Caleb’s Birth Story
After Friday, Aug. 20th passed, I at first became depressed, wondering if I would really end up going into labor and giving birth. I had gone to the mall with Amber and had a last Mommy/Daughter time. I bought her a soft stuffed froggie which she carried with her under her arm in a hug. We ate a soft pretzel with cheese dip and bought her new nice shoes. Saturday Jim and I enjoyed one last time together as a couple before the new baby arrived and played scrabble that night.
Sunday I was depressed again, but Monday I had some light mucus so I knew my body was preparing. My mom came in on Monday, I think because she was getting nervous. So I had to adjust again and try not to feel like a watched pot. Tuesday Mom and I went to Findley Lake and I got some candles for my peacock candle holder, some muscle balm and chest cold vapor rub (Badger Balm.) The lady at the store gave me a free “baby soap” slice because she said I was brave to venture out after my due date. When we got home I had some more mucus and was glad. That night and the night before I was starving in the middle of the night, so I figured my body knew I needed extra energy.
On Wednesday I woke up with crampy contractions, very light, and finally had some pink mucus. So I knew it would be that day or the next. All day I was excited. I met with Julie for a late lunch, sat in the swimming pool with Amber, and told Jim at noon that it was going to be soon. At 5:30 I decided to call Jill and told her what I was feeling, and that according to the “red line” trick, I might be 5 cm. Dialated according to Jim. So she and her friend Jen (also a midwife) came to check me around 6:30. By then I was feeling “real” contractions, but figured it might be awhile. So I told them to go home and I’d call later that night.
We started to set up the pool and fill it with water so I could try napping, and as I walked back and forth, the contractions picked up and got more intense, much like Amber’s labor. So I called the midwives back and they turned around at Findley Lake. Julie left her Bible study early after I called her. The pool was halfway full when the hot water ran out, so we started filling pans and heating them on the stove (Jim did.)
My mom had taken Amber to Jim’s parents for the night. I was having to concentrate on the contractions as it got dark and Jim lit al the candles left in the house and put on Celtic music for the background. It was perfect and serene and better than I could have imagined. I felt so excited and I was handling the contractions much better than I had Amber’s.
The midwives and Julie arrived and Mom fed them leftovers. So much for the lasagna and cheese, egg and sausage casserole I had froze. I leaned on the edge of the pool and breathed through the contractions. When they got worse Jill rubbed my back up and down or in circles and Julie poured water down my back. Eventually Jim took over for Jill and they got more intense so I had her push on my back as Caleb moved down the birth canal.
When it came time to push, I had Jim get in behind me to support me and I let my body tell me when to start nudging and then it was time to push. My body hurt so bad and I couldn’t figure out what position would feel good, and I felt like my pushing was not working. But I leaned back into Jim again, spread my legs further, and began pushing with all I had. I thought for sure he would never come out, but eventually all at once he crowned, and I felt relieved that he was coming and I didn’t have as much pain in the contractions.
Jill told me to slow down so I didn’t tear. His head was out and Jill unwrapped a nuchal cord from his neck. It hurt as he turned himself to come out the rest of the way. I gave one last strong push and out he came! We checked to see if he was a boy, and he was. (Jill had checked me a few times while pushing because she was a little nervous about her first birth tha she was in charge of. I made it clear to her to stop because I didn’t like it at all. I knew he wasn’t crowning yet.)
After he was on my chest, we cut the cord (Jim did) and I moved to the living room floor where Jill checked the placenta cord and I told her to just wait, and as soon as she turned away I felt a contraction coming on and the placenta came easily and beautifully, much better than it had at Amber’s birth.
Caleb latched on right away and nursed like a champ. He was so calm and content, with long feet, toes, hands and fingers. He weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz., 21 inches long and was born at 12:25 AM on Aug 26, Thursday. He looks a lot like his daddy with dark hair, nose, eyes, skin tone. He’s also very strong and does pushups already.