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Water birth (xposted on bmb)

jlh2716jlh2716 member
in Natural Birth

It all started at 3:30 am, with a hard, audible pop! low in my pelvic area last Thursday (8/30). We'd been in bed for maybe 2 hours and I'd just slowly rolled over onto my back when it happened. I started gushing amniotic fluid Hollywood-style, so I immediately woke up DH and told him it was go time before dashing off to the bathroom. I remember just sitting on the toilet, gushing like Niagara Falls, completely stunned--Arielle wasn't due for another week, and I'd fully expected to go past due with her!

DH, bless his soul, kept a cool head, at least. He came into the bathroom with the midwife already on the phone. My contractions hadn't started yet, so the midwife and I both agreed that it'd be best to labor at home for a bit to see if we could get some sleep. So naturally, as soon as I got off the phone and told DH the plan, contractions started up. They were pretty mild, felt very much like your typical menstrual cramp. So I called DH back in the bathroom and said contractions had just started, so we needed to get ready. Since DD was early, we still had a few last minute things to get from WalMart, like snacks and a pack of Depends (btw, if you're thinking about getting Depends--get them; they're ugly as hell, but worth it!), so DH made a run to the store while I showered, dressed, and called the midwife with the change of plans. We were on our way by 4:30.

We arrived at the birthing center at around 5:30, and by that time, my contractions were about 3-4 minutes apart, getting stronger, and the back pain had started. I was already dilated to a 4 and 100% effaced, so I felt a bit encouraged, knowing we were almost half way done already!

Anyway, I labored as I pleased over the next 4.5 hrs, which I quickly learned that the only way the pain was manageable was on my feet, walking around. I don't remember too much during that time except having to go to the bathroom at one point, which was absolute hell with contractions. I do recall finally hitting a few symptoms of transition then: nausea/vomiting, the shakes, feeling like I couldn't do it much longer, and an epic poop.

I guess it was maybe an hour or so after that when I was finally able to get in the birthing tub. Pure. Bliss. It took the pelvic pressure and pain down a few notches, and my back felt better. For all of like, 5 minutes; then I started feeling pushy and the back pain returned. But I got really excited at the point--she was almost here! So I moved to my knees and leaned my top half of my body over the edge of the tub and started pushing. As soon as I did that, it felt like a brick was about to fall out of me, and the back pain was gone for good!

The pushing phase went by pretty quickly--the midwife said I only pushed for 20 minutes or so. The pain was definitely more manageable than labor. 4 contractions, and Arielle Genevieve made her grand debut. She latched on for a good nursing immediately while we waited for me to birth the placenta, after which DH got to cut the cord. When she finished nursing, DH got to hold her for the first time while I got out of the tub, an exam, and freshened up a bit. After that, the midwife weighed Arielle, gave her to me, and left us alone for the remainder of the day to rest, nurse, eat, and stare in awe at our new daughter.

Arielle is absolutely perfect. She's teensy, weighing only 5 lbs, 12 oz, but she's a happy, healthy baby, not very fussy, and a great sleeper. Nursing has also gone easily enough, to my surprise. It's so surreal, being a Mama all of a sudden, even after 4 days! I think my heart explodes pretty much every time I look at her. DH just keeps looking at her like it still hasn't hit him yet, either. I think we'll keep her...Wink

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