Meeting Callie - Part 1 The Birth Story

40 Weeks

When I found out we were expecting our second baby I began thinking again about the birth experience I had with Andrew.  We had all sorts of snags with his birth and I was a little anxious about going through that experience again.  Hemorrhaging isn't fun and neither are the after effects.

With Andrew, I had an epidural, and while so many women get them and love them, I wasn't really completely satisfied with mine.  There is a place for everything and to each and everyone their own, but for me, I had a feeling I just needed to try something different if I wanted a different outcome.  I still went into everything with an open mind.  With birth everything can change quickly so you have to be flexible when making plans or you'll come away disappointed.  I decided I wanted to try again for a natural birth.  With Andrew I had wanted to attempt it, but I reached a point (somewhere around 5-6 cms) where I didn't know how to keep on going by myself.  I wanted to be in control again.  My husband is wonderful and would have done anything I asked of him, but I just didn't know what I wanted-- I had an inability to come up with different solutions or think of new things to try.  I was in a different world.  Before the experience even began, Briant didn't know, and to be fair, I didn't know what I would need to help me keep going. So in the end I got an epidural and a whole lot of other interventions along with it.

Before I keep going, I am in no way trying to persuade anyone that epidurals are bad and that you shouldn't get one.  But, they do have consequences that many people are not aware of-- and that I wasn't aware of either with Andrew.  Knowledge is power and having that made all the difference for me this time... and helped me feel more in control of the the decisions being made.

So with this one, I decided to hire a doula for support.  I knew she would have attended many births and would know how to support me and help Briant support me without passing judgement or what we decided to do in the end. She met with me beforehand and helped me think of some other ways I could deal with the pain (like making visual aids to remind me of my goals). I did more homework and I went into this birth experience with a different mindset and understanding.  Pain is seen so often as a bad thing.  But there are many types of good pain, such as massage or exercise. Birth, complete with contractions can be seen as bad and very painful (which, lets not lie-- it is very painful), but can also be seen as something that can be dealt with positively and with a good outcome. I read other natural birth stories.  There are so many scary stories out there about birth (and it seems everyone wants to share them with you when you are pregnant), but I wanted to read about positive births that would encourage me. I also tried not to dwell on my previous experience and see this one as bran new with the possibility to be totally different.  I also took a non-hospital birth class from a friend who is certified birth educator. This was very informative and very helpful at giving me a more broad scope of what you can expect with each decision you make.

Okay, I know you are all saying.... "lets get to your story already!"
First off let me just say, I have no problem waiting until my due date.  I have never felt rushed to get my kids out.  I feel like they come when they are ready (unless there is something seriously wrong with my health or theirs).  So as my due date came I was pretty calm and not stressed at all.  The only time constraint I was thinking of was just being able to watch Briant graduate... then after that I was peachy to whenever they wanted to come.

The week of my due date I got a massage, a pedicure (my first), and I started walking more.  Being on my feet for more than 15-20 minutes always made me really crampy.  At each of my appointments I usually saw a little bit of progress.  But at my last appointment I still was only at 1 cm and 60-70% effaced.  I wasn't worried.  On the 16th, I went for a really good walk and was disappointed when I got home I wasn't more crampy after all that work.  I took a relaxing bath that night and was having irregular cramps/contractions when we went to bed around 11pm.

At around 12-12:30AM my contractions became much more regular and I started timing them with my newly downloaded contraction timer app around 1AM.  I had about 3 contractions that were 6 minutes apart before I decided to get up and go to the bathroom to see if that would help them be less painful (I was always in pain if my bladder was full).  I decided to get my birthing ball and try sitting on it for a while.  After a while I graduated to the floor on my hands and knees with my ball.  My contractions went from 6 minutes apart in bed, to 3-4 minutes apart out of bed.  I texted my doula and my babysitter.  Briant woke up because I left the bathroom light on and I had him get me a hair tye.  A few contractions later I had him start timing them for me.  They were getting way more intense.  He only timed a couple then he decided to get up and dressed and finish packing what we needed.  He was awesome!  After our babysitter arrived and we told the doula to meet us at the hospital instead of at our house (she was in route) we left for the hospital around 2:50AM.  I was totally having second thoughts about having a natural birth on the way there.  They were so much stronger than with Andrew and I thought that if I had hours more of labor than I wasn't going to be able to do it.  My contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart at this point but they only would last for about 45 seconds.  I remembered something I had learned in the birth class that really helped-- and that was that when you labor you aren't in constant pain the whole time, but you have breaks in between them.  I remember telling myself each time I just had to make it to the next break.  When we got to the hospital and they checked me, the nurse said I was at 9 1/2cm!  I was totally surprised! I was like, "WHAT!?!"  She asked, "Were you planning to have a natural birth?" and  I said, "Yes, but I didn't think it would happen that quickly!" (My labor with Andrew was 20 hours long.) That also helped, knowing I was almost done and I had no choice but to keep going.  Briant and my doula were there encouraging me and supporting me.  They did a great job! My doula was helping me remember not to clench up and to breathe. Briant went and got my visual aid sheet and would read the things on there to me.

I remember reading one of the scriptures on this page and saying,
"I misspelled thine!"  That made everyone laugh.

If you look close at the picture with the bridge in the background you'll see
Andrew picking his nose-- I thought that might lighten the mood for me a little.

The nurses told me my doctor was on his way and to not push. My water had broken during a contraction and I was having small urges that were VERY hard to control.  My body just pushed sometimes without me really doing anything.  So when that would happen I would pant, in the rhythm of her heartbeat.  My doula was actually breathing and panting right along with me which actually really helped!  As soon as my doctor got there he told me I could push. It only took 3 or 4 fast pushes (in about 2 contractions) for her to get here.  At one point (while I was experiencing the ring of fire) I sang Johnny Cash for everyone... "I fell into a burning ring of fire!"  That gave everyone a good laugh too.

Callie RaNae Giles was born on May 17, 2014 at 4:08AM.  She was 7lbs 3oz and 20 inches long.

So basically from start to finish, my labor was only 4 hours long.  I got to the hospital about an hour before she was born.  They didn't even have time to give me an IV!  The nurses all commented that they were surprised how composed I was since I was already at a nine.  Well, I don't know about that.  I didn't know I was at a 9 or maybe I would have acted differently.  I actually feel like I was pretty loud.... but I'm really proud I didn't cuss once!

Our experience after she was born was way different than with Andrew. My doctor honored my wishes to not cut the cord right away, I didn't hemorrhage at all, and I actually got to cuddle with my little girl... for hours!  I loved it!

She was so awake and alert!

This girl loves to get her hair done!  She was so relaxed!

Andrew loved meeting his new baby sister.  He has been
really sweet with her.

My recovery was way better and faster.  I was up and walking by myself in no time and feeling really good!  Don't get me wrong, I still need to take things easy but I'll take it.  I know that Heavenly Father answered my prayers.  I am thankful it all went fast and that it is over.  It was really intense, and I'm sure it will still take me a couple years again before I get baby hungry.  I am grateful for this experience, and for the empowering knowledge of what an incredible thing my body can do.