2011 - Talk Birth

January 19, 2011
11:15 a.m.
7lbs, 8oz; 20 inches.
Short version of her story is [1]here and labor pictures are [2]here.
I had a restless, up and down night, getting up at 3:00 a.m. and even checked in with my online
class. Mark got up with me and we talked and speculated. Waves were four minutes apart and then kind of
dissipated unenthusiastically away. He went back to bed at 4:00 and I listened to Hypnobabies. At 6:00, I
was feeling trapped lying down and got up. Mark got up then too and worked in the kitchen on the dishes
and things like that, while I walked around and leaned on the half wall during contractions (a lot. It was the
perfect height). Sitting down in a chair caused horribleness, leaning forward on the ½ wall was good. Called
Mom and told her to be on standby and to notify my blessingway crew. Also, called Summer (doula/friend)
to be on alert. Felt serious, but not totally. Also was having back involvement which each wave. I felt like I
would have a real contraction and then a closely following, but milder, back-only contraction (no tightness
in uterus really during these, but definitely a wave-like progression and then ease of sensation).
I was very quiet during most waves until the end. I think because I was doing the Hypnobabies and
was concentrating on that. Then, I would talk and analyze and be very normal in between. This pattern
seemed to lead to a decreased perception of seriousness from others of my need for attention—Mark washed
dishes, went outside to take care of chickens, work on fire, feed cats and so forth. The boys woke up at 7:00
a.m. and as soon as they came out and started talking to me (Mark was outside), I knew they needed to
go elsewhere. We called my mom at 7:30ish and she came to get them. I did not want to feel watched or
observed at all, so asked her to wait to come back.
I kept waiting for the “action” to increase and feeling distressed that it was taking such a “long”
time. I suggested to the baby that she come out by 10:00. I continued to stand in the kitchen and
lean on the ½ wall, sometimes the table or the bathroom counter. Dismayed to see no blood/mucous,
nothing indicating any “progress.” Significant feelings of pressure and pain in lower back continued and at
the time felt normal to me, but looking back seems like an extra dose of back involvement. In another
intensity-increasing experience, the baby moved during contractions for the entire labor until the contraction
before I pushed her out. She moved, wiggled and pushed out with her bottom and body during each
contraction, which really added a new layer of intensity that was difficult. I was, however, glad she was
moving because then I knew she was okay, without doing any heart checks.
I went into the living room, very tired from bad sleep during the night. We set up the birth ball in
the living room so I could sit on it and drape over pillows piled onto the couch. I spent a long time like this.
Mark sat close and would lightly and perfectly stroke my back. Continued to use Hypnobabies—finger-drop,
peace and release, with most waves.
Mark fixed me chlorophyll to drink and I barfed it up immediately and horribly. Called Mom to
come back and 9:00 or so, at which point I finally had a little blood in my underwear. Kept up my ball by
the couch routine and moved into humming with each wave. Also did some contractions on the floor leaning
over the ball. Also good.
On the ball, I began to feel some rectal pressure with each wave. However, I felt like the waves
were erratic still, with some very long and intense and then smaller ones. Hums began to become oooohs
and aaaaahs and I began to feel like there was a bit of an umph at the end of the oooooh. Went back to the
bathroom and there was quite a bit more blood (plus mucous string) and I started to fret about placental
abruptions and so forth. Left the bathroom analyzing how much blood is too much blood and began to
critique myself for being too “in my head” and analytical and not letting my “monkey do it.” Said I still
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