Zephyr Alika-James Resetnikov
6/6/08
9 lbs. 2 oz.
21 inches
I started laboring on the 4th at 2am. The contractions were a minute long and 5 minutes apart. We decided to try to sleep as much as we could. I couldnt because they were strong contractions. We had a midwife appointment that day so waited it out until then. At that time i was 2cm dialated and 100% effaced. We then went back home and tried to rest. Later that night we went back to the birthing center because the contractions were 3 minutes apart. I was only 3 1/2 cm dialated so they sent me home. We decided to just stay in a hotel instead of driving all that way. I had regular contractions all night, i spent most of the time laying in the bath tub. Sasha called the birthing center around noon on the 5th and told them the progression. They had us come in and i was 5cm! They admitted us to the birthing unit! I labored all day and night by laying in the hot tub, bouncing on my birthing ball, and walking. My birthing ball was definitely a life saver. The midwife came in at 8am on the 6th and checked me, I was 10 cm. Unfortunately I could not push yet because his head was the wrong direction and they were afraid his head would get stuck. Sasha and I spent almost 4 hours in the hot shower to ease the pain. So in order to help make him turn over I had to go on my hands and knees and during contractions I had to push my stomach out to make more room so he could turn on his own. Those 30 minutes were the worst of the labor, but I waited it out because it was for the best! After the 30 minutes he had turned because I was no longer feeling pain in my back and I felt I had to push. My MIL who was also my doula went to get the nurse and midwife because I said I wasn't waiting anymore. The nurse came in a told me how to push, thats all I needed to know! It only took 6 contractions (20 minutes) of pushing and Zephyr came flying out. When he was crowning the midwife just told me to breath him out, I took a breath and he just shot out anyway! As soon as he came out the midwife put him on my chest. It was so amazing! I ended up tearing upwards and when he came out, the way the umbilical cord was on his head it ripped a hole in the vaginal wall. I got to breastfeed him for about 30 minutes before they took me to the OR. I had lost so much blood I couldn't keep my eyes open. I opted for just local anesthesia so I could be awake to see my husband and bond with my baby. The surgery itself only took about 20 minutes and then I had to recover in ICU for an hour and they took me back to my room! We got to come home on Sunday afternoon. We are so happy to be home with our new bundle of joy! After 62 hours of labor, a completely natural birth and minor surgery, I feel amazing! He's breastfeeding like a champ, lucky us my milk came in last night!
For those of you that are pregnant, TTC, or will in the future. I suggest you get a Doula, birthing ball, and learning to breath (as in slow breath in, slow breath out). My husband was amazing the entire time but having and knowing the other 3 were life savers.
Now for pictures!