In the wee hours between 3:30 and 4:00 am yesterday, contractions started. They started out pretty slow, but not very mild. I had to try to relax this time. The contractions with Merry starting ut were much more mild. This time, the first couple of contractions woke me up, but I went back to sleep thinking it was only the normal Braxton-Hicks contractions I had been experiencing recently. After a few more, I woke Jordan up to let him know that something was different this time. He started timing the contractions, as well as the strength. The longer between contractions, the stronger they were, but the ones that were close together were much nicer. :-)
At 4:37 we let my mom know what was going on. She called Misty to head our way from Tucson.
Contractions were getting stronger, and even sitting on the toilet wasn't making them much better, so I asked Jordan to get the pool ready. I thought to myself that there is no way I can do all the contractions like this! While waiting, I had got nauseous and threw up. This is typically a good thing in labor, as it tends to open the cervix more. Not really my favorite thing, but it serves a purpose. Getting in the pool was nice though. Contractions were still there, still strong, but I was able to relax much easier. I was in the tub for most of my labor.
Merry was up at around 7 and came in to see me. This was both good and bad. I wanted her there, but then she was wide awake and bouncy and ready for the day.... I wasn't. She ended up coming and going several times, watching Wishbone in the living room and eating breakfast with grandma. :-) She asked a couple of times if I was ok, and wanted to make sure that I was. She did great!
Misty arrived, but I don't know for sure what time that was. I lost track of time somewhere around 4. All I needed to focus on was getting through the contractions, so that's what I worked on. I ate a little, drank a little, changed rooms and positions a few times, but I just needed to get through those contractions, which was not easy!
Somewhere around 10, or maybe after (not keeping track here...), I decided to see if pushing with the contractions felt better. It did! I asked Misty to check me, and she said I was fully dilated! After that, I sometimes pushed with the contractions, sometimes just tried to really relax and stay open.
After a little while like this, I decided to see if I could feel baby's head. I could!!! About two knuckles in!! OK, let's just get this baby out! A few more contractions while pushing and a knuckle and a half in! Pretty soon, I felt baby's head moving down and scraping on my bones. Soon after that, baby was to "the ring of fire." Just a little more and baby would be out! I pushed as hard as I could and I could feel the head moving out even more. This was the hardest point to push through because I wanted to get the baby out, but I didn't want to tear. It was push really hard, then blow and relax... not an easy combination! Baby's head was coming out!! I could feel it, most of it was out! I asked if all the head was out, but not yet, so I had to push a bit more, then a bit more. Out! Baby's head turned! Breathe... Push more! Out comes baby's body! Jordan brings baby up and out of the water to me. Waaaaaaaaaaaaah! Baby's lungs are working great! We rest for a bit, talking to baby, making sure the airways are clear and everything is ok.
A few minutes later, we decided to see if baby was a boy, or girl. It's a girl!!! (Now to find her name...) Now, we see if she wants to nurse. A couple minutes and tries and she latches on like a champ! She nursed for several minutes, and several minutes later we checked to see if the cord was still pulsing. We checked a few times before it stopped. When it did, it was time to cut! Jordan cut between the clamps and she was separate from me.
After a little while of just hanging out in the pool, nursing, talking, relaxing, it's time to get out. Jordan takes the baby, while I get out. We make our way to the bedroom and the nice cozy bed. We're cold from water and hormones, so we get covered up nice and warm! Ahhhhh.... pillows! After a bit, mom asks if I can use the bathroom... Holy cow! I've missed my bladder having space! Now that she's out, I'm thirsty and hungry, so Jordan fixed me a cheese omelet and some cantaloupe and watermelon! Nice, nice, nice!!!!
A short time later, misty brings in the placenta for us to look at. It has a heart shape to it and it's awesome! I love placentas...
Merry goes out with Misty and grandma to the living room, so Jordan and I have time to talk about names. We talk about my grandma's name, Mollye Sue Nell, as well as a few others. We decide Mollye is a good first name, but what about a middle name? Wouldn't it be fun if we had Merry Beth and Mollye Beth? Ok, let's go with that!
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