Olive's Birth

D&C 58:4

After much tribulation come the blessings.

(i wrote this on Olive's birthday. i just couldn't contain all my joy and happiness. Its now been a week and i am ready to share this experience with everyone!)

 Olive is here and she is less than 24 hours old and  i can't help to share my excitement with everyone. I feel like i waited so long for her and then she came so quickly, it was quite a whirlwind. Charlie was 2 weeks early so i was expecting a similar time frame with Olive. But no, Olive had her own schedule and came at a perfect time. 

The last two weeks I have been experiencing contractions, cramps, crazy mood swings, bloody show, energy bursts...all the works. I was constantly thinking, "maybe today is the day". But when her due date came and went, i chose to stop thinking that way. She would come when she came. 

Sunday I was feeling my regular, irregular contractions and cramps throughout the day and once evening came we just went to bed not thinking anything about it. I woke up at 1:30 am with a very uncomfortable contraction. I couldn't fall back asleep and decided to see when the next one would come. It was 10 minutes later and once again, very uncomfortable. So i waited for the next one, about 10 minutes. I woke Andy up just to let him know. He could tell these were a lot stronger than my previous contractions and asked me if he should call Rebecca. It took me one or two more contractions before i was ready to call her. She was then on her way. Andy started filling the tub, gave me a sweet priesthood blessing, and i was trying to stay relaxed and calm through each coming contraction. We turned the soft music on, lit the candles, and put some lavender oil in the tub. It was a relaxing setting and I was comfortable with the labor so far.

Rebecca arrived around 3am. Andy and I were managing on our own but i was glad when she showed up because the contractions started picking up in intensity. It was no longer comfortable or quiet. Each contraction brought a wave of awful nausea. Rebecca kept saying that this would go quick and be a short labor but i thought, "Baloney! We just started". With each contraction i repeated my positive self talk over and over in my head. I could do this. I've done this! A break was coming soon. I would have my baby girl soon. Just breath. Relax. When Rebecca said i had passed transition i couldn't believe it! No way I had gone through that moment of despair. But she confirmed that physically this baby was on it's way down the birth canal. I guess the positive talking in my head got me through unaware. And Andy has now told me that he could even tell i had gone through transition with how i sounded vocally.

I'm not sure how many times i pushed, maybe 3 or 4 times, and her head was out. Rebecca said that she was still in the caul, meaning the bag of waters never broke. Sure enough reaching down to feel her head it was covered by whatever the caul is made of . As the rest of her body was pushed out of me the bag broke and Rebecca gently pulled it off and handed her to me. It was only 4:42 am. It was an emotional experience for many reasons: My baby girl was here, this all happened so fast i couldn't process it, the labor was done, HOORAY (kind of- there was still more work for my body to do)! 

I was able to hold her for a good while and she latched right onto me already beginning to breastfeed. That was awesome! I was still feeling mild contractions and cramps because of the placenta. So when that was delivered, maybe 15 minutes after, i finally felt relief! My next piece of great news is i didn't tear! Rebecca said, "Charlie paved the way!" I feel GREAT! No ice diapers for me! 

This birth was what i had hoped and dreamed of. It was such a short time of intense discomfort but then it was over and i now feel like a superstar. The best part of all is that Olive is here. She is beautiful. I love her with all my heart! I loved seeing Charlie meet her for the first time, wanting to share his binky and give her a hug. Then he was off wanting to do his own thing. He is going to be a great big brother. Before he went to bed tonight he kept giving her sweet little kisses and my heart just melts.

I am so grateful for Andy who handled this whole labor with great care. He was my support in every way. I couldn't have managed this experience with out him. After all was said and done he was off to school at  7:00 am for a study group, with no sleep at all and a huge grin on his face.

I am so grateful for my midwife, Rebecca. She stayed so calm, supportive, and encouraging. She made sure everything was in order, on track, and safe. I trust her 100%. 

I am grateful for my parents who made the trip from Logan in the middle of the night to also be apart of our team. BUT because they had to stop for Krispy Cream Donuts (who knew they were opened so early!) they missed her arrival by just 5 minutes. The donuts were worth it though. 

And now, I am so grateful for Andy's parents who have been Charlie's little companions while i take care of Olive. I was given instructions not to hold or pick up Charlie for a week. 

So it's true. After much tribulation come the blessings. 

Olive is an incredible little girl. I can't wait to discover her little personality. 

side note to those planning a birth:

Having a natural home birth was AMAZING! 

get educated!

get the birth you want by finding caregivers who also want what you do. check their stats for proof!

its hard work but doable by any mamma.