Our Clan: Nathan's Birth

Monday morning, April 28^th, my midwife called to see how I was doing. She said I was on her mind and she thought I would soon have the baby. I wanted to tell her “If you come maybe my body will decide that it is time.” For weeks I had many braxton-hicks contractions, but nothing consistent. On Monday night I thought my water had broken. It turned out to be just some mucus and bloody show. The midwife came out and checked me. I was not very far into labor. We sent all the kids to bed. She encouraged me to walk for an hour. I was having contractions about 2-4 min. apart, but they slowed down if I rested. Around midnight we decided to get some sleep. I didn’t sleep very well, because the contractions were waking me up every 15-20 min. That has been my “sign” for the last two births, so I knew that he would be born the next day. In the morning Gabe cooked breakfast for us while I walked some more outside. It was cool and I didn't stay out long. Soon the kids were all up, and disappointed that their brother hadn't been born, yet.

Monday night I had called my aunt who said she wanted to help take care of the kids. She didn't answer her phone, which didn't surprise me since she goes to bed early and after taking out her hearing aids would not hear the phone. I left her a text message and hoped she would get it in the morning. I tried again Tuesday morning, but she still wasn't answering her phone. I finally had my sister stop by as she went to work and let her know. My aunt arrived around 10 am. We talked and I walked some more, but there were too many distractions I still wasn't progressing much.

My midwife suggested that my aunt take the kids somewhere. She took the four oldest and went to KFC. Hannah refused to leave mommy. My husband decided to go to KFC also, and get lunch for us, too. My midwife decided that she would leave for a couple of hours too, because “a watched pot never boils”. I was left at home with just Hannah. I set her at the computer with a preschool game that she could play without help and I went to my room sat on my exercise ball and read a book to take my mind of counting contractions. It worked! My husband was delayed for a long time at KFC because someone in front of them took all the chicken, and they had to wait for more to cook.

By the time he got back I was having painful contractions. I called my midwife, and she soon returned too. Things happened very quickly after that. She filled the tub (I have a large tub), and then said we should go to the bed. I said I really wanted to be in the tub. Within 20 minutes of being in the tub, he was born. He was my first water birth, and I would defiantly do it again. I loved the way the water supported my body as I was pushing.

Hannah came in and watched while he was being born. She likes to tell people he was born in the tub. She would not leave me for the next few hours. My husband named him Nathan James. He was born at 2:13 pm on Tuesday, April 29th. He weighed 7lbs 14oz and was 19 ¾ inches long. All the kids are excited about their new baby brother and enjoy holding him. Abby loves taking care of him, and acts like a second mom to him. Recovery has been slower this time. I got a cough a few days after the birth and it refuses to go away no matter what I do. I also have had some nursing issues, but that is clearing up, thanks to a few suggestions from my midwife.