Well here it is...just finished feeding my little princess so I have a few minutes to spare.
On Sunday (28th) I was having more contractions. They were a bit longer than the ones I had been having but still only 5 minutes apart. I could still go about my business without too much discomfort. They started to peeter out at around 9pm so my DH & I went to sleep. At 11pm I wolk up and switched positions and my water broke. Let me tell you it was a gusher - totally soaked the bed. My DH had to hold towels under me so I could get to the bathroom. I paged my midwife and my friend who was coming over to watch Sebastien (at this point I was still thinking I'd go to the hospital) and by the time my midwife called me back (like 5 mins) the contractions had started. They were short (about 30 secs) but very close together. I could manage them but told my midwife to take her time getting to my place as I knew they weren't strong enough yet. I started labouring on the ball for about an hour and my midwife arrived around 12:30pm. She checked me, BP, pulse etc. and the baby's HR. Then we waited for a contraction to subside and she checked me. I was 8cm dialated and 0 station. That's when I said I guess we're going to have this baby here? She said we could try for the hospital but the drive would be hectic so I decided to stay. So my midwife and DH got everything ready as I continued to labour on the birthing ball. At this point the ctx were about 2 mins apart and about 45 - 60 secs apart. I was using slow breathing (hypnobirthing technique) and a little light moaning to get through them. My friend had arrived and was chatting with me in between them. I was also listening to my ipod - the music was a nice distraction and concentrating on keeping my lower body relaxed was my biggest concern. At about 1am my other midwife arrived and the pains were about a minute apart. It was beginning to get a little more uncomfortable and I had fleeting moments of thinking I had made a huge mistake. But I kept telling myself that my body was meant to do this and just trust in it and my baby. At about 1:45 it started feeling like I had to poo and I voiced this concern. I was reassured that this meant I needed to push. So I positioned myself at the end of the bed and when I felt a surge I would push - maybe 4 or 5 pushes later and a really strange burning sensation my little girl was born - 1:55am. I was incredibly overwhelmed and just kept saying "I did it - I did it". Everyone was cheering and saying "yes you did". Isabelle cried right away and it was so wonderful that she wasn't taken away from me. We got to bond right there in our home in my very own bed. It was incredible. My DH was deliriously happy and just kept saying "your incredible". It was so relaxed and calm and special...I'll never ever forget the experience. If I think back now I can almost feel it again when she passed from my body - amazing.
For now things are slowly getting into a routine and she's bf'ing well - which I'm so happy about. My DH & DS are so in love and me...well I'm blessed beyond belief and so greatful. God has given us the most amazing gift in little Isabelle and for that I'm thankful.
Good luck to all the ladies still waiting and congrats to all the new Mommies. I'll try and catch up on the posts another day.
Michelle
Birth Story & pics (X-post/Long)
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