Worth the Wait: Warning it is really long and unedited!

You see all of those silly onsies that say worth the wait, and our little girls was sure worth the wait!  She is a sweet spirit in our home.  I am too tired to edit this.  Some parts may be a little much...skip over what you don't want to read or read it all.  

I know many people have been waiting to hear her birth story so I am going to attempt to tell it.  It was such crazy experience I am not sure I can put it to words.  I also know that because I went against the norm and had a home birth without any intervention it is interesting to others.  Some think I am a little crazy, but for those of us that haven't experienced what was in our head as an ideal birth it is hard to explain the desire for one.  For me, I just really wanted to know what my body was experiencing during birth.  I wanted to feel it all, and I wanted to be in the comfort of my own home.  I wanted to go into labor without being induced, and I didn't want someone telling me what to do the entire time.  I wanted my body to set its own agenda and for us all to follow along, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I GOT!

Let me first explain the midwife.  Many people were completely baffled by the midwife concept. Were they braided armpits, vegetarian, anti-immunization, free spirit, free love, broom skirt, all natural?  No not really.  They were women who say a different model of care for their clients.  They didn't want each of their mommies (as we were called) to be just another statistic.  I was extremely well taken care of.  During my pregnancy I made ALL of the decisions about my care.  I did not have ANY genetic testing, and I opted out of the glucose testing.  I was given an hour appointment, but didn't have to use all of the time.  Plus, in the beginning when we thought I may miscarry I was able to go in as often as I wanted without feeling bad and have her heart rate checked.  midwives don't just treat you as a patient, but they treat you like a friend.

Ok, so I'll get on with it. For about a week I had been having contractions throughout the day and at night.  They were not intense, but they were enough to get me excited and thinking maybe this is "it."  Being overdue really wasn't that bad, I didn't even really mind the billion comments I always got everywhere I went.  I just wanted my little girl, and Daniel was so excited he was driving me crazy!  So on Monday night when my contractions were about 5 minutes apart and not stopping when I changed position or moved around I knew I had to be on my way.  They were not really painful, but they were enough to keep me awake with anticipation.  Then at about midnight I texted the midwives to let them know this could be it.  (Little did I know they had 3 women in labor that night)  I just went about my night on the computer playing the ever addicting facebook games trying to keep my mind focused on something else.  lol.  I didn't even wake Daniel up.  Then at about one they texted me to see how I was doing, and to ask if I wanted to be checked.  Now, being checked during labor is not mandatory, but they know I like to have a sense of where I am at.  They came about an hour later and I was a 5-6, but it was still pretty easy going.  The midwife then left to get some sleep while Daniel and I watched a movie.  During that movie however, the tune changed.  All of a sudden during contractions I couldn't sit still.  They hurt!  By 4:30 I knew that my contractions were irreversible and I was going to have a baby, naturally (by this time there was  little panic about that), at home.  What was I thinking?  Um, this is what I wanted. So I called the midwife back.  From this point on I was just trying to manage by emotions and the intensity without totally freaking out.  I didn't want to be touched. I just wanted to do my own thing.  I wasn't sure what to do though.  So, I just let my body do what it did.  I also was not checked again for the rest of my labor!  I never thought I would be that girl, but hey whatever.  At about 6:00 Daniel filled up the bath with water and I got in and stayed there for the next 45 minutes.  This is when this surreal, out of body, labor minded, not quite sure what was going on experience started. No, I wasn't quiet.  Yes, it hurt.  Yes, I cried...LOL.... Yes, Daniel cried while I was in pain also.  Then, just when I had decided I couldn't do it anymore, my knuckles hurt from crushing the side of the bathtub,  I had lost all control, and I was not sure what was even happening anymore (other than I was dying) my body began to push.  I didn't even know that was what I was doing.  My midwife made me look her in the eyes through the next 3 contractions.  On the first my water broke, on the second her head came out, and on the third she was here!  Daniel got to catch her! It was amazing!  

So, my overall impression of home birth.  Being at home was AWESOME.  I loved not having to deal with the hospital, and my help came to me.  I was able to do whatever I wanted when I wanted.  I LOVED being at home.  Having a baby naturally is a whole other story.  I am extremely glad I have experienced what my body can do, and in some way I feel like superwoman.  Would I have another baby naturally again?  I think that desire is gone to be honest.  It would be perfect if I could have some pain relief at home... too bad that doesn't exist. But, right now I am not even promising to have another baby.

For your viewing pleasure!