It has been FOREVER and a day, but we are alive!!
So much has happened since I've posted last.. I think it's safe to say you'll fall asleep if I put it all in 1 post!
I'll start with the fact that on March 5, 2010 at 12.21 AM Ashley Victoria Edwards was born. She was due February 24th and I was really excited to have a February baby! We have SO many family birthdays in March!!
Long story... She was late and I had gone in for several ultrasounds. The last ultrasound I went in for on Wednesday the 4th, I was super stressed. Jamie took the week off work, thank goodness! I was at the end of my rope and at the ultrasound everything turned out well. She passed the BPP for the first time and they were not as worried about her anymore.
Angela had been 10 days early and Audrey came on her due date so it was unusual for me to have a late baby, medically speaking. She hadn't passed the first 2 BPPs, so this third ultrasound was the determining factor as to whether we could continue to wait and hope for a home birth or if we would need to go to the hospital and be induced. I had packed everything from my home birth basket into a hospital bag and made arrangements with my mom to take the girls and drive Jamie to the hospital if I ended up needing to go there straight from the midwives. The ultrasound tech was really nice and had me move around and do all sorts of things to make sure that the baby passed all the requirements. She faxed the results to the midwives and I went straight to their office to talk about the options.
They said everything looked great and Lisa checked me. She looked at me and said, "Girl, I don't know why you're NOT in labour...." I was 4cm and pretty much 100% effaced. She moved the little bit that was left and hoped to start some contractions. She told me to go to Wal-Mart and drink some Castor Oil because we were having a baby tonight!!! I was in SHOCK. After being pregnant for over 9 months, you are probably wondering how I could possibly be shocked, but I was. Haha I was still in her office and she's walking up and down the office telling people we were having a baby tonight and telling the other midwife to take the afternoon easy. I walked out of there like I was on the red carpet. People staring and whispering, "That's her..." I half expected the other hopeful mothers to kneel down as I walked, or ask for my autograph at least. Haha
I felt the contractions immediately!! I went to Wal-Mart to pick up some easy foods for Jamie to feed Angela and Audrey and what other munchies I wanted. I was waiting at the deli counter as I felt the heat from the contractions whisper up my back, down my legs, around my tummy. It was a wonderful sensation. It wasn't painful, and I don't know how to describe it exactly. The lady told me it was her first day and she was getting used to things and I said, "Oh, no rush... I'm only in labour." She stared at me for a second and looked awkward like she wasn't sure what I'd said. Haha
I rushed home and unpacked. Jamie was cleaning up, all smiles and happy. The girls were playing with the empty birthing pool having a blast. I put a pizza in the oven and went upstairs to put on my nightgown. I wasn't feeling so good. I was anxious, and in denial that it was actually happening. You wait all this time and then bam! It's going!
So, I put on my Hypnobirthing CD and did the relaxing breathing. It was great. Put the girls to bed and I was sitting cross legged on the floor and I had some really strong contractions. It was good!
We started to watch American Idol at 8, and I had a mild freak out. I was begging to go to the hospital. I didn't know if I could do a THIRD home birth. It was taking too long! Audrey was born in 2 hours, and now I'd been having some steady contractions for a few hours. Jamie told me to call the midwives and talk to them about it. I called. And cried. Francis asked if I still wanted to be at home. I knew if I said no, they'd meet me at the hospital. And if I said yes, they'd come but it would be too late to leave. So, I said yes.
I never ended up filling the birthing pool. I just wanted to stand up. I went in the shower and put it on full hot. I'd also turned up the heat on the water tank so it was HOT but it felt like heaven. I didn't feel any contractions and I was back on the wagon.
My mom came at 8 cm and got ice and gatorade for me. I refused to let Jamie out of my sight.
Blah blah blah.... Fast forward. I passed out from being too hot in the shower and Jamie caught me. I stayed on the floor for at least an hour. I didn't want to move. I was silent, focusing on my breathing and imagining the tap that I would turn on and it would release all the happy drugs I needed. Seriously, hypnobirthing = AMAZING. You underestimate your body and mind, women!
Anyhow, I was peaceful and happy where I was and then.... And then, it happened. My mother always said, "Once you feel/say like you can't go any longer, that's when the baby comes." I stood up. I cried. I grabbed the towel rack and said, "I'm done! I don't want a baby anymore!" And, gush... Water everywhere. I stared and thought OMG. The midwife was helping me to the bed and I refused to climb on! lol I just wanted to stand. I felt good standing! I got on and looked at the clock. 12.15 AM. All that time had passed and it hadn't felt like it! The student midwife was telling me to slow down and push gently. I stared at that clock like my life depended on it. Audrey came out in 6 minutes. I didn't want to do more than that! 6 minutes later..... Ashley was born!
She was 7 lbs 12 oz and a head full of red hair!!
The afterpains of baby number 3 was worse than the labour, my friends.
It was pretty great. Hypnobirthing is amazing and I wished I'd done it with the first 2.
And, now she is a busy little baby!
More to fill in the time gap later!
