Even though Gideon's due date wasn't until September 5th, I was pretty discouraged Labor Day weekend when he hadn't arrived. Jonah was born at 39w 1d, and I just knew Gideon would be at least as early as Jonah. That, combined with 4 days straight of pre-labor contractions left me feeling like I would be pregnant forever. I was {more than} a little grumpy and pretty impatient as well.
I tried several natural induction methods over the weekend: labor cookies, pineapple, walking, evening primrose oil, hours on the birth ball and many others. Every time contractions would start, I would secretly think, "this is it!" and then be pretty disappointed when they fizzled into nothing.
Tuesday, September 3rd, I woke up around 5am and couldn't sleep. Around 6am, I felt the first contraction but, after five days of false labor, I was pretty jaded. I mentioned to David that I was having contractions, but quipped that they would likely stop as soon as I got out of bed. David started to get ready for work while I halfheartedly timed contractions. I finally got out of bed at about 7am. As soon as I got out of bed, the contractions became much more intense. I quickly got ready for the day while I timed contractions, which were between five and 10 minutes apart. Our birth center told us that, for second-time moms, the criteria for coming in was that contractions had been building in intensity over a two hour period so, around 8:30am, we called the Birth and Women's Center and let the staff know that I might be in labor. Our midwife, Cherie, told us to come on in when we could so I could be checked to see if Gideon would be making his arrival that day.
While David loaded the car with all our things {that I'd had packed for WEEKS}, I said goodbye to Jonah and told him we were going to get baby Gideon. I was pretty emotional, knowing this could be the last interaction between he and I before Gideon's birth. His response was, "No, Mama! Stop it!" Awesome.
When we arrived at the birth center at 9:30am, Cherie checked me and said I was 3cm, 70% effaced with bulging waters. She told us we'd definitely be meeting Gideon that day and we were beyond excited. She instructed us to go walk around the park, walking through contractions to get things progressing. The weather was actually kind of nice outside {100% different that when we were in labor with Jonah}, and David and I enjoyed walking and updating friends and family through text messages. The contractions weren't terrible: I was able to walk and talk through them without too much trouble. I noted to David that they didn't seem to be lasting very long, which had me worried that I wasn't progressing very well. However, at 11:30am, Cherie checked me again and I was at 5cm. I was so pleased that I was dilating despite the shorter contractions. Cherie immediately called Debbie, the birth assistant, and asked her to come quickly. When Cherie got off the phone, she made the comment that she hoped Debbie made it in time, which surprised us.
We moved over to the upstairs birthing room for awhile while the staff finished up ultrasounds downstairs in the main birthing room. I walked around, listened to music and snacked on some of the food we brought. The contractions were feeling stronger at that point, so I was swaying and breathing through them. In between contractions, I felt great and everyone commented that I didn't even look like I was in labor because I was so chipper.
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| David working hard updating everyone. :-) |
At 1:30pm, Debbie and Laurie {a birth assistant in training} helped us move downstairs to the larger birth room. The contractions were getting much stronger at that point, and David tried to apply counter-pressure to my hips to help with the pain {which worked GREAT when I was in labor with Jonah}. Unfortunately, it didn't help at all this time, which frustrated us both. David so wanted to help, but I couldn't think of anything he could do. He got my music playing in the room and rubbed my back while I swayed on the birth ball and sang.
At 2pm, Cherie came and checked me again. I had only progressed to 6cm, and Cherie asked if we would like her to break my water. David and I talked about it {briefly} and decided that we were okay with that. At that point, my contractions came hard and fast. Singing helped me make it through at first. David tried counter-pressure again, but it still didn't offer much relief. Finally, I started counting down {slowly} from 10 every time a contraction started and that helped me to focus enough to make it through each contraction.
I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom, so I spent several contractions on the toilet. I told David that I felt like I might need to push, and he went to tell Debbie and Laurie. Debbie asked me if I would like to get in the bathtub and have a water birth, but I declined. She said that she also had the bed ready and encouraged me to move between contractions, which I was NOT excited about. The bed is only about 10 feet from the bathroom, but it felt like miles. The contractions were coming so fast, that I had to attempt to walk through them, which was awful. When I finally made it to the bed, my contraction was over, and I collapsed on a pile of pillows and quipped that I needed a nap.
While I tried to find a comfortable position on the bed, another contraction came and my body pushed once. Debbie sent Laurie for Cherie and I remember thinking that she might not make it in time. I actively tried NOT to push until Cherie arrived, which was unpleasant. Apparently, I was very calm, because as soon as Cherie walks in, she asks, "Are you sure she's about to deliver?" She checks me and confirms that I'm fully dilated and, with that, my body pushes again. It hurts dreadfully and I vow not to do it again.
Everyone tells me that Gideon is "right there," which means absolutely nothing to me. They try to show me in a mirror, but I can't really see, so I reach down and I can feel him, which helped me focus. I push again and I have his head in my hands. After one more push, he's born into my arms and Debbie and David move him to my tummy.
He's perfect and 7lbs 8 oz. 20 1/2 inches long. He was born at 2:56pm: less than one hour after my water broke. I was able to nurse him right away. He nursed for forever and stayed awake for a long time.
Debbie ran a bath for me and I was able to wash up. I was extremely energized and chatty and so happy to be in a nice, warm bath. Then they handed me Gideon so I could wash him off a little. He cried his sweet newborn cry throughout his bath time, so he didn't stay in for too long. David and Debbie took him to get dressed and Debbie let me know that there was another mom in labor, so they'd be moving us upstairs as soon as we were ready.
We went upstairs and snacked on the food we'd brought with us while we waited out the four hours before I could be discharged. I felt tired, but amazing and so grateful for our little boy. I remember also feeling anxious to get home to Jonah, who I hadn't seen in almost 12 hours.
We were finally released at 8pm and came home to introduce Gideon to Jonah. Jonah was so sweet and wanted to hold and touch baby Gideon constantly. It was such a precious moment and incredible to watch.
Sweet Gideon, we love you so incredibly much. After months and months of waiting and praying for your health and safety, we were so ready to meet, hold, and cuddle you. You are an answer to so many prayers and tangible evidence of God's provision and love. We can't wait to get to know more and more about you and to see what our lives will be like as a family of four.
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