With this 3rd pregnancy I really thought I'd have have at 37-38 weeks. Malachi was a 39 week baby and Hannah a 38 week baby. So when 38.5 weeks came I was a little frustrated. One, I was pretty huge, compared to my previous pregnancies, and two, I was worried I'd go past 40 weeks!
So Friday, 39 weeks, came and we did our normal routine. I went in for a check up and had no dilation progression from the previous week. Still at 1 cm. The OB and I talked about plans for induction if she was not here by the next week. I went home pretty depressed that there had not been much progression. I really felt like there had been some.
After Jacob got off work we went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse. Then we stopped at a friends house to pick up tamales and made a quick trip to Walmart. We went home and put the kids to bed.
Around 10:30 p.m. my water broke. It was a small amount and since my water had not broken with my previous pregnancies, I wasn't sure if this was a water breaking sign. I called my OB and she returned the call 30 minutes later, she was in a delivery, and said that unless I was feeling contraction 5-7 minutes apart, (which I had none) or there was more leakage, I should stay home.
Around 11:45 p.m. I started to get 5-7 minute contractions. And around 12:15 I woke Jacob up and told him we should start heading out. We got dressed and he, like with our previous pregnancies, gave me a blessing. Then we headed to the kids rooms and got them ready. We still had to drop off the kids at my friend's house and I figured by the time we arrived to the hospital I'd have closer contractions.
We dropped the kids off and arrived at the hospital around 1:30 p.m. I could tell that my contractions had started getting closer 1-2 minutes. When we arrived to the room, I really had to pee and that's when I noticed some blood. I was a bit concerned and informed the nurse about it. She assured me that that was normal and had me lay down to be checked. I was already 7 cm dilated!!!! I was panicking inside. I knew that we still needed some paperwork done, IV fluid needed to be in my system and blood work needed to be done before they could administer an epidural. I immediately informed the nurse that I wanted one and she said that there was still time. After 10 minutes, I felt a huge urge to push. After the 3rd time I repeated that to her, she checked me again and I was already 9 cm dilated!!!!! I really started freaking out inside. I just turned to look at Jacob and remember giving him a scared face. I remember the nurse saying, "I'm sorry but there is no time for an epidural. You're going to delivery this baby soon." I was not prepared for a natural delivery, mentally more than anything. I knew my body would do what it had to but I had never thought I would have to go natural. They administered drugs to make the pain a bit more bearable. I'm going to admit, that is one of the few moments in my life where I really was scared. I could just not imagine how a natural birth would be. I had spoken with my sister-in-law a few months back and she had gone natural due to timing and she had described it like others had before. It felt like a ring of fire. That's what I did not want to feel and looking back I think that made me more nervous.
But after 4 pushes Rachel made her entrance. She had a ton of hair and was a big baby. The nurse put her in my arms and I met her for the first time. She was a beautiful newborn baby. I remember thinking she looked a lot like Hannah. She weighed 8 lbs 13 oz. A pretty big baby compared to Malachi (6.9) and Hannah (7.3). She was also pretty tall measuring at 21 inches. All I could think of was, 'Man, my biggest baby of course had to be the natural one.' I remember the nurse saying, "Well now you don't need to come in to a hospital. You can go straight to a birthing clinic. And you can brag to your friends that you went natural." At that moment I thought, 'Yeah right I still want an epidural next time and who cares about bragging.' And honestly I haven't been a bragger much in my life. But it is pretty neat to look back and see that my body was able to deliver a baby naturally. I didn't feel that ring of fire but I definitely felt a load of pressure. Talking to Jacob afterwards, he mentioned that while he aided in holding my legs, he gave me a priesthood blessing in hope that it would ease my nerves and pain. I honestly believe that that is why the delivery was quick and the pain was bearable. I am truly grateful for a husband who holds the priesthood and exercises it. I am grateful to our Heavenly Father for blessings us with another beautiful girl who will add much love and joy to our family.
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| The gang hanging out at the hospital with me and baby. |
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| Rachel's first day home. |
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2 comments:
I am so glad you updated your blog! I have been checking from time to time to see if you had and I would get disappointed when there wasn't a new post. Thanks for sharing your experience! I think it's incredible :) I sure won't be having my babies naturally. Post more pictures!!!
Wow, I have had a lot of friends lately where their labor has progressed so quickly that they haven't had time to get an epidural. Go you! I sure hope mine isn't like that though! I need that epidural. :)
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