And finally, I will share the story of how he came into this world.
(side note: the times noted are mostly guesses, but fairly close and I *think* I'm getting the details right as I feel like I was sort of having an out-of-body experience at times!)
After having a c-section with N and hating the whole hospital experience (we had tried for & labored for a while at Breath of Life Birth Center), there was absolutely no question that we would plan for a home birth this time around (HBAC = home birth after cesarean). We would have gone back to the birth center, but the State of Florida does not permit mothers to have VBAC's in birth centers. I figure that despite my age and the fact that I have a bicornuate uterus and a wonky pelvis, since I am healthy there was absolutely no reason for me to be in the hospital (they're for sick people, right?). At 20-something weeks I finally decided on a midwife and was extremely happy that she would come to our home for each appointment. It was really nice because N was able to become familiar with her and her assistant who would be at the birth.
My guess date (September 1st) came and went even after I was pretty sure that he'd come early. Once that day arrived I began having weekly chiropractor and acupuncture sessions, doing moxibustion and acupressure to gently encourage him out. The little one had other plans, and each day N would speak to my belly (along with her blowing raspberries on my belly!!) and say "Baby Brother, come out now! I want to play with you!" (I had also watched home water births on YouTube with her so that she would be more familiar with what how Baby Brother would probably be born because we wanted her to be home, even if she had a friend over to play with during the labor.)
The night of September 9th, she said good night to me and "Baby Brother", and while B was putting her to sleep, the rushes began around 10:30pm. I was able to continue working on the dishes and trying to clean up a bit knowing that this was probably "it." When I went in the bedroom, N was asleep and I woke B up to tell him what was going on. We couldn't decide if we should sleep or do some last minute nesting, but decided we should try to rest if possible! Of course, that didn't last long for me. I could not get comfy and while the waves & rushes were timeable they weren't horrible and I was able to get through them to the next one. I think it was around 1am that I decided to sit in the tub. I texted with my doula just to let her know what was going on - and then around 3:30am or so (I think!), I called my midwife to let her know that the rushes were coming around 5 minutes and lasting over a minute. Then I woke B and we started getting the house ready knowing that this little man would soon make his arrival.
My midwife arrived around 5:30am. She checked me right away and (if I remember correctly), I was only 2cm and 80% effaced and the baby was at station -2. This was a bit of a letdown for me, considering I am pretty sure he had been MUCH, MUCH lower (I had been walking around for the past few weeks feeling like he could have fallen out!). I then had my doula come over and when she arrived we went for a long walk. When we got back I decided would like to get into the backyard pool. While it was a bit chilly, it was nice, and B & N joined me in the pool. My rushes had not gotten closer together since my midwife arrived so she was going to go pick up breakfast, but just as she was pulling out of the driveway, my water broke and my rushes suddenly picked up in timing and strength.
We decided to come in out of the rain and B had filled the birth tub in the living room while I was walking earlier, so I hopped in there for some warmth and labored for a while in there. The rushes were definitely increasing, and then I got out because I was too warm. I tried different positions, and then I think it was around 9 or 9:30am when my midwife decided to check me again (I was getting to that real complaining stage) - and sure enough, I was complete with just a slight "lip" but he was still at station -2. But I couldn't believe it! Here I was at home - and had labored with no issues and was about to have my baby at home like I had dreamed all this pregnancy, and if all went well, I couldn't believe that I'd probably have him by 10am - which would be WAY shorter of a labor than I had with N.
Well, since baby was still up so high, my midwife suggested that I try to "labor down" for a bit and see if we could speed things along. I tried many different positions to get him down - pushing, pushing, and pushing for hours. And then my back seriously felt like it was going to break in half - so I'm pretty sure that's when he flipped to posterior. Anyways.... I like I mentioned, I pushed, pushed and pushed some more. I think it was around 3 hours of pushing when my motherly instinct told me this wasn't happening and he was stuck (a bit like his big sister). My midwife encouraged me to continue pushing and change up positions to see if that would open me up a bit more, but when she checked me again (another hour later), there had been no change, my pelvis wasn't opening up any more. And then after remembering that baby boys head had measured over 40wks in size at a 36wk ultrasound (but yes, taking into account that heads are squishy and can usually fit through a normal pelvis), it was pretty obvious that this was not going to happen the way we planned, and I asked to go to the hospital (ok, at this point, I think I was begging to go). And once it was decided, I pretty much gave up on pushing and my Hypnobabies (the method I was using to work through labor).
Ugh. Definitely not what we wanted. Definitely not what we had hoped or planned for (not even a bag packed or anything). But definitely necessary if we wanted to see our baby.
B & I got into our doula's car and she drove us downtown to the hospital, and I admit, I was a horrible patient upon arrival! (Umm....hello...I'm 10cm and having the worst back labor ever!!) Anyways - it seemed to take them FOREVER (I am seriously impatient as it is), but I had to have an exam, ultrasound, bloodwork, etc. all before they could send me to the OR (which I was constantly asking for!).
---- Back up to the exam - the OB checked me (confirming that I was "complete") and noted that there was no way I could ever give birth vaginally because my pelvis was not able to open any further and would not be able to ever push even a tiny baby out. Normally, something like that would have sent me for a loop and may not have even believed him, but being that here I am trying to give birth to my 2nd (and last) baby, and pretty much begging for a c/s, it just confirmed my mama instincts from earlier that he was stuck up in there.
Once the bloodwork finally came back they wheeled me to the OR and got me all hooked up and the spinal in. B & our doula were both able to join me (so thankful!) and about 15 minutes later, at 4:20pm on 9/10/11, our little boy was born. All 8pounds, 7 ounces and 20-1/2 inches long!
We all love him and KFH is a great addition to our little family!
