Labor

It all started two days before I delivered. I had a checkup on my due date where my midwife Jen informed me that I was 4cmm dilated and 70% effaced. For those of you who don't know what that means... it means you go crazy thinking your water is gonna break any second. It means even though you end up delivering only two days later, those two days feel like an eternity. I had finally resigned to the fact that I could be waiting a whole nother week before I had her when I started getting some aches that I thought could be contractions.

Liam went to bed Thursday night around 8 when I started to feel them. Once I realized that they were coming and going, we started to time them. Only thing was they were about 40-60 seconds long with 3 minute intervals. It usually takes people hours before they get to that. We called Jen and she and Sandra were there an hour later. They checked me as soon as they got here and I was already 8-9 cmm. We couldn't believe I was already almost fully dilated so we hurried upstairs where they got set up. It wasn't long before I didn't have any down time between contractions. It just seemed like one huge contraction until all of the sudden I felt the urge to push.

This was nothing like Liam's birth. Liam's birth was long and tough, but I felt in control. This pain was unbearable and I felt like I had no focus. Jen had to snap me into it and tell me to concentrate and use my hands to hold my legs. I pushed about 4-5 times before she came out. It all happened so fast that I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the crying. 3 hours from start to finish. I was expecting a speedy delivery, but this was insane. Was this labor fast? Heck yes! But was it easy? Anything but! I still don't know which I would prefer, but luckily it's over and I have quite the prize to show for it.

On a side note, can I just say that having a home birth rocks the house. There is nothing better than having a kid and being able to fall asleep in your bed just 3 hours later.