Our family would not be complete without Lauren. She brings so much energy, laughter and life to our family. She has the cutest little voice, the cutest little laugh, and the cutest little smile. She is definitely the entertainer of the family, and can bring a smile to anyone's face. She loves playing dress-up and house and anything "pretend." And she is kind and loving to her baby brothers when she practices her mommy skills in real life. We are so thankful for this beautiful little girl!
I am sharing all my kids' birth stories on their birthdays; here is Lauren's as I wrote it shortly after her birth four years ago (to read more birth stories, click here):
Another birth story to write; another miraculous moment to
remember! I really hope this isn’t my
last. The birth of our babies have been
the best moments of my life and I wish I could just relive them all over and
over again. To be part of such a miracle
is truly amazing; our God is an awesome God!
 |
| One month before birth |
The kids went to Grandma and Grandpa’s that night because I
was pretty upset about having to schedule the induction, so I figured they
would be better off over there. Jorge and
I went to dinner at Red Robin and then went home to do what we could to get
labor going; what gets the baby in, gets the baby out, so they say!
The kids came home the following afternoon (Wednesday). I was beginning to lose a lot of mucous and
it was turning into bloody show. I was
also starting to have contractions, but nothing regular; sometimes they would
get to be 10 minutes apart, but then go away.
I was continuing to contract on and off, and was even having them during
the night Wednesday night. I didn’t
sleep well Wednesday night because of the contractions, so we shipped the kids
to Grandma and Grandpa’s once again so that I could get some rest.
All day Thursday I continued to lose mucous and have bloody show and have the on again off again contractions. At around 5pm I convinced Jorge to take me to BJs because I had some things I needed to get and it wouldn’t hurt to walk around a bit. At BJs, the contractions definitely started to become more regular and were about 6-7 minutes apart. The contractions were pretty tolerable; I could still talk and walk through most of them; I only had to stop a few times and lean on the cart to get through them. We then headed to Target to get some more walking in and the contractions continued at about the same rate. So at this point the contractions had been pretty regular at 6-7 minutes apart for about 3 hours, so I called the midwife to ask at what point we should come in. She said we could come whenever we felt like it; she thought it sounded like we still had time before we needed to come in. I wasn’t even sure if I was really in labor since we had never been through it like this before, so, we decided to go home and continue timing to see if they got any closer. We went home had a light dinner (mini muffins and oatmeal for me) and continued timing the contractions. The contractions now were about 3-4 minutes apart. I still wasn’t sure about going to the hospital because I really didn’t feel that uncomfortable. I was still in good spirits and really only needed to breath and concentrate during some of the contractions; for the most part I could still talk and walk through them. I figured I wasn’t that far into labor and probably hadn’t progressed much from my appointment and I thought if we went in they might just send us home because I probably didn’t even look like I was in labor, or at least not active labor. It wasn’t long though, before I decided we should go. I just felt I would be more comfortable being at the hospital since I really didn’t know what to expect; having been induced for the first 3, this was all new territory for us. So, at around 9pm we headed for the hospital.
All day Thursday I continued to lose mucous and have bloody show and have the on again off again contractions. At around 5pm I convinced Jorge to take me to BJs because I had some things I needed to get and it wouldn’t hurt to walk around a bit. At BJs, the contractions definitely started to become more regular and were about 6-7 minutes apart. The contractions were pretty tolerable; I could still talk and walk through most of them; I only had to stop a few times and lean on the cart to get through them. We then headed to Target to get some more walking in and the contractions continued at about the same rate. So at this point the contractions had been pretty regular at 6-7 minutes apart for about 3 hours, so I called the midwife to ask at what point we should come in. She said we could come whenever we felt like it; she thought it sounded like we still had time before we needed to come in. I wasn’t even sure if I was really in labor since we had never been through it like this before, so, we decided to go home and continue timing to see if they got any closer. We went home had a light dinner (mini muffins and oatmeal for me) and continued timing the contractions. The contractions now were about 3-4 minutes apart. I still wasn’t sure about going to the hospital because I really didn’t feel that uncomfortable. I was still in good spirits and really only needed to breath and concentrate during some of the contractions; for the most part I could still talk and walk through them. I figured I wasn’t that far into labor and probably hadn’t progressed much from my appointment and I thought if we went in they might just send us home because I probably didn’t even look like I was in labor, or at least not active labor. It wasn’t long though, before I decided we should go. I just felt I would be more comfortable being at the hospital since I really didn’t know what to expect; having been induced for the first 3, this was all new territory for us. So, at around 9pm we headed for the hospital.
Of course, on the way to the hospital, my contractions
seemed to be less frequent; I think I only had about 3 contractions the whole
ride there. We got to the hospital and
they hooked us up to the monitors and of course, my contractions seemed less
intense to me and were showing up as small contractions on the monitor; I think
I had one good contraction while on the monitor. After about 10-15 minutes, the midwife, Beth,
came in to check my cervix and said I was 5cm, 100% effaced, about -1 station
and that my bag of water was bulging!!!
I couldn’t believe it; I was hoping for at least 2cm and I literally
told the midwife to shut up because I was so shocked (I later apologized for
telling her to shut up)! I was so
excited and happy that I was already 5cm that I even started to cry a little. I was actually in labor!!! And I didn’t need any pitocin to do
it!!! I was so thrilled that it was
actually happening, naturally!!!
So, we were definitely staying at the hospital and not being
sent home. We headed to our room and got
settled in a bit. The nurse put in a
saline lock; which come to find out, the midwife didn’t even order, but I
decided to leave it in since it was already done and it wouldn’t hurt to have
it just in case. We called our parents
to give them the update and Aunt Michelle arrived a little while later.
It was definitely a different experience not being stuck in
bed hooked up to monitors and an IV. It
felt a little foreign to me, but at the same time it felt so right and
natural. It was kind of surreal. I was able to do pretty much whatever I
wanted or needed to do to get through the contractions. The only thing we had to do was let the nurse
check the baby’s heartbeat every 15 minutes.
The midwife figured that since my bag of water was bulging that it would probably break on it’s own fairly soon, so we decided to walk a bit to see if that would help. Aunt Michelle and I walked around the unit while Jorge went and got something to eat. The contractions were still quite tolerable; I was still walking and talking through most of them and I was in a pretty good mood. I was enjoying Aunt Michelle’s company and conversation. At this point I was thinking to myself that if this is labor, it’s really not as bad as I thought it was going to be and I was hoping that the pushing part wasn’t going to be as bad as I imagined either. We would head back to the room about every 15 minutes so the nurse could check the baby. In the room, between walks, I also tried squatting to see if that would help the waters break and I also tried the birthing ball a bit. It was quite comfortable sitting on the ball and leaning over the bed, resting my head on some pillows. At that point I got out my scripture cards and read a few. After a few hours of walking (at least I think it was a few hours, I’m not quite sure) with Jorge and Aunt Michelle, I decided I wanted to try getting in the tub. Of course, we had to get the broken tub! The water kept draining out so we had to keep the water running pretty much the whole time, and the jets weren’t working either! It was still relaxing though and I probably stayed in there for about 45 minutes to an hour. I started feeling some pressure, kind of like I had to pee, so I got out of the tub and asked to be checked. The midwife said I was 7cm, 8cm with a contraction and my water was still bulging! She asked if I wanted her to break my water, but I decided to hold off because I was hoping to avoid that. Also, if there was meconium in the fluid I would have to be put on the monitor. The midwife suggested that I lay in bed for a change of position and to try and get some rest. I was fine with that because rest sounded good to me at the point. I laid in bed for about an hour and rested between contractions.
The contractions were becoming more intense and becoming painful now. During the contractions I was reciting scripture in my head and just trying my best to just relax and let my body do what it needed to do; I was imagining my cervix opening and Lauren moving down the birth canal and I was just thinking that I would be holding her soon. Jorge and Aunt Michelle were also trying to get some rest, but after an hour I made Jorge wake up because I really needed his support at this point. I was starting to feel a bit more pressure, so the midwife checked me again. I was still about the same, so she went ahead and broke my water (this was around 4am). There was meconium in the fluid, so I had to be put on the monitor. Things starting moving quickly at this point. I could actually feel her moving down the birth canal a couple times. I was really moaning through the contractions now and I was clinging very tightly onto Jorge’s shirt. I started saying “I can’t” a few times, even though I was doing it and knew I could and knew there was no other choice and I was in this until the end; I just needed to say it for some reason. I guess it just made me feel better to say it. I never once thought of getting the epidural; it just wasn’t an option for me this time around. I wasn’t giving myself that choice. Aunt Michelle and Jorge were both “cheering” me on and reminding me of what was to come - holding and nursing Lauren, and just affirming what a good job I was doing. They were both so great at remembering my list of things to say to me during labor. My back started to bother me a bit, so the midwife (Beth) put heating packs on my back and rubbed my back and applied pressure during the contractions. It was such a different, yet comforting feeling to have my caregiver there during the intense parts of labor (and delivery) and to also help to comfort me, with her actions and her words (both the midwife and nurse were also giving me affirmations on how well I was doing). I really felt nurtured by everyone in the room. My body began shaking uncontrollably, which I guess is normal at this stage, but I couldn’t decide if I should fight it or if I should just let it happen. I remember telling myself a couple times to just “pull yourself together” and I would just relax my body as best I could to stop the shakes, but they would just start up again after a minute or so.
The midwife figured that since my bag of water was bulging that it would probably break on it’s own fairly soon, so we decided to walk a bit to see if that would help. Aunt Michelle and I walked around the unit while Jorge went and got something to eat. The contractions were still quite tolerable; I was still walking and talking through most of them and I was in a pretty good mood. I was enjoying Aunt Michelle’s company and conversation. At this point I was thinking to myself that if this is labor, it’s really not as bad as I thought it was going to be and I was hoping that the pushing part wasn’t going to be as bad as I imagined either. We would head back to the room about every 15 minutes so the nurse could check the baby. In the room, between walks, I also tried squatting to see if that would help the waters break and I also tried the birthing ball a bit. It was quite comfortable sitting on the ball and leaning over the bed, resting my head on some pillows. At that point I got out my scripture cards and read a few. After a few hours of walking (at least I think it was a few hours, I’m not quite sure) with Jorge and Aunt Michelle, I decided I wanted to try getting in the tub. Of course, we had to get the broken tub! The water kept draining out so we had to keep the water running pretty much the whole time, and the jets weren’t working either! It was still relaxing though and I probably stayed in there for about 45 minutes to an hour. I started feeling some pressure, kind of like I had to pee, so I got out of the tub and asked to be checked. The midwife said I was 7cm, 8cm with a contraction and my water was still bulging! She asked if I wanted her to break my water, but I decided to hold off because I was hoping to avoid that. Also, if there was meconium in the fluid I would have to be put on the monitor. The midwife suggested that I lay in bed for a change of position and to try and get some rest. I was fine with that because rest sounded good to me at the point. I laid in bed for about an hour and rested between contractions.
The contractions were becoming more intense and becoming painful now. During the contractions I was reciting scripture in my head and just trying my best to just relax and let my body do what it needed to do; I was imagining my cervix opening and Lauren moving down the birth canal and I was just thinking that I would be holding her soon. Jorge and Aunt Michelle were also trying to get some rest, but after an hour I made Jorge wake up because I really needed his support at this point. I was starting to feel a bit more pressure, so the midwife checked me again. I was still about the same, so she went ahead and broke my water (this was around 4am). There was meconium in the fluid, so I had to be put on the monitor. Things starting moving quickly at this point. I could actually feel her moving down the birth canal a couple times. I was really moaning through the contractions now and I was clinging very tightly onto Jorge’s shirt. I started saying “I can’t” a few times, even though I was doing it and knew I could and knew there was no other choice and I was in this until the end; I just needed to say it for some reason. I guess it just made me feel better to say it. I never once thought of getting the epidural; it just wasn’t an option for me this time around. I wasn’t giving myself that choice. Aunt Michelle and Jorge were both “cheering” me on and reminding me of what was to come - holding and nursing Lauren, and just affirming what a good job I was doing. They were both so great at remembering my list of things to say to me during labor. My back started to bother me a bit, so the midwife (Beth) put heating packs on my back and rubbed my back and applied pressure during the contractions. It was such a different, yet comforting feeling to have my caregiver there during the intense parts of labor (and delivery) and to also help to comfort me, with her actions and her words (both the midwife and nurse were also giving me affirmations on how well I was doing). I really felt nurtured by everyone in the room. My body began shaking uncontrollably, which I guess is normal at this stage, but I couldn’t decide if I should fight it or if I should just let it happen. I remember telling myself a couple times to just “pull yourself together” and I would just relax my body as best I could to stop the shakes, but they would just start up again after a minute or so.
I started to feel more pressure in my bottom and felt like I
wanted to try and push. I never felt
this incredibly, strong urge to push, it was more like increasing pressure that
I just wanted to push out, but nothing urgent.
The midwife never checked me again to see if I was complete; I think she
just trusted that my body knew what it was doing. I was lying on my side, so I decided I would
try pushing in this position. It was
actually kind of an awkward position now that I think back; I was lying on my
right side with my legs together. My top
leg wasn’t even lifted up; I just pushed on my side with one leg on top of the
other. It probably looked like I was
pooping out a baby from the back view.
So, I started pushing. There was
no counting to 10 during the contractions or someone telling me to go ahead and
push because I was having a contraction like the previous times. I just pushed whenever I felt like it and
however long I felt like pushing. I
think I pushed for about 15-20 minutes.
I’d have to say that the pushing was definitely the most painful
part. At this point I had my arms around
Jorge’s neck and was holding on for dear life and at one point I even yelled
out, “I think I’m going to die!” When
they told me her head was out, I said, “That’s it?!” because it had hurt so bad
that I thought for sure I had just pushed her whole body out. Then with a few more pushes her whole body
came out and I just let out a huge sigh of relief and said, “That felt so
good!” It just felt so good to feel her
whole body slide out and to have all that pressure gone and to know that the
hard part was over and my baby was finally here.
 |
| She's here! |
 |
| Daddy cutting the cord |
I sat up a little so I could get a look at her, but the spot
light at the end of the bed was shining right in my face, so I just laid back
down to rest while they tended to her.
It was probably a good thing that I couldn’t see her because Aunt
Michelle later told me that when she came out she was very BLUE. The cord had been wrapped tightly around her
neck and it took them awhile to get her breathing. If I had seen her, I probably would have
started panicking and worrying. I’m so
thankful that Aunt Michelle was there to pray for Lauren. Lauren began crying a bit and they brought
her up to me, skin to skin, and gave her a little oxygen. She was absolutely perfect to me; another
awesome gift from God. They took her
over to the warmer to check her out while I got a few stitches (I tore just a
little; not as bad as the other deliveries).
They brought her back over to me and I began nursing her right
away. She had no problems and latched
right on, and for me, after 3 babies, nursing is like riding a bike.
Lauren Danielle was born on January 9th at
5:01am. She weighed 8lbs. 8oz. and was
20.5 inches long. She is perfect in
every way. We thank the Lord for her and
for the healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery that we experienced. I will never forget this awesome day as long
as I live!! She fits right into our
family! Her siblings just adore her and
love on her all the time. Someone is
always wanting to hold her, kiss her or hug her.
We are so in love!
Sharing with:
Homemaking Link-Up @ Raising Homemakers
Encourage One Another Link-Up @ Deep Roots at Home
WholeHearted-Home Wednesdays @ Haven of Rest
Wednesday Link Party @ Walking Redeemed
Proverbs 31 Thursdays @ Raising Mighty Arrows
Hearts 4 Home @ Our Simple Country Life
Thriving Thursdays @ Serving Joyfully
Weekend Whatever @ Your Thriving Family
Fun Friday @ Pieces of Amy
Modest Mondays @ The Modest Mom
Monday's Musings @ What Joy Is Mine
Welcome Home @ Raising Arrows
Mama Moments Mondays @ A Mama's Story
The Better Mom Mondays @ The Better Mom
Mommy Moments @ The Life of Faith
Titus 2sday Link-Up @ Time Warp Wife
Domestically Divine Tuesday @ Far Above Rubies
Teach Me Tuesdays @ Growing Home
Heart and Home Link Up @ MercyINK
Titus Tuesdays @ Cornerstone Confessions
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan!
Delete:)
Happy BIrthday to your little one! I wanted so desperately to experience a natural birth, but it wasn't in the cards for me. I still have 2 wonderful little boys though :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Thriving Thursdays.
Thanks for commenting Crystal and thanks for hosting a lovely link up.
DeleteOut of 6 births and 7 kids (I have a set of twins), I only managed one natural birth. But every birth is special in its own way! Wouldn't change any of them!
Found you on Whatever Weekend Linky. Great story and thanks for sharing! I am a few months away from my third and had two "failed" home births, aka, transfers to the hospital. This will be my first full hospital birth and I'm hoping for a VBAC. Birth is crazy and my first two were so weird and I ended up with an epidural the first time and got all the way to pushing only to have an emergency c-section right at the end. So...this feels new even though I've done it before. Thanks for the affirming story!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie! Thanks for sharing her story!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! This is just on the horizon for me and I'm pretty nervous to do it for the first time. She is so beautiful and worth it all I'm sure :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the birth story of your daughter. She is so precious!! What a special thing to record her birth story so that you can share it with her when she is old enough to appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up over at WholeHearted Home last Wednesday.