Introducing Iris

On January 14th, 2016, I was 39 weeks pregnant. I had very little complaints about being pregnant. I wasn't too overly tired of being pregnant. I awoke that morning with a lot of pressure. Not contractions, but it just felt like she was going to fall out of me. My doctor had be asking me for weeks how I was still walking because she was so low so I just thought it was nothing. Zack went on to work and I kept having weird feelings, but really did not think that I was even in early labor. I cleaned the bathroom, kept in touch with my doula, and rested because if today was the day I wanted to be on my A game. Zack kept in touch and told me to go ahead and call my mom and let her know how I was feeling. I assured her that I thought it was a false alarm, but she decided to go ahead and head down. I went about my day. Still no contractions, but a lot of pressure. Zack got home from work and mom arrived after around 6 pm. I unpacked her truck, got her bed set up, ate some chili, showered, and then watched some TV. Around 9:00 I went on to bed. Mom did as well and Zack, also convinced that nothing was happening, stayed up. An hour later, I woke up and the sheets were wet. "Okay," I thought, "my water broke. No big. Go tell Zack." I was pretty calm about it because I knew that labor still could take a while. Zack and I changed the bed sheets and talked to our doula. I also called the doctor who said I should come on in to the hospital. I did not want to do that at all. I wanted to be at home for as long as possible. So I ate a bite, drank some red raspberry tea, and sat on the birthing ball. About an hour or so later, Zack told me he would feel more comfortable if we went on to the hospital. I respected that, so we loaded up. Mom decided she would stay and get some sleep.

We had about a 20 minute drive. I was still not really having contractions when we left, but when we were about 5 minutes away from the hospital, crossing the river, I felt my first contraction. I told Zack to park far away because I wanted to walk. We had to enter through the emergency room entrance, and wouldn't you know it, but there was a hearse parked out front. That really helped my anxiety about hospitals... We checked in and they made me ride in the wheelchair. As I was being pushed down the hallway; out wheeled a body covered up, headed for the hearse... Wonderful. Zack kept reassuring me and I calmed down. They got us into the room and said they had to check me before they could really admit me. I consented, and I was already at 6 cm! Things were rolling! Contractions started to pick up. Natalie, our doula arrived as I was being hooked up to the I.V., for a dose of antibiotics, and the monitor. I wanted the wireless monitor so I could move around and get in the shower. The nurse said she didn't even know where that was, and when they did find it she couldn't hook it up. Once they did get it hooked up, they then told me that I couldn't get it wet (which I'm pretty sure is false) but that I could be unhooked from it for 10 minutes at a time to get in the shower. I was starting to get pretty uncomfortable at this point but refused to lay in the bed. I leaned over the foot of the bed while Zack and Natalie rubbed my back and encouraged me. I got in the shower and that was an amazing relief.

We kept the pattern of shower and leaning over the bed for about 2.5 or 3 hours. I was not able to talk through contractions anymore and I wasn't even feeling a break in between. I remembered reading in Ina May's Guide to Childbirth that sitting on the toilet helps relax you pelvic muscles and will in turn help dilation. That's where I sat. Then, I realized that chili was a bad choice for dinner because it's not comfortable coming back up. Natalie encouraged me while I was puking telling me that she was confident that I was in transition and to keep "mooing" through the contractions. I told Zack "I can't do this," but he assured me I could. I was feeling pushy. Natalie told the nurse this and she said she had to check me before they called the doctor in. I did not want this at all. Zack told them that, but I was feeling the urge so much that I agreed. I was 9.5 cm. I got back up and 10 mins later I told them they better get the doctor that I was pushing. The nurse told me to wait for the doctor as like 6 more people entered the room.

Zack sat behind me and I leaned against him upright. Natalie was on my right helping me support my legs. The nurse or doctor one asked me how I was feeling and I politely told them that I felt like I was having a bowel movement (I can't believe I didn't say "I need to take a shit!!!"). Doc was there. I was pushing. I believe it was like 3:45 am on the 15th. There was this one nurse who was standing to the right of me who kept asking Natalie if I was pushing and then telling me that I had to push. I not so politely told her to be quiet. I don't think I ever screamed like they show in movies. I had always said I wanted to be as calm as a hindu cow, so I was mooing...pushing...mooing. Fifteen minutes later, at 4:01 am on January 15, I mooed Iris out into the world!

We delayed clamping her cord until it was done pulsating and then we were skin to skin, the best feeling in the world. We stayed like this over an hour. Iris weighed 6 pounds 7oz and was 18 1/4 inches long. All was perfect.

Although I didn't want a hospital birth, it could not have gone any better. I am thankful for my fast, natural, intervention free birth, and most thankful our beautiful Iris Riley.