Birth Story

I am so excited to sit down and write down our birth story! Since Ezra was born one week ago, Jose and I have talked about it and recalled specific memories. Just as with Aubri, our birth was an incredible and even enjoyable experience! I am so thankful to God for blessing us with healthy babies. I am also very grateful that we learned about the Bradley method of natural childbirth and were able to use the tools and techniques to achieve the labor we wanted.

But...be warned- It will be long (I don't want to forget anything!) and I'm a birth educator who loves the details and doesn't find too much to be TMI. For those of you who love a good birth story, read on!

The days leading up:

It all started Friday, March 16th which happens to be the day I had hoped I would go into labor (like John 3:16 and also the birthday of a dear friend of ours). I had felt braxton hicks here and there for a week or so, but that afternoon I started to lose my mucous plug and felt a few more BH contractions. As a good instructor, I knew not to get my hopes up as these things don't tell you much about when labor will begin.

The following morning Aubri left with my parents on a trip to Colton, for my grandma's birthday party. I woke up that morning feeling crampy and showing signs of my bloody show. It wasn't enough for me to tell my parents and Aubri not to go, but I was nervous all morning that they would get to their destination 4 hours away and have to turn around. Jose and I had the day to ourselves and were out the door about 9 am. We stopped at a car sales event hoping to find what we were looking for, peaked in the local birth fair (we didn't want to spend $10 so we didn't actually go to it), then had a nice time at Starbucks. The weather was rainy and cold so we didn't have too many options of what we could do. Since every time I walked I was getting contractions (and really didn't want labor to start with the family away) I thought the best way to spend the day was to relax. We rented a movie and took it easy all day! A rare treat not having to entertain a 2 year old.

Sunday morning, March 18th, rolled around and again I was feeling cramping and knew I could feel my body "gearing up" for labor. We went to church, did all our normal Children's pastor duties, had lunch with friends, and came home. Aubri took a 2 1/2 hour nap which was a miracle as her longest naps are usually 1 hour and 15 minutes! I took advantage of her resting and napped myself. Of course at bedtime she was so wound up and not even remotely tired! I had pity on Jose who usually puts her to sleep, and joined him in the story time and bedtime. The three of us laid in her bed, or more accurately Jose and I laid in her bed, well she tossed and turned and jumped and sang and poked and kicked. I remember laying there thinking it wouldn't be just the three of us for long, and smiling to myself soaking in her silly behavior despite the break in protocol! About half an hour into her attempted bedtime I started noticing stronger contractions that seemed to be coming often. When she finally fell asleep about 9 pm, Jose and I left her room and I told him that I was still feeling contractions. We decided to start timing them while we watched TV and realized they were coming every 8-10 minutes. They only lasted 30-45 seconds and I knew we could still have a loooong way to go if this labor were to be like Aubri's. About 10:30 we decided we better get to bed if this was labor (and we were pretty sure it was) and get what little sleep we could. We texted our mom's to be ready and got in bed. At bedtime contractions were 6-8 minutes apart. I tossed and turned trying not to be too excited, but I was going through my checklist in my head and playing out different scenarios. Because of the Group B Strep we knew we had to get to the hospital at least 5 hours before birth to get the 2 doses of antibiotics. We were both a little nervous about how we would know when it was time to go. Following Bradley method practice we wanted to do most of the laboring at home. I couldn't sleep so instead got up to shower at about 11:30. I ended up doing my hair and make-up because I wanted to be ready to go to the hospital just in case! The shower wore me out and the peace of mind knowing I was ready allowed me to sleep between the 6 minute contractions! I also decided at that time that my game plan would be to make it to my 10am scheduled appointment at the midwife's office and walk around San Luis Obispo laboring until it was time to go to the hospital.

Labor Day:

Monday morning, March 19th, Aubri woke us up at 7 am. Contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and lasting about 45 seconds. Aubri came to our room and we videotaped telling her that today was the day she would meet baby brother! For months we have told her what would happen when it was time. We have told her the story as we hoped it would play out over and over. I had prayed that it would go as we had prepared, and I was so excited that it was happening perfectly! My dad, Papa, would be watching Aubri, and we couldn't have planned it better than to go into labor on his days off. I texted our parents that today was indeed the day and told them we would call after the appointment. We stopped for breakfast at Jamba Juice and Papa met us to pick up Aubri. She was ready to go with her suitcase packed! I heard later that she took the story we had prepared her with to heart. She followed my dad around all morning and insisted he care for her!

After a busy morning of getting ready, contractions were happening about 3 minutes apart, but still easily managed by relaxing and staying still during them. We drove to SLO and kept saying over and over how things couldn't be going more smoothly. We laughed that Jose was able to drive the speed limit, and how different the drive was this pregnancy as opposed to the 85 mph we drove last time. Of course for the first time ever we were stuck in traffic! It was actually comical to us that we were having a baby and basically stop and go! When we got to the midwife office the elevator was broken and we had to climb the stairs! We were late for the first time to an appointment!

The nurse was shocked when I told her contractions were 3-4 minutes apart as she was doing my vitals. We met with Lisa who watched me have a contraction and encouraged us to go straight to the hospital which is connected to the office. I told her that it wasn't hard yet but she was insistent that things could pick up quickly and I needed at least 5 hours to get the doses of antibiotics. At 10:30 am, I agreed to a vaginal exam (something I decline at every appointment) to give us a more accurate indication of how labor was progressing. I told her I was hoping I was at least 2 cm. We were overjoyed when she said I was almost at 4 cm!! I was 50-60% effaced, and the baby was at -3 station. I couldn't believe how little hard work I had done to have so much progress! With Aubri I was 4cm when I got to the hospital, but had already been shaking, throwing up, and working HARD. Still I convinced the midwife--or maybe she just gave up--to let us walk around a bit before going. I didn't want to be at the hospital before active, late first stage.

Jose was a little resistant and wanted to go to the hospital, but agreed to support me if I felt like I needed to walk. He kept saying that he thought I just learned to handle labor better, and maybe this was active labor. He did such a good job coaching me through contractions, pointing out tension, and reminding me to relax. I kept telling him to save his energy! We started walking at this tiny, corner park but after a few laps around the homeless we decided to go downtown. We parked by the Habit, and the smell of hamburgers was amazing! I told Jose he should order lunch, and I took a few bites of his food. It was hilarious the comments he got on Facebook when he "checked in" to the Habit with his laboring wife. Nobody knew it was my idea! We also made another stop at Starbucks and decided we should go to the hospital.

About 12:00 we arrived at the hospital. At the nurses station I told them I thought I was getting there too early, but they said the midwife had told them to expect us (about an hour later we heard them on the phone with the midwife telling her that we had showed up). We were first given a room without a tub or shower and I was really disappointed. They said they would work on discharging someone and would try to open up the tub room for me.

About 12:30 my mom arrived. We had told her it was still early, but she didn't want to miss anything and came with cards and games in hand (like I requested). Even though I was handling contractions well, with contractions 2-3 minutes apart I didn't have the concentration for games like I thought. We called Jose's mom, Silvia and asked her to bring some movies. In the meantime I tried to stay upright and relaxed. We watched "A Baby Story" and I critiqued the laboring, screaming moms ;-).

Around 12:45 they moved me to the tub room and started the fetal monitoring for 15 minutes. The baby and contractions looked great! I had a few contractions 2 minutes apart, but then had a couple breaks with a 6 minute rest.

We had arranged to have Christina Landeros be our birth photographer, and she kept texting asking when she should come. Since I felt like we still had a long ways to go I kept telling her to wait, but finally around 1 pm told her she could head on up to capture the comfortable part of labor.

Like the midwife had warned me, it took over an hour for the nurses to get us checked in and the antibiotics ready. At 1:20 they finally were ready to start the administration of the penicillin. I'm not exaggerating that this was the worst part of labor for me. I HATE NEEDLES. The nurse did her best, but had trouble getting my blood flowing and the picc line in place. After wiggling it around, they had to do it again!!! A week later the only soreness I still have is my bruised arm! The penicillin hurts going in and my arm was aching. I felt like my arm was useless as I was so worried of hitting or tugging on the line. I thankfully only had to deal with the antibiotics for 30 minutes (but the picc line had to stay in for the next dose in 3 1/2- 4 hours).

About 2:30 Christina the photographer came and started snapping away. Silvia showed up shortly after that as well. Jose and I decided to walk around the hospital to see if things would pick up, and we walked to the gift store to buy a special gift for Aubri. By this point I was needing to stop when contractions hit, and a few times held on to Jose for support.

At 4:00 pm the on-call midwife, Helen (she delivered Aubri!) came in to check on us. She was amazed at how well I was managing labor. She told me she expected that after I got the 2nd dose of penicillin I would allow my body to take over and labor would start (getting the 2 doses is considered the safe amount to ensure the baby doesn't contract the infection and would help allow us to leave the hospital in less time and not make Ezra get his heel pricked). She told us she was leaving to have dinner and would hopefully see us that evening. My next dose of penicillin was scheduled to begin at 4:45.

Helen left, our photographer Christina left to grab some food, and my mother in law had stepped out. I went to the bathroom and labored on the toilet for a bit. Helen had recommended that I try that to speed up labor (sounds weird but very effective). Jose and I then decided to take another walk since we didn't have much time before the next round of antibiotics. At 4:20 I was putting on my sandals and felt a gush of warm water. It took me a second and I excitedly started saying "Oh my gosh! Wow!" Jose was trying to figure out why I was standing there stunned when I finally said my water broke. My mom, Jose and I were all standing there excited trying to figure out what to do since I was soaked! My mom paged the nurse, Jose is frantically texting Christina and calling his mom back! Within minutes of my water breaking contractions started coming, and they were strong! I was having to hold on to Jose for support, and at the same time we were trying to clean up the water from the floor and get me out of my wet clothes.

The nurse knew that labor was going to go fast and called Helen back right away. By 4:30 I had put on my delivery gown (I special ordered it thinking I would be wearing it for a long time) and was lying in bed getting very intense contractions. Everyone was scrambling and coming back in, and they could see the huge shift in intensity! I asked for the tub to be filled so I could labor in there (I knew it took about 45 minutes to fill so I wanted them to start it asap!). Jose wanted to change into scrubs, but I told him no I needed him by me! Since everyone was scrambling it took a couple of minutes for them to help me get comfortable in bed. By 4:35 we got in our groove, and I laugh looking back on our 3 minutes of perfect Bradley method team work! Jose was coaching me through contractions- rubbing my back and checking my relaxation. My mom was massaging my hands, and Silvia was massaging my feet (both listening to Jose telling them to make sure I was relaxed and not tensing). Our Bradley groove lasted maybe 2 contractions when I said I needed to use the bathroom. The nurse was concerned and asked "Do you feel the urge to push?? Be careful, I don't want you having that baby on the toilet!" That stopped me in my tracks because I realized that maybe it wasn't the need to go to the bathroom but the baby engaged! I still walked to the bathroom to pee, but quickly decided I needed to get checked.


Around 4:40, the nurse checked me and said I was 9 cm and almost completely dilated! I couldn't believe it! I was so happy I said, "Wow! Labor is easy!" To which everyone laughed. The birth team got ready to deliver the baby, and I got into pushing position. Only problem was I was feeling such an intensity to push and could already feel the stretching sensations that I got a little nervous and overwhelmed! Also, I hadn't had my second dose of antibiotics so I was nervous for Ezra to be born (they quickly started the dose even though it was early). And the stupid IV in my wrist was going to interfere with my ability to pull my legs back. I told the midwife that I wanted to push, but wanted to ease into it and didn't feel like pulling my legs back. She looked at me and said to trust my body and do whatever felt right. So just like that I was pushing sitting in the 45 degree reclined position.

Right away she told me Ezra was "right there!". Pushing was overwhelming feeling the burning and I shrieked a couple of times that it hurt. I was also really scared that I was going to the bathroom while pushing so I was holding back! Once the midwife assured me that I wasn't, I was able to give a couple a good push and Helen told me my baby was going to be born on the next contraction! Helen asked me to give little start and stop pushes which was great because I barely had to work! I reached down to feel Ezra's head, and soon his head was out! Jose had arranged to catch Ezra, so Helen starting giving him a step by step lesson how to do it. I just wanted my baby out, so I yelled "Jose, just pull him out!!!"
Seconds later, after less than 10 minutes of pushing, Jose placed Ezra on my chest.
IT WAS AMAZING! I couldn't believe how fast, and relatively easy, things had gone. I felt great and wasn't tired, nor had I broken a sweat! There was a concerning moment when Helen said I was bleeding a lot and had to push on my stomach reallllly hard. I also heard the nurse talk about pitocin, and I started praying that the bleeding would stop without the need for intervention. Thankfully it did, and Helen told me I hadn't even torn!

Ezra came out screaming and alert! I remember thinking "Uh-oh he's a crier!" and Praying, " God, I thought we agreed on a mellow baby" (which he has turned out to be!). We had over an hour of skin-to-skin bonding and nursing.
My mom quickly had Papa and Aubri on the phone and told them to come right away.

When Aubri arrived I got up to change, and we anxiously waited for her to walk in. She was exactly as I expected her to be. Slightly shy with all the attention and camera on her, but the biggest smile. She was nervous seeing my picc line still attached, but loved looking at her little brother. Right away she saw the chair in the corner and said "Mommy told me about that." In our practice birth story I told her how when she came she could sit in the chair and hold baby brother. Of course that is what she wanted to do! It was a sweet time seeing her so enthralled by her brother. I will never forget how she copied all the noises he made and would say "Baby brother make _____ noise!" Or how she randomly made a funny face back at him and said she was going to teach him how to laugh. When he later made a noise sounding like a laugh she said "I taught him!!"

We had a room full of visitors that night, and then attempted to get some rest (yeah right!). Even though we were told we would have to stay at the hospital 24-48 hours to be evaluated, the nurses, midwife, and even pediatrician trusted our judgement, experience and parenting skills and agreed to let us go when we wanted! At noon, only 24 hours from checking into the hospital we were on our way!

I couldn't be happier with how our labor and birth went, and even though the midwives can say "I told you so" for us not going straight to the hospital, everything worked out perfectly! It was an amazing experience and memory that I will never forget!