I started to write a post on Monday about how bummed I was, but something stopped me. I decided to get somethings done instead. Grocery shopping and some baking was on my list. But once I got to the grocery store I was 'crampy', differently than I had been the past week or so. Not really really painful, but different. So I finished my shopping and went home. I gave the girls some lunch, and put them down for a nap. Still the same sort of thing, so I thought I should lay down and see if it goes away. It didn't. I slept on and off but the 'cramps' kept waking me up. I got up at 3:00pm and got the girls up. I messaged my mom on the computer and told her something strange was going on. I had been timing my contractions on and off during the day, but there was no real pattern to them yet. I timed them again. 3-5 minutes apart, and they were lasting longer...45 secs min. but often longer. I had a few loose stools. I knew that was a good sign. I put a movie on for Angelina, and started doing things in the room. I hooked up the hose, moved the bed around, put down a plastic sheet, set up some candles, and all in between 'cramps'. During my 'cramps' I would sit on my ball and rock around. I kept going to the bathroom looking for some 'show'. I kept thinking, "If I have that, then I know this is the real thing." But every time I went I was disappointed. My mom called at 3:45pm. We decided she would call again in about 1/2 hour and see. But I told her I would feel better if she was here. She could watch the kids and I could concentrate. And the roads were not to good, so I didn't want her rushing. If it turned out to be nothing, then at least we would have a good night together. I had called Goran just after 3:00, and told him I thought 'maybe'. He had an interview at 4:00 which I told him to go to, and then come home. "If I need you sooner I'll call you," I had told him. I called Sylvia to give her a 'heads up' that maybe something was happening. We discussed what was happening, and she said it looked good, but it could slow down and stop. I told her, "I just wanted to warn you because the roads aren't to good." I told her I would call back when I was sure. I called Kristyn and Cheryl to give them a heads up. "Maybe," I said, telling them to I would call back when I was sure.
Suddenly at about 4:10, I just knew. Or maybe I just 'accepted' that this was it. The contractions were 3 minutes apart now, and 50+sec each. I started to call everyone and tell them, "Yes its time, come when you can." I called my mom first, then Sylvia, then Cheryl. I knew Kristyn was on a time line with work so decided to wait to call her. I was still working on my ball, and the girls were just there in the room with me. The pool was filling up, and Goran came home around 4:45pm. We talked a bit while I worked through the contractions, but he seemed to realize this was it, and got work with me. He was busy getting me water, helping the kids, and rubbing my back during contractions. He actually got the kids bathing suites on, and they played in the pool for a bit! My mom came next, and she got the kids dressed and took them upstairs for super. I called Kristyn and l told her to come when she could. Sylvia came at about 6:00pm. She did a quick vag. examine and told me I was 7 cm. Yeah! 3 cms to go. I knew I was in transition. Contractions were longer and more intense and I was shaking. I began to feel like maybe I couldn't do it. Cheryl came. Katie, the second midwife came. Kristyn came. Goran was still with me 100%. He was rubbing my back during contractions, and I was humming, moaning low tonnes. I read that helped to relax and open the cervix. Between contractions Goran would get in front of me and tell me to relax against him. He was awesome. Supporting me the way I needed, just when I needed it. Its hard for me to ask for help, and he knows that. He just took charge and did what I needed.
I had been on the ball for along time, and I knew my labor was stalling abit. I was tired. Sometimes a contractions would 'get' me before I could get a good handle on it, and I would cry out in pain, and fear. My body needed a new position. The midwives were suggesting things, and Goran was too. But it hurt, and I knew getting up would hurt more. The ball was 'flexible support' for my perineum. Goran suggested the shower, and the tub. The midwives suggested having a few contractions on the toilet. I was passing dirty looks around to each of them. Didn't they understand, moving hurt! But I knew it was time for a change. I knew the more it hurt, the sooner my baby would be here. I finally agreed and jumped in the tub. I was right. It hurt, more. Different. The midwives suggested breaking my water. Maybe that would speed things up. I really wanted them to break on their own. I had gone into labor on my own (finally!) and I really wanted my body to do the rest on its own too. I moved around in the water. I moaned and groaned, and leaned on Goran through contractions. I was contemplating what the midwives were saying about my water when suddenly I felt something...pressure, urge to push, and then something bulging just inside me. It was the bag of water. I asked if I could break it myself and they said, yes if I could, to go ahead. I managed to pinch and tear it with my finger nails, and slpush, more water was in the tub! I reached inside of me and could feel my baby's head. He was almost here. I worked through a few more contractions, trying to focus, but it was hard, it hurt so bad. Finally during a contraction I felt the urge, and began to push. " Good, Kathryn," Katie told me. "Listen to your body." Oh, it felt good to do 'something', but burned at the same time. With the next contraction the urge to push came sooner, so I pushed for longer. I could feel my baby's head crowning. I knew with the next contraction the baby would be here. The next one came and I pushed with all I had in me. I felt his head 'pop' out of me, and knew the shoulders had to come. I pushed for those shoulders, and I felt him slither out of me. I could here the excitement in the room. The midwives were talking fast, and my mom and Cheryl were cheering. I had been leaning on my knees on Goran, so I had to lift up my leg, to take my baby in my arms.
" ITS A BOY!" I cried out. I leaned back in the tub. His cord was short so I had to be careful not to to pull to hard. I looked at Goran, "Its a boy, a son!" I told him. He was crying before I even had him in my arms. They put a hat on his head, and I gathered him to my breast with a blanket. I was instructed to keep him in the water to keep him warm. It was 7:46pm.
We've named him Bryan Alexander. He weighed 8lb15oz. He is beautiful. He is strong.
