Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Piper's Birth Story
In the early morning hours of July 21st 2010 we welcomed Piper Katherine Halliday into the world. This is her birth story:
Tues July 20 was a bit of a crazy day. Hayden and I ran errands all day long including a prenatal appt. with the midwife which went well and gave me no reason to think I'd be in labor within 24 hours.
After running my errands Rob was already home by then and I needed to be at a activity for the young women of my church so I hurried in changed my clothes and left. The activity went fine with again, no indication that I'd be in labor soon. I even mentioned to the girls that I felt really well even though I was only a week away from having my baby.
I hadn't had a chance to eat dinner before leaving so after the activity I went with my friends Alan and Jenny to grab a bite to eat at Filiberto's Mexican Food. I joked with them that I had a chili relleno the day I went into labor with Hayden and that the capsaicin in it would probably put me into labor if I ordered that. Jenny ended up ordering one and cut off a piece for me. We were joking about the possibility but it didn't occur to me that it would actually happen.
I got home finally about 10:30 and started straightening up the house a bit before bed; as was my nightly routine; "just in case". Then I looked in the mirror and decided I wanted to wash my hair "just in case" as well. Hayden asked me why I was blowdrying it and curling it if I was going to bed. I told her that if I didn't have a base hairdo then it would be a nightmare when I got up in the morning. (Retrospectively I am so glad I did it!)
The whole time I was cleaning and primping I was having the occasional contraction but it didn't really phase me since I have been having them most of the pregnancy. More than one occasion I have had to stop everything I was doing to muddle through one. I've even had to pull over while driving a couple of times. I just figured they were Braxton Hicks and that they were par for the course.
I also noticed that increased activity brought them on and that when I would go to bed they would go away so I remember saying to myself, "You need to get to bed so these stupid things will stop." If I'd had any notion they were productive I wouldn't have thought that but I figured they were just annoying non-productive ones.
I was so tired by the time I fell into bed around 1:00am that I was asleep in minutes. I have a vague recollection of having contractions while sleeping but they weren't waking me until one hit around 2:00am that took my breath away. I woke up and kind of groaned and reached for Rob's arm saying, "Oh...Honey...I need some help with this one!" Rob stirred and gripped my hand and said, "You okay?" By then I was more awake and realized I needed to empty my bladder and figured that is why I'd had so much pressure with that contraction.
I went into the bathroom and while I was trying to use it I had another contraction that made me say, "OH DANG! Oh FRIGGIN' DANG!! What the...?!!" The intensity of it took me by surprise and I thought..."Hmmm...I wonder if things are starting." By the time I was done washing my hands I was having another one so I decided maybe I should stay up for a bit and see what was going on.
I started puttering around the house getting things together that hadn't been done yet. Usually by 38 weeks I am ready with all my birth supplies laid out on a clean towel in my room covered by another towel. I usually have my birth tub out and ready, usually have clothes laid out etc. This time I just hadn't gotten around to any of this, so there I was at 39 weeks busting a move to do it.
I wasn't timing but before I knew it I was having very frequent pretty intense contractions. I am not quiet about that. I make gutteral noises and talk back to my contractions a lot...something like, "Freakin' stupid contraction..." "Oh...dadgum...Ow...uggggghhhh..." and my favorite: "What the HELL? Arrggg!" Rob knows when I'm throwing "hell" around I mean business.
He stirred and said, "Hey baby. Is it coming today?" My response wasn't exactly sweet, it was something like..."Yes! But it's going to be later today so just go back to sleep but turn off your alarm...you are NOT going to work today!" In retrospect I realize that I should've known something was different because I NEVER get cranky like that in labor until I hit transition.
Apparently Rob was more conscious of my mood because he didn't go back to sleep. He got up and started getting things ready.
The two of us tried to put the tarp on the bed (which should've been done before then) but every time I would get a good hold on it I'd have another contraction. I was getting frustrated and annoyed and I was losing my focus on my contractions making them much more difficult to deal with. I realized I needed to stop and get a grip.
On the next contraction I dropped onto my hands and knees on the blankets and pillows which were on the floor at the end of the bed. During this contraction I slowed down my breathing and really focused. Once I was thinking about WHAT was hurting I was able to convey to Rob that I needed pressure on my hips. This surprised me a little because that usually comes a the END of my labors but I told him and he jumped right into his position.
After that I concentrated on what I needed to do next as a way to distract myself from the contraction. When it ended I had gathered my thoughts and I finally said, "I need you to call Stephanie (our midwife). I am going to call Shannan (my sister) and then I want you to call my dad and have him come help give me a blessing. Have him bring Vicki (my other sister) so she can help you tarp the bed. I need her to bring the empty SD card from the computer so that we can get pictures."
Rob jumped into action trying to call Stephanie. This was when we realized that I'd left my phone in Jenny's car and that we didn't have Stephanie's phone numbers. Rob hopped on the internet and started looking them up. Bless his heart everytime he'd almost have the number I'd yell... "Rooooooooobbbb...I NEED YOU!" He'd run back in and press on my hips.
Finally the calls were made. Rob talked to Stephanie around 3:20am and at that point I told him to tell her not to come yet (I hate being a watched pot in labor) because I still thought it would be later in the day before the baby would arrive. I told Shannan the same thing. "I'll call you when things change...don't go crazy trying to race over here...you know how long it could be."
About this time; all the hustle and bustle had woken Caleb and he came in and smirked said, "Hey, were you going to tell me that Piper was on the way?" That made me smile. I told him to get the other kids up so he did. They were all bright eyed and excited.
Meanwhile my dad and Vicki showed up and I met them in the front room I was having a contraction and I remember saying as it disipated, "Okay...you guys have like 1.5 min. to do this. GO!" They gave me a blessing and most of it is a blur to me except I remember the words, "...that you will have clarity and that you will know what to do when the time comes..." I started having another contraction before they were even finished. I leaned over the arm of the couch and finished it thinking..."I HAVE to get onto my bed."
By then Rob and Vicki had already jumped into tarping it and putting the birth sheets over the tarping. I got to my room and said, "Rob! You need to call Stephanie and tell her it's happening REALLY fast! She needs to come now!" He called her and it was now around 4:20. They were finishing up the bed when I had a doozy hit me that about buckled my knees. The pressure in my pelvis and hips was so intense I knew I couldn't stand up and by now my little blanket nest on the floor was gone so I leaned over the birth ball to stabilize myself.
On that contraction I had the following conversation with myself, "I feel like pushing! I am NOT supposed to feel like pushing. I couldn't possibly be more than 5 or 6 cm. at this point and if I push against an incomplete cervix it's going to cause swelling and impede my labor! Tracie! You HAVE to hold it together...you are losing it. Losing it? Of COURSE I'm losing it! There's NO WAY I can do this much pain and intensity for hours and hours more! What if I feel like pushing for hours? Can I DO that? What are my options really? I HAVE to do it at this point. There's no turning back! HOLY CRAP! HERE COMES ANOTHER FREAKING CONTRACTION!! OKAY...blow it away Tracie! Pant! Don't push!"
So the next contraction I leaned over the end of the bed and puffed and didn't push. As much as I wanted to push I puffed instead! And then I made my one big groan for this labor---which to me sounded like a lion's roar! I remember thinking "Awww crap! I probably just woke the neighbors!" and then thought, "Who friggin' cares?" With THAT attitude I realized I was definitely in transition.
The bed was finally ready so I grabbed a chux pad (plastic backed hospital pad) and climbed up on it. I was kneeling on the bed and I thought..."I don't know if I can blow away another urge to push like that! I HAVE GOT to know what is going on with this cervix!" So I reached up to check. I was astonished when I couldn't find my cervix at all. I realized that it was because it was completely dilated and I could feel nothing but Piper's head.
The next thought I had was, "Her head has too much give...it's squishy." Then I realized it was my water bag in front of Piper's head. Then the next contraction hit and I thought, "You are complete!! What are you waiting for woman?!!" I started pushing and my water broke immediately and I could feel her head move through the pelvic bones.
As I was pushing I was still kneeling and my hair was hanging in my face so I realized that no one else realized that she was coming right then so I said, "She's coming RIGHT NOW!", and then took another breath and started pushing again. Rob offered a sweet quiet affirmation, "You are doing awesome babe. We are almost there." I could tell by his reaction that he wasn't understanding what I was saying.
I suddenly felt a burning sensation (what is commonly referred to as "the ring of fire") and felt her head press against my hand and knew she was crowning. With the burning sensation I had a moment of panic about tearing so I stopped pushing and huffed a few times giving myself time to make room. Still aware that no one was understanding that now she was part way out I repeated softly but emphatically, "She is coming RIGHT NOW." Again Rob said, "Hang in there babe...you are doing great."
I remember thinking, "Are the words coming out of my mouth?" I looked at Rob's face and Vicki's face and saw that they STILL weren't getting it. I was very involved in pushing at this point and couldn't convey what I'd been trying to say so I lifted up my night gown and they all saw Piper's head. Everyone in the room's eyes got huge and there was a bit more commotion...Vicki said, "OH! SHE'S COMING RIGHT NOW." I thought to myself, "That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Rob said, "Okay!! What do you want me to do babe?!" I didn't really need anyone to do anything I just felt like they should know what was up.
At this point my body was telling me that I wasn't getting the power behind the pushing that I was going to need to get her out so I rolled back onto my behind and gave it my all. Her head came immediately. Then came the moment of clarity that was promised to me in my blessing. The thought came to me, "Check for a cord." I reached up and ran my fingers around her neck and sure enough there was a cord. I slipped it up and over her face but could only get it to her forehead. I said to Rob, "You are going to need to lift that cord off. I can't reach it." He slid it over her head.
This photo has been edited but her head is out here and I am pushing her shoulder's out.
I pushed again and didn't feel like her shoulders were coming. Again I reached in and I could hook a finger into her arm pit but couldn't get a grip. The next few seconds felt like minutes and I should've realized she'd come on her own but thinking it had been longer than it had been I said, "Rob I think you might need to help her out." Then just as he reached down to help I got another urge to push and her shoulders came through. Rob and I both put our hands around her chest and pulled her out. Rob let go and then I lifted her up and over.
She was here! She arrived at 4:58a.m. In that instant the entire world stopped and I was looking at my baby girl I've been dreaming of and praying for for years. It must have only been seconds that I was looking at her before I pulled her up to my chest and held her close but it felt like an eternity as time stood still.
You know the expression, "My life passed before my eyes?" I swear her future passed before mine and I loved her instantly. We all did!!
I turned to the kids and asked them if they could see her well and they all came over and piled onto the bed. Everyone approved of her. We decided she was a keeper for sure.
After a few minutes I suddenly remembered Stephanie and I said, "Oh! You should probably call her and tell her that she is here." Rob called and said, "The baby is already out." Stephanie said, "I'm at the front door." Rob ran in and let her in. She came into the room 4 minutes after Piper did!
She was so great. She just came in and said, "Congratulations!" Then she just let us be. I love that she just checked her out from the sidelines without interfering. She could see that she was healthy and strong and she just let us be a family for a bit.
We usually wait to cut the cord until the placenta is delivered so we waited patiently for that and pretty soon I felt uncomfortable again so I knew it was time.
Stephanie helped me get situated into a better position for the placenta and we finished up that business as quickly as possible---but it still wasn't quick enough for me. I swear it was worse than Piper's birth. It was certainly less fun.
When that was done it was Hayden's big moment. She wanted to be the one to cut the cord so she did.
Tues July 20 was a bit of a crazy day. Hayden and I ran errands all day long including a prenatal appt. with the midwife which went well and gave me no reason to think I'd be in labor within 24 hours.
After running my errands Rob was already home by then and I needed to be at a activity for the young women of my church so I hurried in changed my clothes and left. The activity went fine with again, no indication that I'd be in labor soon. I even mentioned to the girls that I felt really well even though I was only a week away from having my baby.
I hadn't had a chance to eat dinner before leaving so after the activity I went with my friends Alan and Jenny to grab a bite to eat at Filiberto's Mexican Food. I joked with them that I had a chili relleno the day I went into labor with Hayden and that the capsaicin in it would probably put me into labor if I ordered that. Jenny ended up ordering one and cut off a piece for me. We were joking about the possibility but it didn't occur to me that it would actually happen.
I got home finally about 10:30 and started straightening up the house a bit before bed; as was my nightly routine; "just in case". Then I looked in the mirror and decided I wanted to wash my hair "just in case" as well. Hayden asked me why I was blowdrying it and curling it if I was going to bed. I told her that if I didn't have a base hairdo then it would be a nightmare when I got up in the morning. (Retrospectively I am so glad I did it!)
The whole time I was cleaning and primping I was having the occasional contraction but it didn't really phase me since I have been having them most of the pregnancy. More than one occasion I have had to stop everything I was doing to muddle through one. I've even had to pull over while driving a couple of times. I just figured they were Braxton Hicks and that they were par for the course.
I also noticed that increased activity brought them on and that when I would go to bed they would go away so I remember saying to myself, "You need to get to bed so these stupid things will stop." If I'd had any notion they were productive I wouldn't have thought that but I figured they were just annoying non-productive ones.
I was so tired by the time I fell into bed around 1:00am that I was asleep in minutes. I have a vague recollection of having contractions while sleeping but they weren't waking me until one hit around 2:00am that took my breath away. I woke up and kind of groaned and reached for Rob's arm saying, "Oh...Honey...I need some help with this one!" Rob stirred and gripped my hand and said, "You okay?" By then I was more awake and realized I needed to empty my bladder and figured that is why I'd had so much pressure with that contraction.
I went into the bathroom and while I was trying to use it I had another contraction that made me say, "OH DANG! Oh FRIGGIN' DANG!! What the...?!!" The intensity of it took me by surprise and I thought..."Hmmm...I wonder if things are starting." By the time I was done washing my hands I was having another one so I decided maybe I should stay up for a bit and see what was going on.
I started puttering around the house getting things together that hadn't been done yet. Usually by 38 weeks I am ready with all my birth supplies laid out on a clean towel in my room covered by another towel. I usually have my birth tub out and ready, usually have clothes laid out etc. This time I just hadn't gotten around to any of this, so there I was at 39 weeks busting a move to do it.
I wasn't timing but before I knew it I was having very frequent pretty intense contractions. I am not quiet about that. I make gutteral noises and talk back to my contractions a lot...something like, "Freakin' stupid contraction..." "Oh...dadgum...Ow...uggggghhhh..." and my favorite: "What the HELL? Arrggg!" Rob knows when I'm throwing "hell" around I mean business.
He stirred and said, "Hey baby. Is it coming today?" My response wasn't exactly sweet, it was something like..."Yes! But it's going to be later today so just go back to sleep but turn off your alarm...you are NOT going to work today!" In retrospect I realize that I should've known something was different because I NEVER get cranky like that in labor until I hit transition.
Apparently Rob was more conscious of my mood because he didn't go back to sleep. He got up and started getting things ready.
The two of us tried to put the tarp on the bed (which should've been done before then) but every time I would get a good hold on it I'd have another contraction. I was getting frustrated and annoyed and I was losing my focus on my contractions making them much more difficult to deal with. I realized I needed to stop and get a grip.
On the next contraction I dropped onto my hands and knees on the blankets and pillows which were on the floor at the end of the bed. During this contraction I slowed down my breathing and really focused. Once I was thinking about WHAT was hurting I was able to convey to Rob that I needed pressure on my hips. This surprised me a little because that usually comes a the END of my labors but I told him and he jumped right into his position.
After that I concentrated on what I needed to do next as a way to distract myself from the contraction. When it ended I had gathered my thoughts and I finally said, "I need you to call Stephanie (our midwife). I am going to call Shannan (my sister) and then I want you to call my dad and have him come help give me a blessing. Have him bring Vicki (my other sister) so she can help you tarp the bed. I need her to bring the empty SD card from the computer so that we can get pictures."
Rob jumped into action trying to call Stephanie. This was when we realized that I'd left my phone in Jenny's car and that we didn't have Stephanie's phone numbers. Rob hopped on the internet and started looking them up. Bless his heart everytime he'd almost have the number I'd yell... "Rooooooooobbbb...I NEED YOU!" He'd run back in and press on my hips.
Finally the calls were made. Rob talked to Stephanie around 3:20am and at that point I told him to tell her not to come yet (I hate being a watched pot in labor) because I still thought it would be later in the day before the baby would arrive. I told Shannan the same thing. "I'll call you when things change...don't go crazy trying to race over here...you know how long it could be."
About this time; all the hustle and bustle had woken Caleb and he came in and smirked said, "Hey, were you going to tell me that Piper was on the way?" That made me smile. I told him to get the other kids up so he did. They were all bright eyed and excited.
Meanwhile my dad and Vicki showed up and I met them in the front room I was having a contraction and I remember saying as it disipated, "Okay...you guys have like 1.5 min. to do this. GO!" They gave me a blessing and most of it is a blur to me except I remember the words, "...that you will have clarity and that you will know what to do when the time comes..." I started having another contraction before they were even finished. I leaned over the arm of the couch and finished it thinking..."I HAVE to get onto my bed."
By then Rob and Vicki had already jumped into tarping it and putting the birth sheets over the tarping. I got to my room and said, "Rob! You need to call Stephanie and tell her it's happening REALLY fast! She needs to come now!" He called her and it was now around 4:20. They were finishing up the bed when I had a doozy hit me that about buckled my knees. The pressure in my pelvis and hips was so intense I knew I couldn't stand up and by now my little blanket nest on the floor was gone so I leaned over the birth ball to stabilize myself.
On that contraction I had the following conversation with myself, "I feel like pushing! I am NOT supposed to feel like pushing. I couldn't possibly be more than 5 or 6 cm. at this point and if I push against an incomplete cervix it's going to cause swelling and impede my labor! Tracie! You HAVE to hold it together...you are losing it. Losing it? Of COURSE I'm losing it! There's NO WAY I can do this much pain and intensity for hours and hours more! What if I feel like pushing for hours? Can I DO that? What are my options really? I HAVE to do it at this point. There's no turning back! HOLY CRAP! HERE COMES ANOTHER FREAKING CONTRACTION!! OKAY...blow it away Tracie! Pant! Don't push!"
So the next contraction I leaned over the end of the bed and puffed and didn't push. As much as I wanted to push I puffed instead! And then I made my one big groan for this labor---which to me sounded like a lion's roar! I remember thinking "Awww crap! I probably just woke the neighbors!" and then thought, "Who friggin' cares?" With THAT attitude I realized I was definitely in transition.
The bed was finally ready so I grabbed a chux pad (plastic backed hospital pad) and climbed up on it. I was kneeling on the bed and I thought..."I don't know if I can blow away another urge to push like that! I HAVE GOT to know what is going on with this cervix!" So I reached up to check. I was astonished when I couldn't find my cervix at all. I realized that it was because it was completely dilated and I could feel nothing but Piper's head.
The next thought I had was, "Her head has too much give...it's squishy." Then I realized it was my water bag in front of Piper's head. Then the next contraction hit and I thought, "You are complete!! What are you waiting for woman?!!" I started pushing and my water broke immediately and I could feel her head move through the pelvic bones.
As I was pushing I was still kneeling and my hair was hanging in my face so I realized that no one else realized that she was coming right then so I said, "She's coming RIGHT NOW!", and then took another breath and started pushing again. Rob offered a sweet quiet affirmation, "You are doing awesome babe. We are almost there." I could tell by his reaction that he wasn't understanding what I was saying.
I suddenly felt a burning sensation (what is commonly referred to as "the ring of fire") and felt her head press against my hand and knew she was crowning. With the burning sensation I had a moment of panic about tearing so I stopped pushing and huffed a few times giving myself time to make room. Still aware that no one was understanding that now she was part way out I repeated softly but emphatically, "She is coming RIGHT NOW." Again Rob said, "Hang in there babe...you are doing great."
I remember thinking, "Are the words coming out of my mouth?" I looked at Rob's face and Vicki's face and saw that they STILL weren't getting it. I was very involved in pushing at this point and couldn't convey what I'd been trying to say so I lifted up my night gown and they all saw Piper's head. Everyone in the room's eyes got huge and there was a bit more commotion...Vicki said, "OH! SHE'S COMING RIGHT NOW." I thought to myself, "That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Rob said, "Okay!! What do you want me to do babe?!" I didn't really need anyone to do anything I just felt like they should know what was up.
At this point my body was telling me that I wasn't getting the power behind the pushing that I was going to need to get her out so I rolled back onto my behind and gave it my all. Her head came immediately. Then came the moment of clarity that was promised to me in my blessing. The thought came to me, "Check for a cord." I reached up and ran my fingers around her neck and sure enough there was a cord. I slipped it up and over her face but could only get it to her forehead. I said to Rob, "You are going to need to lift that cord off. I can't reach it." He slid it over her head.
This photo has been edited but her head is out here and I am pushing her shoulder's out.
I pushed again and didn't feel like her shoulders were coming. Again I reached in and I could hook a finger into her arm pit but couldn't get a grip. The next few seconds felt like minutes and I should've realized she'd come on her own but thinking it had been longer than it had been I said, "Rob I think you might need to help her out." Then just as he reached down to help I got another urge to push and her shoulders came through. Rob and I both put our hands around her chest and pulled her out. Rob let go and then I lifted her up and over.
She was here! She arrived at 4:58a.m. In that instant the entire world stopped and I was looking at my baby girl I've been dreaming of and praying for for years. It must have only been seconds that I was looking at her before I pulled her up to my chest and held her close but it felt like an eternity as time stood still.
You know the expression, "My life passed before my eyes?" I swear her future passed before mine and I loved her instantly. We all did!!
I turned to the kids and asked them if they could see her well and they all came over and piled onto the bed. Everyone approved of her. We decided she was a keeper for sure.
After a few minutes I suddenly remembered Stephanie and I said, "Oh! You should probably call her and tell her that she is here." Rob called and said, "The baby is already out." Stephanie said, "I'm at the front door." Rob ran in and let her in. She came into the room 4 minutes after Piper did!
She was so great. She just came in and said, "Congratulations!" Then she just let us be. I love that she just checked her out from the sidelines without interfering. She could see that she was healthy and strong and she just let us be a family for a bit.
We usually wait to cut the cord until the placenta is delivered so we waited patiently for that and pretty soon I felt uncomfortable again so I knew it was time.
Stephanie helped me get situated into a better position for the placenta and we finished up that business as quickly as possible---but it still wasn't quick enough for me. I swear it was worse than Piper's birth. It was certainly less fun.
When that was done it was Hayden's big moment. She wanted to be the one to cut the cord so she did.
After that was done I just wanted to get cleaned up as quickly as possible so I handed the baby off to Stephanie so that she could do the newborn assessment, weigh and measure her etc. while I took a quick shower. During this time Stephanie and her student Kate also removed the bedding and the tarping so that I had a clean fresh bed to climb into. They also started the laundry and got rid of the garbage from the birth. Piper weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 19.5" long and her assessments were perfect. 
After all of that was done I climbed into bed in my clean jammies (in the pictures here it looks like the same one I labored in...it's not) and snuggled up to nurse my sweet angel for the first time.
Everyone got turns holding her and snuggling her and we just spent the rest of the day snuggled up on our babymoon. It was an amazing day!
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