Dear Graysen,
This is your birth story told
from the view of your mommy’s doula.
Thursday night the 26th
of March I got a text from your mommy saying that her contractions had begun
again. They had been stopping and starting for a few days now. Your momma was
tired but not losing hope of a natural labor. She was almost 41 weeks and just
plain ready to meet you, but she wanted to meet you on your time table. She was
so patient, even in the face of family members telling her to get an induction.
These contractions were anywhere from 8-10 minute apart and were painful. She
labored like this through the night into Friday, then all of Friday and then
again through the night into Saturday.
I started texting with your mom a
little before 8am on Saturday morning. She told me about how hard her night was
and that every contraction woke her up and that she was feeling pretty weary.
Your daddy needed to go into work that day because it was so busy and they
needed the help. Your mom was fine with him going in but it was hard to let him
go because she didn’t just want to labor all day in the house alone. She
thought that this might be the day she’d like me to join her. I told her when
she said the word, I’d be there as soon as I could!
It was just after 10am
that I arrived at your home on Saturday morning. Your mom opened the door with
a tried smile on her face. We hugged and I dropped all of my bags and headed
straight to the kitchen. Your momma needed some energizing breakfast, so I made
her some scrambled eggs. I accidently used Vanilla Almond milk so they tasted
quite sweet, but your mom was kind and ate them ;) I put on some music and we
praised Jesus together as she had contraction after contraction. They were
definitely coming, they just didn’t want to progress just yet. I pottered
around in the kitchen a while longer while your mom tried to relax on the couch
and breathe deeply through her contractions. She was doing an awesome job.
I came over to your mom and
started massaging her feet while we continued to listen to music and chat
between contractions. I tried to massage the pressure points on her legs, by
hook or by crook we were having this baby today!!! Your mom said a few of the
contractions got pretty intense for a little bit, this was a step in the right
direction!
We set up a bed on the living
room floor for your mom to lay down on for a little bit and get some rest. The
contractions were pretty uncomfortable in this position but she labored through
them. When we were sitting up they seemed to be coming every 3-5 minutes but
when she laid down they spaced to around 5-6 minutes apart. It gave your mom
some time to truly rest in between the contractions.
Your mom needed to use the
restroom so we used to time to change positions and try the inversion. This was
a little before 12:30pm. Your mom got into the position really well and held it
for a good 30 seconds. I told you! We were trying anything and everything. We
next sat your mom on a step stool to widen her pelvis and that’s when your
grandma called checking in to see how things were going and if your mom could
explain how to open the new stroller. Your brother and sister were heading to
get ice-cream, they were pretty excited about that!
Around 1pm we moved to sitting
back on the couch. Your mom enjoyed this position a lot! I made us both some
peanut butter toast and we settled in to watch Kara Tippetts memorial service.
During a contraction I would turn the iPad down and then after it was down I
would turn it back up.
2pm hit and things seemed to be
getting more intense. The contractions were coming every 3-5 minutes again and
lasting a full minute now. Could labor be progressing?! We sure hoped so!
As 3pm approached your mom was on
her hands and knees going through the contractions and these ones were
beginning to take her breath away and were lasting a good minute and a half. At
this point we asked your daddy to come home and join us. He was quickly on his
way.
Your mom headed for the restroom
and began laboring on the toilet, straddling it backwards. She seemed to enjoy
this position and the contractions seemed very strong.
Your daddy arrived home around
3:20pm and started gathering things up as it didn’t seem like too long before
we’d be leaving for the hospital.
Your mom was interested in trying
the bathtub for some relief before we left, but after having a few really
strong contractions where she felt like pushing a little bit during them, she
changed her mind. We grabbed the final items and headed for the hospital at
3:40pm.
We arrived to triage at 4pm and
got taken back to a room fairly quickly. At 4:18pm your mom was found to be 5cm
dilated, 75% effaced and you were at -1. This was terrific progression from the
day before and getting to 5cm at home was awesome, as this is the longest part
of labor. They admitted us immediately.
We got settled into our new room
by 4:35pm and Lisa, the nurse, got a heplock placed in your mama’s arm. Then
she went to find us an exercise ball to labor on.
Jolene, your mommy’s midwife arrived
while Lisa was gone. Jolene set up some essential oils and calm filled the
room.
Around 5:15pm as you mom was
going through a contraction leaning over the bed, she began to feel like she
needed to poop. This was a great sign!! You were nice and low and Jolene gave
the go ahead for your mom to begin pushing when she felt like it. So with most
contractions your mom pushed. She got onto the bed in the hands and knees
position around 5:45pm. Your daddy was doing an awesome job massaging your moms
lower back during every contraction. Your mom was experiencing a lot of back
labor, but thanks to the TENS unit and the back massage the contractions were
manageable.
A few minutes later
your mom switched to the birthing stool to try pushing on there. She had a lot
of power while pushing in this position. We stayed here till about 6:10pm and
then moved to straddling the toilet again. Your dad was awesome, he had his
apron on should your moms water break on him and he was spinning the wash
clothes like a pro to keep them cool. We didn’t stay in the bathroom long and
by 6:20pm your mom was back pushing on the birthing stool. She was feeling
pretty tired now, so during the breaks she would lean into your dad and rest.
It was sweet.
There didn’t seem to be a lot of
progress being made, so Jolene was curious what the cervix was doing. She
checked your mom at 6:35pm and found that your mom was 8cm dilated with a
somewhat thick lip of cervix hanging out on the left side. Your mom’s bag of water
was still very much intact. It was a strong one! Jolene asked your mom to see
if she could rest for a while and hold off on the pushing till she dilated a
little more. Your mom did exactly that and got a small dose of fentanyl and
slept for a little while.
The contractions spaced a part
for a little bit and your mom got some good rest, but eventually they began to
pick up once more and your mom needed to start groaning through the
contractions. At 8pm Jolene asked if she could break your moms water to see if
that would help bring you down right on the cervix to help dilate it. She was
now 9.5cm dilated and you were at 0 station. You were so close to being born!!
At 8:30pm your mom was now
complete and the active pushing began once more. Jolene was worried about how
tired your mom was feeling so she kept her in bed to push, even though she kept
saying this was her least favorite position to push in but it seemed to be
working for your mom.
Let me tell you sweet boy, over
the next 2 hours and 45 minutes your momma pushed with all of her might and
never once gave up. She would say the most innocent things in between pushes
like “Holy Tamole” and “Good Gravy”. I just smiled and looked on in pride. Your
daddy never left her side and worked as hard as he could to massage her lower
back to bring some relief to the pressure. Your mom kept asking if we could
slowly turn the TENS unit up.
As the time progressed during the
pushing stage, Jolene grew more and more skeptical that you were OA and that
you were indeed OP causing the prodromal labor, early desire to push, back
labor and long pushing stage. Your mom was pushing so well but you were coming
down the canal so slowly and once you were crowning you actually got stuck!
I could see the cogs turning in
Jolene’s eyes trying to figure out what should be done to deliver you. Your dad
was very eager for your mom to change position, something needed to change, we were coming up on almost 3 hours of pushing. Your mommy
was exhausted but as I said, she never said she couldn’t do it. In fact I heard
her say “I can do this” multiple times while she pushed. The nurses brought in
a mirror so your mom could watch her progress. By the time you were crowing we
could all see you have a lot of dark hair!
All at once we all decided to try
the pushing bar. The nurses quickly got it installed and before we knew it your
mom was squatting and pushing with all of her might and there your head was,
finally moving down and out! At 11:16pm on Saturday the 28th of
March, your 6lb 9oz, 21 inch body entered the world. Your mom leaned back on
the bed and you were placed directly on her. You were looking pretty stunned
and weren’t crying much so you were taken over to the warmer to be checked out.
You began to cry a little over there but they could tell that you were working
hard to breathe so they put a Cpap machine on you to help you along. They
decided you needed to be taken to the NICU for further monitoring, so your
mommy got another quick hold and a few kisses of your sweet head and away you
went with your daddy and the nurses.
I stayed with your mom while
Jolene stitched and cleaned her up. Your mom was on cloud nine, so thankful that
the labor was over and she was at peace even though you were gone. She knew you
would be just fine.
Around 12:30am your dad came back
from the NICU with good news that you were already doing so much better but
they would continue to watch you through the night. He was feeling hungry and
wanted to run over to King Soopers to grab some snacks and drinks for the
remainder of the stay in the hospital. So soon after your dad and I said
goodbye to your mom so that she could get some well-deserved sleep. It had been
52 hrs since the contractions started coming consistently. Your mom was
EXHASUTED. We couldn’t have been prouder of her stamina and grace through your
birth story. God showed up in mighty ways and I know your parents will always
speak of His goodness to them through your birth.
Graysen Clark Spiers, welcome to
the world sweet boy, we are all SO excited that you are here.
Lots of love, Fiona Custer,
Beautiful Births Doula Services
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