Halloween's Little Treat: Our Baby Pumpkin

Alright, if you read our last blog post, you would know that we went to get a check up to see how our little baby is doing at 42 weeks 3 days. She had a strong heartbeat, I was good, and overall, nothing was wrong! So we were in the clear, we did not have to induce, however, the nurse highly suggested we come back that week to be induced, for they strongly disagree with going past 41 weeks.

We went home in comfort that night, though also ready to get this little girl Earthside, so we can move forward.

And lets face the facts... I am READY to have my body back. I want to run again, and jump around, and wrestle my boys. There is a lot that is going to happen, once we can get this little one here! And like i had said in my previous post, i was NOT wanting to go into November (the 11th month) STILL PREGNANT!

If you aren't interested in reading along, we had our baby early morning on Halloween! I was 42 Weeks and 6 Days pregnant! What a Surprise! For those of you who want the details, let's get to it!

The Journey Begins

On October 30th, around 8:30pm- My mucus plug fell out, and I was experiencing no contractions. When i found out, I came to my husband and did a little jig, excitingly telling him that Tonight is the Night! Now i know, the M.P. falling out does not determine the beginning of labor. however, with all my other babies, it started right away. With this being a totally different pregnancy than the rest, I was excited to see a small moment of promise. and decided for myself, that tonight IS in fact the night!

I was So happy, and anxious! My husband put the boys to bed, played his guitar in the hallway for them, and I did all i can to prep my bed, walk around the house, bounce on the edge of the bed (I didn't have a yoga ball, the bed worked great!) We notified some of our sisters, and i notified my mama, to let them know things were progressing, and we got a few last minute predictions!

One of my sister's guesses was that the baby would be here at 2:22am tomorrow morning and she would weigh in at 9#4oz

It started to feel more real at this point! And boy was i Ready!

About 10:30pm, I started to get some consistent contractions coming in, all under 25 minutes apart.

around 12am on October 31st, my husband decided to take a nap, in case baby came soon, Contractions were about 15 minutes apart at this point. I was worried that if i was to fall asleep, that contractions would seize and I would start another long and exhausting day all over again. I tried laying down to see what would happen, and they continued, but did slow down to about 20 minutes apart. Because they were still coming, I felt I could nap and labor would continue regardless.

The Miracle Unfolds

At 2:22am on October 31st, I woke up to a Really strong contraction!

There was so much pressure, I was caught off guard, and I had to remember to go to my happy place! That was the most intense contraction i have had, and the longest, it lasted for a full two minutes. I got up and went to the bathroom, and drained my bladder, to keep things going smoothly. and it was less than 5 minutes, and I had another contraction.

I woke up my husband and told him that my contractions were really strong, and I think I have started active labor!

He called his sister, who is working on being a doula and needs to get one more birth observed in order to qualify for her next level of training. He invited her to come, and watch the birth at this time, and be his doula and support, in case something was to go wrong.

3:30am- I remember walking around with each contraction, and taking bathroom breaks in between.

Around 4:00am- I remember the contractions getting so strong and intense, i felt best in a "hands and knees" position on the ground by the bed. I used a foot stool to prop myself up and lay over it during each contractions, so as to loosen up and not tense up. I felt like a table cloth laying over this footstool, and my husband did his best to help move my hips during contractions, though a lot of the time, he didnt realize i was even having a contractions. I kept my phone on me, so as to time each contraction, for his benefit of understanding how things are progressing, because i was unable to speak. He realized that the blue circle on my phone screen meant that i was in the middle of a contraction. When it's pink, it means i am in between. hahaha! What a strategy, ya?

Anyways, Just after 4:40 am, I had a really long contraction, that was longer than two minutes, had occured. It sent myself into a VERY long daze in "my happy place" that i forgot to turn the timer off, and i had fallen into a short sleep. I woke up an few minutes later, to another intense contraction, restarted my timer, and breathed through this one.

directly after this contraction, i felt the need to go to the bathroom.

I sat on the toilet, and had another contraction as i was peeing. I was meaning to hurry, so that i could get back to my footstool, that i somehow grew an attachment to in the last hour. I could not stop thinking about my footstool and how badly i wanted to be hunched over it like a tablecloth again! When i stood up, i walked to the sink to wash my hands, and after I washed my hands and dried them off, i had to stand over the sink for another Really intense contraction.

Woah! My water just broke!

4:51am- Standing at the sink, leaning over the counter, my water broke. I was unable to move myself to the bed in the living room. Which i thought was absolutely ridiculous! I had spent the last 3 months in this house, preparing for the night this labor would take place, and the possible locations i could have this baby. The bathroom floor was NOT, i repeat: Was NOT on my list of locations!!

But my daughter would choose when she was to greet us. So it was up to her.

I could hear my 8 year old son in the hallway, and because i could not speak, due to the constant contractions. Every breath out that i took, i softly told my son to go get dad. He couldnt hear me, which i understood, i just knew i couldnt speak any louder, it would kick me out of my happy place. I softly said it again as i swayed side to side. knowing, I was in the pushing phase. I said quietly "Tell dad my water just broke.."

I could here him in the living room, relaying the message, and a few seconds later, he comes in to see me, hunched over the bathroom sink, swaying side to side in my black nightgown.

I asked him to help me get down on my knees, because I could no longer stand, and this baby was coming right now, i have to push. He called for his sister, who was in the living room, and prepped the space in the bathroom, after he helped me go from standing, to hunching over the closed lid of the toilet seat.

This was all a matter of seconds

I couldnt feel any pauses between contractions anymore. It was like one giant contraction that lasted 9 minutes.

It took me 9 minutes to push my baby girl out, and in that moment i stopped the timer.

When she made her debut earthside, I asked these two questions:

1. "Is she okay?" to which i got a quick reply, from my husband, to which he responded with "yes!" After asking this question, I realized i asked if "SHE" was okay. Which led to my second, and only other question.

2. "Is it a girl?!" I had to be sure! "It's a Girl??!" to which he said "Yeah! You wanna hold her?" He was ready to pass her to me.

"Hold on." i said, as i just sat there and took a deep breath. A breath i felt like i was Holding in for 16 years, back to when i first heard my daughters voice in my dream, to now hearing her very first cry.

I finally had my little girl! i carried her for 10 months, and Now things change. I needed to breathe through this transition of being ONE with her, to now being TWO.

I got myself ready to take her, and I stood up and held my sweet girl in my arms!

We all walked together to my bed in the living room, where I lied down and closed my eyes to enjoy that sweet moment.

Part 2 Coming!