Birth Story For Adeline Rose
I woke up at 3:07 am on Saturday morning, August 5th, thinking "Ouch!" I had been having contractions for about a week, but they were nothing like this. This contraction felt like a bad menstrual cramp. It was too early to wake up Rob, so I started timing the contractions. They were all over the place. 12 minutes, then 8, then 15, then 12 again. I knew that if this was really labor, I should try to go back to sleep and conserve my energy, but I was too excited. Finally around 4:45 am Rob rolled over, and when I put my hand on his back he said, "Hey, baby." He was still mostly asleep, but I couldn't wait any longer so I said, "I think we're going to have a baby today!" Then Rob woke up all the way. He wanted to know how I knew, so I told him about the contractions. Then we were both too excited to sleep so decided to go ahead and get up.
Rob made some coffee and we sat out on the patio timing contractions. They were still very inconsistent. I decided to call my midwife, Chris Duffy, at 6:30 am (she had called us once at 7, so I figured she would be awake). I had an appointment with her for that day at 10 am. Rob and I didn't want to drive all the way out to her home if we were really having the baby. She told me to monitor the contractions, and call her before we would have to leave our house to get to our appointment with her (about 9:15). Rob and I went for a walk around the block to try to make the contractions more regular and speed things along. After the walk, I was having contractions every 6-8 minutes. But then I sat down, and the contractions basically stopped. I was very disappointed. I called Chris and told her we were on our way, and that the contractions stopped. She told me that these inconsistent contractions could go on for days. That made me even more depressed.
At Chris' house, she checked me to see if I was dilated. I was at 1 cm and 20% effaced. Again, that was disappointing. She told me just to go about life as normal without doing anything too strenuous, and to keep her posted should anything change. In the car on the way home, I started having contractions again. That evening, I was co-hosting a shower for Phoenix and Stevan. I wanted to call my co-hostess Lee Ann and tell her what was going on, so that if I couldn't make it to the shower, arrangements could be made to get all the food and drinks and other items to the party. I talked to Lee Ann and told her that I was planning on going to the shower, since I didn't want to be sitting at home wondering if I was going to continue to have contractions or not. Lee Ann must have called Phoenix, because she called right away and wanted to know if I really should come to the party, and that she was excited for us. When we got home, I decided to lie down and take a nap. That made the contractions slow down considerably. Rob wasn't sure about my going to the party, but I convinced him that it was what I wanted to do.
I arrived at Bart's house in the Heights at 4:30 pm (this is where the party was going to be thrown, none of us had enough space in our homes for the 70 people that were invited). Lee Ann and Kristen were already there. Bart didn't have any room in his refrigerator for our food, so Kristen and Lee Ann went to get some coolers and ice. While they were gone, Bart and I set up. We finished about an hour and a half before the party started. That's when I started having contractions again. I got some bottled water and sat down to relax. The contractions weren't bad (I could still talk through them), and they weren't very close together. Of course, I wasn't timing them. The party went beautifully. Towards the end of the evening, we all gathered in the finished basement for dessert and to open presents. That is when the contractions started to get stronger. I couldn't sit or talk through one anymore. I had to pace. A few people caught on to what was happening. It was funny to see some of their reactions. Everyone kept telling me to go home and have my baby. Finally one contraction was so intense I knew I needed to leave the party. Rob was there, but had come in his own car. I kept insisting I could drive myself home, but he wouldn't let me and thank God for that. In the car, the contractions were strong and 4 minutes apart. If I had been driving, I would have had to pull over with every contraction! I called Chris and told her that the contractions had picked up again, and that we were just on our way home from the party. It was about 9:30 pm. She told me to get in the bathtub when I got home and see if that helped with the pain, and if it would effect the contractions at all. She said to time the contractions every half hour and give her a call.
Once I was in the tub, we got out the kitchen timer. My contractions were coming every 2 minutes and lasted 45-55 seconds! Rob called Chris right then. She said she was on her wayit would take her about an hour to pack up and get to our home. Jeanene (my mother-in-law) called wanting to know if she should come over. She and Phoenix were on their way. While I was in the tub, Rob started preparing the bed, putting down a plastic sheet, and then a set of old sheets. It seemed to me that the bathtub was not doing anything to ease the contractions, so I decided to get out. I dried off and put on a tee shirt and some underwear. I was in the dressing area kneeling with my head in the seat of my vanity chair when Phoenix and Jeanene arrived. I was still having contractions every 2 minutes. I couldn't believe they were so close together! Jeanene would rub my back when I had a contraction. Phoenix just looked scared. I could talk to them like nothing was happening when I wasn't having a contraction and I did my best to reassure them that I was doing fine.
Then I had another contraction and felt like I was going to throw up. I went to the bathroom and knelt in front of the toilet. I hadn't eaten much at the party, but what I did eat came up in a hurry. Jeanene rubbed my forehead and neck with a cool, damp washcloth. It felt good. I didn't think I would throw up again, but I wasn't sure so I stayed kneeling in front of the toilet. Plus, it was easy for me to grip the back of the toilet when I had a contraction. They were getting very intense. All I could do was close my eyes and rock back and forth. Sitting and laying down were out of the question. My waters still hadn't broken, and with the next contraction I felt very wet and heavy in my underpants. It was just blood and mucus. I think that Jeanene and Phoenix could sense that things were intensifying, and at that point they decided to leave. I just kept wondering how much longer until Chris was going to arrive.
I sat on the toilet because it felt good to do so. Suddenly, I felt like I should push. Rob was with me and I told him I didnt know if I should push or not. I read that if a woman is not fully dilated when she starts pushing, she can damage her cervix. But I couldn't help it, I pushed. I also started grunting/moaning with each contraction. I don't remember being loud, but Rob told me afterward that I was. Rob would hold my hand and tell me I was doing great. I think he realized I needed something to hold onto when I almost ripped the towel bar out of the wall. I had two contractions on the toilet and Chris arrived. She had me get on the bed to check me. I was completely dilated. I couldn't handle lying down. Rob and Chris put down Chux pads next to the bed so I could squat there. Then Chris asked me when was the last time I used the bathroom. I couldn't remember, so she told me to go try. On the toilet again, I realized that I wasn't going to be able to leave that position. I checked to see if I could feel Adeline's head, but all I felt was my bag of waters bulging out. With every contraction I pushed as hard as I could. I knew I was probably pushing too hard and should try to relax, but I couldn't help it, the contractions just carried me away with them. I have no concept of time at this point. All I know is that I was hot and took my shirt off. Chris kept telling me I was doing great and to try and relax.
Sandra, the second midwife that we asked to come and assist, arrived and Rob went downstairs to let her in. It must have been about 12:30 am at this point. When he was gone I had a contraction and pushed Adeline's head out. My mind was racing. I know I said, "Oh, that feels so much better!" I remember that I was surprised that her head was out that fast. And I wondered where Rob was, because I didn't want to have our baby without him. And then, I was still on the toilet and did not want to give birth that way. Chris put down Chux pads on the bathroom floor and had me get off the toilet and squat. Rob arrived. With the next contraction I pushed our little girl into the world. Adeline Rose was born at 12:39 am, Sunday, August 6, 2006. I remember there was blood and water and mucus everywhere. The first thing I said was, "Is it a girl?" (Everyone kept telling me they thought I was having a boy, and you know ultrasounds aren't always 100% accurate). Then I heard her crying. I picked her up and held her close. I couldn't believe she was finally here!!!
After that, things became a blur of activity. I was in my own world with my new baby girl. The cord was cut. Adeline was wrapped in a towel and given back to me. I know that Chris wanted me to push out my placenta, but I didn but I didn't feel like pushing. I did anyways and finally delivered the afterbirth. Then Rob and Sandra made an herb bath for the baby and me. It was warm and smelled good. Adeline just floated calmly in the water, well, she was calm as long as her body was in the water. But as soon as it hit that cool air, she started to fuss. Sandra and Chris took the baby to check her and weigh her. I was still feeling euphoric, not believing that Rob and I were finally parents. They gave the baby to Rob and got me out of the tub to check me. They took care of me and made sure I ate something. I didn't really feel hungry, but ate anyways. All that mattered was that my little girl was here. Rob, Chris, and Sandra must have done about three loads of laundry while everything else was going on. Finally, everything was done. Then the midwives left and Rob got in bed with the baby and me. It was probably 4 am.
We were a family at last.
