Emmett James' long version of a short birth XP story

mama2many

So, Friday before Christmas, MW checked and I was at 80% and 4-5cm. For the second week in a row she said, "well, we'll see you before the weekend is over." Yep, not to be. So, by Christmas Eve morning, after on and off contractions the day and evening before I was ALMOST desperate enough to call the on-call MW (mine left the state that day) to beg her to break my water and see if we could get things going. The only thing that stopped me was the fear that if labor didn't start, I'd be stuck with only one option.

Instead, I just stayed busy all day baking, picking up, etc. At 5:30pm we got ready and went to Christmas Eve service. I had about 3 really strong contractions during the service ? strong enough, a couple of people around us noticed. But then, nothing else. We had dinner and our Christmas Eve family time and went to bed around 11 or 12. I got up to go to the bathroom around 1am, and realized I was spotting. I?ve NEVER had spotting near delivery or noticeably lost MP with any of my kids, so it caught my attention. I mentioned it to DH, but with no other contractions, figured there was nothing to get excited about. At about 3 I started having contractions about every 10-15 min. I just tried to sleep between them ? and was able to for the most part. Around 6:30 I got up and decided to call MW, even though they were still about the same, but I was spotting a bit more. I reminded her that I have lightning-fast deliveries and she said to go ahead and come on up to the hospital, she?d meet me there.

We called my aunts to come get big kids, got the two little ones loaded to drive to a friend?s, let everyone pick a Christmas present to take with them, and headed out the door. The roads were solid ice, so it took A WHILE to drive across town & then back to the hospital. We pulled into the hospital at 8, MW called as we got there because we weren?t there yet. She met us upstairs, all smiles. But, by this time, my contractions had actually slowed down and gotten erratic ? some 7 minute apart, a couple 20. I just figured they?d monitor me and send me home.

Instead, MW checked and I was 7-8 and almost complete. I about fell over. It had been a busy morning for deliveries, so I only had my nurse & the MW in the room. I changed, MW set the room up for baby, and the nurse got my info in the computer and started my IV (VBAC protocol). I was still having some inconsistent contractions- they were a little closer but not as strong.

At 9, MW suggested that we ?break your water and have a baby!? I asked if she was sure we should go that route and she said, ?are you?? So, I let her break my water and since I knew I wanted to try to deliver on my knees or on all 4s since I?d researched the best delivery positions for delivering bigger babies, I started to try to rock side to side on my knees facing the head of the bed that we had raised. Apparently ?passive decent? was an effective method for us because I started having closer & stronger contractions, but they were still quite manageable. All of the sudden, I could feel the baby start turning in my pelvis ? from how much of his movement I could feel it was obvious that I wasn?t about to deliver an average sized baby. Even though I?ve pushed out other babies ? I finally get what the term ?bearing down? means. I was glad for the support of the back of the bed.

MW said, ?Yay, I see eyebrows, keep pushing! Whoa, no, gentle pushes, hold on!? His arm was in front of his face, and he had his umbilical cord gripped in his hand. She pried his hand off his cord, and tried to push his arm back, but it was too wedged in, So, I pushed again, roared a bit from effort, and pushed clear up to his chest before he finally came out the rest of the way. It was 9:30 ? I had pushed a total of 3 long pushes, for 3 minutes! Seriously, it was such a peaceful, gentle labor/delivery overall. So, Mr. Emmett was 9lb 12.6oz, 21 ??, head 14 3/8? PLUS an arm! I had no lacerations, no stitches ? amazing, and an answer to prayer.

We spent the day just DH, Baby, and me. But the kiddos came up after supper from their various "homes" and we introduced them to their new brother and opened Christmas presents together. It made for a really nice way to end the day - and honestly, one of my favorite Christmases together. We got the kid's opinions on the three name choices we were between - but still didn't make our decision until the end of the next day.

Since we've been home, Emmett has still had to be isolated in our room and we're taking turns being with him (even tho it's mostly me with him) - everyone is still sick with a horrible croupy-cough & cold that is going around town. The pedi wants him separate until the last kid's fever breaks. Ugh - not easy. But, I've gotten lots of rest with him, so I feel like my recovery is nicer and more complete than any of the others.

I will get a few more pictures loaded soon.  

**When I was talking to a friend yesterday, I finally processed how monumental this birth actually was.

1. Standard protocol is to induce or cs at 39 wks for GD moms - I was nearly 41 wks.

2. My MW and their over-seeing docs are the only group in the area who will do VBACs and I chose them "accidentally" with my 2nd pregnancy - I've now had 3 great VBACs with them.

3. Most docs won't risk a bigger birth estimate & will induce or insist on a cs - and the secondary MW in charge at their office had thrown cs around on a number of occasions, but my midwife was really encouraging about being confident that I could labor and deliver naturally.

4. AND, I got the younger midwife who is SO much like my mw, she was totally supportive. She even let me leave Emmett's umbilical cord for an extended time (10-15 min) rather than cutting it as soon as it stopped pulsing. I think that was really helpful in him process all his birth bruising & his blood sugar never dropped. 

trevinosnm

Congrats!  Amazing story, thanks for sharing.  Glad to hear everything went well.

danuli8

What an amazing birth! You are incredible. What a wonderful way to bring little Emmett (love the name!) into the world.

ShellBear+

That is such an amazing and inspiring birth story. You are one strong mama, congrats!

theatremandy

Wow!  What an amazing birth story.  Congrats on your Christmas baby!

lovelyday39

You GO girl! That's amazing! Congrats on your LO's safe arrival and the fact that you did no major damage to yourself Hope you all are settling in well.

dhreczuck

Congrats and welcome to the outside world Emmett!

lilblt19

Congratulations! Now that's a beautiful Christmas story! Hope you are recovering well!!

AmyM72

What a wonderful Christmas gift. Thank you for sharing and congratulations!

JennyP1

What a great story and I'm so impressed, only 3 pushes and a 9lb+ baby just gracefully entered the world. I'm praying for a smooth and stress-free delivery as well. Congrats and Welcome Emmett!!

jb2rn

lurking..

what a beautiful birth, you are awesome! I am in awe

mama2many

Thanks ladies for all the well- wishes. Overall I've had pretty good births, but I have to say, this being my biggest baby, was by far my simplest and most straight forward birth - I would ALMOST say "easy".