3 days past due!
Around 4am I knew this was probably going to be the day. Through out the day I had very randomly spaced, but strong, contractions.
We watched general conference and did Easter egg coloring pages. I laid down to relax after conference and the rest of the family went to play in the yard.
Ryan came in to chat and just about 5pm I started to time contractions. They were around 10 minutes apart. After a few I told Ryan he needed to bring the kids inside, clean them up, and feed them dinner, while we still had time for that.
I worked through contractions in the living room while they ate. Once my food was ready, I was too busy and didn't eat. I did have a little protein drink.
After the first hour of contractions, I texted Megan, our midwife to tell her. The contractions were inconsistent, so she told me to do side-lying release and inversion. Once I did those (which took about an hour in total), contractions got to more around every 2-3 minutes.
Ryan got kids ready for bed and prepped the birth bed and the birth pool in Sharlee's room. Ryan had walked out of the room while filling the tub. We heard a splash and as I was in the bathroom, I heard the commotion. Laddie had leaned over the edge and fallen into the birth pool. Ryan changed his diaper and jammies. Then he had the boys get into bed and Sharlee was set in their room to help go to sleep. She told them a story, but I swear the Holy Ghost was already very present. Both boys fell asleep very fast, without making a noise.
Just before the pool incident, Ryan had called the midwife and asked her to head over. This was about 8:30.
I was laboring in the hallway. The boys had been stressing Ryan out and when he was changing Laddie he was saying he was going to ask the neighbors to take the boys. Thankfully everything calmed down quickly. I felt very peaceful about keeping the kids home with us.
The midwife and assistants arrived around 9 and quietly bustled about filling the tub to be warmer, etc.
Sharlee and Ryan were helping me in the hallway. Sharlee brought me my water. Pretty soon they asked me to get in the birth pool, if that's where I wanted to be.
Ryan helped me up and I stepped out of my shorts and shirt and got in the water. As the contractions kept coming, I felt very overwhelmed/scared. I released that energy by crying. Ryan leaned in close to me, placed his hands on my head and gave me a priesthood blessing.
I am so grateful for the gifts and blessings of the priesthood.
While I was crying, Sharlee stepped out, because she was scared.
We had talked about if she got scared or overwhelmed she could go watch a movie, etc. The midwife chatted with her in the hallway and she chose to come back in.
I reached down and pulled away membrane. I heard the midwifes take note of that. Ryan whispered to Sharlee that my water broke. Her sweet, quiet squeal and, "I'm so excited!", was so cute.
I loved having her support. I reached down and felt a head full of hair!
I guided my baby through, birthing her head. A few waves/contractions and her shoulders were still not out. From behind the midwife helped pull her out. Her shoulders were more back, than tucked forward and were a little stuck. I got hold of her and lifted her to my chest and leaned back against the pool! Yay! Sweet baby.
After some rubbing, she still needed some help to breathe clearer. They had Ryan hold her head down and rub/pat her back. She cried and I got to hold her again. After checking her again, they determined it would help to use the bag and mask. After 3"breaths", she had a stronger cry.
I held her and nursed her.
Contractions intensified as I worked to birth the placenta. There was one part stuck/still attached, finally broke free, and I handed it into the pan for the midwife.
They gave me some juice, and after a few more minutes they helped me up and slowly through the hallway to my bed. It was so sweet to have Daddy and Sharlee with us! Soon it was time to cut the cord. Sharlee said she would do it. I was crying with intense after pains while they were doing it. Ryan said Sharlee was very hesitant, but he helped her do it.
The next day when I was talking to her about all of it, she said, "It hurt you so bad!" She thought I was crying from her cutting the umbilical cord. I explained it to her and assured her that she did not hurt me or the baby. She seemed Very relieved after our conversation.
About 12am we shooed a reluctant Sharlee to bed.
Midwife Ashley read her a book and told her a story and she fell asleep.
Sweet Birdie Clara was born at 9:50pm, after a full weekend of waiting and hoping for her through general conference.
7lbs. 12oz. 20 1/2in long. Beautiful, dark hair.
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