Claire's Birth Story...it's more like a novel! :)

Friday January 28th I was just a day shy of being 39 weeks pregnant!  I had enjoyed my first full week off work and felt great knowing that our new employee had everything running smoothly in the office.  Our bags were packed, our birth plan was written and we were pretty much ready for Claire to come anytime she chose.  After 8 weeks of natural childbirth classes and lots of research we were very excited about our plan to have Claire naturally at the Allen Birthing Center with the wonderful midwives there.

Friday afternoon I surprised Kevin at the office and we went out to eat at Olive Garden!  It was so much fun.  They even gave us free special drinks because they were so excited to see how pregnant I was.  I remember barely squeezing into the booth and having to sit sideways halfway through the meal because my belly was too big!

We spent the evening finishing up things around the house and went to bed.  Around 2:00am I woke up feeling like I was having contractions.  I had experienced this a few times before and they were always Braxton hicks, so I decided to take a nice hot bath to see if they would subside.  Unlike before, these contractions did not stop, in fact they were even horrible in the bath.  The water provided no relief for me.  I got out of the bath and woke up Kevin to tell him that I think this might be it.  He couldn’t believe it and neither could I!  Finally the time had come.  I remembered from our birthing classes that getting too excited can cause a rush of adrenaline and stop or slow down labor, so I continued as if I were in denial of it all in hopes of progression.  I went back to bed and tried to sleep through the contractions, but they were getting much more intense now.  Kevin started timing them to see how far apart they were.  They were never consistent...they would go from 4 min to 17 min apart.  The pain from each contraction would start in my low back and then send shooting pains up my back and around my lower abdomen.  Many contractions were completely in my low back bringing on more misery and discomfort than words can describe.  Throughout the night I had Kevin apply counter pressure to my back during every contraction to relieve the pain.  

Once the morning came and the contractions were still not spacing out correctly we decided to take a walk to get things moving.  We went around the block twice.  It was a beautiful sunny day with blue skies.  I would stop at each contraction and focus on abdominal breathing and relaxing until it passed.  After 2 blocks my hands and feet were swelling so much we had to stop. 

I don’t remember much of Saturday other than the fact that my contractions continued on and off throughout the day.  There was not much that I could do to find comfort.  Kevin was still timing them and constantly by my side for every contraction.  He was the best birthing coach ever.  He gently reminded me of how to breathe and to relax my forehead which is where I tensed up at every contraction.  After several calls to the midwife and our doula to tell them how things were going, they both agreed that this was false labor since the contractions were not getting closer together and increasing in intensity.  I can’t tell you how discouraging that was to hear.  

By the late afternoon the contractions spaced apart enough for me to do my “final project” of dipping pretzels in melted pink and white chocolate as gifts for friends and neighbors who would be coming to meet Claire.  I had to stop here and there to let contractions pass.  I would lean on the counter and sway my hips back and forth, sometimes I would drop to all fours on the floor in hope of finding relief from the shooting back pains.  Kevin said it felt like a bag of hot snakes crawling up my back as he applied counter pressure during the contractions.  

By that evening I was really worn out from the contractions.  My back would not stop spasming even between contractions.  I could not believe they had been going on for so long without getting to the 5-1-1 or 3-1-1 point which would indicate real labor.  At the recommendation of my  midwife I took a hot bath and 2 benadryl and went to bed praying that things would either speed up or slow down...anything but continue puttering along as they were.  However, the contractions never stopped.  Another entire night of timing contractions and writhing in indescribable pain every 5-12 minutes.  Abdominal breathing became very hard and I would sometimes lose control when the pain become too intense and quickly had to refocus and relax in order to get through each contraction.  My chest was hurting from my lungs expanding when I was breathing through my chest so I knew I had to stop doing that and breathe through my abdomen.  Each contraction put pressure on my bladder and I had to get up to go the the restroom nearly every time.  After so many trips to the bathroom (barely even going each time) I guess I went too long without flushing because around 3:00am the toilet overflowed and water came pouring over the edge filling up the entire water closet up the baseboards.  Kevin heard me say, “Oh no!” followed by the sound of gushing water.  I thought for sure he would think my water had broken, but he saw the look on my face and I quickly said, “It’s not my water, it’s the toilet!”  My contractions continued and Kevin cleaned up the flood cloroxing the floors and all.  What a night...we were totally worn out. 

Sunday morning came and I was never so glad to see the sunshine.  We had made it though the night.  I just felt like something HAD TO change today.  I could not go on like this another day.   We had been timing contractions for nearly 30 hours.  We knew each contraction would last about 1-1 1/2 minutes long.  The pain usually peaked at 30 seconds and then slowly backed down until it was over.  The contractions would become consistent at times allowing Kevin to warn me when the next one should be coming.  He would say, “You should have another one anytime now in the next 1-2 minutes.”  Sure enough, it would come just as predicted.  I would say, “contraction” and he would start timing.  He would let me know when we reached the 30 second, 40 second and 50 second mark.  I could hardly wait for him to say “30 seconds”, because with that I found hope that the worst part had passed or was about to pass.  Occasionally, I would get a few contractions back to back without a break between them.  The pain was so bad at this time.  By this point I really wasn’t talking much, just trying to get through each contraction and often times falling asleep for the several minutes between them due to sheer exhaustion.  Kevin never had a chance to rest since he had to continually alert me to let me know when the next one was coming so I could mentally prepare for it.  At the suggestion of our doula,  I drank a glass of red wine, which is supposed to stop false labor.  I was so excited.  I could hardly wait for some sort of relief.  When the contractions first began, of course I was hoping they were going to lead to actual labor and we would get to meet Claire, however by this point I just wanted relief.  If she was ready, then let’s bring it on, if not, then let’s stop!  I drank the wine and the contractions did space out a little further apart, but they did not stop.  If anything they became more intense and more excruciating!  In everything we had learned, I never knew that false labor could go on for so long and that the pain could be felt in the back in the form of “false back labor”.  After the wine failed I attempted to take a hot shower and let the water run down my back during the contractions.  They were so painful that I could not stand, so Kevin brought in a step stool that I could squat on.  I remember sitting there with tears of pain running down my face just praying for an end to this pain.  I could not understand why there was so much pain if this was not productive to getting Claire into this world.  I knew labor would be painful, I did not know how painful “false labor” would be or even that it could be longer than a few sets of contractions.  (I should mention here that even if I had chosen a medicated birth in the hospital there is nothing they can do for back labor pains; not even an epidural would have helped.)  I got out of the shower and crawled to the bed.  I laid there crying and told Kevin I could not do this anymore.  My back was so locked I could not stand or sit.  The back pain was indescribable, the muscle spams would not stop and nothing provided relief.  I called the midwife, Amy and as I was crying I told her I had done everything suggested to stop false labor and it was still going 35 hours later.  I could barely talk, I just said, “My back hurts so bad I don’t know what to do.”  She told us to meet her at the birthing center at 3:00 to have her check me and give me some pain meds for my back.  I had not taken any medications throughout my pregnancy and normally choose a non-medicated approach, however at this point if the midwife could assure us it was safe, I was willing to do it.  I was relieved to have a plan in place.  

While I went through several more contractions Kevin let out the dog and loaded the car with the birthing bags just in case we might need them.  We both got in the car and discussed how we would be coming back home and how horrible it would be to have to have more contractions in the car on the way back.  We were both certain that we had only packed the bags “just in case”.  I had 3 contractions in the car, but I was just glad we finally made it.  I hobbled into the birthing center hunched over, in pajama pants and an old shirt and slightly damp hair from my shower earlier that day.  Let me just say, that is not at all how I imagined I would have looked walking into the birthing center.  I had always planned on one last great shower and blow-dry with make up and something at least half way cute!  By this point, that was the LAST thing on my mind!  Amy brought me into the exam room and checked me.  I was 3.5 cm dilated.  I knew that I had to be 4cm to stay, so I didn’t get excited.  She didn’t send me home right away though.  She had me go upstairs (since there was a birthing class happening downstairs) and suggested I use the birthing ball and walk around for 45 minutes and then she would check me again.  So I did, I walked and walked, I swayed and swayed, I rolled and rolled on that birthing ball.  Pain was a factor, but at this point I just wanted to get things moving, because the alternative of going home sounded all too horrible.  At this point we did not want to alert the grandparents because I was still NOT in actual labor.  They would only get excited or concerned causing more stress for me, so I told Kevin not to tell anyone until it was the real deal!  Amy came and checked me 45 minutes later....I was still about the same.  During her check to see how dilated I was she kept her hand in during a contraction to see where Claire’s head was positioned.  She was just a little bit off center, which is probably what was causing these contractions not to progress into real labor.   I was devastated and certain I was going to be sent home.  But, then she told me to do some walking outside and to wear a tens unit on my back to relieve some pain.  This time I was supposed to WALK THROUGH each contraction to try to get Claire’s head into a better position.  I thought she was crazy when she told me to do that.  I asked her if it was even possible for someone with back labor to be able to walk through a contraction.  She reassuringly looked at me and with complete certainty she said, “Yes, it is.  And I’ll be watching from right inside here if you need anything.”  I thought, ‘Okay, this is it.  This is our last hope before we get sent home.  This has to work.”  Kevin was amazing again.  As we walked through contractions I would hang on him and lean on him and hold myself up on him.  As tears of pain streamed down my face he would reassuringly tell me how proud of me he was and what a great job I was doing.  During the walk I had to use the restroom.  We went inside and while I was there Amy was telling me that she felt my bag of waters and that she was quite certain it would break and there would be a pop sound followed by a gush of water.  I was surprised to hear that since we had learned that so few people actually experience their water breaking before labor begins.  Kevin looked excited when he heard this and wanted to hear the big POP!  Only seconds later while we were still standing there I heard it POP!  Just as Amy predicted, it broke then and there!  WOW!  She was amazing!

She looked at me and said, “Well, you’re not going home now.  You’re going to be here about 12-18 hours so lets go upstairs and get you comfortable.”  Kevin and Amy helped me go through a couple of contractions on the stairs until we got up to our room.  My back pain was so bad that I decided to start my labor in the shower to get relief from the hot water.  Kevin was holding the shower head on my back and I was going through the contractions.  His plan was to help me get comfortable, then have Amy take over and go unload the car, call the grandparents and set up the room with the aromatherapy candles, relaxation music and other things we had brought from home.   However, Claire had other plans.  About 10 minutes into my shower my contractions were changing and suddenly I felt the urge to push.  I knew it was way too early to push, but I couldn’t deny the uncontrollable urge.  Kevin said, “No Kelly, not yet...you just got started!”  I looked at him and said, “Tell Amy I can’t stop.”  She took a look at me and gently said, “It’s okay, you can push a little.”  I was shocked!!  If we have 12-18 hours ahead of us, how can I already be able to push a little?

It seemed nearly impossible to only push “a little”.  When they say that you have the urge to push, it is more than an urge, it is like your body is taking over and doing it all for you.  I told Amy that I wanted to get in the bath to begin pushing.  I had always known that I wanted to have a water birth.  The shower was not cutting it.  I needed to be in the water and feel the warmth all around me.  Amy began to get things ready to fill the big birthing tub that looks like a 5 person jacuzzi.  As she was doing that my contractions really picked up and I got down on the floor half in the shower and half out on my hands and knees.  The contractions were so close and so intense at this point.  Little did I know I was already in the transition phase of labor.  Amy came to check me and told me I was already at 8 cm.  I couldn’t believe I was that far along.  It had been less than an hour since my water broke.  Amy told me that it would take 45 minutes to fill the birthing tub and that she didn’t think we had that long, but that she could fill a smaller tub in 5 minutes.  Again, I knew this baby was coming and I couldn’t believe how fast it was happening.  

I went through a couple more contractions while she prepared the smaller birthing tub.  At this point my modesty was completely out the window.  To get to the other tub I walked clear across the birthing center totally nude with everyone following me.  I just couldn’t wait to get in that tub.  As soon as I entered the bathroom I saw an antique claw foot tub.  I thought, “oh my gosh...there is no way I am going to fit in that tub and birth this baby!”  Amy assured me that hundreds of women had delivered babies in that tub and that I would be just fine.  I jumped in and it was really time for the pushing to begin!

Pushing was by far my favorite part of labor.  I could feel the baby moving down with each contraction and I knew that she was on her way!  I found it best to lean over the side of the tub in a squatting position while holding onto the edge of the tub as hard as I could so I could bear down and push with each contraction.  Amy told me I would have to turn on my back for her to catch the baby, but that I could stay where I was until it started to burn.  I went through several contractions until I was able to feel the burn that she was talking about.  Again, she was able to perfectly predict and describe every stage of my labor.  She was totally amazing.  In my mind I couldn’t believe how fast things were happening.  I shifted to my back and remember feeling Kevin’s presence right next to me.  He had been there through everything, he hadn’t ever missed a beat.  In this moment I was both extremely excited and incredibly exhausted.  I remember looking at him and knowing that in a matter of minutes our entire world was about to change and that there was no one else in the world I would rather have next to me than him.  He was so strong, so supportive, so encouraging; everything I could have ever dreamed he would be for me in this moment.  Lord knows I had totally exhausted him in the past 36 hours, however he wasn’t going to show it.  He told me we were in this together and he would be there every step of the way.  I loved that I could feel everything my body was doing to prepare for the birth of this baby.  I loved that I could clearly take in what was going on around me.  Between contractions I worked very hard to have controlled and relaxed breathing.  It did me a lot of good and I felt rested and ready to push with each contraction.  I remember finding one small blue flower in the thousands of flowers on the wallpaper and completely focusing on that flower as I waited between each contraction.  It was amazing how much that helped me even though I never thought that it would.  I could probably find that flower again if I walked into that bathroom even though there were thousands in there.  After only about 15-20 minutes of pushing in the tub there was a long break between my contractions.  I thought to myself, “Oh my gosh, where is the contraction?  It should have come by now!  Did my labor just stop?”  I asked Amy where it was and she gently and calmly with complete confidence told me to relax and enjoy this time, that my body was using this time to rest.  It’s amazing how well your body can manage its own labor when given the chance to.  Sure enough after what seemed like the longest break ever between contractions at this point (6-7 min) it came on and it came on STRONG!  I knew right away that this baby was coming and she was coming during this contraction.  I pushed like I had never pushed before!  It was the most amazing feeling as I felt her slide down into position and suddenly she shot out!  I think she surprised everyone at how fast she came out!  I was told that they usually stay in the birth canal longer, but not Claire...she was ready to be out!

Immediately Amy placed her on my chest and I heard the sweetest sound ever.  She cried, “eh-heh, eh-heh, eh-heh.”  She was gorgeous and covered in vernix all at the same time.  I was trying to keep up with everything and take in the fact that she was here!  It happened so fast I couldn’t believe it.  She was born at 7:05pm on January 30 and weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20 inches long.  

We waited until the umbilical cord stopped pulsing and then Kevin cut the cord.  At this point it was time for me to leave the tub and deliver the placenta.  They handed Claire to Kevin and we all went to the birthing suite we had originally started in.  At this point our Doula, Stacy arrived thinking she would be there with us laboring the rest of the night.  Much to her surprise Kevin was already holding Claire!  She couldn’t believe it!  While I was on the bed delivering the placenta I was watching Kevin hold our precious baby girl as he stared at her in awe and amazement.  I will never forget seeing him in the rocking chair in the corner of the room just soaking her up, his heart melting with love!  We had done it!  She was here!!  

Just minutes after she was born I was talking about how great natural labor was!  What an incredible experience!  After breastfeeding Claire I was up and walking around and taking a shower.  Amy and Stacy took such great care of me.  They got me orange juice helped us unpack our bags (since there was no time before Claire’s birth), took photos and so much more!  While I showered, Amy and the nurse finished checking Claire and making sure she was healthy and strong!  She did great and got a wonderful report!  They continued to monitor me to make sure I was recovering as I should after labor.  Everything was perfect!  What a blessing!  Only about 3 hours after she was born we were loading up the car and heading home for our first night as a family of 3.  By 11:30 that night we were all at home and in bed and starting the next chapter of our lives.  This was truly an incredible experience to share with Kevin.  We will always treasure this memory together.

I can’t even begin to describe what an incredible experience we had at the birthing center.  Amy, our midwife was truly amazing.  I can not say enough good things about her.  She is truly an angel without wings.  I will forever be thankful to her and so grateful that she shared this day with our family.  I am so glad she was on call that night.  What a blessing, it wasn't a coincidence!  God knew how perfect she would be for this labor!

I felt so safe, so well cared for and confident throughout the entire experience.  I still can not believe how amazing it all was.  In a way I wish I could do it all over again just to try to take it in more this time and keep up with it!  I wouldn’t have changed a thing...expect taking away the back labor!  I could have done without that, but once that actual labor began we were ready to roll!!  There is just something about experiencing a natural labor that is almost like a natural high...it's amazing what the body can do!  I can hardly wait to see how the story for baby #2 will unfold!  

Here we are ready to head home in the freezing weather just a few hours after Claire's birth!

Since then we had her newborn photos taken...here is a sneak peak of two of our favorites!