Well, both kids are sleeping, Zach is tackling the garage for a couple of hours and I don't feel like I am going to fall over. Tired, yes, but I am not about to pass out. Life is good. So I thought I would take this opportunity to fill in some of the details for those of you who want to know about the delivery.
Contractions started on Wednesday the 4th. They were light enough that life just went on. They pretty much continued that way until Saturday night when we were 
able to time the contractions 5 minutes apart for about 30 seconds each. They were still easy and I was determined to get as much sleep as possible. So we went to bed and I was able to sleep until 6 am when the contractions were strong enough to wake me up. Before getting out of bed Zach timed the contractions at 2.5 minutes to 3 minutes apart. They were still only 30 seconds long though. We knew this was going to be the day. Zach called my mom and Carolyn, our doula (birthing coach) and they headed our way.
able to time the contractions 5 minutes apart for about 30 seconds each. They were still easy and I was determined to get as much sleep as possible. So we went to bed and I was able to sleep until 6 am when the contractions were strong enough to wake me up. Before getting out of bed Zach timed the contractions at 2.5 minutes to 3 minutes apart. They were still only 30 seconds long though. We knew this was going to be the day. Zach called my mom and Carolyn, our doula (birthing coach) and they headed our way.After taking a sho
wer the contractions slowed down to about 4 or 5 minutes apart. Zach, Mom, Carolyn and I just hung out in our living room talking and laughing for the next couple of hours. By about 10am the contractions were getting hard enough that I couldn't talk through them and had to focus on what was happening. By 1050, the contractions were consistantly less than 3 minutes apart and longer than a minute long. I had wanted to stay home as long as possible to avoid any chance that they would push me towards interventions to speed things along. At that point Carolynn started encouraging me to think about going to the hospital.
wer the contractions slowed down to about 4 or 5 minutes apart. Zach, Mom, Carolyn and I just hung out in our living room talking and laughing for the next couple of hours. By about 10am the contractions were getting hard enough that I couldn't talk through them and had to focus on what was happening. By 1050, the contractions were consistantly less than 3 minutes apart and longer than a minute long. I had wanted to stay home as long as possible to avoid any chance that they would push me towards interventions to speed things along. At that point Carolynn started encouraging me to think about going to the hospital.We loaded everythinng into the car and headed towards Bellingham. Unfortunatly we took the Guide with its many construction bumps. Wrong choice. The bumps did nothing to ease contractions. At the hospital we got all the paper work out of the way and they checked me to see how much progress I had made. I was only dialated to a 4 and 90% efaced. This was rather discouraging as I was at 2cm the previous Thursday, at my doctors appointment. We got moved into our room and continued laboring there. When they checked me again at 2pm I was at 6cm, at 4pm I was at 8cm, at 455pm I was at 9cm and the doctor decided she wanted to break the water. I really didn't want her to, but by that point the contractions were so intense that I had to really focus in on what my body was doing and I couldn't find a good argument. She was concerned about merconeum in the water due to Ellie being 2 days overdue.
So she broke my water and the contractions intensified tenfold. The doctor told me to let them know when I felt the urge to push. I kept telling everyone "I don't want to push, I am not ready to push". They reassured me that I didn't have to. Before I knew it though my body started pushing on its own. I could hear everyone yelling at me from different sides but I had no idea what they were saying. Zach finally snapped me out of it enough to remind me just to get through this one contraction. I felt like yelling at him, you just don't understand, the baby is coming and I can't stop it. I am not sure if I actually vocolized it. I think I just stayed inside of myself.
Inside I was screaming I can't do this for 53 minutes, the length it took to get Samuel out. Just then someone told me to take my baby. I later found out that second stage labor was less than 5 minutes and pushing was less than 60 seconds, probably because I kept ignoring the thought of pushing until my body forced me to do it. My doctor didn't even have time to get her second glove on. She said it was the first time in a long time she had a one gloved delivery.
Ellianna had a bruised forhead and hadn't gotten all of the stuff out of her lungs due to the rushed exit. But other than that she was strong and healthy. 8lbs 1oz after feeding, 20.5 inches long. Her full name is Ellianna Grace.
I acheived my goal. A fully unmedicated, intervention free birth. The only thing that was not according to how I had planned was the breaking of the water. I never would have acheived this goal without my support team. My mom was there to encourage me when I needed it. Carolynn was amazing. She took all of the pressure off of Zach, she remembered the water, wet washclothes, icechips, back pressure, shoulder massage and much much more. This allowed Zach to stay where I needed him, in my face reassuring me, encouraging me and keeping me focused.
Now life is getting a little more settled. I have had help pretty consistantly since her birth, between Zach, our moms, and some wonderful friends we have had someone to help me with Samuel all the time. We also were blessed to have a number of meals delivered to make life easier. We should be covered for meals until at least next Wednesday.
Well that is all for now.
