Lily finally arrived yesterday, 7-12-05, at 3:57 am! She was 9 pounds even and 22 inches.
Monday night I started feeling "tight" in my gut around 9 pm. My husband and I decided to go for a walk at 10 pm at the urging of my neighbor. We went on a fairly brisk 45 minute walk. When I came home and got in the shower my contractions really kicked in. I called my midwife an hour later and she got here after midnight. I was dilated to 3.5 cm.
I used my midwife's birth tub and it was so much more comfortable. I highly recommend that. Maybe an hour later I was 6 cm. I continued in the tub until I was 9 cm. Then I sat on her birth stool and leaned against my husband until I was just about 10 cm dilated. So, I got back in the tub to start pushing. It was about 3:40 am and I was so tired, I told them all I want to do is go to sleep. I did not want to push. The first few contractions after, I whimpily pushed. But total it took 17 minutes to push her out. I was immediately wide awake and no longer tired. Lily and I stayed in the tub for at least 20 more minutes just snuggling and enjoying the warm water.
From 8 to 10 cm was mentally tough, but I think I willed this baby out. Actually, from the time my midwife arrived, I was telling myself I do not want to be in labor all night and into the morning. I feel that really concentrating on letting my body dilate and not fighting it was key.
This birth was so much less eventful then with my first in the hospital! I am so happy, I can't complain about anything at all. It couldn't have gone much faster either. Well, maybe a little faster, but compared to last time, 5-6 hours total is pretty darn fast.
Thanks, everyone, for remembering me this weekend and for listening to me complain about being overdue. I guess a day and a half overdue isn't bad!
Also, I have to add, I was so surprised that Lily was 9 pounds and 22 inches. My first boy was 6 3/4 pounds and 20 inches. She is huge compared to him.
Monday night I started feeling "tight" in my gut around 9 pm. My husband and I decided to go for a walk at 10 pm at the urging of my neighbor. We went on a fairly brisk 45 minute walk. When I came home and got in the shower my contractions really kicked in. I called my midwife an hour later and she got here after midnight. I was dilated to 3.5 cm.
I used my midwife's birth tub and it was so much more comfortable. I highly recommend that. Maybe an hour later I was 6 cm. I continued in the tub until I was 9 cm. Then I sat on her birth stool and leaned against my husband until I was just about 10 cm dilated. So, I got back in the tub to start pushing. It was about 3:40 am and I was so tired, I told them all I want to do is go to sleep. I did not want to push. The first few contractions after, I whimpily pushed. But total it took 17 minutes to push her out. I was immediately wide awake and no longer tired. Lily and I stayed in the tub for at least 20 more minutes just snuggling and enjoying the warm water.
From 8 to 10 cm was mentally tough, but I think I willed this baby out. Actually, from the time my midwife arrived, I was telling myself I do not want to be in labor all night and into the morning. I feel that really concentrating on letting my body dilate and not fighting it was key.
This birth was so much less eventful then with my first in the hospital! I am so happy, I can't complain about anything at all. It couldn't have gone much faster either. Well, maybe a little faster, but compared to last time, 5-6 hours total is pretty darn fast.
Thanks, everyone, for remembering me this weekend and for listening to me complain about being overdue. I guess a day and a half overdue isn't bad!
Also, I have to add, I was so surprised that Lily was 9 pounds and 22 inches. My first boy was 6 3/4 pounds and 20 inches. She is huge compared to him.
