The day before Mobley was born I had a doctor's appt. I opted to 'get checked' at this appointment (I had chosen not to beforehand due to the psychological rigamarole you can go through-waiting...anticipating), and was 2 centimeters dilated. My midwife told me the baby was still pretty high, I asked what her professional opinion was regarding 'how long it would be,' she thought it would be a while but instructed me that "you never know." Jenna's wedding was 3 days away, I was the Matron of Honor, and I had wanted to be sure I would make it. Haha. Little did I know, Mobley had other plans...I left the doctors office in good faith, and went to get a prenatal massage from Mrs. Suzanne McCraw. I wanted to stay in relax mode, and not work myself up too much. Amanda and I had discussed inducing labor with some reflexology techniques that Suzanne knew, but we had vigorously planned to do it the saturday after Jenna's wedding. Again, I did not want to do anything that would jeopardize my attendance to Jenna's wedding. Haha. Funny how the universe works sometimes...
I left Suzanne's and went home utterly relaxed. But I had a really weird feeling; I felt 'the baby' (we didn't name him until the day after he was born) was coming soon. I didn't know when of course, but I told Russell that we needed to get ready, I think he is going to come soon. Russell laughed and thought I was crazy, he was predicting I wouldn't go into labor until Jan. 10th! Shows how much he knew...
12/30/09
I had a really weird dream and woke up for my routine bathroom break around 5 am. I had a contraction but it wasn't painful so I just went back to sleep. Throughout the day contractions would come and go in irregular intervals, but they were never painful. I assumed it was because I was running around a bit, doing laundry, reorganizing our living space, and I figured I just needed to rest. Russell suggested I call the doctor after one contraction had bent me over against the wall...haha...he's so sweet. I called my midwife and they told me what I had assumed, "go to the hospital once contractions are 2-3 minutes apart OR unbearably painful ,walk, take a bath, and if they don't get worse it's probably false labor." So I kept waiting for it to get worse. My contractions got about 5 min apart but then jumped to 8 minutes, then to 6, then 3min, and so on. It was never a regular interval, and the pain was no more than some menstrual cramping (except for a few that were in my back) but again, I was lifting and moving stuff all day). So, I thought, "I just need to relax and these Braxton-Hicks contractions will go away." I took a hot bath and it completely relaxed my entire body. I was lying in the quiet tranquility of the steamed up bathroom, when I heard a pop, immediately followed by an intense amount of pain! Honestly, my first thought was..."OH SHIT," hahaha, followed by "that must be his head dropping into my pelvis!!" Then the vision of staying right where I was and just calling 911 crossed my mind... Russell walked in the bathroom within seconds and as I watched his smile simultaneously fade, he asked "Hey, are you okay, are we gonna go to the hospital?" I couldn't even make eye contact with him, I just said, "We have to go, we have to go now." I was calm and in the zone on the outside, inside though, I was scared of what may be ahead.
The truck ride to the hospital was fun...haha...I kneeled on the front passenger floor board and put my hands on the seat. The most comfortable position for me was to be bent over. Russell put the pedal to the medal, and all I could do was "OOOOOoooooh, OOOOOooooooh" and at an attempt to overcome my 'what the hell was I thinking doing tis without pain meds' thoughts, "my body and my baby know what to do, my body and my baby know what to do" hahaha. This was the toughest part for me because I was terrified of not making it to the hospital. I think I said a prayer after every single contraction.
We arrived at the hospital, so grateful, with every contraction on the way I had felt a gush of liquid (good thing I wasn't sitting on the seat! haha) so my pants were now soaked. In my pain-filled exit from the house I had dropped my shoes and sweatshirt by the door (because that seemed just too tough to deal with at the time). Russell put on my shoes as I anticipated the end of the contraction and said "when this one's over let's make a run for it!" Russell grabbed my bag as I did-what I call-a waddle sprint to the emergency room entrance. I proceeded to gag (throwing up is a part of labor...) and stopped dead in my tracks, I would guess about a hundred yards short, and yelled "I can't make it! I can't make it!" Russell came running up behind me, grabbed my right arm, and said, "Yes you can, yes you can, c'mon!" I really think he pulled me that last bit of the way...
Then... we stood there, in line, quietly, at the emergency room window, until my next contraction that is... I bent forward and began to "Oh, OOOH, OOOOOOH, OOOOOoooooh" and, then, someone helped us.... I was able to sit in the wheel chair as we zoomed up to triage, where they quickly confirmed I was ready to deliver. I was bent over, on all fours, on the bed, as they wheeled me to the delivery room. All the while, yelling by this time, "OOOOh, OOOOh!"
We left the house (Alma School and Main) at about 2:40ish, and Mobley was born at 3:28 (Val Vista and the San Tan 202). My midwife was off that day, the back up midwife was at another hospital delivering, and the OB was on his way. The hospital staffed doctor was then elected to deliver, but did not even have time to put her gloves on before I pushed him out (in one hardy push).... I don't know who actually caught him... (it was an indescribable euphoria once he came out; unbelievable) but he's here, he's healthy,and he's amazing! We are so incredibly grateful :)
