I had been worrying a lot about this birth. Mostly because I was late, (I have never been overdue before), and I was really having no signs of impending labor. I had lots of pressure for weeks, (midwives confirmed a low head) but hardly a contraction to be had besides braxton hicks. I was walking every evening and doing everything I knew to do to encourage labor, but I just didn't feel like anything was ever going to happen. Ladies started telling me about how their boys came early but their girls were 8 to 12 days late and big! So my brain began to imagine a super late, huge baby. I was due the week the boys had VBS, but had mentally decided that it would likely be the end of June before I had this baby. On Tuesday I took my two youngest on a walk and I voted in a state wide primary. Then we walked to the playground. Next, in the 90 degree heat, we walked to to Sheetz for slushies. I maybe had one contraction on that 4 mile walk. I was so tired after that I decided to take it easy on Wednesday. We went to the mall that day and just had fun in a cooler, less taxing environment. Wednesday night I went to my chiropractor's. I noticed that the baby was in a good position, based on where I felt her hiccups, and prayed that she would stay there. I noticed a few contractions that evening, but they weren't very intense. I had a few contractions at my appointment, and then when I got back home noticed that they were somewhat regular, (25 to 45 minutes apart) but still not terribly painful. They continued, and I decided to just go to bed and try and sleep. If baby wanted to come, maybe she'd let me sleep first. The contractions woke me up each time, but I was able to sleep between them. I'd set my phone stopwatch and reset after each one. All night they were 25 to 45 minutes apart. When I woke up in the morning I figured I'd just get up and see if the contractions got closer together. They did. They were not consistent. Some were 7 minutes apart, some 10, and sometimes they would be 4 minutes apart. I was not really sure what was up. They still didn't feel terribly intense, but I could tell that they might develop into the real deal. I let my midwives know my status after the night, and they were right in town at the birth center ready to come over when I wanted them to. Peter took the kids to VBS, and I texted him around 9 to ask him to come home soon. I had a super intense contractions all of a sudden, and I was starting to feel a little like things might be moving faster than I had thought. He and the two youngest came home, and helped me as I labored. Conrad liked to help daddy rub my back.
Aunt Abby came and got the two youngest kiddos, and around 10 I let my midwives know that I thought things might be moving. I thought it might be awhile yet, (some contractions were intense, others not as much, and they were still coming a different times.) They arrived around 10:30 and checked me. I was 8 centimeters, fully effaced, and they could feel the baby's head. I was shocked! They started preparing everything for baby. They said to go do my thing, so I went for the tub. Thankfully the warm water really helped with the back pain. I labored there for the next hour plus and then felt the urge to push. I had maybe 3 pushing contractions then her head was born, my water broke and in one more push, there she was in daddy's arms! I remember as I was getting to that last, intense moment that every mom dreads, I was talking to God and I asked him to help me. I really felt his presence in that moment, and it was an amazing feeling! After she was born, I turned over, they handed her to me, and I said, "That was easy!" It wasn't really that easy, but I think I had been imagining that it was going to be so much harder than it was. It happened so fast and it was so smooth! I think that because her water stayed intact, the contractions weren't as intense. She didn't turn out to be huge either. She weighed 7lb 5oz and was 19 inches long.
We are all so thrilled with her. She has been pretty chill. She didn't cry at first or really at all for the first 12 hours after birth, and the midwives said she acted like she didn't even realize that she'd been born. They said that maybe it was because she was in her water sac for most of the birth. They gave her some oxygen just to help her along in the beginning. She was breathing, but not strongly like a screaming infant does. She just kind of looked around in surprise. Thankfully she started breathing fine shortly after that and got nice and pink.
I am so grateful for my birth team, (amazing women), my husband and to the Lord for this blessing. I know that He gives us what we need in each circumstance, and that doesn't always mean super smooth, relaxed, peaceful experiences. Sometimes He meets us in harder circumstances and helps us through them. I am always extra grateful for the "easier" experiences that He sends our way though. Little Eliana Rose's birth is one of those for me.
