What a year 2017 was! I have come to think of it as the year we began with a bang (Ben's injury) and ended with a boom! (Sebastian's birth). It is true that he came to give this whirlwind of a year a perfect end!
Of course, this comes almost four months after his birth, at the risk of having already forgotten details, here goes my best attempt:
Since I have a history of things stopping after a few hours of contractions, I was determined not to bother anyone until I was well into active labor. I've always been advised not to, on the grounds that I've had already so many babies and "this could be the one that surprises you". However, I always have called when I've had a consistent pattern of x hours of 10-12 minutes apart for a few hours to not have things really kick in until so many hours later. I was determined this time.
I woke up to contractions at about 11:00 p.m. and figured I'd sleep for as long as I could. Ten minutes later, another one... short, not too bad. Go to sleep. Repeat. At about 4:00 I was hungry, so I figured I'd get up, eat, and work through these contractions to see if they got more frequent or intense. Ben got up with me and made me breakfast while I sat on the birthing ball, still trying to sleep in between. By 6:00 a.m. the contractions were getting more intense, maybe even as close as 5 minutes apart, but they weren't even lasting a minute. I figured this would be the day. I texted my midwife to let her know what my pattern had looked like through the night, just as a heads up. We went over what changes I should see to call her again --bleeding, water breaking, or increase in frequency and intensity--. I took a shower and Ben slowly began to get the room ready. Meanwhile, contractions were certainly getting more frequent, more intense, but they were still barely 45 seconds long. Still, I let her know and she said she'd be on her way. Kids woke up and went down for breakfast. A friend came over to sit with them while we labored and delivered the baby, the older girls were helping set things up.
I was also determined to make the best of it.
(don't worry, he asked 1. if he could wear the mask, and 2. if we could take the picture)
I also let everyone know at this point because I figured I was going to be less interested in texting any more... you know "this is it guys, you know the drill... come over when you can/want NO rush".
Two friends came, followed shortly by the midwife (or was it the other way around? Boy! I can't remember! Ha!). Timing of contractions began in earnest. In the midst of friendly banter, the flow of activity and preparations began. Oxygen tank checked, and set up. Bathroom visit for me. Blood pressure taken. Contraction amidst conversation... "this is where the gauze, gloves, and supplies will be...". Chatter, laughter, bathroom trip again, contraction. Repeat.
Our former midwife -now retired- was to be the "official" assistant. Sunday, our current midwife, had already called her. We were settling into a rhythm. Another bathroom trip and suddenly a long-ish contraction. Back to the room and friend S said "that one was about a minute and a half long!" "Great!" I thought "this is finally kicking in... maybe he will be born by 3 in the afternoon?" I remember trying to give myself the pep talk and bracing myself for the long haul. I knew things were moving along, but I'm known to move along slowly and I was already feeling tired.
I moved to the side of the bed. Sunday offered to show Ben how to apply hip pressure if I found it helpful and she did during the next contraction.
I sat on the ball and I think I may have said "I think I'm ready for a nap" when the next contraction came. These were most definitely intense and I stood up... Maybe right before this I saw another friend wave at the door of the bedroom? I do recall being asked "What do you want?" and answering "I don't know". Then I instinctively felt the urgency to move sideways towards the chux pad on the floor, still standing and mid-contraction. Suddenly -pop!- my water broke... greenish fluid. I was momentarily quiet and confused... "What does this mean? I've only had about 5 really good contractions... Was that really my water?" In the meantime, Sunday jumped to action. (Green fluid could potentially be concerning) while I finished undressing she went to check the baby's heartbeat and advised me she would continue through the next contraction to make sure he was still doing well.
The next contraction came quite quickly, as she told me, Sunday was still checking baby's heart, but my body did not want to stay standing... with the contraction I went down lower, and lower, into a squatting position. I was feeling my tail bone give way to the baby --which I had never felt so clearly before!-- and I just kept squatting down. In the process of all this Sunday said "Are you pushing??!" I don't even think I answered! She said "I'm sorry, you're going to have to climb on the bed!" I started doing so, mid contraction -I think- barely landing on my side, no time for pillows and comfort, Ben supported me while my body contracted again and I pushed --totally out of my control--. Everything else happened so fast!
Friend S: "Here are the gloves!"
Sunday: "Do I see the head? hold on... oh! Yup! Crowning! Ok, Keila, you need to slow down a bit... wait, the head is out! I'm checking for cord around the neck... no cord around the neck... and he's out!"
BOOM! His head was out at 8:37 (?) and the rest of him was out within the same minute.
There was no time for much! I had never had such a fast transition! Crazy! Two people who were actually getting ready to be here for the birth (our former midwife, one of them!) did not make it.
Sebastian emerges into the world!
He cried right away!
Everyone met Sebastian within his first few minutes of breathing.
Giselle got to witness her first birth, and Elena got to cut the cord.
By the grace of God, another successful home birth. By the grace of God, another healthy baby! Ten days late (just like Victoria), 8.7 lb (an ounce lighter than Leo), and 21.25" in length (our longest baby!) Sebastian Bruce has been a delight to welcome into our crew. His name means "Venerable, Revered". We are so thankful!