birth story

On September 22, I woke up at around 3 having contractions.  They weren't anything big, but different from the ones I'd been experiencing the last couple days.  I figured something was probably going to happen that day which made me excited but I also had a sense of panic come over me as I contemplated life with 4 and thought of all the things I hadn't done to get ready for baby.  I was so tired and pretty much did the minimum during which was supposed to be my nesting phase.  So I laid in bed, got in the tub at like 4, recorded contractions but they weren't closer than like 15 mins apart so I got back in bed and pretty much laid there.
I told Michael when he woke up but I knew we weren't close to having baby obviously so he went to clinicals, we got the kids ready for school and went about our regular routine.  I even took Janelle to the park that morning realizing it might be the last time for a while.
We'd been in touch with Jan the whole day so she knew when to come.  Michael offered to come home at noon but I wanted him to save all his time off for when baby came so I told him to stay.  Some time in the afternoon I called Jan and told her I'd been contracting all day but nothing close or consistent and so she didn't need to worry about coming.  At 6ish they all the sudden were getting stronger and closer.  Ever since my water breaking in the van with Janelle, I'd had this fear of my water breaking at any point in time and not getting to Katrina in time because for me, up until Stahle, once my water breaks, things move very quickly.  So I called Katrina, she said to come at 7:30, then I called Chantel and asked for her to bring Carlee over to watch the kids until Jan could come.  During all this I was frantically doing some last minute "Nesting" which consisted of sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor, cleaning the kids room and finishing packing my bag.  As soon as Carlee came, Michael and I started some dinner for the kids and hit the road.  I was excited while we headed over because things were finally happening.  Contractions in the car were pretty good. In saying good I mean pretty painful.

We pulled in, took a pic in front of the clinic and went in.  Katrina and Barbara first checked babies heartbeat and my blood pressure.  Then they did some stuff around the clinic and Michael and I hung out.   Things very gradually picked up.  I was at a 5 at around 8 or 9 I would guess.  Katrina then suggested we go on a walk.  I didn't like the walk.  Michael was wanting to keep walking further from the birthing center but I kept worrying my water would break and we wouldn't make it back in time. haha.  So we headed back.  I started needing to lean over the bed for contractions, Barbara rubbed my feet with some essential oils which felt wonderful.  I was sure I'd have to get up from my foot massage with each contraction so I could lean over the bed (my preferred position) which were 5 mins apart by now but I focused on breathing and was able to stay put.  That was probably the most relaxed I was in the whole labor.
Shortly after that my water broke during a contraction and I thought halleljuia!  BECAUSE, when my water broke with Janelle, I had the urge to push right after and had Janelle within the next 20 minutes.  Well this was not the case with baby Stahle.  So my water breaks and they start filling the tub and I'm thinking thank heavens, this is almost over.  I get in the tub, it feels great, until my contractions start again.   This is probably where Michael was the most instrumental in all of this.  It was in the tub that I started getting worried, panicky, disappointed and scared that I wasn't having the urge to push.  I had to lean over the side of the tub with each contraction and I was leaning on Michael who was sitting right outside the tub.  It almost makes me cry thinking of that.  He was so supportive and willing to do anything to help.  I kept asking what we should do and why I wasn't having the urge to push.  Katrina and Barbara were saying that each birth is different.  They were trying to help me visualize things during contractions that would help me relax and I really wasn't having any of that. lol.
They suggested a few times that I get out of the tub since a change in position can help.  So I got out, went to the bathroom, got back in the tub, got back out, went to the  bathroom and when I stood up and started having a contraction I decided to push.  I didn't have the overwhelming urge to push but Katrina said to go ahead anyway, and I wanted to be done so badly I went ahead.  This part really is hard to describe.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, even though pushing was only about 5 minutes long and only took 4 pushes I think, but I was standing while Michael was holding me up and the pressure and burning were overwhelming and completely different than my other births.
Stahle's hand was up by her face making it hard to push her head out, but out it came, and then her shoulders and so on and when she was out it was of course the most incredible moment.  It was so bizarre that she was here but we fell in love with her instantly.  She was born at 11:58pm, 2 minutes before her due date. :)
After that Katrina and Michael cut the chord, I got back in the bed, had some skin to skin and took it easy.
Katrina and Barbara fed us some soup at like 1am, got us all squared away and then they took off and Michael and I stayed the night.  It was really peaceful and calming staying there.  Totally more personal than a hospital and more intimate.  Stahle latched instantly and nursed very well.  We enjoyed her immensely.
The next morning I took a bath, Michael went and got us breakfast and we took off at about 10 with our precious new bundle.