It has been some time since I posted anything about Jesse or myself and that is because as you know, Jesse has arrived and as you may not know, Mommy has taken some time to adjust!!
I began having contractions March 25 at 3 a.m. They weren't strong contractions but definitely noticeable. I had been slacking off on getting Jesse's room ready so I used that as a means to distract myself from the pain of the contractions. I pretty much cleaned up his whole room in that one morning.
By afternoon the contractions started getting stronger and I was so ready for Jesse to be here! Joe and I decided to go to Fred Meyers so that I could do laps and hopefully get the little guy to drop and allow the labor to progress. The people there must have thought we were crazy! Here's this huge pregnant woman literally looking like she's ready to pop stopping every few minutes for contractions!! Lol!!
Well by 6pm the contractions were very strong and getting closer together. Joe called the birth center and we decided to stay at home for a couple more hours. By 9pm we called again and were on our way. When I arrived I was dilated 4cm and my cervix was effaced about 80% and was very soft. I was Group B Strep positive so I had to be given antibiotics through an IV. After the IV was hooked up the fun began!
I was able to try just about every method imaginable to manage the pain (minus the drugs). I was in the shower, the tub, on the bed, on the toilet, doing squats, on my hands and knees, and laying on my side. It was pretty amazing that I was actually able to fall asleep immediately after a contraction, be passed out for a minute and wake up for the next round!
I honestly cannot say what the worst part of labor is; each part has it's very own awfulness. I can say that the hardest part though was the very end when I finally felt the urge to push. By this time it was already March 26 early in the morning. I ended up on the bed because I was so exhausted and could no longer squat. This was the only point where I really felt as though I could not do it. It was so hard and so painful and I was terrified that I would tear! I was beginning to get discouraged because I would feel the urge to push and then feel Jesse move further down. I would stop pushing and then feel him move back up. I felt as though I was losing all the progress I had just made. The last push was the hardest and most painful!
As soon as Jesse came out I started crying like a big baby! I don't know if it was excitement over him finally being here and me finally getting to meet him or over the fact that the pain was over! Probably a little bit of both!
In all I'd have to say that giving birth to Jesse at a birth center was an amazing experience. I cannot imagine doing it at a hospital! My midwife and her birth assistant were wonderful and Joe was and awesome coach (I don't know if I could have done it without him!!). I'm still amazed that I was able to have him without any drugs!! It blows my mind still today. This was without a doubt one of the most difficult things that I've ever done and now that I'm feeling better I can say that I wouldn't mind more kids in the future!
The stork dropped off a perfectly healthy, beautiful little boy! Jesse Mitchell was born March 26 at 4:16 am. He weighed 7lbs. 14oz. and was 20 inches long! The Lord has blessed us abundantly for sure!!
