Evangeline's Birth Story

I love reading birth stories, but always feel like mine will be lame. Lame or not, I am going to share Evie's birth story. Read ahead at your own risk - not necessarily for the weak of heart, er, stomach. 

I can't remember exactly how things started - I think I woke up with a really awful, different kind of contraction. Then I had to go to the bathroom. That was at 8 on Monday morning. Once I got back in bed I had another contraction. Something told me I needed to get Zach up, so I whispered, "I need your help...I think I'm in labor." When he asked me why I told him I had had two contractions from hell, and wanted to shower so that I could get in the birth pool. (That is a major indication of where I was at - before I was really uncomfortable, but didn't NEED to get in the pool. It was not optional this time.)

I woke my Mom up when I got out of the shower and promptly went to the porch and got in the pool. The water definitely helped, but there were a couple of times when I thought, "Boy, I could go for an epidural right about now!" Internally I was laughing at myself for that and thought of the one mom in What To Expect When You're Expecting who after planning on a natural birth, starts yelling at her husband to "get the juice!" I knew I had to be near the end to be having such crazy thoughts.

Around 8:50 Zach called Deb to give her a heads up that I had gotten in the pool, but my contractions were between 5-10 minutes apart, so not a huge rush.

In the next hour Zach and Mom were in and out, setting things up, praying with me through contractions. The Hail Mary's and music on my birth playlist were so helpful for keeping me motivated. The Piano Guys instrumental version of "A Thousand Years" and Josh Groban's "Falling Slowly" were two that really resonated with me.

Deb got here a couple of minutes before 10, and my first contraction after that, I felt the urge to push. I told her and she said we would see what the next one was like. The next contraction was really mild, so Zach ran inside to set the couch up for me to use when we were done outside, and my Mom went to put the fan in the kitchen window because the sausage had made it smoky. No sooner were they gone than another contraction started and I knew it was time for the baby to come out. I am a really quiet birther - quiet as in silent, but I couldn't help letting out low pushing sounds. Mom heard through the open window and dashed out. I don't know if she made it before Evie crowned, but her head was already out when Zach got back onto the porch. It felt like one long push and she was out. Mom said it was probably 3 pushing contractions, but I never stopped pushing. It seemed like an eternity, but in reality maybe a minute? The cord was around her neck, and her chest was wider than her head so Deb helped wiggle it out, but she made it out smoothly.

I knew she was a girl without being told. Deb was suctioning her behind me and without thinking I asked if she was okay. A second later she was in my arms. My sweet, vernix covered little girl. Tony came out and met his little sister. His face was so precious.

At one point he reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. 

We stayed in the pool until the cord stopped pulsing and we clamped it. Then we took up residence on the sofa for the rest of the afternoon. 

A few of the blessings I am counting: Minimal blood loss. Deb said I lost less blood than anyone she's ever seen. No tearing. I was praying to get away without a tear this time, and it has been awesome. That my Mom was here. We kept joking that I would end up having the baby one of the times she wasn't here, but God had other plans, and I'm really glad. My milk has come in already. It came in quickly with Tony, but you never know. Evie has nursing figured out, too, which is fantastic.

Evie has been such a good baby so far. She is a great snuggler. Tony is still in love with her. He runs into my room when he hears her crying, "Baby EBIE!" It makes me so happy!

The birthday buddies. We wondered if she would end up sharing a birthday with someone in the family, and she decided to join Cora on her first birthday. Sweet girls.

Love,

Jess

Pregnancy & Post-partum related sewing

Birth Ball Cover

 

I finally got myself together and made a cover for my birth ball. I love it! It makes it seem like a piece of furniture, and less like a work out accessory. It was super easy, but I don't think I would have been able to figure it out on my own - go here for a great, simple tutorial.

This knit was one of many tie dye-ish prints I got for a buck a yard at our Wal-Mart last summer. Can't beat that!

{Click below to read more!}

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

{pretty}

Sweet little Cora is turning one on the 19th, and I wanted to do something special for her. While walking around Wal-Mart one afternoon, I came across a spool of ribbon on clearance that was too cute and made me think of her. So I bought it, hoping that I could come up with something to use it on.

I can't remember if it was Google or Pinterest that led me to this Peasant Dress Pattern, but it was the only thing I could find that didn't say to just use a shirt you already have for your bodice (which I would have done, had I found a 12 month top in my bin of girl clothes).

Isn't that ribbon adorable? So simple, but something about the blue, with the pink dots...it spoke to me. The bodice fabric is from a shirt that my Mom gave me to convert into a maternity top (which I haven't done, because I'm lame). It had long sleeves, so I cut them off where I wanted, and between the two it was enough for the front and back!

The bird fabric has been in my stash for some time. I think I was pregnant with Tony when I picked it up. Just a half-yard of each, with a quilt in mind, should he have been a girl. If you can see in the picture, I gathered the center piece on the sides. I love that look. It did take a good deal of trimming at the top and bottom to make the hem even once it was attached. I think it still dips a tad lower than the rest. Oh well.

I even serged the inside seams! (Except the center back, which makes me sad, but by the time I figured the tension problem out, it was too late for that one.)

The bodice looked really wide to me, so I added elastic to the waist. Seeing Cora again this week, it would have fit her just fine, but it looks a little more princess-y with the gathered waist. 

{happy}

 In between trips up here, my parents made new wooden drawers for me! I only have three drawers in my kitchen, and they were plastic and broken off of their runners. The fronts are wood, and attached by L brackets, so it was really simple to put the new ones on. They're so nice and clean and work much better.

 Cabinet doors! Some of the doors still need a little bit of paint work, unfortunately, but they are done enough to be on, and it has brightened up the kitchen. I'm rethinking the green on the top, but that can be dealt with at some point in the future.

{funny}

 This goose seemed as interested in Tony as Tony was in it. Thankfully he wasn't hissing. Zach laughs at my fear of the geese, but when you're faced with over 25 geese, and they are hissing at you, it's a little unsettling.

 I was trying so hard to get his face in a picture, but he kept foiling me. That's what happens when you are pregnant and slow. 

Even more than watching geese, Tony loves to chase them. He likes to chase them into the pond if he can. It's the cutest thing.

{real}

In an attempt to be prepared for Baby coming early, we set up and filled the birth pool. It had been up for just over a week, when I heard a dripping sound...I thought it was rain, but for whatever reason looked into the living room, and there was water dripping off the plaster, onto the table, and on the floor. I sent Zach a text and ran upstairs to start the pump to drain it, which wasn't working as fast as I hoped. Zach made it home quickly, and ended up opening the window in Tony's room, scooping buckets out and dumping them out the window. He was like Superman. He had it empty in a blink, and then went downstairs to figure out what to do. As you can see in the picture, plaster and slats came down. Thankfully it will fixable with sheetrock, and we have a bucket of ceiling paint in the basement for when that is done.


When I called my Mom to tell her, I jokingly said that it was going to put me into labor. She started packing up to head back here. I did start having contractions in the afternoon that went on for a couple of hours. Deb came to check me in the evening and I had dilated to 4-5cm, but things slowed down and we're still waiting. Hopefully it won't be too long, though! I'm still having random sets of contractions (honest to goodness contractions, not Braxton Hicks), which is good, but can be frustrating because every time you start to hope it's kicking in for real. I'm so happy to have my Mom here, though. It definitely makes the days go by more enjoyably, and I don't have to worry about what we will do with Tony when I do go into labor.

I really didn't want to lose my water birth, so Zach set up the pool on the back porch and hung sheets over the windows so it will be private. It's a little crazy sounding, but we don't have to worry about water damage! The neighbors were gawking while Zach was putting it all together, which makes me laugh, despite the rudeness of it. I'm wondering what they will think when I'm in labor (if it's during a time that they will be outside). I doubt they can really think we're any more weird than they already do, haha.

Head over to Like Mother, Like Daughter for more...

Hey, Baby!

I don't know if it's the shirt, or reality, but I feel like my belly looks a good deal bigger today.

My awesome midwife came to our house today. I emailed her yesterday because I started freaking out. I had a contraction that woke me up in the middle of the night, which hasn't happened before. After going to Ithaca and doing all of my errands, I was feeling pretty good, but had this nagging worry. So, I went ahead and tried to check myself. I don't really know why I did. I have limited (read: next to none) experience, but in a moment of pregnancy panic, I gave it a shot. And totally felt like I was about 2cm.

That added to my panic, and got me to send an email off to Deb. (I'm the world's biggest baby when it comes to calling. It makes me feel like there really is a problem, and I just cry.)

When she wrote me back and said that we should meet today, I was prepared to drive to her office, but she was going to be passing by us in a roundabout way and saved me the trip.

She confirmed my guess that I'm about 2cm, and said I'm 50% effaced with baby at -1 to 0 station. In spite of the ramifications of that confirmation, I was glad to know that my guessing was accurate.

Since we're still two weeks from the minimum ideal delivery time, I've been put on light duty only and am not allowed to travel far (no more Ithaca until Baby gets here!). Once I get to 36 weeks I can resume normal activities, but still have to stay close to home.

Please pray that the next two weeks go smoothly. Deb is highly doubtful that I will make it past 38 weeks, and we could be looking at sooner than that. Which is exciting and also kind of like, "Oh my gosh. I am totally not ready for this."

Tony turns 2 on Saturday, and I can't believe it's already been 2 years since he made his entrance into the world. He brings me so much joy, and amazes me every day with the things he learns.

Hope a good Sunday was had by all!
Love,
Jess

This lady deserves a round of applause...

Hopefully she doesn't mind, I'm just so happy for her, and proud of her strength...

On Tuesday my friend Meg gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. I had the great honor of attending her birth as a doula (I was kind of nervous - it was my first birth in that role!).

This birth was a little extra special: It was a VBAC. Meg was up against a doctor who was ready to do another c-section at the slightest stall, and total exhaustion from laboring through the night. She and her husband were a great team, and stood their ground, doing everything they could to have a natural birth.

After about 26 hours of labor, she pushed out sweet little Penny. On her own.

You were amazing, Meg. Thank you for letting me be a part of your birth. I will never forget it. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you aren't strong enough - just remember Penny's birth and know that you can do anything.

"Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers - strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength." 

 Barbara Katz Rothman 

"I think one of the best things we could do would be to help women/parents/families discover their own birth power, from within themselves. And to let them know it's always been there, they just needed to tap into it." 

John H. Kennell, MD 

"The whole point of woman-centered birth is the knowledge that a woman is the birth power source. She may need, and deserve, help, but in essence, she always had, currently has, and will have the power." Heather McCue 

Also, a huge thank you to my Mother. She sat in the waiting room from 1:30am until 4pm (at which point she took Tony with her to her midwife appointment!) watching my own precious baby so that I could be with Meg. I love you, Mom. (For anyone wondering, Tony was an absolute angel. I nursed him every two hours, and he was quiet and happy staying with my Mom. That was a great blessing.)

I think this will be my motto as a doula:

"Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well."

Mother Teresa