Gods Plan Not Mine

Ok I've been working on this every time I get free time and I am finally done.

Baby Girl's due date was Fri 7/9.  I woke up that day feeling a bit crappy but assumed it was the Godforsaken weather.  My mom has Fri's off and had been spending them with me since I'd been home from work.  We usually went to a little bay beach around the corner, but the weather was just too hot that day for me.  We decided to go to the movies to see Despicable Me instead.  On the way I got real dizzy and kinda nauseous, but as soon as we got into the AC I was fine.  After the movie we went back to my house and I pooped for the 3rd time (sorry TMI).  My mom said that she thought I was going to start labor and didn't want to leave until hubby got home.  What I shoulda done at this point was nap but I felt bad falling asleep with my mom there.  Hubby did end up getting home and we had friends in the area at a nearby campground.  So I mustered up what strength I had and we headed out to visit with them.  I was really starting to feel like crap at this point, but this was one of my best friends and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see her.  After we ate a bit (another bad decision-shoulda had a real meal) we went for a walk.  Once we got back to the site I told hubby I had to go home.  We got home and I fell asleep at about 9:30pm.  At this point I had been having some contractions but they certainly picked up after the walk.  I ended up waking up at 11pm unable to sleep the contractions had gotten so bad.  Hubby & I went back and forth about whether we should call the Doula or Midwife.  Finally at 11:30 the contractions were 10 min apart and I made the call.  The midwife said to call once they were 7 min apart.  I knew sleep was important so I told her I was going to continue trying to lie down.  This proved relatively unsuccessful and by 1am the contractions had begun to be 7 min.  So both the Midwife and Doula said they were on there way.

Around 2am both the Doula & Midwife were there and my contractions were now 4 minutes apart and intense.  I labored for about an hour walking around and changing positions.  Finally, I went into the bathtub while hubby and my sis (who got in at about 5am) filled up the birthing pool.  Once that was done I labored in there for an hour or 2 but the midwife suggested I go and try to lie down for a bit to try and reserve my energy.  This was pretty impossible but believe it or not I was falling asleep in between contractions for about an hour.  My mom made me toast and after 3 very tiny bites my water broke.  This was at about 9:30am.  At this point I was 5cm and went back into the birthing pool.  It only took about 40 min for me to get to 10cm and begin pushing.  Although I was technically in labor for over 12 hours at this point, I was SO excited that an end was in site.  After 2 hours of pushing however the midwifes (an assistant showed up around the time my water broke) decided I wasn't really progressing as I should and did an internal exam.  During this extremely uncomfortable exam they determined that a lip of my cervix did not efface properly and was still covering Addy's head.  As I was pushing I was making it swell and therefore making it worse.  This is when the worst hour of my life started.  In order to stop the swelling and try to move the cervix by hand (OUCH!) I was not allowed to push.  For anyone who has had a baby, you know that it's not really up to you whether you push or not!!  Each time I felt the urge I was supposed to make this stupid noise with my lips (they called it horsey lips).  It was absolutely terrible.  I was crying and would push cuz I couldn't help it and just start saying I was sorry and it was so hard. Finally they said the cervix had cleared her head, but that Addy had switched positions.  UGH!!  As a result of this she was presenting in what they called military style (forehead first).  So they made me get out of the birthing pool again and go in bed.  It is now about 12:30pm. 

Once in bed I continued pushing with no change.  They made me go into the bathroom and sit backwards on the toilet.  At this point any moving was terrible and I was the weakest I've ever been.  I was crying constantly and saying I wish I'd done a hospital birth.  Sitting on the toilet allowed me to finally progress enough to officially start pushing.  This was 2:30pm.  Her head finally became visible at around 3:30pm.  I was tearing a bit and the midwife started to massage the area in an attempt to minimize the tear.  Although I know this was beneficial in the long run as I only ended up with a 1 degree tear (still hurts like hell), it was so very uncomfortable!!!  Finally after 19 hours of labor, 34 hours of no sleep and 22 hours of not eating (at 4:31pm), Adelyn Gail was born!!  She was wide awake and bright eyed as ever.  She was put on my chest and actually found my nipple and started breastfeeding on her own!! 

I am so grateful that I did a homebirth.  I know that if I were in the hospital there is a huge chance I would have ended up with a C-section.  Although it was the hardest thing I have ever done, not having any meds is just what I wanted and I'm so happy that it worked out.  I am dying to update on how things are going but I will leave this already LONG birth story and hopefully find the time to update on how life has changed soon!!