broke my water and about 2 minutes (maybe less?) after I started pushing. Cameron delivered Semaiah. After I had her, I was in shock. I was still in pain and couldn't hold her right away and I really couldn't even talk. It took me a good 10 minutes or so to pull myself together. I actually had them give me some meds (Motrin and percocet) to help me cope with the pain in my bottom before I could even hold her. Remember, I think I broke my tail bone with Haven? Well, now I am pretty sure I didn't, I just think some ligaments in that area were torn or strained. Same pain as before that I never had with my other deliveries. However, I did not even tear! What a blessing. I was full of adrenaline after I had her, just talking and talking and processing with the nurse and midwife. Semaiah nursed right away and I was just in awe that I could already hear her gulping!

Would I do it again natural? Probably. I never even got an IV this time and I noticed that I was not full of fluid. I was not swollen in my legs and was not stiff from laying in bed for hours. I could walk right away. My back was also not sore from the epidural. I felt really good physically. I also was not light-headed and did not almost pass out like I almost did with my other deliveries due to lack of food. I ate during my labor and that really helped to keep my strength up. I was also so proud of myself and just in awe of what God did. He gave me strength, as I had prayed during my entire pregnancy. I felt His presence in labor like I have not experienced with my epidural babies. I called out to Him again and again. Cameron was also very involved this time. Instead of me laying in bed waiting to have the baby and Cameron relaxing, waiting to have the baby, he was right there laboring with me. It was such a bonding experience.

I do have to say that I felt more tired after this delivery, but I don't think that it had anything to do with doing it naturally. I think it was the lack of sleep the 2 nights prior to labor and to laboring through the night. I have been SO tired because after that lack of sleep, I had to jump right in to nursing round-the-clock.

It still amazes me that I was in labor when my contractions were 8-10 minutes apart almost the ENTIRE time. Not until 6:30 in the morning did they pick up and I had her an hour and a half later! I could not have asked for a better labor and delivery experience. I really feel like I had a say in what went on. The doctor, midwife, and nurses let me do things the way I wanted. They never ONCE asked if I wanted meds, my water broken (after I got into a room), if I could get in bed to be monitored, to put a gown on, etc. I had a "birthing center experience" in the hospital. It can be done! Cameron said next time (if there is a next time ;) ) I could give birth in the birthing center. Well . . . the only reason I wouldn't is that you go home 4 hours after you have your baby. No thank you! I enjoy the 2 day "vacation" in the hospital, recovering, getting to know my baby. I know that I would not enjoy going home 4 hours after I gave birth. Who knows? Maybe that will change . . . I never thought I would give birth naturally and I did!

Thank you for all of your prayers, your encouragement, and kind comments here on my blog. I know that everyone who posted their natural experience is directly responsible for me being able to do it! Thank you SO much!

Alright . . . this is long enough and my baby is waking to nurse.

In Christ, Laura