Danielle's Arrival!
Last Friday, May 1st, I distinctly remember saying that I felt like I'd have my baby that coming weekend. Well, I had her on Monday, which wasn't too far off! :-)
Monday, May 4, 2009 was a very dreary and yucky weather day here in WA, but that didn't stop me from my usual walking around the block numerous times throughout the day. I didn't have any different or new signs that labor was close to happening...I just KNEW that things would happen soon! That night, Jeff and I got the kids to bed at 8:00pm as usual. I remember rocking Katie in her room, listening to the strong gusts of wind and rain, and remembering how the weather was exactly the same way the night before I had Katie. I had a slight thought that just maybe I'd go into labor that night, but didn't really think anymore about it...until later.
After getting the kids to bed, Jeff watched some TV while I took a shower. We went to bed around 9:30pm. Jeff read a book while I was concentrating on trying to get to sleep. At about quarter till ten, I felt a funny, warm sensation. I hopped out of bed not knowing what in the world it could be and went to the bathroom. It was then that I realized that what I felt was my water breaking, as all of a sudden, there was a gush of fluid. This was totally new and unexpected for me, as I have never had my water break first (or at all) in any of my previous labors. It was very exciting to me. Once I got over the initial excitement of my water breaking, I though to myself how cool it will be that Danielle will have a Cinco De Mayo birthday! But she showed me who was boss :-)
Even though I hadn't had any contractions yet, I called my midwife and told her what was going on. She told me that labor would most likely start within the next 12 hours (boy was she right) and that what I needed to do was go get some rest, and to call her back when my contractions started up and were to the point to where I thought that I needed her. So I got off the phone with her, and got myself some new PJs, and hopped back in bed while Jeff cleaned the bathroom. At 10:10, I had my first contraction. I distinctly remember thinking to myself "geez, this is pretty strong for my first contraction!" I had my second contraction at 10:12 and then my third at 10:14! I continued to time them for about 10 more minutes, and they showed a definite pattern of 2-3 minutes apart already! I called my midwife back and told her what my contractions were doing. She said that she was coming over and told us to go ahead and inflate the birthing tub.
So Jeff got to doing that while I stayed in bed concentrating on my contractions. After Jeff inflated the tub (which took about 20 minutes), he went to pick up Meka, my friend who was going to help me out with massage. By the time they got back, I couldn't talk through contractions, as I needed to breathe through them. As soon as they got back, I told Jeff to go ahead and start filling the tub with water even though our midwife wasn't there yet. He knew better then to argue with me, as he knew that my labors tend to be fast. So he got that going.
Michelle, the midwife's assistant got here about 11:10pm or so. She checked me and found me to be at 7 cm dilated! She then got to work helping Jeff fill the tub with water that was hot enough. Peggy, my midwife showed up around 11:20 (I think...things were going really fast for me by that point). She spent some time listening to the baby's heartbeat during contractions, and helped with the tub also. During all of this, I was laying on the bed on my side, having Meka put counter pressure on my lower back with each contraction. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that counterpressure! It not only helped the pain in my back, but also the pain in my lower belly and pelvis! She really helped...It was great!
At around 11:40pm, I started feeling the urge to push. Fortunately, the tub was ready at that same time, so I was able to get in and start pushing there. There wasn't enough water to fill the entire tub, due to running out of hot water, but there was enough water to serve the purpose. It was actually the perfect amount for me and for where my pain and pressure was. So I was still just as happy. But anyway, right after I got into the tub, my friend Kim who helps me out with the kids every week arrived. Boy did she make it just in time! I had about 3 contractions in the tub, pushing with each one, and then the baby's head crowned, and she was born at 11:45pm! Jeff caught her and brought her to the surface of the water and then I took her and held her on my chest! It was the most amazing experience EVER! Don't get me wrong...the births of my other children were totally amazing as well, but there was just something totally different about having this birth at home in water!
I stayed in the tub for a little while getting aquainted with my new daughter. During this time, Jeff went upstairs and woke up Kyle and Natalie so that they could see Danielle. They both had realy wanted to be present during the birth, but we figured that since they were already asleep that they'd do better if we just let them sleep. But we didn't want them to be too disappointed about missing the birth, so Jeff decided to get them up for a little while once she was born. They were to excited to see her! They watched as Jeff cut the cord, and then went with Jeff as he dried the baby off and got her all wrapped up in a warm blanket, during which time I delivered the placenta in the tub and then got out and tucked into bed.
At this point, Jeff helped clean things up while I started working on nursing with Danielle. She caught on really quickly, and was very comfortable with nursing from the very start! A little while later, we got around to getting her weight and legth, and doing the initial newborn check up for her reflexes and such. She weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Her apgar score was a 9 and all of her color and relexes were wonderful! During her assessment, I had a little something to eat and drink, and we all visited. After her ckeck up, I took her back and we nursed dsome more. It was around 2:00am when Peggy and Michelle left our house. Jeff drove Meka home, and Kim stayed the night on our couch, and through a little while the next day to give us a helping hand.
It's been a few days now since Danielle came into our lives, and the transition has been remarkable! Just as it was with Kaitlyn when she was born, all 3 kids are loving their new baby sister, and totally thrilled to help in any way that they can! Even Katie who is only 20 months old, is totally helping out! She'll get me the baby's diapers when I'm changing her, and will et me a bottle of water out of the refridgerator and get me the foot stool so that I can put my feet up...all without even being asked! And all 3 kids LOVE holding the baby! Kyle is a huge help with this as it enables me to get a few things done around here, and for the other kids. Jeff took off Tuesday and Wednesday from work to be home and help me out. I had him doing a lot of the running around to various activities and such, but he didn't mind...too much :-) He went back to work on Thursday and all's been well. I'm handling the transition of having another body to take care of pretty easily so far. And I'm enjoying every minute of it!
Well, I'd better get going. Miss Dani should be waking up any minute to eat...she's such a wonderful baby! I can't wait for all of you to meet her! :-)
Monday, May 4, 2009 was a very dreary and yucky weather day here in WA, but that didn't stop me from my usual walking around the block numerous times throughout the day. I didn't have any different or new signs that labor was close to happening...I just KNEW that things would happen soon! That night, Jeff and I got the kids to bed at 8:00pm as usual. I remember rocking Katie in her room, listening to the strong gusts of wind and rain, and remembering how the weather was exactly the same way the night before I had Katie. I had a slight thought that just maybe I'd go into labor that night, but didn't really think anymore about it...until later.
After getting the kids to bed, Jeff watched some TV while I took a shower. We went to bed around 9:30pm. Jeff read a book while I was concentrating on trying to get to sleep. At about quarter till ten, I felt a funny, warm sensation. I hopped out of bed not knowing what in the world it could be and went to the bathroom. It was then that I realized that what I felt was my water breaking, as all of a sudden, there was a gush of fluid. This was totally new and unexpected for me, as I have never had my water break first (or at all) in any of my previous labors. It was very exciting to me. Once I got over the initial excitement of my water breaking, I though to myself how cool it will be that Danielle will have a Cinco De Mayo birthday! But she showed me who was boss :-)
Even though I hadn't had any contractions yet, I called my midwife and told her what was going on. She told me that labor would most likely start within the next 12 hours (boy was she right) and that what I needed to do was go get some rest, and to call her back when my contractions started up and were to the point to where I thought that I needed her. So I got off the phone with her, and got myself some new PJs, and hopped back in bed while Jeff cleaned the bathroom. At 10:10, I had my first contraction. I distinctly remember thinking to myself "geez, this is pretty strong for my first contraction!" I had my second contraction at 10:12 and then my third at 10:14! I continued to time them for about 10 more minutes, and they showed a definite pattern of 2-3 minutes apart already! I called my midwife back and told her what my contractions were doing. She said that she was coming over and told us to go ahead and inflate the birthing tub.
So Jeff got to doing that while I stayed in bed concentrating on my contractions. After Jeff inflated the tub (which took about 20 minutes), he went to pick up Meka, my friend who was going to help me out with massage. By the time they got back, I couldn't talk through contractions, as I needed to breathe through them. As soon as they got back, I told Jeff to go ahead and start filling the tub with water even though our midwife wasn't there yet. He knew better then to argue with me, as he knew that my labors tend to be fast. So he got that going.
Michelle, the midwife's assistant got here about 11:10pm or so. She checked me and found me to be at 7 cm dilated! She then got to work helping Jeff fill the tub with water that was hot enough. Peggy, my midwife showed up around 11:20 (I think...things were going really fast for me by that point). She spent some time listening to the baby's heartbeat during contractions, and helped with the tub also. During all of this, I was laying on the bed on my side, having Meka put counter pressure on my lower back with each contraction. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that counterpressure! It not only helped the pain in my back, but also the pain in my lower belly and pelvis! She really helped...It was great!
At around 11:40pm, I started feeling the urge to push. Fortunately, the tub was ready at that same time, so I was able to get in and start pushing there. There wasn't enough water to fill the entire tub, due to running out of hot water, but there was enough water to serve the purpose. It was actually the perfect amount for me and for where my pain and pressure was. So I was still just as happy. But anyway, right after I got into the tub, my friend Kim who helps me out with the kids every week arrived. Boy did she make it just in time! I had about 3 contractions in the tub, pushing with each one, and then the baby's head crowned, and she was born at 11:45pm! Jeff caught her and brought her to the surface of the water and then I took her and held her on my chest! It was the most amazing experience EVER! Don't get me wrong...the births of my other children were totally amazing as well, but there was just something totally different about having this birth at home in water!
I stayed in the tub for a little while getting aquainted with my new daughter. During this time, Jeff went upstairs and woke up Kyle and Natalie so that they could see Danielle. They both had realy wanted to be present during the birth, but we figured that since they were already asleep that they'd do better if we just let them sleep. But we didn't want them to be too disappointed about missing the birth, so Jeff decided to get them up for a little while once she was born. They were to excited to see her! They watched as Jeff cut the cord, and then went with Jeff as he dried the baby off and got her all wrapped up in a warm blanket, during which time I delivered the placenta in the tub and then got out and tucked into bed.
At this point, Jeff helped clean things up while I started working on nursing with Danielle. She caught on really quickly, and was very comfortable with nursing from the very start! A little while later, we got around to getting her weight and legth, and doing the initial newborn check up for her reflexes and such. She weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Her apgar score was a 9 and all of her color and relexes were wonderful! During her assessment, I had a little something to eat and drink, and we all visited. After her ckeck up, I took her back and we nursed dsome more. It was around 2:00am when Peggy and Michelle left our house. Jeff drove Meka home, and Kim stayed the night on our couch, and through a little while the next day to give us a helping hand.
It's been a few days now since Danielle came into our lives, and the transition has been remarkable! Just as it was with Kaitlyn when she was born, all 3 kids are loving their new baby sister, and totally thrilled to help in any way that they can! Even Katie who is only 20 months old, is totally helping out! She'll get me the baby's diapers when I'm changing her, and will et me a bottle of water out of the refridgerator and get me the foot stool so that I can put my feet up...all without even being asked! And all 3 kids LOVE holding the baby! Kyle is a huge help with this as it enables me to get a few things done around here, and for the other kids. Jeff took off Tuesday and Wednesday from work to be home and help me out. I had him doing a lot of the running around to various activities and such, but he didn't mind...too much :-) He went back to work on Thursday and all's been well. I'm handling the transition of having another body to take care of pretty easily so far. And I'm enjoying every minute of it!
Well, I'd better get going. Miss Dani should be waking up any minute to eat...she's such a wonderful baby! I can't wait for all of you to meet her! :-)