R
RoseofLima
Guest
Andrew Samuel was born Sat. Feb 3 at 3:03 pm (that's about 2 hours after I posted that we were leaving for the hospital)
H's 20.5 in long and weighed 7lbs. 12 oz. at birth.
When I woke up in the morning I thought Saturday might be the day, because my low back was achy. I had had contractions (nothing too painful) for the last couple of weeks , and so I didn't pay mch attention to the little contractions I was having.
My three girls went to the grocery store with their grandma at about 10:30. My son was home with me and showing me magic tricks while I did laundry and dishes. I was having contractions- but I still wasn't sure if I was in labor-they weren't very strong or long. However they were starting to demand more of my attention. While I was in my room folding laundry, when I would have a contraction I would hang from my rebozo (which I had hung over the door) and tuck my pelvis in to make my back flat against the door--I wanted so much to have Andy in a good position to be born....if he was going to be born today.(I still wasn't sure)
Around 11:oo or so I got a phone call and chatted for about 30-40 minutes. Towards the end of the call I started having more frequent contractions which were more noticable- but still not painful, and still not real long.
At noon I decided to call my husband home form work- just in case...I was pretty sure now that I was in labor- but I though it was still likely to be awhile. I brewed my extra strong red raspberry leaf tea for labor, since it would have to steep for 30 minutes. And I went back to folding laundry, sitting on my birth ball...and sometimes leaning against the wall through a contraction, occassionaly hanging from the rebozo, or squatting holdind onto the bed. My contractions were more frequent- but they were still not real long.
My husband got home around 12:30, my girls got back from the grocery store- and I sent my son with them to grandma's. We were going to get all checked into the hospital, and then call for a friend to bring him for the birth. We got everything we needed for the hospital- I took a dose of some homeopathic meds- to keep my contractions going (they often slow down when I go to the hospital). I drank my tea- and we left just after 1:00pm. I was so scared I was going to get there and they were going to send me home.
We parked in the garage and went in the front door to check in. The lady at the desk was reluctant to actually check me in--in case I wasn't really in labor. At this point I wasn't able to talk through my contractions-however they still weren't very long... Finally the woman who checked us in got sick of waiting for someone from transport to come and walk us up to the floor- so she set out with us. I kept having to stop and lean agaist the wall- but my contractions were still not very long.
Finally we get to the room where we will have Andy-- I am dying to pee after me 3 cups of uber tea I had at home- and I rejoiced at finally being by a toilet! My husband who had a horrible cold curled up in the chair and took a nap while we were waiting for a nurse to come officially check us in, etc.
I was having contractions- mostly I stayed standing and sort of danced through them, a few I squatted for, and some I hung from my rebozo for (which I brought with me from home at put over the bathroom door). I was still really anxious that I wasn't very far along in my labor-because I didn't feel like I was fully giving into being open to my contractions. I tried to pay more attention to breathing down into my contractions.
At about 2:30 (we had been in the room alone for about 30 min.) I woke up my husband and asked him to go get someone--I felt there had been a shift in my labor, and we needed to get checked in. I still fely my contractions weren't very long- and were steady at about 2 minutes apart. Finally the nurse arrived! She strapps me to the monitor so she can get her mandatory strip- (of and it is always the greatest joy hearing that heartbeat once you're at the hospital!!!)- while I sat on my birthball and she beegan asking me the barrage of questions they need to ask to admit you. About ten minutes into this- I start moaning through contractions....and she decides she really better stop asking me questions and check my dilation. So I finally took off my shoes and sockes and pants...I was 8cm with my bag of water bulging....I was shocked ...I was going to have a baby really soon. I took some more homeopathic medicine to keep the contractions going through 2nd stage and some for fear. While the nurse was out of the room- to call the doctor (who was already in the hospital) --I was starting to get pushy contractions. I was standing , facing my husband with my arms on his shoulders sort of standing squatting.
The doctor came in and asked me something and as I was about to answer- my water started to break. With the next big contraction it broke all over the floor , and my husband's shoe.
. The doctor really wanted me to get up on the bed, so that baby would have a soft landing. He got the nurse to drop the foot of the bed- some how I climbed up, but was all tangled up in cords....and they helped me turn around. As soon as I turned around, I hung onto the doctor's shoulders and pushed the head nearly to crowning. I sat down, squatting (with my feet on the lowered end of the bed) to slowly breathe the baby's head out. The cord was wrapped around his neck, so the doctorlifted it off-- and reminded me that I needed to push out the shoulders. I had my husband and the nurse help me stand back up- and out Andy came!!
I let him just lay there for a minute....because it was reall overwhelming that he was already here! I was literally less than 5 minutes after the doctor had walked in. I picked him up, at the doctor's urging to get him warm...and in a few moments- I got to cut the cord!!! I sat up- and snuggled with Andy, waiting for him to want to nurse. Eventually he did- and soon after the placenta was delivered - total and complete!
No tears, no stitches...though my bones are very sore...and Andrew's face is a little bruised from coming so quickly.
My milk is in- he's nursing like a pro. My other kids love him just to pieces. I am tired...and so, so happy to be home and out of the hospital.
Thank you for all of your prayers- I know they made sucjh a huge, huge difference!
H's 20.5 in long and weighed 7lbs. 12 oz. at birth.
When I woke up in the morning I thought Saturday might be the day, because my low back was achy. I had had contractions (nothing too painful) for the last couple of weeks , and so I didn't pay mch attention to the little contractions I was having.
My three girls went to the grocery store with their grandma at about 10:30. My son was home with me and showing me magic tricks while I did laundry and dishes. I was having contractions- but I still wasn't sure if I was in labor-they weren't very strong or long. However they were starting to demand more of my attention. While I was in my room folding laundry, when I would have a contraction I would hang from my rebozo (which I had hung over the door) and tuck my pelvis in to make my back flat against the door--I wanted so much to have Andy in a good position to be born....if he was going to be born today.(I still wasn't sure)
Around 11:oo or so I got a phone call and chatted for about 30-40 minutes. Towards the end of the call I started having more frequent contractions which were more noticable- but still not painful, and still not real long.
At noon I decided to call my husband home form work- just in case...I was pretty sure now that I was in labor- but I though it was still likely to be awhile. I brewed my extra strong red raspberry leaf tea for labor, since it would have to steep for 30 minutes. And I went back to folding laundry, sitting on my birth ball...and sometimes leaning against the wall through a contraction, occassionaly hanging from the rebozo, or squatting holdind onto the bed. My contractions were more frequent- but they were still not real long.
My husband got home around 12:30, my girls got back from the grocery store- and I sent my son with them to grandma's. We were going to get all checked into the hospital, and then call for a friend to bring him for the birth. We got everything we needed for the hospital- I took a dose of some homeopathic meds- to keep my contractions going (they often slow down when I go to the hospital). I drank my tea- and we left just after 1:00pm. I was so scared I was going to get there and they were going to send me home.
We parked in the garage and went in the front door to check in. The lady at the desk was reluctant to actually check me in--in case I wasn't really in labor. At this point I wasn't able to talk through my contractions-however they still weren't very long... Finally the woman who checked us in got sick of waiting for someone from transport to come and walk us up to the floor- so she set out with us. I kept having to stop and lean agaist the wall- but my contractions were still not very long.
Finally we get to the room where we will have Andy-- I am dying to pee after me 3 cups of uber tea I had at home- and I rejoiced at finally being by a toilet! My husband who had a horrible cold curled up in the chair and took a nap while we were waiting for a nurse to come officially check us in, etc.
I was having contractions- mostly I stayed standing and sort of danced through them, a few I squatted for, and some I hung from my rebozo for (which I brought with me from home at put over the bathroom door). I was still really anxious that I wasn't very far along in my labor-because I didn't feel like I was fully giving into being open to my contractions. I tried to pay more attention to breathing down into my contractions.
At about 2:30 (we had been in the room alone for about 30 min.) I woke up my husband and asked him to go get someone--I felt there had been a shift in my labor, and we needed to get checked in. I still fely my contractions weren't very long- and were steady at about 2 minutes apart. Finally the nurse arrived! She strapps me to the monitor so she can get her mandatory strip- (of and it is always the greatest joy hearing that heartbeat once you're at the hospital!!!)- while I sat on my birthball and she beegan asking me the barrage of questions they need to ask to admit you. About ten minutes into this- I start moaning through contractions....and she decides she really better stop asking me questions and check my dilation. So I finally took off my shoes and sockes and pants...I was 8cm with my bag of water bulging....I was shocked ...I was going to have a baby really soon. I took some more homeopathic medicine to keep the contractions going through 2nd stage and some for fear. While the nurse was out of the room- to call the doctor (who was already in the hospital) --I was starting to get pushy contractions. I was standing , facing my husband with my arms on his shoulders sort of standing squatting.
The doctor came in and asked me something and as I was about to answer- my water started to break. With the next big contraction it broke all over the floor , and my husband's shoe.
. The doctor really wanted me to get up on the bed, so that baby would have a soft landing. He got the nurse to drop the foot of the bed- some how I climbed up, but was all tangled up in cords....and they helped me turn around. As soon as I turned around, I hung onto the doctor's shoulders and pushed the head nearly to crowning. I sat down, squatting (with my feet on the lowered end of the bed) to slowly breathe the baby's head out. The cord was wrapped around his neck, so the doctorlifted it off-- and reminded me that I needed to push out the shoulders. I had my husband and the nurse help me stand back up- and out Andy came!! I let him just lay there for a minute....because it was reall overwhelming that he was already here! I was literally less than 5 minutes after the doctor had walked in. I picked him up, at the doctor's urging to get him warm...and in a few moments- I got to cut the cord!!! I sat up- and snuggled with Andy, waiting for him to want to nurse. Eventually he did- and soon after the placenta was delivered - total and complete!
No tears, no stitches...though my bones are very sore...and Andrew's face is a little bruised from coming so quickly.
My milk is in- he's nursing like a pro. My other kids love him just to pieces. I am tired...and so, so happy to be home and out of the hospital.
Thank you for all of your prayers- I know they made sucjh a huge, huge difference!
He is so perfect!!!
