I finally have a second to write this post, I wanted to hurry and do it soon before all the details of Ben's arrival became fuzzy. Ben and Ceci are taking naps and SG is here hanging out with postpartum me on the sofa. So here is Ben's birth story in all its glory. We are having a friend over on Friday to take some newborn pictures and will post them this weekend. I'll try and get some picture up soon. In the meantime you can check out Ben's hospital photoshoot at www.bellababyphotography.com click on "view my photos:login" and enter password mbel1002williamson they turned out super cute! The only others we have are on our phones and I need to figure out how to get them on the computer.
Friday September 30th (my guess date)- I had been having false labor since 37 weeks and was having another day full of contractions and cramping. Nothing regular or alarming so we went about our day. I had my chiropractor adjust me at 10am, that felt so nice! Didn't sleep well that night. Earlier that day a friend of mine told me about an herb you can take (ONLY when you are 40+ weeks!!) that can help bring on true labor, called Blue Cohosh. I did a lot of research about it, please nobody just go and take it, read up! Its serious stuff, it does work but needs to be taken in the correct amount over a short time.
Saturday October 1st (my mom's birthday!)- That morning, take a dose of the cohosh with a light breakfast. Contractions started as soon as I woke up...normal for me. 15-20 mins apart. Not painful, just noticeable, same as had been for weeks. Every hour on the hour I take another dose until noon. We watch General Conference. Later Mom and SG and I go to Costco to stock up on...well everything. We should have grabbed 2 carts but we jammed everything in one along with SG and that cart was HARD to push. Mom and I took turns even though she didn't want me pushing it all. (I thought maybe it would send me into labor...I think it may have!) We get home that afternoon and around 2pm I take my last dose of cohosh straight, not mixed in water, YUCK!!! By 3:30pm my contractions are 5-10 mins apart and are getting more uncomfortable. We get Mexican food for mom's birthday dinner. I knew I shouldn't be eating it but do anyway, so yummy. We have cheesecake for dessert. We get the girls in bed and I notice my contractions are feeling stronger and more regular. Owen starts timing them. 5 mins apart lasting 1 minute. I get the last of my stuff together to take to the birthing center and ask Owen to finish packing too. I text our doula to let her know that things are getting more serious but that I'd get in touch in the morning. By 11pm we are all heading to bed. I figure I will either wake up from these contractions or I will be able to sleep it off, like every other night.
Sunday October 2nd (Ben's Birthday!)-
midnight- I fell asleep and finally got up at 3am tossing and turning with each contraction. I go out in the living room to sit on my exercise ball leaning into the sofa with my pillow and manage to doze in between contractions. I listen to my meditative music on my ipod, have a cup of herb tea and do my best to relax and save my energy, I knew that today would be the day.
5am- I think the girls must have heard me walking around because they are both up! Not normal for them! Owen gets them back in bed. Contractions are still 5 mins apart lasting 1 minute.
6am- I send an email to our family in Scotland to let them know that I'm in early labor and that they should expect some exciting news, I'm hoping later in the evening.
8am- The house is up. I'm hiding in our bedroom to avoid having to talk to anyone. I text our doula again and tell her that I'm trying to get to 10am before calling the midwife. I didn't want to get there too soon and get sent home. I can't sit at all now. Standing, pacing and rocking feel best.
9am- Contractions are still 5 mins apart but are getting much stronger now. I'm having a really hard time slowly breathing through them. I feel like I can't control my breath anymore and I was starting to feel light headed. I'm having to work harder to slow it down again after each contraction. They are still totally manageable pain wise. The girls are having a hard morning without me there keeping to our usual routine. Mom, Dennis and Owen are doing a great job but I'm feeling guilty for not being there. I know in my heart that I'm working hard, doing what I need to do and they are fine. I just wanted them to have a good day too
10am- I'm watching the clock, instead of listening to my body. I tell Owen its time to call. He comes in and I break down crying, I felt like I couldn't do this anymore, I was tired, everyone was stressing me out, I just wanted the day to be normal for the girls. I also felt like I had to get out of that house. That would be able to labor better without so many distractions. I was crying because, this was the point I got to with Sarah Genevieve's labor, we went in, I was only 2+cm dilated! With this labor up until now I had little to no early labor signs...aka mucous or blood (sorry, TMI). Owen did an amazing job at helping me stay calm, listening to me and helping me through contractions. A+ babe!
10:10am- Owen stepped out of the room and with my next contraction I yell through the house that he needs to call the midwife NOW! I had to get out of the house, I was breaking down. He calls, explains what's happening. I talk to my midwife Nell, I tell her that I feel emotionally spent, that I'm having a hard time not being mom to the girls that morning, that I've had not early labor signs but that I'm at a point where I don't feel I can do this anymore. She asks me if my previous births were medicated and I say yes. She says she will meet us at the birthing center at 11am, she's check me and we'd "talk about what to do from there"...I knew what she meant. If I was only 2 cm she would send me to labor and delivery and recommend me getting an epidural. NOT at all what I wanted to do or had planned for for 9 months!
10:30am- The car is packed and Owen and I head out. We text Linda, our doula, she'll head over after I'm checked and we have a plan. I instantly feel betting for getting in the car. It's a really cool morning and it feels great to have some fresh air. I'm sipping on some coconut water with pineapple in the car, so very refreshing and I'm feeling much more hydrated. The birthing center is only 10 mins away and I have 2 contractions in the car, still only 5 mins apart and very manageable.
11:05am- We beat Nell there by 5 mins, I have a contraction there in the lounge and I bury my face in my pillow, I feel like I need to vocalize through it. Nell gets there and she has me go to the bathroom and then lay down to be checked. She asks me to push down a little bit to make the baby's head come down on my cervix. She says to us, "Well sweetie, you're a good 6cm!" I am in total shock! I ask if its ok to cry, I am SO happy! We are staying!! I knew that if I was already at 6 I could totally do this!
11:30am- We are in our birthing suit and they are setting up the room and filling the birthing tub. I can't wait to get in that tub!! My nurse comes in with the fetal monitor. 20 mins required monitoring to establish a baseline for baby's heart rate and my contractions. I'm chatting to the nurse, Owen is texting Linda telling her to come over. I'm sitting in a rocking chair with the monitors on me. I have a contraction...chat, chat, chat, text, text, call...I have a contraction...my legs start shaking uncontrollably. I ask the nurse if this is normal, she says it is, just all the hormones in my body...I have a contraction...my 3rd while sitting in the rocking chair...I feel my body pushing! I say loudly, "I think I'm pushing!". The nurse calls the midwife, I move to the bed, I'm checked, 10cm, fully dilated. I ask if there is time for me to get in the tub. She says no sweetie, its time to push. That leg shaking contraction had been the only transition I got! She asks me what I think would feel most comfortable, I tell her I need to be upright, laying down makes me feel horrible. The nurse and midwife help me to the end of the bed where I can get on my hands and knees. *I have to add that at this point I still feel like my contractions are totally manageable and I think to myself and ALMOST say out loud that I've totally got this, no problem...so glad I didn't, I would have looked like a jerk after what happens next*
11:45am- Linda walks in, comes over to help talk me through things, Owen is next to me. I have a contraction and Nell tells me to push, I do, intense, out of control pain, pressure, burning and screaming...from me. I lose it and am screaming. I hear..."STACEY! Stop screaming!" Then Linda gently tells me to keep the sounds in and push, Nell says that is no way to welcome a new baby. She's right and I get it together. With one more contraction Nell tells me to gently ease him down and out, his head slowly comes out, then a little push for his shoulders. And he is out with no tearing. Nell tells me to pick up my baby. I reach down and there he is. I hold him to me and I feel a rush of energy, love, relief, adrenaline, I can't even explain it, it was like nothing I've ever felt before. This was why I wanted to have a natural childbirth. To experience this. To have an experience that is for me, as a woman, that so many women before have achieved. A part of this earth's mortal experience. To fulfill the design of my heavenly created body. And I did it. And I am so proud of myself. He was all tangled up in his cord but it was nice and long and did not cause any problems. He came out nice and quiet and has been a fairly quiet little guy since. Very alert, very strong, always ready to eat and enjoys his binky.
Benjamin Alexander Williamson was born at 11:50am October 2nd 2011, 8lbs 6oz, 20 1/2 inches long. He has gorgeous strawberry blonde hair and bright blue eyes. We think he looks a good mix of Sarah Genevieve and Cecily. Ben was born on his great-great-great-grandad William's birthday, truly a William-son. He is the first in Owen's paternal line not to be born in Shetland, Scotland in 500 years and is the 5th generation October baby boy. He is such a sweet boy and we are so grateful to have him in our family.
I'm feeling great. Day one, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck but the more I rest the better I feel. I did experience a lot of hip pain post delivery but it has since subsided and I am really feeling good. I took Ben to see the pediatrician today for a weight check. He is down to 7lbs 12 oz but is very healthy. We go back on Friday. He is sleepy most of the day and eats all night. We are just in love.
**I'll edit this for typos later...kids are up!***
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