The birth of Daniel was one that left its mark on my memory. That was a time I wish I didn't have to repeat, but children are always worth it. With Daniel I had just planned on having an epidural and figured I would remember what I had learned in the birthing classes I had taken 2 year before. But I found myself with no time for an epidural and not remembering much from the class. This time around, with Abigail, we decided to do more to be prepared. We took a refresher birthing class and we decided to hire a doula and when the time came to high tail it to the hospital it payed off! We had
Amy Morrison as our doula! She was so helpful and totally changed our birth experience from one I feared to one that I love and feel so good about! And now I have no fears about doing it again some day.
Both of my other two children were born in their 38 weeks of gestation, 2 weeks early. So I totally thought this little girl would come early too. But I found myself at the end of 39 weeks still pregnant and feeling pretty comfortable. My doctor had said if I didn't deliver in the next 5 day we would need to schedule an induction. Amy went for a walk with me that next day and encouraged me to keep doing walks to help get baby ready. Jeanne was joking that the full moon was coming, and maybe that would move things along. Saturday would be my due date, plus my doctor would be the one on call for deliveries that day, so I said Saturday would be good! :)
Saturday, the 25th early in the morning I was up helping one of our children use the restroom around 4:30am. When it was time to crawl back in bed I began to wonder if I was having contractions. ( really I just felt like I had to pee really bad, but I had just gone...) So I crawled back in bed and waited a few minutes to see if things settled. After a few minutes I decided to get up and time a few. I found Michael's phone, he had downloaded a handy contraction timer. They lasted just over one minute and were about 3-5 min apart. So I called our doula and we decided to wait 30 min to see if things settled or continued. I would in the mean time pack the remaining things and get ready to leave. I called my aunt and gave her a heads up that we would need her to come watch the kids. About 6 am I called our doula and we decided it was time! We waited for my aunt, who came very quickly! Thank you!! And then we headed out the door to the hospital. When I first called our Doula a little after 5 I was able to talk through contractions and keep mostly about my business, when I called at 6 I was having to breathe through them and stop talking, and when we left at 6:30ish, I would need to call for Michael to help me by rubbing my back each time I had a contraction. We arrived at the hospital and called my mom to tell her we were there. Then I checked in, (so thankful it was much faster then last time! I think they took me serious this time... maybe because it was the 3rd child... and two fast labors previously noted in my chart.) The triage was super nice to me too. There were two nurses helping me and they normally let only one person back with you but they let both my Doula and Michael back with me. They stopped what they were doing during my contractions and even though they really wanted me to use a wheel chair to get to my room they let me walk. (I just can't stand sitting when I am in labor!) They worried my water would break in the elevator, I didn't care :) ) They told me they only had 2 rooms left.. and were not sure there were nurses left... they were busy! (Come to find out I bumped a scheduled induction.. out of her room and took her nurse. Hey.. I only took the nurse for 2 hrs! :) She delivered later that night. ) When I was in triage and not having too strong of contractions the nurse said I was dilated to a 7. I was super surprised because it was not too bad yet and so far along, but that quickly changed to much stronger contractions!
I
had previously decided I wanted to try and do this with no medication.
Partly because I wanted to rewrite in a sense, what had happen with my
previous labor and to get over being scared of it. And because I knew it
was better for the baby and me... and I might not have the choice again
for any meds.
I got to the room and decided to try
laboring on my side to help relax me, and it worked great! Our doula Amy
helped so much! She really helped me to stay relaxed, (I tried last
time with Daniel, but she really knew what to say and how to help you
really do what you needed to do. ) I am a pretty vocal person when it
comes to labor... and she helped me to keep my tones low too which
helped amazingly!! I was so surprised it almost completely took the pain
away. I felt so lucky to have all the help I had. My nurse Laura was so
kind and helpful too. Michael rubbed my legs, My doula rubbed my back
and my mom rubbed my tummy and held my hand through my contractions and
it helped so much to keep me relaxed and to help my body to just do what
it needed to do. It helped to take the pain out and made so much of a
difference.
The pushing was rather intense but super short! At one point I said "The contractions are so strong..." ( thinking I am not sure how much more I can take!) Amy responded "Yes, your body is strong." It really helped to take me from thinking something is
happening to me, that I am
not in control of to thinking "my body knows what it is doing and I can work with it."
When Abigail was born I was instantly in love with her! I just remember seeing this tiny little girl and loving her so much!
My recovery has been the best out of all of the births! I think that is partly due to being able to stay relaxed during the contractions so I was not fighting against my body. I feel like this birth experience has been such a blessing! We got my doctor on call, we had all the help we needed with the kids. Everyone is healthy and well. The labor was so different, and such a rewarding experience, and my recovery has been amazing! I could not have asked for it to have gone any better!
Well enough of my stories :) Here is the good stuff... the pictures!
Miss Abigail Lynette Ellerbeck
Born: May 25th at 8:58am
Weight: 6lbs. 10oz.
Length: 19 inches
