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Announcing our newest little tree:
Cedar Ailsa Rusch 4/10/2006
As 39 weeks approached, I started feeling small changes, lots
of cervical stuff. I was increasingly uncomfortable at night, when baby would wake up and squirm on my cervix. During the
days was okay, just standard huge pregnant lady complaints. The interesting thing though is that my hip/crotch pain that I’d
had for the last few months went away during the last week, so it was really nice to be able to roll over (relatively) easily
in bed. I was afraid to go too far from home with my last labor being only 2 hours I was really nervous about being caught
out. And Chris kept canceling massage appointments that were “too far away” lest he get caught away from
home again. I had strict instructions to call him as soon as I felt ANYTHING =)
So, as 39 weeks came and went I was READY. On Saturday, April
8, we decided to try sex (it’s been a couple weeks) to see if it did anything. It was more funny than anything.
Lots of “ow, quit it” (if you’re familiar with the Simpsons) But I had off and on contractions for the rest
of day, and a few on Sunday. I was kind of hoping for contractions to be a little easier in the beginning and slowly ramp
up, since they were so overwhelming last time.
It was the day before I hit 40 weeks and I was getting used
to the fact that I was actually going to go “over” this time. Chris had a day full of appointments so he
was running all over town and wasn’t going to be home until around 5, then he was going to have to turn around after
dinner and head out to teach a yoga class. I waddled around the house all day half-heartedly doing this and that. I never
really got much of a nesting urge this time. I was grumpy because there wasn’t anything in the kitchen that I really
wanted to eat. The boys and I finally got comfy on the couch and Alder watched Ice Age while Banyan and I took a nap. It’s
really sweet to me that we got that last nap in together with Banyan still being “the baby”
When I woke up about 4:15, 4:30 Alder and I went outside to
play while Banyan was still napping. I was talking to my neighbor about nothing really happening yet and I started having
a few contractions. These actually were a little painful! But there was plenty of time between them, so I didn’t think
much about it. Then Chris came home while I was outside and I told him I had a couple contractions, and ooooooo there’s
another! So I looked at the clock thinking I might get an idea how far apart they were. It was 4:45. And then, oooooo, I’ve
got to poop! So I headed into my bathroom, and I’m pretty sure my water broke while I was sitting on the toilet, though
I thought it was just urine at the time as I didn’t hear or feel the “pop” I’m used to.
Chris went out into the backyard to water which REALLY
irritated me. I guess I didn’t get across clearly enough that this was IT. So I was pacing back and forth in the bathroom,
already vocalizing with contractions and thinking about getting in the tub, and worrying that it was too soon, and that it
might slow things down, and already getting nervous about the upcoming pain and thinking maybe slowing it down is a GOOD idea.
=) So Chris came in and ran the bath and I got in, and he disappeared again (damn that man) He was concerned about keeping
the kids away from me, but I was actually more comfortable with them being close by. So they came in my bedroom and watched
taped episodes of blues clues and lazy town while I labored. They’d come in periodically and ask if I was okay, especially
Banyan, and it was nice to have that to focus on. Because I knew I really WAS okay and it reminded me that the whole process
was very normal.
I timed some contractions and they were about 40 seconds
long but definitely had more time in between them than my last labor which was NICE Between 2 minutes and 5 minutes in between..
I was able to “collect myself” between contractions instead of feeling totally out of control. Chris came
in finally and stayed with me (he had been off making me tea =) and held my hands during contractions and cleaned up poop.
He laughed afterwards and said he was going to starve me for a few days prior to our next baby so there wouldn’t be
so much poop! I couldn’t stand the thought of getting out of the tub to make it to the toilet, I knew moving would bring
on a contraction and I didn’t want to be standing or half in half out of the tub when it hit. But I finally had to get
out so he could clean up the tub He put a blanket in the shower for me and I knelt on that with the hot water on my back while
he refilled the tub. It was good to change positions as my right foot had been falling asleep. I was in the shower probably
15 minutes or so when I got back in the tub. It was shortly after that when the contractions changed.
I noticed two distinct kinds of contractions during this labor.
The first ones hurt and were long and I guess were getting all the dilating accomplished. And then the second ones started
and they were EASY. They didn’t hurt as badly, they were shorter and while I didn’t have an urge to push, there
was the distinct feeling of the baby being moved DOWN. I felt inside and the head was about a second knuckle deep. There was
a fleshy ridge there which I figured was where the head hadn’t cleared my cervix yet.
I decided to get back in the shower at this point so I could
stand for the contractions. I figured gravity would help and if it was anything like Banyan’s birth it wouldn’t
be long now! I was so excited at this point to be done with the other contractions, I was downright cheerful. Chris was
really excited and kept ducking under me looking for a head, and I kept saying “not yet, honey, almost.” I think
he was really nervous about the baby “falling out” If only it were that easy! So these contractions came about
every minute or so, probably a little less, and only lasted about 20 seconds. They started to radiate down from just inside
my hip bones down the fronts of my legs, and I found myself involuntarily squatting during them. Then the urge to push kicked
in and I got down on my hands and knees and Chris must have called the boys over because suddenly they were there. He shut
the shower off and I started to feel the burning inside my vagina. I didn’t really have any external “ring of
fire” sensation this time. After probably 2 pushes the head was out. Darn it if that baby didn’t stick there like
Banyan did! Chris was saying “push her out!” And I’m saying, “no way, I’m waiting for the
next contraction.” So, it was only three pushes for her to be born. Chris said she was trying to open her eyes
as soon as her head was out.
The cord was short, like always, making it difficult to maneuver.
We managed to get back into the tub to keep warm while Chris ran around getting the scissors and finding something to
tie off the cord, get towels, diapers. So much for being prepared! My stuff which I had collected in a lovely basket right
there in the bathroom when I was 28 weeks had managed to migrate throughout the house by the time the birth rolled around.
We were in the tub probably 20 minutes, when we cut the cord.
It had stopped pulsing, and I handed her off to Dad and climbed out of the tub to push out the placenta. It came out
easily enough, but I guess the membranes got hung up because I had some hanging which irked me, but I just let it be
as I wasn’t heavily bleeding and I figured they’d come out on their own. Most of it came out later that night.
All in all, a little under 3 hours, it was a really simple birth.
At 4 days pp, I’m passing bits here and there, so it’s
working itself out. I feel pretty good, no tears or burning when I pee (YAY) Just some swelling. Cedar is a dear, she looks
just like Alder with a cloud of dark hair. She weighed 7lbs 12oz and is nursing and sleeping well. I think we’ll have
a navel tomorrow sometime. The adjustment to three is happening =) The kids are taking it well. I still prefer to have dh
here. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed when left alone with them =)
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Alder's Birth- 09/06/01 A couplesUC
I discovered I was pregnant in January of 2001. We had
been married 5 years, and after several stop & go starts at beginning our family, this was to be it. Chris
was still in shock, we weren't really talking about the pregnancy yet, and I was feeling quite isolated. We had
always talked about having the baby at home, but I had never really focused on what that entaled. I started
searching for a midwife online, but it just didn't sit well with me. I couldn't find the mentor I was looking for. In
my search, I came across a lot of info on UC, lotus births and the like. My mind was pretty much made up.
I figured if cracked out street walkers could give birth in a bathroom with no trouble, then me, a healthy woman who wanted
her baby could have a planned birth on her own, right? Luckily, once Chris warmed up to the idea
that YES, we were having this baby, he was along for the ride as far as birthing unassisted. I
did my own prenatal care which consisted of tons of ashtanga yoga, attentive vegetarian eating, and basically taking
it easy. I didn't work, and I rarely shared my plans with anyone. I really felt that any negative input was best avoided,
for my own well being, and for the baby.
I had the best pregnancy ever, no morning sickness, no backaches,
no nothing. I absolutely loved being pregnant. When I was almost 39 weeks, I started noticing what I thought might be contractions
after sex. It was the first time I'd felt anything so much as a twinge. It was a Monday night. We were so excited,
so we decided to try to duplicate the effect the next night. We made love again on Tuesday, but nothing much seemed to come
of it (as far as contractions, anyway)
On Wednesday I woke up at 7am whichat the time, was practically
the middle of the night for me. I was having more contractions but really didn't think much of it and decided to go back to
sleep. After about 30 minutes, I realized I couldn't get back to sleep, they were keeping me awake. Chris had to drive to
Tampa (90 min away) that morning, so I woke him up and told him he had better go, as this might turn into something. I toyed
with the idea of going along, as I thought it would probably take a while, but I knew diarrhea was a very real possibility and
I didn't want to be stuck in the car with that. So he left and I set about cleaning the house. I scrubbed the kitchen floor,and
the tub, and got together everything I thought Iwould need, which wasn't much. I had purchased some rescue remedy, some yunan
payao (sp) in case of bleeding, arnica, and some olive oil. I was disappointed, because while the contractions were close
(they were never more than 4 minutes apart) I didn't have to stop what I was doing to breathe through them. They just weren't
any big deal. Chris got home around noon, and nothing had changed. Actually that whole day passed and nothing changed. We
took photos for our birth announcement, and talked, and just spent time together at home. I tried to take a nap, but the contractions
were just irritating enough that I couldn't sleep, and still no more than 4 min apart. I told Chris I was afraid this could
go on for days. We ate dinner and watched some tv and about midnight, I said this is ridiculous, lets go for a walk. We walked
for two miles, and I was beginning to get worried, I mean 17 hours of labor and not a single serious contraction? I must admit
that my expectations were tainted though. I had convinced myself I would have a short 4 hour, maybe at the most 8 hour labor.
A friend of mine had delivered her first baby 2 months previous after a very short labor, and my mother, sister, and MIL all
had short labors. So instead of being inundated with 72 hour birthing horror stories, I was surrounded with tales of how quick
it could be.
After our two hour walk, when nothing had changed, we decided
to try some acupuncture. Among other things, Chris is a massage therapist/ acupuncturist. I had kind of been putting it off
until now, because I get really worked up and sweaty and anxious. But I was willing to try. At 2am, we did
the needles, and they came out at about 2:45, then everything stopped. No more contractions. I got about 15 minutes of sleep,
and than whammo, full force contractions! I was in and out of the bath, up and down the stairs, squatting against the counter.
The best position for me was holding onto the counter and when a wave came, I would bend my knees and sink down into a squat
with Chris pushing as hard as he could on the outside of my hips. I had the most discomfort there. THis went on until about
7am, and I started to get a little bit of a push urge. It wasn't strong, so I just pushed tentatively. Finally, it was overwhelming.
I felt so out of control, but it wasn't scary like I thought it would be. I felt everything popping and shifting in my pelvis,
and it felt awesome. I pushed while sitting backwards on the toilet. I had read about this somewhere and thought that sounded
so corny, but it worked! Somehow it made the pushing easier. Then my pushing urge completely went away. I was wearing down
and still afraid I wasn't really even close. I kept saying to my husband, if only it would all stop and we could sleep, and
then start again tomorrow. How many times have you read THAT in a birth story? The contractions had lessened as
well. I lit some candles, and got back in the tub, and just kind of snoozed. Then my body started to push again and
shortly after that, lo and behold there was a head! Finally some reassurance that this was happening! His head was right there,
I never felt any burning sensation (which is what I was worried about) but my clitoris felt like it was going to split. It
was a little hard to push past this, but I held it together as best I could and kept pushing. He seemed to get stuck here.
It may have been my fear of spliting. Chris suggested flipping over on my hands and knees, and I did. One push and I
heard him say his head is out. Then his whole body slid right out, no pushes at all.
Alder Ian Rusch breathed right away, no mucus or meconium, or
anything to cause worry. He just looked really angry, I love the pictures, it's so cute. He nursed right away, and as soon
as I stood up to get out of the tub, the placenta fell out on the floor. There was a mess of blood, though I didn't really
know it, it being my first birth, I just assumed that much blood was common. I felt great though, other than
the burning when I peed, which lasted about a week. I tore right next to my clitoris, but we decided not to worry about it.
I actually am kind of proud of it, it's like a little battle scar, a reminder of a wonderful moment of change in my life.
The only thing that bothered me after giving birth, was
I was very depressed for a few days afterward. I know it's because I was sad to let go of the pregnancy. I really loved being
pregnant, and the bond that we shared when he was inside of me. But that passes, and what I was left with is awonderful
new little person. | |
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