Sunday, March 3, 2013

My Natural Birth Story - Short and Long Versions! :D

For the busy folks who just want the stats I've written a short version of my sons birth (scroll down past the long version to find it).  For those of you who want the nitty-gritty details... you get the long version (with a few pics... no gross ones, don't worry lol)!  :-)


LONG VERSION:

Colton David – EDD: Nov 29th 2012 – Actual Gestation: 40 weeks + 4 days

This is what the FOURTH trimester looks like! 
On a sunny Sunday, December 2nd, Jese (husband) woke me up around 7am (which he later felt horribly guilty for since we had quite a long day that day haha) after he could not sleep (again) as he anxiously thought of when our baby would finally make his arrival.  He hadn’t slept past 3am for about a week as we waited and wondered when “the big day” would be. 

As we sat and chatted in bed I had a contraction.  I had been having them on and off for the past week or so, so I didn’t get too excited.  Jese and I decided to take Daphne and Drake for a walk to see if we could keep the contractions going.  We walked around the neighborhood a few times and the contractions continued. 

When we came back to the house I told both Grandma’s about the contractions so we started to take mental notes of when they occurred to see if they had a pattern.  They were coming about 8 minutes apart.  We sat and chatted for a bit and the contractions kept coming.  I grabbed my birth ball and rolled on it during the contractions to practice relaxing fully during.  After an hour or so I decided to take a shower and get ready.  I wanted to look pretty if this was the day my son would be born!  HA!  One does not “look pretty” while in labor! (Well, at least not unmedicated labor!) ;)

In the shower I continued to practice my relaxation during contractions.  As I got my make up on and dried my hair it became more and more obvious that the contractions were not stopping.  I started to time them with my baby app.  They were about 5 minutes apart. They came in a pattern of two easier contractions, and one a bit stronger.  This pattern actually stayed consistent through the entire first stage.

Jese made a healthy lunch for us to make sure I had fuel in my system (Grilled chicken, sweet potato fries, and avocado).  At this point the contractions were strong enough to make me focus inward and be silent during.  After lunch I went into our bedroom and worked through each contraction.  My mom and Jese went in and out of the room getting our things ready for the hospital.  I liked being on all fours and rocking during the contractions (which felt like period type cramps).  It felt good to move rhythmically forward and back.  When Jese and I were alone I let myself cry a little bit.  I was scared.  Ready, excited, but also scared.  I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do this naturally OR medicated!  Jese said I was doing great and that I was totally and completely prepared for this.  He never left my side from that moment on.

Mom brought my ball in and I used it to lean on during the contractions.  I think I began moaning during contractions at this point.  It truly helped release the sensations I was feeling down there.  I continued to moan throughout the entire day.  It hurt NOT to moan. 

At this point I already felt physically tired which scared me a bit knowing that this was only the beginning.  This is when time started passing without me knowing it.  My focus turned almost completely inward and I used my months of relaxation practice to help get me through each contraction.  I opened my eye’s only a handful of times from this point on.  I truly went “inside myself” as many of my books talked about.

In what seemed to be a 20min period (which was actually about a 2 hour period) my contractions were at 2 min apart.  Jese called Uta (my doula) and she headed over to the house.  Quickly after he called her though it was clear we had to get to the hospital.  An hour drive was still ahead of us. 

We all got into our cars.  My mom, Jese and I in the truck, Uta in her car, and Jese’s mom in my car.  It was about 3pm.  I had mapped out a special route through base using back roads which were travelled lightly and had no traffic lights.  It was the perfect route if we didn’t get stuck behind any military caravans… of course, today we did!   The military vehicles were going 35mph in a 55!  Jese about had an aneurism!   Finally they turned off the road and Jese proceeded to do 80 the rest of the way to the hospital.  We still made the trip in an hours time! :D  The drive was not as bad as I thought it would be comfort wise.  My mom sat in the back seat and helped support a bit of my weight from behind while I sat on the edge of the front seat and continued to rock forward and back during contractions.

When we arrived at the Hospital we checked into the ER.  They offered me a wheelchair to sit in multiple times while waiting for our escort to Labor/Delivery.  I remember getting irritated with them and thinking if I wanted to sit down I would sit on the floor, stop asking me!  Of course I didn’t say this because at this point speaking was of little priority. 

Peggy, my favorite midwife, was on duty!  Yipee!  She had a calming and knowledgeable presence.  She supported my birth plan and had delivered all 7 of her children naturally.  She was the perfect person to help me achieve my goal of natural birth.

I got changed into my labor clothes and I agreed to have Peggy check me.  I was already at 6cm!!  They used a portable, handheld fetal heart monitor and found our sons heart rate was strong and staying strong during contractions!!  He’s a champ already!



I got into the tub and loved it.  I tried a few positions and was able to work with contractions well.  It didn’t really make the contractions any less painful but it allowed me to rest much more completely between contractions, which helped me conserve my precious energy.  Apparently I was in there for quite a while… Time was such an illusion.  I started having the urge to push around 10pm I got out of the tub and Peggy checked me again (my bag of waters hadn’t broken so I didn’t see the harm in it)… I was 9 centimeters! Oh thank the heavens!

At no point during the day did I entertain the idea of asking for drugs.  I thought I would have been fighting myself the entire time.  To my surprise I only searched my memory for my “safe word” once just in case I needed it, but after that it wasn’t even a thought.  (“Safe Word” is a word I would say if I wanted drugs.  If I didn’t say my safe word but was saying things like “I can’t do this” etc Jese, my mom, and Uta would know that I just needed to change position or something). It wasn’t that I thought I was strong enough or that I was doing well… I actually thought the opposite.  I had planned to go limp and completely relaxed DURING contractions to “get out of the way “ of my body rather than fighting it by tensing up (I read this in one of my books).  I could not stay still for the life of me during contractions though.  I had to move.  While reclining in the tub I would move my legs as if I was marching, shaking my head slowly from right to left, and rub Jese’s thumb (yea… I don’t know where that last one came from either).  I imagine I looked like Stevie Wonder! Lol  Because of this movement I felt like I wasn’t “doing it right”.  I doubted myself but never in a “can I do this naturally or can’t I” type way.  I just didn’t think I was doing that well and that was that.  Ultimately I feared the change that would have to occur if I did ask for medication.  I would have to work through a number of contractions out of the tub in positions that were not of my choosing while the medication was administered.  I knew I was handling everything up until this point... I didn't want to change positions or move to a new location and lose control.  I was also too focused on what I was doing to have the "should I get drugs or shouldn't I" argument going on in my head.  I just took one contraction at a time.  When one was over Jese/mom/Uta coached me to let go of all my tension and rest.  When the next one came I went into my rhythm and breathed through it.  There was no past or future.... I was completely in the moment.  When the moment passed it was gone and of no concern.  The total relaxation between contractions helped immensely.  I did that part VERY well and I think my months of relaxation practice really helped with that.

So back to it… Peggy just checked me and I was at 9cm, my sons heart rate was staying ridiculously regular during contractions (the nurses even talked about how awesome he was doing) and it was around 10pm on Dec 2nd….. At that point I thought to myself “no way this boy is being born on the 3rd” (Jese’s basketball number).  

I wish I would've bought a prettier gown! lol 
I was unpleasantly surprised that when pushing became a “need” over a “desire” it did not feel as “good” as what all my books told me it would.   Actually, I would say that it was the hardest part.  I was exhausted and the added effort having to be put forth was very discouraging.  I again thought to myself “I am not doing very well”.  I was still too focused to have thoughts of getting medication though.  I tried the all fours position and hated it.  I tried squatting and it exhausted me without actually doing anything. 

Peggy came in and had me lay on my back.  I thought that it was a stupid idea based off of all that I read (it limits your pelvis from opening fully, and you essentially have to push the baby "up hill") but was too exhausted to switch positions and if I was flat on my back at least I could rest between contractions more fully.  Once Peggy started to guide/direct my pushing things started to actually happen.  She gave me great direction to make my efforts actually do something!  Of course every time she said that I was pushing correctly it was the time when it was the hardest.  My upper abs were cramping making it hard to take deep breaths and it felt like I was pushing against a brick wall.   It was truly “labor”.  I remember saying that if I could just take a nap and come back to this I could finish strong.  Hahaha I wish!  She also did not allow Jese or my mom to support the weight of my legs during a push.  I had to do the work myself to push properly.  God I was so tired!  I wanted that nap!

At this point my water had yet to break.  Peggy knew I wanted as little medical intervention as possible so she asked if I wanted her to break it.  There are a million reason to NOT have the water broken manually at the beginning/middle of labor, but when I am already in the pushing stage he’s almost out anyway.  You can say that it speeds up labor but who really knows.  My concern was that Peggy said it may change the way the contractions feel (they may feel stronger).  I wasn’t too sure about that.  I knew I could handle whatever was happening up until this point.  I didn’t want things to change and me lose it.  Of course all of this is going on in my head but I can’t communicate it whatsoever. I don’t recall what I actually got out of my mouth but it was probably broken sentences containing only pertinent words.  With Jese’s and Uta’s help we decided to have her break the bag.  It didn’t hurt when she did it, and it didn’t change the feeling of the contractions at all.  Yipee!

Towards the end of the pushing stage was the hardest because he was now low enough that between contractions I was still feeling intense period like cramps and was unable to relax/breath.  I was holding my breath during a push and having a hard time catching my breath between contractions because of the pressure.  At this point I just wanted it to be over!  I wasn’t fearing the pain, I wasn’t thinking about medication, I just wanted to be done!! 


Fricken FINALLY I’m told that he is crowning (I can’t tell… whether he is an inch away from crowning or actually crowning… it all feels like period cramps and pressure).  When he crowned Peggy told me to stop pushing and wait till the next contraction so I could stretch slowly.  That sucked!  To not push when you want to push… blah! I “motor boated” my lips to get through it and “Stevie Wonder’d” my head really fast. Haha Hey, whatever man!  I’m still here and I have a baby so it must have worked! Lol  



FINALLY, with the onset of the next contraction, and me yelling (because no freaking way am I going to have one more contraction… this labor is over NOW) I was able to push his head out and continue to push the rest of his body out.  BAM! I’m a Mom!

12:53 am on Dec 3rd!  I had pushed for 3 fricken hours!  It did not feel THAT long, although it did feel like the hardest/longest part of labor.  My Colton was immediately put to my chest, Jese broke down and began to cry, and I felt an overwhelming release. An event that I had feared IMMENSELY for the last 24 years.... An event I had tirelessly studied/practiced for during the last 9 months... had come and gone.  I was no longer the person I was 18 hours ago. I was stronger, more amazing, more women... I was Mom!


He didn’t start to breath/cry on his own right away.  I wasn’t worried at all because his umbilical cord was going to stay intact until it stopped pulsating (about 3minutes for him) so I was still breathing for him.  Peggy encouraged me to talk to him, and massage him to help wake him up.  I could hear him trying to make little cries, and after a minute or two he let out the cutest high pitched wale I’d ever heard.  He is perfect! 





We were able to sit like that for quite some time... I think about an hour and a half total of  skin to skin bonding. They weighed and measured him in the room.  We found out why it took me 3 hours to push him out… he was 9lbs 10.5 oz, 22.5 inches long!  Paleo grows them big apparently!  
He already has longer hair than Dad!


I did it.  I had a (HUGE) perfect, healthy baby NATURALLY.  And Jese got his wish of a December THIRD baby (labor start to finish was 18 hours long).  Although I was feeling a lot of self doubt on how I was doing throughout the entire day I was too focused on taking one contraction at a time to think about medication.  I am unsure though, that if someone would have offered them to me that I wouldn’t have taken it.  (I would have thought “they must know that I’m not doing a good job and I need it” because I already felt that self doubt)  Not once did Jese, my mom, Uta, or any of the nurses on duty offer or even mention drugs.  THAT was key to my success I believe. 


The best thing I did in preparing for Coltons birth was to have a team that believed in what I was striving for and believed that I could do it.  I was completely unable to make decisions during labor.  “I don’t know” was the only thing I could think when asked questions directly.  Having not only my team but the staff on hand know my birth plan, and support it was key.  The nurses quickly stopped asking me questions and started directing them at Jese when we first arrived at the hospital because he knew everything I wanted/needed.  He was amazing throughout the entire day.  Not once did he freak out.  He knew what I wanted and made it happen.  Colton’s birth was absolutely perfect.  I wouldn’t have changed a single thing… well maybe that military caravan could have at least gone the speed limit! 

Our ride home... 3 days old!
As I sat there with him on my chest I felt like I had earned him.  I worked so hard to get him here and he was mine.  There are really no words to explain the feeling.

FUNNY SIDE NOTE:  While we sat there in the delivery room I eventually said "Umm Ya'll... I'm not forgetting like everyone said I would.  I remember quite clearly how much that just sucked!"  hahaha  But eventually he was 4 hours old, and as he slept on my chest the details started to get fuzzy.  The next day, even more so.  Now (three months later) all I can remember is that it was the hardest work I'd ever done with the greatest reward I'd ever received.  

I am so happy with how his birth went.  So pleased that I was able to give Colton what I believe to be the best start in life.  And you know what… I am DAMN proud of myself!  I’m a freaking BAMF!!!! (Bad A$$ Mother F….) 
3 months old and loving life... and BOOBS! :D

STATS:
Boy!
9# 10.5oz
22.5inches
18 hours of labor from the first contraction to the last push
3 hours of pushing














SHORT VERSION:
On a sunny Sunday, December 2nd, Jese woke me up around 7am (which he later felt horribly guilty for since we had quite a long day that day haha) after he could not sleep (again) as he anxiously thought of when our baby would finally make his arrival.  He hadn’t slept past 3am for about a week as we waited and wondered when “the big day” would be.  We sat there chatting when very light contractions started.  They continued through the morning and by lunch time we knew that today was the day! 

After a healthy lunch I worked through my contractions on all fours, leaning on my exercise ball.  It was most comfortable to rock forward and back and moan lightly to relax.  From this point on I went completely “inside myself”.  I barely opened my eyes until my son was in my arms the next day.  I truly went “inside myself” as many of my books talked about.  Time also became a complete illusion.  What I thought was 20 minutes was actually 2 hours! 

After having my doula come to the house we were ready to head to the hospital.  It was an hour drive to the hospital of my choosing.   The drive was not bad at all.  We got stuck behind some slow military caravan at one point but once past them we were able to make up our time through speeding like crazy! Lol

My favorite midwife was on duty that day (yippee), Peggy, who had delivered her 7 children naturally and completely supported my birth plan.  She checked me and I was 6cm already!  They used a hand held fetal heart monitor and found my sons heart beat was strong and staying that way even through contractions.

I chose to labor the remainder of the first stage in the tub.  I found a rhythm and stuck with it.  Once I started feeling the urge to push my midwife offered to check me again.  My water had yet to break so I agreed.  I was 9cm with a cervical lip on one side. 

When it was time to push I started on all fours… hated that position.  Tried squatting… hated it (I was too exhausted to hold myself up and push).  Finally Peggy returned after caring for another mother and suggested I lie flat on my back.  I thought it was stupid (and actually said so) because of all that I read on how it’s the worst position to be in to push.  I gave in though and wouldn’t have gotten up if someone gave me a million dollars.  I could lay back and completely rest between contractions… I needed that.  I remember saying I wanted to a take a nap and start pushing again when I woke up.  I was tired! 

At some point Peggy did end up breaking the bag of waters (after asking permission of course).  I was so far along I didn’t feel like it would hinder the process in any way.

Finally with the guidance of peggy I started to make some progress with my pushes.  Of course when she told me I was pushing correctly it was when it was the hardest!  My upper abs were cramping, making it hard to breath, and she made me hold my own legs while pushing rather than letting my husband and mom do that for me.  It sucked.  Pushing did not “feel good” as all my books told me it would.  To me it was the hardest, most exhausting part.  

Towards the end it became very challenging.  My son was low enough now that between contractions I would still feel immense pressure down there (like period cramps).  There was no resting from the pressure from here on out.  Freaking FINALLY Peggy told me she could see the head during contractions.  When he was crowning she told me to stop pushing to allow the stretch to occur slowly.  With the onset of the next contraction and with some grunting/yelling (no way I was going to have one more contraction! This was over NOW!) his head and then shoulders were delivered.  BAM! I’m a Mom!!!

Colton David was put to my chest immediately and he was perfect.  He didn’t breath very strongly right away but that wasn’t an issue because the umbilical cord was staying attached until it stopped pulsating (was around 3 minutes for him) so I was still breathing for him.  Within that 3 minutes, and after I massaged and talked to him, he let out the sweetest high pitched wale I’d ever heard!

We bonded right there for over an hour before they weighed/measured him in the room.  I had pushed for 3 hours and we finally knew why it took so long… he was 9pounds 10.5oz and 22.5inches long!  He was HUGE!  

Not once did anyone offer me medication…. Not once did I even think about getting it.  With relaxing completely between contractions, finding my rhythm in movement and breathing during contractions, and a support team who knew exactly what I wanted and believed I could do it, I was able to give my son what I felt was the best start to his life.  I’m so proud of myself for achieving this goal.  I worked incredibly hard to get my son into the world and he is mine…. I earned him… and he is perfect.  


Monday, November 5, 2012

"Quit Quitting" and Almond Joy Recipe!

As I near the end of this pregnancy (only 24 more days till my due date!) I am starting to get in the mind set of getting that pre-baby shape back.  If I were to give myself a letter grade for the last month of paleo eating it would be a big fat "F"!  Moving across country and Halloween were no bueno on the eating for me.  I have no excuse other than I wanted fast food damn it and I ate it! :-P  The overall pregnancy I would say I get a B.  I wasn't perfect, but there were more successful days than not.  

Thinking back to the recent debauchery of Halloween.... Have you ever noticed that when you "cheat" its hard to get back on track because your cravings seem to be ever present for the next few days? 

I read somewhere... have no idea if it's true or not... that our taste buds have a life cycle of 7-10 days.  So here is my theory:

Lets say I "cheat" on a halloween size bag of Reese's Peanut Butter cups (metaphorically speaking of course.... cough cough... wink wink... damn on sale halloween candy).... The next few days all I can think about is getting more processed sugar!  Ice cream, donuts, candy, gas station danishes (don't judge me)!  My cravings are all consuming.  My normal apple/almond butter treat is not in the "treat" category anymore.  How could it be with it's naturally occurring sugars, high fiber content, and lack of high fructose corn syrup??  Psha!!!  

Through the incessant nagging of my crack addicted taste buds I abstain from processed sugar for a few days.... 

Then I bite into a beautiful, crimson, juice filled strawberry and suddenly... miraculously... I am taken to the same euphoria as the entire bag of PB Cups!  Oh you juicy little piece of heaven you! 

So it's my thoughts that our taste buds are part of the reason the first few days of cleaned up eating are much harder than future days.  Once those crack addicted buds die off, your new ones are going to crave the good stuff (apples, strawberries, etc).  You'll find a new appreciation for the sweet juice of a ripened pear, or the crisp crunch of a fresh carrot!  

You just have to wait till those darn addicted buds die off!  

The next statement is completely true, so listen up:
It takes 2-6 weeks for your body to respond to a new eating and/or workout routine.  It takes 4-8 weeks for you to start seeing results either on the scale or in the mirror (preferable mirror because the scale can be deceiving).  It will take 8+ weeks for other people to start noticing your progress.  

SO QUIT QUITTING AFTER A WEEK OF CHANGING YOUR ROUTINE!  Quit quitting after 2 weeks.  Quit quitting after 3 weeks!  If you really, TRULY want to make changes in your health, and/or appearance stick with it for AT LEAST 3 months!  Yes THREE whole months!  I guarantee you that within that 3 month time frame you will start noticing the changes and your motivation to keep it up will SKY ROCKET!  The first month to month and a half is the hardest because you are working your butt off and you can't see the difference.  Just hold on friend!  Don't give in!  It took time to put on weight or create disease inside your body... it's going to take time to get either of them off/out!  

Moral of the story?

KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON FREINDS!!!! 


For those sweet tooth attacks here is a recipe....

"Practically" Paleo Almond Joys 

Ingredients to make chocolate:
  • 1 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (Dairy/GMO/Soy Free)
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Directions for Chocolate:
  • Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil over low/medium heat stirring frequently.
  • Add in vanilla extract. 
  • Take off heat. 
  • Put cupcake paper liners in a muffin tin and spoon approx. 1 spoon of chocolate into the bottom of each cup. 
  • Put muffin tin in fridge to harden the chocolate (5-15mins - doesn't have to be rock hard... just not totally soupy)


While chocolate is hardening….

Ingredients for Coconut filling:
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • 1 Tbs sugar (could also try truvia, or maple syrup)
  • ¼ c finely shredded, unsweetened coconut (next time I do it I will probably double this to make the mixture a little thicker)
  • 1 tsp coconut extract
  • 25 toasted almonds (optional)


Directions for coconut filling:
  • In a missing bowl add coconut oil, sugar, shredded coconut, and coconut extract.  Mix by hand or with electric mixer until smooth.  (I melted my coconut oil before adding it to the bowl so my mixture was very soupy not smooth)
  • Take the muffin tin out of the fridge and smooth a small amount of coconut filling into each cup.
  • Place in fridge for another 5-10 minutes.
  • Take muffin tin out of fridge and spoon the rest of the chocolate onto the top of the coconut. 
  • Place an almond on each if you would like. Place back in fridge for another 5-15minutes until nice and hard. 
  • This made 12 large pieces of candy so I cut mine in half to make 24 pieces.  :D