My baby is now 7 months old and I’m finally writing her birth story.
I’ll post the full story in the next couple of weeks but for now, here is how it starts!
Contractions Start
I woke up at 9 AM, May 1st. Within minutes I was contracting. The contractions were painful from the beginning unlike my last 2 births.
By 9:30 AM I was glancing at the clock noting 4 to 6 minutes between contractions. They were only lasting 20-30 seconds.
I ate breakfast and dressed for the day, leaving the house by 9:30 to run some errands.
I happened to be by my husband’s work and stopped by to tell him I was contracting. He asked if he needed to come home and I laughed. No.
No one would be doting on me until I was deep into labor. I am a very inward birther and don’t want the fuss.
40.1 Week Appointment
At 11:30 AM I was on my way to what would be my final prenatal appointment. Honestly, if I would have been willing to let anyone else know I was in labor, I would have canceled it and let my midwife know I was in labor.
At this point, my contractions were 5 minutes apart consistently and lasting 45 seconds long. They were very uncomfortable in the car.
What’s Going On Ashley?
At 12:00 PM I arrived for my prenatal appointment with my midwife. When Samantha, the student midwife was checking on baby (getting heart tones, feeling my stomach to get fetal position) she could feel my uterus contracting.
At one point she asked if I was having contractions and I told her
“Just a few. Nothing major.”
Some of the contractions were starting to hurt bad but I didn’t let it show that I was in labor.
Stop Denying
At 1:00 PM, on my way back to town I called my mom. Contractions were growing in intensity. A few made me tear up.
We celebrated on the phone together and we talked between the silence of contractions for the hour drive home.
Longer, Closer
By 3:30 PM contractions were 3.5 minutes apart and lasting about 58 seconds long.
My mom and husband were asking if it was time. No. However, I did let my parents pick my son up from school.
Just Give In Already
At 5:05 PM I was still alone starting to struggle through some of the contractions.
I called my husband home. I knew I would feel some relief just having him home.
He said I probably should call the midwife. It was time to get serious about this baby’s birthday and let others join me.
I called the midwife.
Stay tuned for the full story as I piece together the events of the birth. It is so much fun to go back and walk through this special day!
