If I was going to describe Grayson’s birth in only a couple of words I’d say it was fast and furious. Here we go:
Sept 9 – 3:00p
Scheduled midwife appointment – I was 39 weeks and 3 days so I had my first vaginal exam, with my permission, to see if anything was starting to happen. Once I reached 38 weeks my midwife had suggested I start bouncing on an exercise ball, drink red raspberry leaf tea, etc to help prepare my body for labor. So I was really hopeful that my body was responding, and I got good news! I was already almost 2cm dilated and about 70% effaced which meant I was well on the way to going into labor within the next few days. My midwife asked if I wanted a “sweep” since I was already slightly dilated it was a reasonable option that would help move things along if I wanted. I decided that I was comfortable with it so she performed the sweep. Sometimes it can be slightly painful but I honestly didn’t feel it at all. After that I went home and had a normal evening.
Sept 10 – 4:00a
I woke up kind of out of the blue around 4:00am and didn’t notice anything unusual. But only about 15 minutes later I felt what I wondered was a contraction. I honestly didn’t know if that’s what it was since I never had one before! After 30 minutes or so I had a couple more and confirmed for myself these were definitely mild contractions! I let Andrew (my husband) know, he headed off to work as usual around 8:00a figuring it would be a while before he needed to be home for me. I also texted my midwife by then to let her know contractions had started. Since this was my first child she expected my labor to be relatively long, and wanted me to just keep her updated as things progressed.
Sept 10 – 11:00a
By 11:00am my contractions started becoming a lot more intense, I had been timing them since earlier in the morning and was kind of surprised they were already only 4-5 minutes apart and lasting 45-60 seconds with moderate intensity. I texted my midwife to let her know and she was a bit skeptical! So she asked if I wouldn’t mind coming into the office to get checked and confirm that things were actually moving along and dilating. I also called my husband to let him know he should probably come home right away because I could tell things were moving a lot faster than we planned.
Sept 10 – 12:45p
I got to my midwife’s office right at 12:45 so she could squeeze me in for a check. The car ride over was not comfortable since the contractions were pretty strong by then and coming every 3 minutes or so. I hopped up on the examination table and my midwife’s assistant checked me first, apparently she immediately looked over at Andrew with a ‘wow’ face to indicate things were definitely moving along! Then my midwife confirmed her assessment and let me know I was well on my way to being 6cm dilated. She told me to head home and get the birth tub etc ready and that she’d be right behind.
Sept 10 – 1:15p
By 1:15p we were home, I was changing into my labor clothing, and Andrew was filing my birth tub with hot water and getting everything else ready. We had already prepped our bedroom with the tub blown up, and all the supplies ready to go. I immediately got in the tub which was so relaxing, the hot water helped take the edge off the contractions. A few minutes later my midwife and her assistant arrived and got to work setting up all their supplies while I labored in the tub. Andrew was a major player, he would put pressure on my lower back and hips during contractions which was immensely helpful. My amazing friend Whitney also arrived to take pictures and be an extra set of hands. Being surrounded by people you love and are 100% comfortable with makes all the difference. Luckily I’m not a modest person anyways but it makes a huge difference to be able to let your guard down completely and be free to do as you need to when you’re laboring.
Sept 10 – 2:00p
Around 2:00p I think it was, I was far enough long that my midwife wondered if I wanted to be checked again to see how close to 10cm I was. I said yes so they helped me out of the tub and onto the bed. I was 9cm almost 10cm so my midwife said if I wanted to she could break my water, it would likely break within the next hour anyway and wouldn’t cause any complications except speeding things up a bit if she broke it, I said yes, I was ready! She broke my water easily and from there they helped me back into the tub.
Sept 10 – 2:30p
Time is so relative when you’re laboring, these are honestly estimates thinking back. So around 2:30p I finally felt the urge to push so Rachael (my midwife) started coaching me through it. It took me a couple tries to get the hang of it and find a position that felt comfortable. Andrew was behind me outside of the tub and essentially held my hips up off the floor of the tub so I could use my legs as leverage and get a better upright pushing position. Pushing is no joke! And birthing the head is also no joke, wow. I got really lucky and also with the help of Rachael only suffered a minor labial tear that didn’t even require stitches. Once his head was out the rest of his body truly was so much easier and only took another push or two.
Sept 10 – 2:57p
Grayson was born! And I couldn’t even believe what had happened. They immediately placed him in my arms on my chest. His cord was wrapped around his neck and his little hand was sort of pushed up by his face, but he was perfect and came out crying. It was so hard to believe it was all over. And yet just beginning! He was 6lbs 8oz and 20 inches long. The placenta came easily after a few more minutes, and once his umbilical cord stopped pulsing they clamped it and Andrew cut it. After some skin-to-skin with dad while I got cleaned up and dressed we hopped into bed to snuggle and nurse. It was so incredible to be at home and be able to get into my own clothes, my own bed, my own everything.
Grayson
The entire experience was amazing and went exactly the way I would’ve hoped. No complications or issues, and it happened quickly! Total of 11 hours start to finish, and really only 4 hours of active labor. It’s such a crazy transition to be pregnant one moment and then holding your baby the next, but wow is it the most euphoric experience. We fell in love immediately and he’s been a super good baby. I am immensely grateful for the birthing class that we took because it gave me so much information and so many tools to feel completely prepared and ready for labor and delivery. I’d highly recommend a holistic birth class even if you plan to deliver at the hospital.
