Feb 24, 2011 - BC Birth with Midwives

February 23^th three days overdue with my second child, I see my midwives mid-morning hoping to have my membranes swiped and cervix stretched. My midwife Michelle tells me that I am still about 1-2 centimetres and maybe 10% effaced errrrr why won’t this baby come my first was 9 days over and I wasn’t about to go there again with the whole Blue and Black cohosh for induction. She informs me there is a more subtle way to get things rolling, Michelle suggested to see if we can soften the cervix which might get things rolling with a Verbena tea to drink that night.

8am Feb 24^th 4 days over I wake in the morning had a great night’s sleep; I roll out of bed literally and gush my water breaks YES! Today could be the day I get to meet you!! I feel some small contractions start, I call my midwife to let her know that it should be today since second babies are supposed to come faster. Labor is slowly progressing until boom my son falls hits his face on the coffee table, labor has stopped no nothing! But but I was doing so well and all natural no no please bring it on!!!

Michelle calls to see how I have progressed, she had delivered a baby early morning and was hoping to get some rest before she made her way to my place, I told her that labor stopped and I was trying to get it going again that’s when she said If it didn’t start back up that she would bring me a yummy concoction that would do the trick, hmmm yummy and starts labor I’m in!!

Michelle arrived 2pm we whipped up the so called concoction.

Down the hatch it went yea it’s pretty tasty, now we wait if nothing has really started in 3-4 hours we would try it again. Labor had started back up but it was still not enough to get things really moving and we didn’t want it to go all hours due to my location being out of town, so we mixed up a second batch but this time only drink half and if it doesn’t get things moving then in 30 minutes then we will drink the rest. This time the drink wasn’t as tasty it was more heavy probably because my body was wanting to empty not fill up, well down the hatch it went 15 minutes pass maybe we will drink the second labor is progressing but I was handling it to well that’s until I had to pee, so I go to the bathroom this was about 630pm I come out and I am experiencing a contraction of all mother of contractions I mean wow but it doesn’t stop it is one solid contraction.

Michelle tells me to lie down she will see if I have progressed, 2cm and fully effaced what! Thought it would be more this contraction is just not stopping, I get into the bathtub next thing I’m throwing up then I’m cold Michelle’s yelling fill the pool I think this baby is coming. I get into the pool and I start doing this funky swim I just can’t help it my body is leading me, I had practiced the thought of ride the contraction don’t fight it ride it out my bum, with that thought my arms were flowing up and gracefully flowing down with the contraction almost like a jumping jack or making snow angels oh did I mention the noise that was coming out of me that would start low and go high!!

I remember my instincts telling me to go with it you will survive now push a little doesn’t that feel better, and a sudden urge to reach below. I tell my midwife these thoughts that I am feeling (she is just sitting back telling me to trust my body) she ask me if I would like her to check me , I tell her yes I think it’s time.  She tells me to put my fingers inside and feel my baby, wow she’s right there I just have to push and literally one push her head popped out and with the second push Jasmine was born at 830pm.