Isabella Mercy, Bella as we call her, came quickly into this world this morning at 7:32am. I woke up around 5:45 with mild abdominal pain. Having just recently had a stomach bug (think more Madagascar huge nasty bug than cute ladybug) ravage our household two days prior, I thought perhaps my stomach was still a little weak and acting up. But within about 20mins I began to see a pattern of the pain and thought perhaps these are contractions. It surprised me since always before labor would begin with my water breaking and no contractions. Shortly after 6am I woke up David, actually by accident since I was doubled over next to the bed, he saw me and asked "are you ok?" I explained that I wasn't sure what I was feeling, but maybe it was contractions. He began to time them and headed out to the garage to get the air hose to top off the birth pool. Something we had been meaning to do all week, but it just fell through the cracks-No time like the present though. As he is stretching the hoses in I am now saying I think he better call Paula, our midwife. He does and gives her the contractions count-not lasting long only about 30secs, but every 2 mins and getting stronger. Paula says" what did you say? every 2mins? I am on my way".
I am now beginning to feel, what I should know by now, but am always caught off guard, the effects of transition. I am all over the place-in the tub, out of the tub, laying on the bed, standing up, and everywhere I go I am trying to escape what is inescapable--the waves of pain! I am now becoming very concerned about "Where is Paula?" Keep in mind we just called her 5mins ago and while she lives close she does not live in our backyard--but I am looking into that if there is a next time.
Paula does arrive quickly around 7:09am and checks me. She says in her sweet, encouraging voice "Gina, your an 8" to which I respond "Are you lying to me?" I know, nice right? Well this is me in transition, doubtful, sure of one thing-this is not going to end even though it must and it does end. Paula just responds sweetly that I really am an 8 to which I ask "Can I get in the water?" which is really all I ever really want to hear is that I can get in the water. I do firmly believe the water helps whether it is real or mental it seems to calm me, slightly. My dear husband is now in full fledged coach mode. He is so wonderful. I believe he prayed through every contraction for strength to persevere...he is so patient and confident in where our strength is...Christ. I am so thankful for the opportunity to share this with him in this way. What a gift our marriage has been given to go through this together; for me to see his compassion and gentleness towards me in one of the hardest times I have physically endured.
It seemed that I had only just gotten into the water when the urge to push came. This time I knew what that felt like and was surprised it was coming so quickly. At this point my water still had not broken and as a result I think the contractions while strong and intense gave way to what I called "lucid moments" for me between contractions where I was very aware of my surroundings. I did not remember feeling like this with Calvin's birth; it was just intense the whole time. In one of these lucid moments I noticed Emily was in the room. We had agreed ahead of time that Emily could attend the birth, but near the end. I am thinking it is too soon for her to be in here...as it turns out I was wrong. Another contraction comes and thoughts of who is in the room vanish. It is back to full concentration. Then, like a balloon popped I felt my water break and the next contraction was quite different, extremely intense. This was like most of my labor with Calvin. I now know what it is like to labor with the "cushion of water" that I have only heard about since my other 3 labors have begun with my water breaking. I vote for the cushion of water labor.
The urge to push was real and strong now. It seemed like it would never end, but then only a few pushes and David who caught Isabella was handing her to me. She was here! It was so fast. In an hour and half start to finish. Wow! I still marvel at how one minute this tiny, 9lb 7oz. baby is inside my womb then the next I am holding her and right in my own bathroom. How thankful I am for the knowledge of using a midwife and specifically for the ones the Lord led us to providentially through some friends of ours. Their care and encouragement has helped us experience normal healthy births in our home.
The timing was perfect as the rest of the kids were just getting up. They heard the cry of a newborn and knew that their baby sister was here. They patiently waited for Daddy to come and get them and bring them in to see Bella and me. They all gathered around and since Kathlena guessed the right day of Bella's birth she was allowed to hold her first in Shiflet tradition. Then one by one each of the kids took a turn including Calvin.
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| Kathlena getting to hold Isabella first. |
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| Mommy's Breakfast-Emily's delicious scrambled eggs |
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| Calvin giving first kisses |
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| Emily first hold |
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| Andrew first hold |
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| Calvin's first hold |
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| Bella's first bath. Look at her grip Mommy's hand. |
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| Daddy drying off Bella from her bath. |
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| Measuring Bella's head (15") and chest(14 1/2") |
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| Calvin helping check out Bella's eyes, nose and mouth. |
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| Calvin helping the midwives pack up. |
