I was determined to give birth to my third child naturally. I always said I was with my second, but this was different. When I was pregnant with my son, I didn’t continuously tell myself that’s what I was going to do, and nor did I have my friend and doula with my second, being upfront and honest with me from the start (I mean, I knew her, she just wasn’t my doula.)
My last prenatal appointment was Thursday, the 18th. My doctor checked where I was at and swept my membranes as per my request. Moving around was getting difficult, clothes were just uncomfortable and didn’t fit, and I honestly couldn’t see a reason to buy more clothes this far into the pregnancy. So in my mind, if this would jumpstart labor was all for it. And if she still wasn’t ready. I mean hell she’s a Lemke, she wont come out if she ain’t ready. That day was also the day a good friend of mine came with lots of clothes, and diapers and things for little Dani. Within 3 hours I started having some cramping, but nothing major. To the point that I didn’t think it had worked. That evening and into the night, I sorted through clothes, put things together and tried to just make room for Dani.
Friday morning I woke up with contractions, 10 minutes apart. During our morning coffee Daniel and I ran through what I was wanting before, during and after the baby was born. I took it easy that day ,getting up and moving but also staying at home. Daniel tried to play a game to distract me, but also to keep an eye on me as the contractions progressed, so did the intensity. So when he could see me starting to struggle with the pain he put the car seat and hospital bag in the car and started getting himself ready. Still hours from when we’d actually leave.
This also happened to be my two older children’s last day of school before Christmas break. My son got out at 12pm and my daughter at 2:45 ( I think). By 3:30-4pm or so, I was asking my mother in law to come get the kids so Daniel could take me to the hospital. He asked me one more time if I was sure I wanted to do Red Bluff. Seemingly concerned that I’d have the baby in the car.
During the car ride, which wasn’t as bad as I had expected it to be, Daniel flipped through the AM stations and we had a nice conversation, so the 40 minute drive did not seem like 40 minutes. But once we parked, things started to intensify a bit. Once I was at Labor and Delivery, and it was determined I was being admitted, I got into the tub, but that’s when things started to slow down.
Late into the night while I was able to sleep, I could feel myself shake on each contraction. I thought for sure she’d be here by the morning of the 20th, if not before midnight on the 19th. My Doula Amber, and Daniel were both able to distract me with conversation, weather it be with me or listening to their own conversations. And Nitrous Oxide while your in labor? Um yes please! While it didn’t take the pain away, it gave me something simple to do to get my mind to think it was taking away the pain.
Things were stalling. I walked, I bounced, I changed positions. Finally, it got late into the morning and Things were going so slow, I couldn’t imagine a whole other day like this. So after a quick discussion with my doula, I decided to request the Pitocin, just to give baby girl a nudge to hurry up. We had to up the dose a couple times but things certainly did kick into gear, and FAST. By the time the pain got unbearable, I also felt this really weird sensation, that I now know as the “push feeling” (when you get an epidural with your first two, that feeling is non existent. Because I begged for the epidural as that feeling started, by the time they actually got done and I got laying down, within 5 pushes baby girl was out and on my chest crying her little lungs out.
Everything that happened afterwards was a bit of a blur. I can remember nurses, my doula and the midwife talking, but I couldn’t tell you what was said to be honest. I can remember being in the shower afterwards and loving the feeling of the warm water on my back. The burses from the two first failed epidural wound up being some of the only pain I had afterwards. The feeling of the contractions was still so fresh in my memory that it made the cramping I had seem very minimal. Everything was so fast after that. I was placed in a postpartum room, Daniel went and got me some food, because the hospital dinner was NOT enough. That first night, we watched tv, and had to force ourself to sleep when the baby was sleeping. Around 3 am or so they came in to do her hearing test, Daniel went with, considering I had just been able to get to sleep.
We were released to go home the 21st. Around 3, after doing one final test. It was actively raining, and honestly, Dani Jo did amazing on her first car ride. The closer we got back into town though the sooner we realized that things were not great. Flooding was happening everywhere, Almost every route back to our home was flooding. Because of the seriousness of the situation, Daniel dropped me and Dani off at the house and then left to go get some supplies on the off chance we would be stuck at home without the ability to leave due to the flooding.
Needless to say, her birth and coming home story was eventful would be an understatement. But at the same time, I wouldn’t change anything about it either.