Welcome to my new blog - dedicated to all things AJ!
Aaron (AJ on this blog) is our third child, little brother to Will & Nina who will often be referred to as Buddy Man and Gracie Girl. Their blogs are linked on the side. Mama does all the writing and Daddy likes to read the stories here. Usually I will post milestone news, growth news and of course doctor's appointment news. And not for the faint of heart (but definitely for natural childbirth aficionados!) I will begin with AJ's birth story...
I have to start with the way I planned it. My second birth was so easy & seemed to be a good and convenient way to go, so I planned and expected something similar to happen the third time. I planned for a middle of the night labor, around 5 hours or less and having the baby before breakfast. The kids would sleep right through it; Grandpa would come over to make them breakfast; all phone calls would be made when people were awake. God definitely had other plans. His plans were much better than mine!
I was 10 days late. June 10th, 2 am I began having good strong contractions that were about 15 minutes apart. Compared to my second labor, I figured I’d have this baby by morning and should get ready. After updating my blogs, getting out my ball, the music and setting up to time, all contractions stopped. I went back to bed and the contractions resumed. I waited and tried to sleep in between. They were definitely good labor contractions but not getting any closer. They even got further apart and I got nearly an hour of sleep at one point.
In the morning David took the kids to church and my mom and I tried walking. We walked all the way around the neighborhood without one contraction. We were slightly worried that this non-pattern was due to Aaron’s position, so I spent some time on hands and knees in the shower and later lounging across the birth ball. Pretty soon he was definitely in his usual position (back to my right, hands and feet on my left). Anytime I lay down, the contractions came back. But still, never more than 15 minutes apart. The kids came home from church and I called my midwife. She said I had a few options. 1) Come in to her office, get an exam and see if we can stir something up; 2) wait until tomorrow’s appointment, then the same thing; 3) or try castor oil. After David & I talked, we made arrangements to go see Nancy (the midwife) that afternoon. None of this was the way I planned it. It all seemed so inconvenient. It bothered me more than this was not “ideal” or “my plan” than what was going on with my body!
We got to her office at 4 pm. I had only one or two contractions on the drive out there. A very thorough exam showed I was dilated to 4, which was a surprise. I really expected to hear 2 or worse! Since I am GBS+, Nancy started an antibiotic drip and hooked me up to the monitor to see what kind of pattern (if any) my contractions were in. David and I chatted and the contractions began. 10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes…. Nancy assured David we would have this baby today, definitely before midnight. He began making the phone calls to all the family, making sure the kids were going to his parents; his sister was coming to help coach, etc. I really didn’t believe either of them. Nancy even mentioned that we could have this baby around 8 but I didn’t believe that either.
It is a 45 minute drive from my midwife’s office back to our house. I drove with her and David drove our car. I had 3 or 4 contractions while in transit, a very hard one happening right at the last two turns. I had to whisper the last directions – “second right…. Yellow house.” David had made it home before us and already had everything going. Everyone was there, another thing I did not plan on. But our bed was prepped and ready, the kids were well distracted and I needed a LOT of help to get in the house.
We arrived at our house at 6 pm. After taking quite a long time (to me) to get upstairs, use the toilet, get undressed & onto the bed, another exam showed I was dilated to 6. Six did not seem to be a lot to me, although last time I was that far we broke my water & I got to push within a few minutes. I lay on my side with David holding my hand and speaking encouragement. Soon I needed my mom to hold up my leg and help me make more room. The contractions were very close together, now maybe 2-3 minutes apart. I could breathe through them, although focusing was difficult. At one point my sister-in-law was getting my music set up and all I could think of was – we don’t have time, it doesn’t matter! I could feel something leaking, and thinking it was urine I didn’t say anything. But it happened with every contraction so after a few times I managed to gasp out “I’m…. leaking….” Ahhh, yes, it wasn’t much but just one more contraction after that and it gave a little gush. Fluid, not urine! Yay! My water has never broken on its own so that was nice to hear. Now the contractions were very intense and I felt better if I pushed a little each time. It was a very strange sensation to push on my side- I’ve always been semi-sitting or lying down at that point. I couldn’t breathe through these, I had to moan and think “down down down, out out out, open open open….” I was very hot, even with the air conditioner going and a fan on my face. David had been feeding me ice chips until this point where I was just spitting them back out again.
Now I began saying things that one usually says in transition! “Why won’t he come out? Where is he? I’m pushing! Stop! Up! No!” Everything was short but very forceful. My mom was exhausted from holding up one leg but I couldn’t have her move it much, my hip was on the verge of cramping. My sister-in-law joked that she offered to help but was afraid if I opened my eyes to see both of them doing it wrong they were in big trouble. I felt the ring of fire and knew the end was near, but it seemed he was going back up and I was closing in between contractions. That was so frustrating! Soon (time is very relative here) my midwife encouraged me to roll over just a little and all of a sudden we were in birthing mode. She offered to let David catch but I was way too focused on him and his presence near my head so I told him no. My mom had one leg, my sister-in-law had the other and my midwife told me to hold my breath and push. Of course (like previous times) I had trouble controlling my legs and making them become wide enough to be productive. I need all the help I can get with those things! At the next contraction I do as I’m told – hold my breath, no screaming, no moaning, just push hard. Pushing hard made the ring of fire even more so, but then someone says “he’s there!” Oh man, I needed to hear that! I continue the push (same one) and his head is out. One more push and here’s his body. I was in shock and began crying uncontrollably.
It was now 7:05 pm. I had been home for one hour. Aaron James was born with two pushes. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. He was my shortest labor, my shortest pushing and my smallest baby. David didn’t get to catch, but he still cut the umbilical cord. The placenta was delivered maybe 5 minutes later; it was very swollen and felt as big as Aaron’s head! But everything was perfect. Aaron was pink right from the beginning, a beautiful cry, there was meconium staining but he had no issues with that at all. He has light brown hair, which may turn blonde, but it may get darker, we’ll have to see.
Everything went better than I planned. Yes it was hard to have such a short active labor and I was in transition after just 15-20 minutes of getting home. But having so much family around wasn’t chaotic or loud as I had imagined. My kids got to come in and meet the baby as soon as I was cleaned up. Having a baby in the evening meant he was still sleepy at our bedtime and slept off and on pretty much the whole night. The kids ended up going to my in-laws to spend the night. Since my water broke on it’s own I feel like my labor was more productive and even when the contractions were on top of each other, I knew they were doing something. And how can I argue with only two pushes and no tearing?
That’s Aaron’s birth story. Now he is 6 weeks old and is doing great. He got his days and nights worked out within the first few days. He has a great sucking reflex and brought my milk in at the end of the second day. He regained his birthweight by the 4th day and gained a pound week for a while. AJ even weighed 11 lbs 6 oz at his six week checkup! He has a sweet nature and is much more mellow than the other kids. We have had no colic issues (although I avoid dairy and chocolate) and he doesn't even fight burps or hiccups. We are so wonderfully blessed by God with this little boy!
