SO, we move up here to Fort Worth, the Lord allows me to conceive, and I decided that even though I was going to have another c-section, I wanted to use a midwife- just because of the fabulous time and care midwives give. I met Jenee, by the grace of God :). She was a believer, a VBAC momma herself, and a wonderful support to me for following my husbands leadership as a godly wife. Blake was 100% against VBACS, so I told Jenee that if she tried to convince me to do a VBAC I would find someone else- because my husband said NO. She totally understood that and never once mentioned it again- she honored Blake's leadership.
As time went on, I got to about 22 weeks and by then I had fully changed my mind about a c-section. I was DREADING it, and had such negative feelings about it. So I began to pray...I spent a whole day giving this feeling to the Lord, asking him to change Blake's heart, if I needed to have a different birthing experience. That night, Blake came home and told me he had changed his mind about my delivery and could not get the negative feelings HE was having about my c-section out of his head, and it was time to consider a VBAC. I almost fell over...God had changed his heart in one day...without a word from my mouth :).
So now...the birth:
It's 12am in the morning on July 9th, and I am running into the room of my boys to Parker's cry out that his stomach was hurting and he felt like he was going to throw up. So as I am getting him taken care of- I realize that labor was starting. I was feeling regular intense contractions and spotting. I knew it was really starting to happen...and I had gotten a great 1 hour of sleep! uh oh! So I sit up on the couch, because laying down was impossible, and I began to track the contractions. From the beginning they were about 5 minutes apart. I decided to call Jenee and she told me to wait till they were more intense and I needed her. So at about 5:30 or 6am, Jenne came over to the house. She checked me and confirmed what she thought...I was in major early labor- no 1 centimeter dilated and NO effacement. WHAT? Do you mean these INTENSE, crazy surges are EARLY labor???? That's what I felt. I thought, ok, it's really time to focus on my relaxation techniques I had learned and force myself to rest during contractions. So that's what I did...I was drifting in and out of sleep between contractions and really trying to see those surges for what they were...getting my baby to me. I must say- it was the most intense feeling of my life. There were several moments where I thought I wasn't going to make it. I thought- I have a LONG way to go, and I don't know if I can stay on top of this feeling. Jett, was in a bad position, so Jenee had me on my bed in this AWFUL positions 30 minutes at a time to get him to move. Those were moments when I thought I might need someone to just knock me out. haha. She sent me to the chiropractor at around noon to get an adjustment to help move Jett and get my back labor to relieve. So that was a 20 minute drive- I had my relaxation music on and was intensely focused, I almost don't remember what went on. By then, I was having INTENSE surges, and several times they would come one on top of the other- with no break. Yikes. I can only imagine what the people in the waiting room at the chiropractor thought when I came in! haha! By then, I was just trying to keep myself from throwing up all over the place! I was nauseous all day! Ugh!
I get home around 1 or 2...can't remember...and Jenee checked me, where she found I was 4 centimeters and 80% effaced. So she put me back in those awful positions to move Jett, and after 15-20 minutes I begged her to let me move- I couldn't take it anymore.
So she decided to put me on the toilet. Yep, the toilet for 5 sets of surges. That causes the baby to really move down and put pressure on the cervix. After about 3 or 4 surges I began to feel the need to push! So Jenee got me off the toilet and put me on the exercise ball and forced me to let my body go limp and roll my hips around.
(Really focusing- trying not to loose control and scream my lungs out)
So I did...for a while, focusing so intensely to survive this! Then she told me to get up and walk around the house with Blake. So, I did, I walked around and when I had to stop to breathe through a surge, I yelled for Jenne, because I reeeeally felt the pushing urge. So, even though it had been 1 hour since she checked me at a 4, she decided to check me again. Once she did, she urgently said, "get up, it's time to go to the hospital". She starts calling for Blake to pack the car fast and get me in it, if I wanted this baby to be delivered at the hospital, we needed to GO! So, even though I was in the middle of a strong surge, she pulls me up off the bed- I threw up 4 or 5 times, and she sent me in the car. I was 9 centimeters. So, we rushed to the hospital, and I am desperately trying not to push in the car with Blake. We get up to labor and delivery at the hospital, and I am READY. They barely had time to get me in the tub, and I began to push.
So I did...for a while, focusing so intensely to survive this! Then she told me to get up and walk around the house with Blake. So, I did, I walked around and when I had to stop to breathe through a surge, I yelled for Jenne, because I reeeeally felt the pushing urge. So, even though it had been 1 hour since she checked me at a 4, she decided to check me again. Once she did, she urgently said, "get up, it's time to go to the hospital". She starts calling for Blake to pack the car fast and get me in it, if I wanted this baby to be delivered at the hospital, we needed to GO! So, even though I was in the middle of a strong surge, she pulls me up off the bed- I threw up 4 or 5 times, and she sent me in the car. I was 9 centimeters. So, we rushed to the hospital, and I am desperately trying not to push in the car with Blake. We get up to labor and delivery at the hospital, and I am READY. They barely had time to get me in the tub, and I began to push.
(My wonderful husband, encouraging me SO much)
(My Midwife...love her)
My water broke in the tub, but baby Jett was not wanting to move out. So they decided to put me on the bed and try some different positions. So they laid me down and I began to push in the traditional on my back, legs up, position. He started coming. Everyone is telling me how great I am doing and to push push PUUUUSH! So that's what I did. So, after 2 hours of pushing...they told me to look down and grab my baby...YES...he was there, and I grabbed under his arms and pulled him out myself, laid him on my chest and heard the voice of angels...my little Jett screaming!
He and I just laid there while the midwives took care of all the "other stuff"...staring at each other, nursing, loving each other. I must say, that moment was magical. The pain was gone, my precious baby was there and my wonderful husband who was SO INCREDIBLE through it all, was glowing. I DID IT! I DID IT!!!!! I PUSHED a 10 POUND BABY OUT!!! Of course...by the absolute grace of God. He blessed my efforts. He deserved all glory. They finally took him from my arms to weigh him, and they helped me into a wonderful herbal bath where Jett joined me and we had a magical bath together...recovering from the biggest workout of my life!
And to my wonderful midwife Jenee...you were amazing...you encouraged me every step in The Lord and took such amazing care of me. Not only a midwife, but a friend. I hope our time together isn't over :).
