For about a week and a half leading up to her birth, I had contractions that would stay consistent for hours, but never develop past uncomfortable. One week before her birth I realized, very much to my dismay, that she was transverse. Her head was ever so slightly lower than her tush, but she was very much transverse. With my due date approaching, I kind of last it at that point. The same thing happened with Naomi and her version was successful, but I had been told before had it had less than a 50/50 chance with me being 39 weeks pregnant. It was also the most painful thing I've ever been through. So I just lost it. I texted my midwife asking her to come in the morning and check her position so we could figure out what to do.
Shortly after that text, there were some big painful movements, and I was fairly confident that she was finally truly head down. The next morning Terah confirmed that, and said that her head was very low, far lower than she had been previously. I finally felt better, felt like things were going to happen, and I was happy. That was Friday, the following Monday the contractions started again, for hours each day. I texted Terah each time they were consistent for more than three hours, which i believe was twice. Tuesday Rich decided he was done working until she came, and started his leave. We spent the day running errands, and ended up going to the missional community group we used to attend just to see everybody. I left that knowing I was in early labor. When I got home, I saw a "birth bound" status from Terah, so I decided I needed to sleep anyway, took some Benadryl to stop the contractions, and went to sleep. I woke up the next morning knowing it was "the day", and sent Terah a message saying I was in early labor for sure and would let her know when things started to progress.
The day went on without a lot of change. Contractions just would not stay 100% regular, but I could tell they were leading to something. I had a feeling that as soon as we got the kids in bed, things would pick up, and they did. Only they darn contractions still would not get regular. I finally decided I was done a little past 11:00pm and tried to get comfortable in bed. I kept turning from side to side, but just could not get comfortable to save my life, then about 11:30pm she kicked very hard and I felt three pops right in a row, and it actually hurt a little. It took a minute for it to sink in, but I realized my water had broken. I actually panicked a little bit, I guess because it was a new experience (my water has never broken like that, it's always been right before birth or not at all in Jeanette's case). I told Rich to call Terah and went in the bathroom to sit on the toilet while I figured out where I could be since every time I moved I gushed fluids. Then the contractions started. They were the really intense ones right away, which was hard to deal with since there had been no real lead up. Terah got here about ten minutes later, and about that time Rich finished covering my chair I bought to labor in last time in disposable changing pads my friend had happened to I give us. Rich had already blown up my pool, but had not filled it, so Terah suggested we work on filling it. Silly Rich decided it would be a good idea to fill the pool with the outside hose, thrown up onto the deck and brought in through the slider. Never do this.
About the time that he was working on that the student midwife arrived. We spent the next hour and a half or so with my laboring in my chair while Rich worked on boiling pot after pot of water to try and heat the ice cold water he had filled my pool with. Around 1:45am I really wanted in the pool, so I got in while it was still luke warm, and it was such a relief! Rich brought a couple more pots of hot water up, then I started feeling the urge to push so I had him go and get the kids. They came in, and then of course I couldn't decide if I really needed to push or not, so after a couple minutes I asked them if they wanted to watch a movie downstairs for a bit. Elli, Tobiah, and Ruth all jumped at the idea, but sweet Naomi would have nothing to do with it. After a few more contractions of me trying to decide if i was as ready to push, it was undeniable, and I have to say, I don't think I've ever pushed quite that hard. At the beginning of the contraction I started pushing on, I screamed for Rich to get the kids, and on the first push her head was out, and then the kids came in as I pushed a second time, and walked in right as their little sister was born. Yes, that's right, I pushed twice.
Lucile Abigail was born at home in the water at 2:17am July 24th, 2014. On her due date. :) She weighed 8lbs 4oz and was 21.75in long.
I bled heavily, so they had me get out of the water pretty quickly. A few minutes later they had me deliver the placenta so they could determine where the bleeding was coming from, and then they had Tobiah cut the cord. He had a little trouble so Rich ended up helping, but he has since proudly told more than a couple people that he cut her cord.
From the very beginning she was a champ of a nurser, and after five not so great and flat out bad nursers, it has been such a blessing. She did get formula a couple times so I could sleep in the first few days, but it was far less than the others had, and really only because I desperately needed some sleep.
We have all been very blessed by the sweet addition of this amazing little girl. She is a smiley little girl that fills our house with happiness. It did take Jeanette a while to warm up to her, but even she just adores "her baby". There was a point in the beginning where she refused to look at me because I was holding her, which just makes me laugh since that is how she treats her therapist most weeks for the first little bit. She looks at the floor and will glare at you out of the corner of her eye every once in a while to check on you. I am thankful it was short lived, though, and that now she loves on her every chance she gets.
And one from today
