At this point, the contractions are so very slight, I�m wondering if I�m timing them right. I fall asleep during some of them. These contractions are no worse then the Braxton Hicks contractions I was having throughout the last trimester.
7:05am: Lost mucous plug and water breaks
I felt a rush of liquid/fluid, so, I leapt over Jeremy, out of the bed and rushed to the toilet. I got there in time and heard a �plop�, which, I know was my mucous plug dropping into the water. I had more then pee coming out, but, still wasn�t certain if this was my water breaking or what. Well, that question didn�t last long because when I stood up, more water gushed out. So, I sat again and let whatever was coming out, come out.
7:10am: Started calling family members & CNM
I decided to call my family members that lived furthest away first. I knew that my siblings would want to be here; and since Aimee had called me a couple days prior to this day about her vehicle being in the shop, I called Angele - lives 3� hours away - first. Well, for some reason, they didn�t hear the phone ring; so, I left a message. {Learned later that Angele & Shane were on the front porch, drinking coffee and about to go deer hunting� can�t hear the phone from there}
I next called Cherie - lives 2 hours away. Their cell phone immediately went to the answering �machine�. So, I left a message there as well. {Learned later that their phone was right next to Cherie, but, for some reason, didn�t ring or alert them there was a message.}
I finally reached someone home, which was Aimee. She was asleep, but, thankfully answered her phone. I told her, like I told the answering machines, what was going on, but, that it probably wasn�t any reason to hurry here because it would probably be some time before the baby actually arrives - thinking back to Calista�s birth. We talked for a little bit and got off the phone so that she could get going so that they could get here in good time. She also said she�d call Angele and Cherie again with her cell phone.
I then called Jessica. She said she was awaiting some FEMA guys and that they�d be finished by 10:30am then, they�d leave to get here. I was telling her that I was sure there was no big hurry and not to worry about it. While talking to her, I felt more water break out� drenched the pad I was wearing.
Jeremy finally woke up at this point. I actually thought he had heard/felt me jump over here earlier. He asked me what was going on, I told him and he got into the shower and told me to call Melanie (CNM). I told him that I would, but, that it would probably be a while before the baby comes. He told me to call anyways. I did because Melanie and her nurse, Liz, told me that there�s only two birthing rooms that can accommodate the birthing tub and that if possible, call as soon as possible so that they could arrange for me to have the biggest of the two rooms and have time to fill up the tub (takes 45 minutes to fill and water�s good for 24 hours). So, I called.
Poor Melanie. Her uncle had died the day before and his wake and funeral were coming up. The wake was for the 22nd. She asked me about all that was happening with me so she could determine if she had time to go first or should she wait until after the birth to go. So, I�m glad I called her when I did; otherwise, she would have been an hour away! I don�t believe she would have made it� I wonder what would have happened then�
I then called Jeremy�s parents then (they live the closest).
8:30am: Getting prepared
Well, in between getting prepared to go to the hospital, I was getting a whole bunch of phone calls. So, I�m getting myself together, Calista together, and answering the phone calls from my siblings and family members. I was also getting contractions at this time too. These contractions were so very easy to get through that I never stopped what I was doing.
I even put on some make-up so that I would look nice for this delivery!
Melanie called me back around this time and told me to check how regular the contractions were and to get back in touch with her around 10:30am.
I thought that perhaps me moving around so much was why it seemed like my contractions were so close. So, I sat on the sofa and decided to time them for the next hour. Well, in the whole time I�m sitting there, my contractions are averaging 4 minutes apart. Jeremy�s straightening up, knowing that we�ll have a house full in a couple hours. Calista�s watching TV with me (PBS - 7 Monsters).
10:11am: Call CNM
Told her contractions are averaging 4 minutes in between and ask her when she thinks I should go in, knowing that she�ll be monitoring me for at least 20 minutes with a machine - to see how my contractions are affecting the baby. She told me that I can stay home as long as I could if I wanted to, being that we live so close to the hospital, but, to think about going within the next hour. I said, �ok, sounds good, see you then.�. :D
11:05am: Leave for hospital
Well, from the time above until now, contractions were so easy� I was wondering what was up with that. However, one of the last phone calls we received was from Angele and right before hanging up, I felt the contractions increase in intensity. I told her to inform the others that we�d be at the hospital and gave her directions. I also wrote out directions for Jessica and Jared to get there as well. I posted them on the outside door with a thumbtack.
Well, the next contractions were even closer and more intense on the way to the hospital (like 7 minutes away). They were about 2 to 3 minutes apart now. It was very uncomfortable in the car.
Jeremy looks at the clock and tells me that the baby will be born before lunch/Saints� game, which is 12:00pm.
11:15am: Arrive at the hospital & check into my room
Well, in the time it took me to get out of the car and up to my room, I had to stop at least 3 times due to the intensity of the contractions. I was able to get the largest room, #9 and the birthing tub was already set up.
Melanie arrived soon afterwards and she and the nurses put the belt around me to monitor the contractions. I also had to sign papers at this time too.
I tell you what, I�m so glad I had Melanie, because she was telling me what each paper was and what to sign and what not to sign! I�m so glad that I had given her my birth plan at the last appointment!!!
Jeremy�s mom, Cheryl, had arrived at some point while I was getting monitored. His dad was on the way as was his sister, Tasha.
Not sure of the time here: LABOR in hospital bed
OMG! These contractions I was experiencing were like nothing I had ever had before! Again, I�m glad Melanie was there because she acted as my labor coach and helped me through them. I just could not find a comfortable position or breathing technique on my own. I think I had started to panic. I was sweating profusely. Cheryl kept cool, wet towels on my head. I was sitting up, with the monitor around my waist, and my knees outward and my feet touching. Melanie kept telling me to relax my shoulders.
Her instructions were that when I felt a contraction coming on, to take a deep breath and relax my shoulders. Then, when they got harder, to look her in the eyes and start, kind of like panting. It was really hard for me to do this. I could barely keep my eyes open. Its like I wanted to retreat into myself and find a way to handle this severe pain I was going through.
Melanie kept after me though, making me focus on her; and when I would, it would take my mind off the contractions. I would tell Melanie, �This is so painful!�; close to tears. She told me that its so painful because the baby is coming fast.
I tell you what, that was the longest 20 minutes I�ve ever went through!!!
In the Birthing Tub:
Well, finally, the monitoring was over and everything was fine, so, Melanie said I could go ahead into the tub. I took off the hospital gown and had on a little blue top; kind of like a sports bra, but not.
I could barely move; such pain! Jeremy was going to pick me up off the bed, but, Melanie didn�t allow that. I was all for it!
The 3 steps it takes to get from the bed to the tub were hard!!! In fact, I collapsed right in front of the tub. Jeremy was holding one hand and Melanie the other. I was on my knees, baring down.
It was about this time that one of the nurses suggested that Cheryl take Calista out of the room because of the look on her face. She said some children are traumatized. So, Cheryl brought Calista in the hallway with her paw-paw, Nathan.
After that contraction was over, Melanie said I had to get up and get either in the tub or back into the bed. I wanted to move forward, but, it seemed like an impossible feat. The walls of the birthing tub were at least 2� feet high, if not 3 feet high. I�m only 5�2�. Those walls were so very intimidating; especially since I could feel the head crowning from that floor episode! Jeremy was going to pick me up and put me in, but again, Melanie said I had to do it.
I finally willed myself to step over the wall and into the tub (no steps, even!).
I leaned my back to the wall and Jeremy held me under my armpits. Melanie told me to grab my knees while my arms were on the tub sides. I pushed once and Melanie told me to go ahead and feel the head. I swear, the head was about 3� out already! I know I crowned while baring down on the floor� Anyways, the head felt so weird! I didn�t get to feel Calista�s head, so, this was my first time doing that. The head felt like I was touching Jell-O! So weird!
On the next contraction, I pushed again. I felt the head pop out! I said, �There�s the head!�. It was so awesome because I could actually feel everything that was happening!
Melanie, at this point, told everyone that the daddy wanted to announce the baby�s sex.
Cheryl came back into the room at this time. Almost missing the entire birth!
11:40am: Baby Ursula born
Melanie said that I need to push the body out now. So, I started pushing. I have to say, it was pretty hard getting that little body out! But, I pushed it out in one hard, long push.
Melanie immediately took her out and put her on my chest.
Talk about relief! It was so wonderful to not be in such pain still! Such relief that I wasn�t even concerned about finding out the sex! So, Jeremy was asking, �What is it? What is it? What is it?� So, I opened her legs and he announced it was a girl.
We stayed in the birthing tub until the cord stopped pulsating. Melanie clamped it and asked Jeremy if he wanted to cut the cord; which he did.
Then, the nurses took Calista to a corner of the room and weighed her and labeled her. That�s when she really cried! She seemed to have liked it in the water. While the nurses were doing what they do, I was helped out of the tub and the gown was put back on me. At this point, I was shivering! After going from sweating bullets before getting in tub to now, shivering. I�m wondering if this is because I went into like, shock or something?
I was walked back to the bed and we waited for the placenta to release. Melanie also checked me out at this time and told me there was no need for stitches. I had a skid mark or two, but, it was no big deal.
Birthing the placenta:
About this time, Tasha enters and is upset that she missed the birth. She declares that if she wouldn�t have fed the horses, she would have been there on time!
Finally, Melanie says to push out the placenta. I do. She tells me that there�s a knot in the cord! Its called a �true knot�. I ask her about that and she said that one of her children had 2 knots in their cord! The only problems associated with these knots were if I had been a drinker or smoker or something like that. If you have a healthy pregnancy, it poses no problem. I wish someone would have taken a picture of it!
No birth video or pictures:
Being that this baby came out so fast, no one was able to record it. If only some of the family members would have made it before 11: 40am, I would have some footage of it. I do have some labor pictures and some pictures taken afterwards. I would have loved video though.
Family finally arrives:
First, Cherie, Terry, Racquelle, and Olivia come in. They see that they missed the birth before entering the room because they see Jeremy�s parents in the hallway. They�re disappointed.
Second, Jared, Jessica, Xavier, and Xander enter the room about 20 minutes after Cherie�s family. Jessica is shocked that the baby�s here already. Her mouth opens in that shocked look and teases me that I was getting her back for me missing her baby�s birth.
Third, Angele & Shane enter (by this time, the rest of the people in the room had left to go eat). Also disappointed to have missed the birth.
Full room:
At one point, we hae, in the room, altogether: Me, Ursula, Calista, Jeremy, Cherie, Terry, Racquelle, Olivia, Jared, Jessica, Xavier, Xander, Angele, and Shane. Talk about noisy! I think the nurses were freaking out because of all the people in the room! I didn�t really mind. I just wish someone would have been there to film it.
Aimee called, also disappointed. But, told me that since they missed the birth, they�d come up the next day instead of trying to get here that day. No biggie. That�s fine.
Sum up the rest of the hospital stay:
Well, I was trying to get out asap; but, being that Melanie had that funeral to attend and she was the one to discharge me, I had to wait for her. So, we didn�t get out of the hospital until around 8:30pm, Monday night (the 23rd). By that time, Jeremy was all mad and screaming in the room - you can easily hear noises from the room; kind of embarrassing. Cherie had volunteered to stay with me in there.
The pediatrician, Dr. Bertrand, came twice. Once to check her out and once to discharge her. He told me that because she�s a different blood type then me, to watch for jaundice around day 4. She�s A- and I�m O-. I�m so glad that I didn�t have to get another RhoGam shot!
He also gave me a prescription for the oral vitamin K and told me that she�d have to continually take it until she stops nursing. I told him she�ll be nursing for a long time. And, he said she�d still have to take it. I don�t believe that crap at all. I know that her body will start producing it on its own, if it hasn�t already. But, I just said, �ok� and left it at that. I imagine doctors are used to people not knowing anything about anything.
Birth summery:
Now, this birth was so incredibly different from Calista�s� from pregnancy to labor to birth. And, to be quite honest, I�m not sure which I prefer, the long, easier-by-contrast labor & delivery I had for Calista or the hard, intense, and quick labor & delivery I had with Ursula. I guess, in the end, I�d choose Ursula�s, only because it was over much sooner than Calista�s. I really don�t think I could have handled the intensity of the pain much longer for Ursula. I was thinking, while in the hospital bed, going through those intense pains, �this is why some women have epidurals!�. I never voiced that until after Ursula was out. I didn�t want that to be an option for me. I was determined to do this without any intervention and I did it!
And, yes, I�d do it again! Remember, we don�t have a son yet! Jeremy really wants a son!
I�m also very satisfied with Ursula�s birth! Unlike Calista�s - very disappointed in her birth story.
Maybe my next one will be a homebirth :):):)