Sunday, November 10, 4 days overdue with baby girl.
I woke up and weighed myself first thing. I had lost 2lbs. For some reason I always lose 2lbs right before giving birth. My first thought was, "hmm, I wonder if we'll have a baby today?!" I didn't really think anymore about it as we got ready for church, but then I started losing my mucous plug and although I didn't get super excited, because I've lost my mucous plug several days before labor ever started, I again thought, "maybe today will be the day after all!"
We went to church and had dinner with Jacob's family. I had some contractions, but none that were any different from what I'd been having regularly for weeks. We came home and got the kids down for naps. Jacob and I lay down too, but I couldn't sleep because I just felt like I needed to be doing something. I got up and did some laundry, emptied and re-loaded the dishwasher, and made muffins. I had a couple "different" contractions, and I texted a couple friends that maybe we'd have a baby today or tomorrow. At 4:01 I had a contraction that got my attention, but I didn't have to stop and breathe through it, so I still wasn't convinced that labor was starting.
Right around 4:20, I had one that made me stop, focus, and breathe. I went and woke Jacob up and told him that I thought I was in labor and we'd need to head to the birth clinic sometime that evening. I was still hanging on to the hope that labor would hold off until after we put the kids to bed...so we could leave and they wouldn't even know. I had another more intense contraction and I told Jacob he'd better call his mom to come so she'd be here to take care of the kids when we needed to leave.
We hurried around gathering up our last few things to take and getting stuff ready for the kids. I finally accepted the fact that I really was in labor and we were going to need to get going so we didn't have the baby in the car. When Jacob's mom arrived we quickly told her and the kids goodbye (I cried a little and Asher was calling for me as we waved goodbye). I hadn't eaten anything since dinner, so Jacob ran back in and got me a muffin and a bottle of water. We finally left the house at 5:08. As we were pulling out of the driveway I told Jacob, that he didn't have to drive fast, I thought we had plenty of time...that was before I had any contractions while sitting in the car. Oh, those are not fun! After I breathed and groaned through one, I said, "uh, yeah, you do need to drive fast!" ha!
The whole drive, my contractions were about 6-7 minutes apart. They grew in intensity and I was feeling the baby move down with each one. I had a super hard one (where I thought my water was going to break) while passing the exit to the hospital and I debated telling Jacob to just head there because I didn't think we would make it another 25 minutes. I just told him to hurry and he put on the flashers and for sure hurried!
Once we got to the birth clinic (we made it in record time!), it seemed like my contractions slowed down, but they didn't, I was just busy talking with the midwives. I sat/bounced/swayed on the birth ball (my favorite way to labor) and leaned over on the bed and groaned and silently quoted my labor/birth verse - Isaiah 41:10 through contractions. I was feeling sick to my stomach, but I never threw up. I also got the shakes, which I always do around transition.
Jacob was amazing. Through all the contractions, he sat behind me and rubbed/put pressure on my low back and hips. My mom and sister arrived at some point and they were a big encouragement to me. I was still talking and listening to the conversation between contractions, but I really appreciated how everyone got quiet when a contraction started. I have always prayed that I wouldn't get ugly toward my husband, family, or midwives when I'm laboring, and it was just nice that they were considerate and I didn't have to ask them to be quiet!
After a little while, I got in the zone and was staying focused even between contractions. Then I had a few hard, super long contractions and the midwife suggested I should get up on the bed and let her check me (around 7:45, I think). The most comfortable position was lying on my side (which I have never done during birth before). When she checked me I was 10cm and +3 station. I was feeling ready to push, and just then my water broke.
I pushed through two or three contractions and the midwife said that she could see about half an inch to an inch of the baby's head. I was like (thinking to myself), "man, nobody's got time for that, let's get this baby out!" At the next contraction, I pushed (several times) with all my might and Ava Mae was born at 8:04! I obviously didn't push the whole time with all my might and shoot her out - she was actually born very easily and I had no tearing or even bruising. Ava was crying before she was even completely delivered and she was a beautiful pink! She was my first baby not to have the cord around it's neck.
After she was born I just lay there with my eyes closed. I was so thrilled that birth was over, but I was almost scared to look at Ava because of how blue Asher was when he was born with the cord around his neck and shoulder. Myra kept telling me to open my eyes and look at my beautiful daughter. It was such a surreal time!
I am so thankful for my wonderful support team and for God's sufficient strength and presence with me.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
