Birth Story: Yes, I am a granola....

Thursday morning I went to my weekly appointment with my midwife, and was dilated 6 cm and 90% effaced.  That's exactly what I was when I went to an appointment when I was pregnant with Ty.  We broke the water later that day and he was born after only 80 minutes of labor.  My midwife said we could break the water again...  I knew it would be offered to me.  I had the kids bags all packed for a sleep over at Grandma's, and had everything ready for my hospital stay as well.  But I just couldn't do it.  I really wanted to go home and take a nap instead!  

So I went home and spent the ENTIRE afternoon on the couch.  

That evening Todd and I went to dinner alone.  It was so nice.  (We also walked around the site of where the company he works for is moving.  Exciting!)  I was having strong contractions, but kept telling myself there was no way I was in labor.  How could I turn down breaking the water to go into labor on my own the same day?  :)  I went to bed early-ish, and woke up every hour or two with contractions.  That was pretty normal for me, but at 5:30 am I noticed some bloody show.  So I quickly started getting ready.  I knew that once it really hit there wouldn't be time for anything else.  I tried to eat, but could only stomach a few slices of watermelon.  I was soooo hungry!  

The girls were educated and given the choice to attend the birth.  And even with all the honest details, they both really wanted to be there, and I wanted them there as well.  But I was torn about waking them up in the night.  Since it was almost morning I walked in and gave them the choice.  They both jumped out of bed, very excited to be meeting their brother soon.  They kept asking me to get them their breakfast, and I kept saying, "I'm in labor, ask your dad".  :)  

We got to the hospital around 6:30 am.  Contractions were strong, but I was actually pretty impressed with how well I was coping with them.  I kept waiting for it to get so intense that I would go into labor brain, but they never did.  Todd did a great job of talking me through each contraction.  I now call him a dude-la!  He was amazing and a great support to me.  I could not have done it without him.  He always said just the right thing, and every contraction was totally tolerable.

The girls were great.  I think I only had to ask them to be quiet one time.  They sat together and watched patiently.  They smiled at me and kissed my cheeks in between contractions.  I loved having them with me.

My friend, Emily, was also there as my doula/friend/sister.  She and Todd took turns with the rolling pin.  It's an empty, plastic, rolling pin that we filled with ice water.  It feels HEAVENLY during contractions.  I had it rolled up and down my low back during every contraction until I started really pushing.  

I of course had my music going, and really loved listening to it.  My favorite was Chris Botti.  He plays the trumpet, and I had my favorite song of his on repeat for most of the labor.  The trumpet reminds me of Todd, and always helps me relax.  The rolling pin, music, and words of encouragement were the perfect combination of helping me cope.  I also breathed deeply, and vocalized during the most intense parts.

I also had a friend of mine as my nurse!  Amber and I met at a Lamaze training several years ago.  It was fun to have her be our nurse for our two days there.  I'm dilated to about 8 in this picture and am getting my heplock.  How the heck am I smiling?!  I seriously never "lost it" like I usually do.  Which probably made me a really annoying patient because I wanted exact details and information about everything that was going on.  

My "plan" was to deliver the baby on my side, like I did with Ty. That way I could still interact with the girls, and the position is a little less revealing.  It's also a good position for not tearing, which is always a goal of mine.  A goal I have never reached.  But the urge to push wasn't coming naturally, and after a handful of contractions, we could tell that this baby was not going to be born in this position.  

I have always been interested in delivering on my hands and knees.  It's a great position for not tearing, and I've seen several women deliver that way.  I have never been able to bring myself to do it in that position because I just didn't want my butt up in the air.  :)  And once we decided to have the girls at the birth, I really didn't want to deliver that way.  But guess what, that's exactly what I did!  (Sorry, not even I am granola enough to post a picture of that!  LOL!)  

Pushing was still difficult.  The urge never really came, and I am used to my babies just falling out.  So it was very strange to push for several contractions and STILL have the baby inside!  I kept asking what station he was at.  I needed reassurance that he was actually on his way out.  He was by far my hardest to push out.  But I was able to follow the instructions of my midwife to push at certain times, and hold back at certain times.  

And it totally paid off!  

Even though this little guy was HUGE by our standards, I didn't tear!  And what a difference I feel without stitches.  I feel human, which isn't typical for me after giving birth!

Brandon Todd Bigelow.

Born June 8th, 2012, 8:53 am.

8 pounds, 11 ounces

(That's a two month old at our house!)

Our midwife wasn't on call, but we had a great experience with Charlotte.  She was laid back when she needed to be, and trusted my body and my instincts.  Then she stepped up and led the way when I needed that.  It really was a perfect birth!

The feeling in the room when  a baby is born is amazing.  I really wanted the girls to experience it.  And having them there made it even more meaningful to me.  I loved seeing their eyes light up as they looked at their brother for the first time.  It made me miss Ty alot too.  We didn't get a picture of it, but the girls cut the umbilical cord!  They were so excited to do it during the pregnancy, but I wasn't sure they would really want to go through with it.  But turns out my granola genes have been passed down to them!  They were standing right by the midwife and she explained the veins and arteries to them, and they just soaked it all in, lol!

Todd's mom was also there to offer support, take pictures, and help with the girls.  We love having her at our births.  She also has been watching our other 3 kids all weekend!

Look at those cheeks!  Can't believe I pushed that fatty out of me!

I couldn't wait to see Ty with Brandon for the first time.  He ran into our room and yelled "where's my baby?!"  He was thrilled to hold the baby, and got mad when anyone else held him!  Sweetest thing EVER!

We only spent one night at the hospital.  Here Brandon is in his car seat for the first time.  They always look so tiny in there!  I was worried his little newborn outfit wouldn't fit, but it fit perfectly.  :)  He looked so cute all dressed up.

We quickly found our spot in the recliner, and have spent most of our time there since coming home yesterday.  This little guy can scream, and will do so, unless he is being held.  So that is what I did all night.  Just held him.  :)

I came home to a sparkling clean kitchen, and a jar of placenta capsules.  My friends, Carina and Gretchen, dried my placenta and crushed it into capsules.  Most mammals eat their placenta, and most humans did until the industrial revolution.  The benefits are balancing out mom's hormones and energy levels quicker, and increasing milk supply.  So yes, I am granola enough to eat my own placenta.  :)  And desperate enough to survive with 4 kids all summer and little sleep.  I'll try anything!  

So there you have it.  A natural birth, with children watching, with my butt up in the air, and placenta capsules.  I am pretty hard core.  Couldn't be happier with how it all turned out.