7 days before I went into labor
The morning that I went into labor (We were painting the interior of a house that day, April 27th)
It was my due date, April 27th, when I first started to suspect I was having contractions. They began around 7 am, as intense as menstrual cramps, but being a first time mom I wasn't sure if these were the real deal. Because we were unsure of the realness of the contractions, I decided to head to work with Jake. When we arrived at the client's house we were nervous and excited at the prospect of having our baby within the next hours! Jake told the client that there was a chance that we'd have to leave early and the client was very kind and understanding, he was even concerned that I was working too hard and kept telling me to take breaks. As the contractions became more intense I tried to work faster. The weeks leading up to this day we had been working hard to paint this house before the baby arrived and this was the last room. We wanted to finish the job before we took our "babymoon" vacation for a few weeks and we were hoping to finish the room that day.
Thankfully we finished the room around 2:00pm. Jacob thought we might have enough time to finish a small job that he had in that neighborhood. So, I sat in the car timing my 'cramps' and resting as he finished up that job. By now, the cramps were pretty uncomfortable. Once we started home at 3:30 or so, I was dreading every turn and bump in the car. When we were almost home, I remembered that there was a church nearby having a rummage sale to raise funds for the food pantry. So, we stopped by and bought a few shirts for Jacob. By this time, I was leaning against tables and the contractions were coming more regularly. With every contraction I was just trying to make it through... I alternated between focusing on the contraction and trying to distract myself, all the while just trying to relax. Our friends were excited that we thought we were in labor but I was just dreading the car ride home.
At home we made pizza together for dinner. This was around 6:00pm and I think it's when active labor started because I was no longer able to stand during contractions. I notified the midwives and they advised me to rest and eat some food. We finished making the pizza, but it took a while... every time I had a contraction I had to get on my hands and knees while Jacob did his best to comfort me. After we ate, we tried to sleep. but I couldn't sleep because the contractions were so intense. I started to use some vocalization techniques that I had learned about (I felt like screaming), and I also tried to relax. Jake and I timed the contraction together and we would send the times to the midwives occasionally. It was 10:00 pm and I knew that I was definitely in labor but because I was having contractions that were 1-2 minutes long with 2-5 minute breaks I didn't know how much longer it would be. The contractions were VERY intense and I wasn't able to think clearly... I couldn't remember any of the coping techniques that I had studied about except trying to relax and vocalizing. The midwives were telling Jake to have me 'take a nap, take a shower and rest'... for some reason this really got on my nerves and I started to worry that they'd never believe that I was in labor. I remember crying out to God with each contraction and also thinking "I could really use an epidural right now" and knowing that if it had been available that I'd have taken one for sure. FOR SURE. Suddenly I felt a strong pressure in my pelvic area and I thought I might start pushing. I told Jake and he texted the midwives. They called to talk to me, thankfully it was during a break in contractions. They asked me to describe what I was feeling, I started to describe it but then had a contraction. They said they were on their way. One of the midwives stayed on the phone with us and told Jake to read the section of our birthing manual called "When baby comes quickly". It's the chapter designed to help us know what to do if the baby comes before the midwife arrives.
Two of the midwives arrived at about 11:15pm. I was on my hands and knees in the bed. They made sure I was drinking water. Once they got settled in the third midwife ("the boss") arrived, it was now 11:30pm. She suggested I get out of bed and empty my bladder, to which I moaned "noooo, I can't" (I was really whiny, I guess, lol) but I did it anyway and Jacob helped me. Once I was on the potty I didn't think I could move from there. TMI WARNING. At this point I couldn't tell if I was 'pushing' or if I was having an extremely large and painful bowel movement. The Boss then told me to try squatting in front of the couch with Jacob supporting me. Again, I said "nooo, please, I can't, I don't want to" but I did. After a few pushes my water broke and I was able to feel the top of my baby's head with my hand. Jacob felt it too. Just a few pushes later and my baby was lying on my chest, a little pink baby girl. It was 12:37am.
Thankfully we finished the room around 2:00pm. Jacob thought we might have enough time to finish a small job that he had in that neighborhood. So, I sat in the car timing my 'cramps' and resting as he finished up that job. By now, the cramps were pretty uncomfortable. Once we started home at 3:30 or so, I was dreading every turn and bump in the car. When we were almost home, I remembered that there was a church nearby having a rummage sale to raise funds for the food pantry. So, we stopped by and bought a few shirts for Jacob. By this time, I was leaning against tables and the contractions were coming more regularly. With every contraction I was just trying to make it through... I alternated between focusing on the contraction and trying to distract myself, all the while just trying to relax. Our friends were excited that we thought we were in labor but I was just dreading the car ride home.
At home we made pizza together for dinner. This was around 6:00pm and I think it's when active labor started because I was no longer able to stand during contractions. I notified the midwives and they advised me to rest and eat some food. We finished making the pizza, but it took a while... every time I had a contraction I had to get on my hands and knees while Jacob did his best to comfort me. After we ate, we tried to sleep. but I couldn't sleep because the contractions were so intense. I started to use some vocalization techniques that I had learned about (I felt like screaming), and I also tried to relax. Jake and I timed the contraction together and we would send the times to the midwives occasionally. It was 10:00 pm and I knew that I was definitely in labor but because I was having contractions that were 1-2 minutes long with 2-5 minute breaks I didn't know how much longer it would be. The contractions were VERY intense and I wasn't able to think clearly... I couldn't remember any of the coping techniques that I had studied about except trying to relax and vocalizing. The midwives were telling Jake to have me 'take a nap, take a shower and rest'... for some reason this really got on my nerves and I started to worry that they'd never believe that I was in labor. I remember crying out to God with each contraction and also thinking "I could really use an epidural right now" and knowing that if it had been available that I'd have taken one for sure. FOR SURE. Suddenly I felt a strong pressure in my pelvic area and I thought I might start pushing. I told Jake and he texted the midwives. They called to talk to me, thankfully it was during a break in contractions. They asked me to describe what I was feeling, I started to describe it but then had a contraction. They said they were on their way. One of the midwives stayed on the phone with us and told Jake to read the section of our birthing manual called "When baby comes quickly". It's the chapter designed to help us know what to do if the baby comes before the midwife arrives.
Two of the midwives arrived at about 11:15pm. I was on my hands and knees in the bed. They made sure I was drinking water. Once they got settled in the third midwife ("the boss") arrived, it was now 11:30pm. She suggested I get out of bed and empty my bladder, to which I moaned "noooo, I can't" (I was really whiny, I guess, lol) but I did it anyway and Jacob helped me. Once I was on the potty I didn't think I could move from there. TMI WARNING. At this point I couldn't tell if I was 'pushing' or if I was having an extremely large and painful bowel movement. The Boss then told me to try squatting in front of the couch with Jacob supporting me. Again, I said "nooo, please, I can't, I don't want to" but I did. After a few pushes my water broke and I was able to feel the top of my baby's head with my hand. Jacob felt it too. Just a few pushes later and my baby was lying on my chest, a little pink baby girl. It was 12:37am.
April 28th (just after midnight)
We named her Marta Joy, She weighed 6lbs and 1ounce, she was 19.5 inches long.
 1 month old |  2 months old |
 3 months old |  4 months old |
Hopefully I'll post another update soon.
Until then, Blessings!
Bethany
Until then, Blessings!
Bethany
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