Quinn's birth story.

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
Quinn's birth story starts 2 days before she was actually born. I had been knitting a pair of "longies" (wool pants that double as a cloth diaper cover) that had taken me FOREVER to finish. That afternoon, while on break, I finally finished them. I told my unborn baby girl that her "going home from the hospital" outfit was done and she could make her appearance at any time. I hadn't felt too many symptoms of impending labor, a few contractions here and there, and some lower back pain (I had back labor with Hayden and for some reason felt that I would have it again with Quinn), but as my coworkers went home that afternoon and told me they would see me on Friday (Thursday was Veteran's day) I thought to myself "No you won't." I got my bags mostly packed that evening and went to bed early.
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
I woke up that morning feeling disappointed that I didn't go into labor over night. I was positive that it would start at any moment. I went to the bathroom and discovered (TMI alert) that I was losing my plug. I was pretty happy about that. I dedicated my day to playing with Hayden, since I just knew that it was the last day for him to be my only child. I also got caught up on my laundry, and cleaned up our room a little bit. My sister and sister in law were going to get their nails done that afternoon and I invited myself along. I wanted a little bit of pampering and I especially wanted an ankle massage. There is supposedly a pressure point in the ankle that if massaged could jump start labor. After my pedicure I had a huge burst of energy. I finished the laundry put it away, finished putting the baby clothes away, and completely packed my bags. At dinner time I was very careful to eat a small amount because I didn't want to puke in labor like my sister did. I put Hayden to bed at 7 and was ready for bed by 8:30. I encouraged Brian to get his things together for the hospital and go to bed early as well.
Sometime around 10:30 I awoke to Hayden calling for me. I went to his bed but he wasn't there. I turned on the light and he was under the bed! I don't know if he was sleep walking or what. I put him back in bed and laid with him until he went back to sleep. When I sat up to go back to my bed I felt a weird tugging movement in my belly. (another TMI Alert) All of the sudden I felt like I peed my pants. I went to the bathroom and put on a pad. I was positive that my water broke. This was around 11:00pm. As I was coming out of the bathroom Brian was in our bedroom picking out DVDs to take to the hospital. I told him not to bother going to bed, I was sure my water broke and I was calling the midwife to see if she wanted me to come in. Before I called the midwife I called my sister, Tawnya. She had left our house around 9 but told me if I needed her to come back to keep an eye on Hayden then she'd come back. She had just gotten in bed when I called but told me she'd be on her way. I called the after hours number for the dr. and sat down to wait for the midwife to call me back. With Hayden, my contractions were 2 minutes apart and very intense after my water broke. This time they were about 8 minutes apart and very manageable. The midwife called me back and told me that if my contractions aren't that close that I could wait until the morning and have them check me out at the office. I decided to go in. I didn't want any unnecessary interventions at the hospital but I felt like we should go. Tawnya got to our house by 11:30ish and we hung out a little bit, chit chatting and timing my contractions. They were coming anywhere from 5-8 minutes apart and they were still very manageable. We left a little before midnight.

Friday, November 12th, 2010
We stopped at QT before we went to the hospital. Brian wanted an energy drink and something to eat. I wanted something to eat as well, but not because I was hungry, I was just excited that the hospital allowed laboring women to eat and drink! So I got a naked juice. :) We got to the hospital a little after midnight and checked in at the ER. As we waited for a nurse to come down and get us, my contractions were getting a little bit stronger. We waited a long time for that nurse to come! I think it was close to 12:45 by the time I got to triage. I changed into my sexy hospital gown and waited for the triage nurse to check me out. She told me I was dilated to a 4 but that my water hadn't broken. I was POSITIVE that it had, but I was at a 4 already so I guess it didn't matter too much. I told her that I wanted the tub in my room filled so that I could labor in water. Just as we were getting ready to go to my room, the triage nurse came back and told me my water had indeed broken. I was thinking to myself, "I told you so!!"
We got into our room and I changed into my bikini top (for modesty, lol!) and hopped into the tub. The jets in the tub felt great on my back, which, by the way, was where I was feeling all of my contractions. As I labored in the tub I played around on facebook, played with Brian's ipod and relaxed for a little while. Tiffany came in around 3 and told me she was leaving early (shift change is around 6, I believe) and asked me if I wanted her to call the Lynette and have her come in before 6. I told her that I was doing fine. Shortly after that I got out of the tub and dried off, I was bored. I tried laying down in bed to get some rest, but I couldn't get comfortable. I tried sitting on the "birth" ball (it was just an exercise ball) but I was just too restless. The nurse came in as I was wandering around the room and I asked her to check me. I was at a 7. I was more than halfway done. I was so proud of how well I was managing the pain! I decided to sit on the toilet for a while, sounds weird maybe, but it was the only place besides the water where I felt comfortable. I played on my phone and with Brian's ipod, but then I got bored again and wanted to get back in the water. So I did.
     Shortly after I got back into the tub, Lynette walked in. She told me that Tiffany had called her and told her that I wasn't in active labor and not to worry about coming in early. (What the heck? I wasn't in active labor??) But when the nurses called and told her I was dilated to a 7 she decided to come in. At this point I didn't like the feeling of the jets on my back when I had a contraction. When I felt one coming I got on my knees and leaned against the side of the tub with my butt sticking out. I swayed my hips and focused on breathing. The pain was getting pretty strong but I could handle it. Lynette and I spent the time getting to know each other (We had never met before this). We talked about my experience giving birth to Hayden and what I liked and didn't like. We talked about how Brian and I came up with Quinn's name. We talked about everything. I really liked her. :) Sometime around 7am she decided to check me again. I was still at a 7. We decided to try getting out of the water. She had me leaning against the bed, much like I had been leaning against the side of the tub. She showed Brian how to apply counter pressure on my lower back (which was wonderful during a contraction). Up until then, Brian had been trying to rest. Now every time I had a contraction I made him get up and push on my lower back. It was the only way I could get through a contraction. Lynette also told me to moan through them. That really helped as well.
Eventually my feet got tired and I sat on the birth ball. I still needed counter pressure. My contractions this entire time hadn't gotten closer together, they were still anywhere from 5-8 minutes apart. Lynette checked me and I was somewhere between an 8 and a 9.She was concerned how I would push with the contractions so spread out. We decided to lay on the bed on my side with a peanut pillow between my legs (I did the same thing with Hayden's birth!). Brian went to get breakfast. Lynette stayed and pushed on my back during contractions. The contractions got stronger but not closer together. I was actually able to doze off between contractions. But when a contraction hit I was awake and in a lot of pain. I was struggling to get through them without screaming and tensing up. When Brian got back they decided to check me. I was still somewhere between an 8 and a 9. Lynette said she thought she felt something and checked me again. Apparently there was a "secondary membrane" by the baby's head (I translated this to be that my water hadn't completely broken and the sac was keeping me from completely dilating). Lynette broke the sac. You should have heard me screaming! It hurt. Lynette said when she broke the sac I was completely dilated. I remember the pain of the contractions, before she broke the sac, I was so tired. But once I was ready to push I don't remember much.It was a blur. I remember thinking I wanted it to be over and wishing there was some other way to get Quinn out other than me pushing. I remember how encouraging Lynette and the others in the room were. They had me push her head out while laying on my side. After getting her head out I begged for a break, and they allowed me one. Poor Quinn's ears got squished from my little break! I remember feeling what some women describe as the "ring of fire" as my skin stretched to allow Quinn's head to come out. That's the only pain I remember. They quickly flipped me over to my back and I delivered the rest of her. They immediately put her to my chest. Quinn Madison was born at 10:54am on November 12th, 2010. She weighed 8lbs7oz and was 18.5 inches long. She had a full head of dark hair.
Its been six months since my baby girl was born...but I remember it like it just happened. As I held her the first time we stared into each other's eyes. Her eyes were big and wide with wonder. Mine were so tired, but I couldn't look away from her stare. I remember wishing I could take a picture of the way she was looking at me. But no camera could capture that moment the right way. Time slowed as Quinn and I bonded. They took her away momentarily to clean her, put a diaper on her and swaddle her up. We nursed as my placenta was delivered and I was checked for tears. We nursed blissfully until I hemorrhaged and they had to take her away from me so I didn't drop her!
Don't worry though, I was ok!
So there you have it. Quinn's birth story. 6 months late but better late than never! I gave birth to my beautiful, chubby baby girl with no drugs, no doula, and no previous natural birth classes!