For weeks I had been having irregular contractions. We were 38 weeks pregnant and due to the gestational diabetes we would be discussing a scheduled induction at our doctors appointment scheduled for Friday morning, May 23. On Wednesday evening my husband and I went to the chiropractor for our weekly adjustments. I told our chiropractor that if I wasn’t in active labor by the time I went in for my ob appointment on Friday morning that I would be scheduled for an induction for the following week, so anything that she could do to help progress my contractions and the labor process for us would be fantastic. She made her adjustments and released my round ligaments some and said, “You are pancaked perfectly. Everything looks good to go, this baby is ready to come and she is low.” Those are always good things to hear!! We left feeling encouraged and hopeful that this baby girl would make her debut sometime soon. All week I had been telling friends and family that I felt like she would be here this week. Little did I know just how soon…
Thursday May 22, I woke up at 2am with a major contraction, nothing new, as I had been waking up for over a week like this in the middle of the night. I got up and went to the bathroom after the contraction ceased and realized I was wet. I thought maybe I had been sleeping so soundly that I had wet the bed. I went over and felt and no, it was just me. So I changed clothes and laid a towel down on the bed just in case and tried to go back to sleep. Nope, about 5-10 minutes later another contraction and more leaking. Nope this was happening. I got up and grabbed my towel, birthing ball (otherwise known as a yoga ball) and my phone; I moved into the living room as to not disturb my husband. If this was the real deal then he would need his rest and he would be up in a few hours for work anyway. At 0530 I heard my husbands alarm go off and went into the bedroom. He asked me what I was doing up so early. “I am having contractions every 3-8 minutes, and I am leaking amniotic fluid. I don’t want to call after hours so I am just going to wait until the office open at 9am. You go on to work and I will call you after I talk to the doctor. Just keep your phone handy just in case.” He left for work and I cleaned the apartment, took the dog for a walk, ate a bite, and tried to rest.
9am I called the doctors office, explained how far my contractions were and that I was leaking amniotic fluid. They asked if I could come in right away to get checked, I said I could. So I loaded up my hospital bag, the carseat and myself with my extra 40+ pounds and headed to the doctor with contractions and all. Luckily it was just around the corner so I didn’t have far to drive! I got there and they took me back immediately. I was 1cm dilated and 99% effaced, however because I was leaking amniotic fluid and they didn’t know how much the baby needed to be monitored. “Micah I am going to go ahead and have you admitted into Labor and Delivery at the hospital so we can keep the baby monitored. Call your husband and let him know, but there’s not a big rush, you still have a long way to go with this labor”, stated my doctor. I called Ryan and told him what she said and he said, “Okay let me finish up what I am doing here at work and I will head to the hospital and meet you there”.
I headed home because I had forgotten to grab the camera, and then proceeded to go ahead and eat a sandwich because I knew once I was admitted I would not be allowed to eat anything (thank goodness I couldn’t, as you will find out later!). Ryan called and said he was on his way home, I made him a sandwich and he grabbed a quick shower then we proceeded to make our way to the hospital. We arrived around 11am, they already had our room ready, and they got us all checked in and hooked up with IV, and monitors.
To make a long story shorter, I had terrible back labor the entire time due to the baby facing toward my abdomen instead of my spine like normal. Luckily, I have an incredible husband who was by my side the entire time. He did counter pressure on my lower back during EVERY contraction that I had for 9 hours! He held my hand, rubbed my back, put cool rags on my head and neck. He was there for me every waking moment, spoke words of affirmation to me. Reminded me why I was doing an all natural birth when I begged for the drugs, yes ladies and gentleman, although I wanted to do an all natural birth, it didn’t stop me from begging my husband on multiple occasions that day. He would gently remind me why I was doing this, and told me how strong I was, what a high pain tolerance I had, how much he loved me, and what an amazing job I was doing. He reassured me that if anyone could do it, I could. WOW! What an incredible support system to have with me, I honestly couldn’t have made it through that day, without the drugs, without my husband supporting me, holding me, rubbing my back, speaking those words over me, and praying for both our daughter and me. I am blessed!
The labor progressed very quickly, there was a point that I was having two minute long contractions that would go up, come back down about half way and go right back up for hours. They burst the rest of my water at one point and I progressed even more quickly at that point. At one point when I was stuck at 9cm I began dry heaving multiple times during every contraction. This in turn inflamed the last bit of my cervix and I was unable to progress to 10cm. Our delivery doctor finally came in and said, “There is just a little bit left to move on your right side. during your next contraction I want you to bare down like you’re going to push this baby out and I am going to reach in and push the last bit around the baby’s head”. OUCH! Most painful part of the entire labor and delivery, hands down. However, when he was done and the contraction was over the doctor said, “Okay, it’s time to push!” In that moment I couldn’t not have been more excited and relieved.
At 8:05 pm I began pushing. The doctor stayed for the first contraction and immediately donned his delivery attire. The nurse explained to Ryan and me that usually the doctors don’t stay around for the pushing process because it’s a waste of their time, unless the baby is close to arriving. I pushed with all of my might when they told me, originally I didn’t want them helping me count out the pushing, but boy am I glad they did in that moment! The concern that every woman has during the labor process, I don’t want to poop when I push… It’s almost inevitable, you will poop when you bring a baby into the world. As I whispered to Ryan in the quietest voice I could muster, “Did I just poop?” Ryan looked at me and said that he wasn’t sure. Apparently I hadn’t said it as quietly as I thought, the doctor chimes in and says, “yes, you did. But don’t feel special, everyone does it”. Well there you have it. I was still embarrassed, that is until the next contraction came and I forgot about it.
When she started crowning, I was able to reach down and feel the top of her head. My husband was right there holding my right leg and foot up in the air watching every moment of his daughters birth. As we neared her head coming out, I grunted and hollered, the doctor said, “I don’t know what all of that noise is you’re making, but it’s working. DO IT AGAIN! MAKE NOISE! GET ANGRY”, SO I DID! The next thing I remember, was Ryan’s face lit up, and he exclaimed in the most elated voice I’ve ever heard, “I CAN SEE HER FACE!” One more good push and our daughter was pulled out and placed upon my belly, naked, screaming and the most beautiful creation I have ever laid my eyes upon.
Novella Ann Frazier
May 22, 2014
8:36 pm
7 lbs 9 oz
20 1/2 inches
Pure Perfection
Is there such a thing as love at first sight? Yes, yes there is. The first moment you meet your child. THAT IS LOVE. Unconditional, never-ending, sweet, beautiful, incredible LOVE! In the moment you see that beautiful face, you know, instantly, that you would do anything for that child. They are God’s beautiful gift. They are God’s way of showing us, that miracles can and do happen, every single day.
frazierfrontier.com 
Absolutely beautiful! Made me think of when mine were born. Definitely a love like no other! Thanks for sharing! Aunt Jo
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What a beautiful story. You go you strong woman! And you picked a good man no doubt.
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