Lexi's Birth Story

*This is a birth story, don't read it if you are squeamish about birth! :) The week leading up to Alexis’ birth I was very stressed and anxious and impatient for her arrival. I was so uncomfortable and so done being pregnant. Regan was born 11 days early and both of my sisters had babies who were 2 and 3 weeks early so I was expecting Alexis to be born 3 weeks early. My expectation turned to assumption when I found out at 36 weeks and 5 days that I was already dilated 3 cm. I thought for sure I would have her before my next appointment. But that appointment came and my dilation was still about the same. I was starting to panic thinking that I would be pregnant forever, that I would never get to meet my little girl! Dramatic, I know, but hormones will do that! On Tuesday I was really feeling frustrated and ready to throw my unmedicated birth plan with no unnecessary interventions (as in, not being induced) out the window. I called my sister who recently had a baby for encouragement and then had a wonderful day playing with Regan and keeping my mind on her instead of on when I was going to go into labor like my sister suggested. By Thursday morning I had resigned to wait and do it patiently, Alexis would come when she was good and ready and no amount of whining, walking or wishing could change that. Matt was home that morning (he had arranged to have the whole week off in case the baby was born) and after playing with Regan and laying her down for a nap, the two of us decided to do the same at about 10:30. I wasn’t sleeping well at night but I was normally able to fall asleep for naps during the day. This time though I remember just listening to Matt snoring away while I lay there awake because I was having contractions that I could actually feel. I had been having Braxton Hicks for months that were getting stronger, but it was only every now and then that I could say they were painful. These contractions were different, every one hurt (not a lot but enough for me to notice the change) and they weren’t going away as they normally did. Eventually I stopped trying to sleep and got up to eat something. While I was skeptical that this was real labor I grabbed Matt’s iPod and used an app to time my contractions. After having something to eat and taking a shower I told Matt to take a shower because I was calling my midwife and she might want me to come in. She had me time them for another hour and called me back. They hadn’t stopped and were about 3 minutes apart and getting slightly more painful, so she said I better come in to get checked out! I was happy that we were going in, but I still didn’t think I was really in labor. Everything was SO different from my labor with Regan. I was calm and relaxed and was able to get through the contractions just by taking deep breaths and in between I felt completely fine. I was scared we would be sent home. We got to the hospital at about 2:00 after leaving Regan with my sister-in-law. Our awesome nurse brought us into a room to put me on the monitors and see what was going on. Baby’s heart rate was great and I was definitely having contractions. Then my midwife checked me and I was VERY surprised and elated to hear that I was already 6 cm! I was actually in labor! It still didn’t feel real because I wasn’t in a crazy amount of pain. The contractions were definitely getting stronger but in between them I was able to have a break and could talk with Matt. I was surprised at how calm and relaxed I felt. I labored on a birthing ball for a while as the nursed got the birthing tub set up in another room. I didn’t get to use it with Regan and I made sure during my pregnancy this time to talk with the midwives and make it clear that I wanted to labor and possibly give birth in the water. I don’t remember looking at the clock at all so I don’t know how long I was in the first room, but my contractions were getting a lot stronger by the time Jodi (my midwife) came to get me to move us to the room with the tub. I sat on the ball through a couple of intense contractions and then she checked my dilation again to see how things were going. I was already 9 cm! My best guess at the time would be between 3:30 and 4:00. I couldn’t believe I was already 9 cm. The contractions were getting pretty intense, but I was still able to relax and talk with people in between, I wasn’t able to do that when I was at 9cm with Regan. At this point the tub still wasn’t filled enough for me to be able to give birth in it, but I got in while it was being filled anyway to help me relax and get through the contractions easier. My water still hadn’t broken and Jodi was sure that if we broke it I would need to push right away. After having two really painful contractions back to back I decided I had had enough, I wanted her out, so I asked Jodi to go ahead and break my water.

Lexi’s head was pressing really hard on the membranes so it took a couple of (painful) tries for Jodi to break my water. I got back into my position on my knees, hanging over the side of the tub with Matt rubbing my arms and had the strongest contraction yet. Then moments later, just as Jodi had predicted, I needed to push! I said so and I remember my nurse Megan was right next to me and started calling for Jodi to hurry back because I was pushing. It only took one or two really intense pushes and my baby was already crowning, I reached down and could feel her head was almost out and I was amazed at how fast it was happening. Jodi had to direct my pushing a little bit, telling me to give small pushes so she could help Lexi’s head out, and then out came her head and one or two pushes later her little body followed at 4:33. Jodi helped me grab her but I had to wait to pull her all the way up because the cord was around her neck. They got it off though and Matt was able to cut the cord. I was overjoyed to say the least and a little in shock that she was actually in my arms at last, she was so beautiful!! The whole experience was incredible and I am SOOO grateful to have the best husband in the world, he was so great at helping me stay calm and relaxed and making sure I had everything I needed. My nurse was wonderful too and Jodi was great. I am so happy that I was able to have a water birth; it made the pain much more manageable and made it so Alexis was able to have a calm transition into the world. She is a very mellow baby and loves to sleep, sleep, sleep! We just love her to pieces and are so happy she is finally here. Regan is doing great as well. She loves her little sister and is much gentler than I ever expected her to be. She does get frustrated when I don’t let her crawl all over me while I am holding Alexis and sometimes gets pretty upset that I won’t pick her up. But other than that she is a happy big sister! I love my little family and am so grateful that we are all healthy and happy!