aWESTed DeVeLOPMeNT: The Birth Day

This is the story of how we came to meet June Riley West...

Sunday, September 21st:
I kept busy Sunday getting ready for baby June, trying to get many of the last minute tasks done before it was too late. Little did I know that I really only had that day to get things ready for her! I cooked two freezer meals, cleaned the house, took maternity photos (See week 35 post), finished the birth plan, washed the remainder of her clothes and linens, cleaned the house, and most importantly, I bought any remaining “must-haves” from our registry and we packed our hospital bags. These last two tasks would prepare us tremendously for the unexpected arrival of June. I was excited and felt ready for June to make her entrance into our lives. Bill and I had actually had a conversation about it just days earlier when we both admitted that we couldn’t wait for her to get here (but not at the expense of her being early!).

Monday, September 22nd:

I woke up at 6 am on Monday morning with June moving around like crazy (possibly more than usual?). When I got up to get ready for the work day, I noticed that I was cramping a little. Bill got one of the midwives, Manola McCain, on the phone and described the situation. She told us it wasn't out of the ordinary, but that we could come into the hospital to be checked out if it would make us feel better. When we arrived at the hospital, the nurse quickly determined that both the baby and I were fine but they would continue to monitor me to be sure. The nurse also told me that I was 2 cm dilated.

Finally, at about 12:30 and after the cramping had slowed we were released. However, Manola did not want me to do anything for the next two days except lie on the couch and take it easy.

I had my weekly prenatal appointment scheduled for the next morning at 9 am. The cramping never completely stopped throughout the day, and I went to bed hoping that it would cease during the night. I was awoken at midnight by the same, but more intense cramping. I woke up every hour after that. At 4 am, I had trouble falling asleep after I was woken up by another intense cramp. I noticed that the cramps continued to come every couple of minutes and I began to realize that I was only getting closer to being in labor (I was refusing to admit that I was actually already IN labor!). I remember worrying for a second that I might give birth before we could even make it to our appointment in the morning, so obviously part of me knew what was really going on. But I calmed myself down and told myself to just sleep through it and wait to see what they would tell me at nine.

Tuesday, September 23rd:

We had a normal start to our morning: showered and dressed, fed banjo, ate a quick breakfast. As we were about to leave, Bill suggested we grab the hospital bag and the carrier just in case. We arrived for our appointment on time but found out that the midwife, Libbi, had been caught in traffic from an accident. Libbi finally arrived around 10 or so. Libbi then checked me as she normally would during a prenatal appointment, taking my fundal height (34 cm) and checking June’s heartbeat. Finally, she brought up my visit to the hospital the day before. She told me she would be checking my cervix, and when she did, her eyes opened wide as she exclaimed “Oh. Oh!” “What does that mean?” I asked, but I knew exactly what that meant. Libbi told me I was 5 cm dilated and 90% effaced and that I needed to get over to the hospital immediately. “You’re having a baby today,” she told us as she quickly exited the room to call the midwife on call.

We only had to drive around the block to get to the delivery wing of the hospital. Once there, we got into a room immediately. I changed into the hospital gown, and the nurse, Gail, hooked me up to the monitors for an initial reading. Manola (the midwife on call) came in checked my cervix and I was already 6 cm and 100% effaced.

Here I am in a good mood, dealing with very manageable contractions. That would all change very soon...

Within an hour, my water was broken. They removed the monitors and I was told that I could get up, change into whatever clothes I wanted to wear and walk around or labor however I desired. Immediately after changing my clothes, I felt the first of the intense contractions. And the intense contractions kept coming...and coming...and coming. They felt like they were coming right on top of each other, not giving me much of a break. Needless to say, I never walked around or did anything other than lie on the bed after that first intense contraction.

Bill was amazing! He and our doula, Erin, kept me calm, held my hands, fanned me, massaged me, and did whatever was needed to keep me comfortable. Before my water had been broken, I was happy, excited. Now I was in the worst mood possible. I know why they joke about women yelling horrible things to their husbands during labor (e.g., "You did this to me!"). I did my best to keep any cranky comments to myself, which meant I pretty much didn't speak for 3+ hours. Even when someone asked me a question, I usually didn't answer. Just when I didn't think I could go any longer, Manola told me I was at 9 cm.

Don't talk to me

When Manola checked again, I was 10 centimeters. I was finally in the second stage of labor! I think this was around 3:30 pm. Manola or Gail asked me if was feeling the urge to push. Up until this point, I had been trying as hard as I could to remain still and calm so I had no idea if I was feeling the urge to push. There was nothing I wanted more at that moment than to be able to start pushing - I wanted this sweet baby to be in my arms!
It wasn't long before I felt the urge to push. The pushing phase was still painful, but it was so much easier to handle. This was in part due to the fact that I was starting to get a bit of a break between contractions. The contraction would begin, I would moan a low “oooohhhhh” and then it felt like my body would take over and I'd bear down for maybe 30 seconds. Then I would collapse back on the bed and just lie there until the next one started after a minute or two. As another contraction would start, I would grab Bill and Erin’s hands and attack it with new energy. I wanted to give it everything I had because I knew that it was bringing our baby closer to us. This was another reason that the pushing phase was better – I knew it would all be over soon and that we’d finally get to meet our baby girl. I felt like I had control during this phase of labor – I knew that if I pushed hard enough, she would be here in no time. After several pushes, I felt like June was getting ready to crown but didn't say anything. Another push, and I again felt the same thing. I still didn’t say anything to anyone even though I knew that June was right there! Finally, Gail lifted the sheet and immediately yelled for Manola to come get ready for the birth. I pushed again once Manola arrived. She then told me, "ok, one more push!" I was so excited, and I suddenly had no urge to push. It felt like several minutes passed before I had the urge again, but then it came. Out popped June at 4:26 pm. I was so focused on pushing that someone had to tell me to open my eyes - and there she was! My first thought was that she was so much more beautiful than I had expected! Then I got to hold her and it was the most wonderful moment. I just held her and smiled, saying “Hi, baby!” and telling her how beautiful she was.

The past four hours disappeared from my mind. It took a few seconds, but June finally began to cry. Bill cut the umbilical cord. Soon after, the nurse from the NICU came up to check her breathing. We were relieved when she told us that June was breathing fine and wouldn't have to spend any time in the NICU.

Baby girl getting weighed, measured, and checked

June was born at 5 lbs. 15 oz. and 19 inches. After Junie was checked, she spent some time getting to know mom and dad.

Happy Daddy

She also got to meet some other important people, who she loved from the start...

Pop & Nay Nay

Aunt Julia, Uncle Tom, & Grams

Great friends

June had a little jaundice and some weight loss, but other than that, she was a healthy baby girl. We couldn't have been more happy and relieved.

We spent 48 hours at the hospital. Before we left, Junie had a couple of firsts: