Now that we've adjusted to life with a newborn, I've got time to record Merritt's birth story. It was amazing and I want to remember as much as I can!
I attempted to deliver Hartley naturally, but after my water broke on its own and contractions came intensely and quickly without any warning, I caved in. I made it at least 6cm before requesting an epidural. Fortunately it worked perfectly and I was able to relax and enjoy Hartley's delivery.
Knowing what I knew from my first baby, I was better prepared with Merritt and I wanted to try my hand at a natural birth again. I did a lot more researching this second time around. I knew what to expect from the hospital and how to confidently decline pain relief. And I actually knew what contractions felt like!
I prepared myself for natural birth via hypnobirthing. This method focuses on relaxation, breathing and visual techniques. Through slow breathing and counting, the body is able to relax and allow uninhibited labor. I visualized my uterine muscles contracting and moving the baby down. Preventing the body from tensing up eased the pains and progression of labor, allowing myself to do what God designed me to do naturally!
And now with the anticipated birth story…
Mondays are my day to recover from the weekend. I usually get as much laundry done as I can for the week and attempt any other housecleaning if time and energy permits. The Monday before Merritt was born- the house was spotless. I should have known then what was to come.
Around 6pm I noticed I was having more Braxton Hicks contractions than normal. I remember sitting in Merritt's room, probably rearranging her dresser drawers again, when I realized there were multiple within 30 minutes. They weren't intense contractions, just more frequent than usual. Because my labor with Hartley was so different I had no idea what was going on and if I was truly in labor.
Marshall arrived home shortly after that. After a few more contractions I told him what was going on. I'm pretty sure he didn't believe me or think anything of it. :)
Between my sudden loss of appetite and going to the bathroom every 15 minutes, I just hung out while Marshall and Hartley ate dinner. We continued through the evening as normal. Marshall and Hartley wrestled around while I relaxed on the couch, monitoring minor contractions that were becoming consistently 7-8 minutes apart. As we neared Hartley's bedtime, I decided it would be best to go ahead and have a bag packed for her. If something happened during the night, her bag would be ready for her to stay with grandparents.
The rest of the evening progressed slowly. The intensity of contractions had not changed nor the timing. I went to bed early to make sure I would get enough rest. Of course, I couldn't sleep. I wasn't in pain but I was reminded every 7 minutes we would be meeting Merritt that day. I might have gotten 5-10 minutes of sleep.
Around 3:30am I decided to get up and take a shower. If we were having a baby, I wanted to make sure my hair and makeup were done. :)
After being in the shower for a few minutes, contractions began to intensify but were still very manageable. I proceeded getting ready and it was while drying my hair I had the first major contraction around 4:30am. Marshall hurried in the bathroom as he heard me cry out. It was after that I realized it was time to focus, time to breathe, time to remember my body was doing what it was designed to do. And Merritt was doing what she knew to do, too. We were going to be meeting her soon!!
I continued getting ready but it was taking much longer as I had to pause every 4-5 minutes and roll on the birthing ball. Swaying back and forth and in a figure 8 helped the most for me. Marshall got in touch with his parents to inform them it was go time. His mom came over a little after 5am. Before I had gone to bed I had all my bags packed and pillow, boppy, and camera ready to load. We weren't rushing but I knew we needed to be on the way to the hospital soon.
We left the house a little after 5:30am. Contractions were 3 minutes apart, my water had not broken yet.
We arrived to hospital around 5:45am. I waddled up to the front desk.
"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked.
"No, I'm having a baby."
"So you have an appointment??"
"NO! I'm in labor!"
[We were later informed by friends that most inductions are scheduled at 6am. We arrived just before six and that's why the lady kept asking us about an appointment. We were not amused at the time.]
After establishing the fact we did NOT have an appointment but that the baby was coming on her own, we gave her my information. Well, I began to give her my information but the contractions were coming again. And again. Marshall took over as I swayed and paced/waddled.
Once we were finished at the front desk, Marshall went to move the car and I walked back to get changed and give a urine sample. I was in extreme, full-out contractions and was getting impatient with the nurses at this point. Marshall wasn't with me and I was having to get undressed and pee in a cup by myself. The nurses were taking their time, not realizing how quickly I was progressing!
We managed to get settled in the delivery room. We quickly discussed with the nurses that I didn't want an epidural nor to be tied up to monitors the entire time. I was surprised with how understanding and lenient they were. My initial cervical check informed us we were at 6cm! I honestly thought I'd be further along considering how painful and close together contractions were.
After being in the bed for just a few minutes I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get through the labor without an epidural. Marshall was standing by my side and talking me through the first few in the bed. He kept telling me he knew I could do it. I didn't want to believe him. I really doubted myself and the ability to deliver Merritt without pain medications.
Once we were given approval to remove the monitors, I sat on the edge of the bed and continued to labor. I was going to attempt to walk around during contractions, but swaying on the edge with Marshall kneeling and sitting in front of me worked best.
I have no idea what came over Marshall but I saw a different side of him! He was an amazing coach! He spoke so calmly as we swayed and breathed through each contraction. I had been reading up on hypnobirthing the few weeks before and didn't expect him to know what to do when the time came since he hadn't been reading anything. But it came so naturally to him.
The nurses came in a few times to check on us. I was glad they mostly left us alone to labor by ourselves. Shifts changed during labor and I remember the nurses just watching us. The whole time I had not let out any screams. One of the nurses told me later that she had never seen someone so focused during labor. Marshall helped me to focus on my breathing, simple slow inhales and exhales. And I visualized my uterine muscles contracting. There was no need to scream and tense up my body!
We labored at the hospital for maybe 1.5 hours but it felt much quicker than that. Contractions were so quick it flew by! Around 7:20am I started feeling extreme perineal pressure. Marshall paged the nurses and they hurried in. I'm so glad Marshall moved out of the way to let a nurse check the monitor machines because it was then that my water broke. He would have been soaked otherwise. :)
With a quick check, I was 9cm and almost ready to go. At that time it was about 7:25 and my mom called. We tried getting in touch with her since 4am but no luck! Marshall let her know quickly that we were about to start pushing, although we had no idea that it would be in the next few seconds.
The nurses quickly found my OB and he hurried into the room. We began pushing and I had never felt such pressure before in my life! While I had been quiet throughout laboring, the real grunting started with those pushes. Two strong pushes. And Merritt arrived.
She was so tiny! My doctor and I made weight guesses, I was closest.
We were overwhelmed with so much emotion after she emerged. The long wait was over. And she was here. I didn't cry when Hartley was born, but I did as soon as I saw Merritt. Marshall and I cried together and we shared a kiss. I'll never forget that moment!
They laid her on my chest and covered her with a blanket immediately. She looked just like her big sister- with hair everywhere! I continued crying and telling her happy birthday. She was beautiful and Marshall and I just stared at her!
The next few hours were a blur. Family finally arrived. We didn't expect Merritt to come so quickly, so nobody was there to hear the hospital chime for her birth! Mema and Hartley walked in the room a few minutes after she was born. Hartley kept telling us she needed a bath! Merritt had not been bathed nor weighed at that point. Uncle Jason came in on his way to work, followed by BecBec, Luke and Caleb.
She was eventually weighed. 5lb 15oz. 18.25 inches long.
Almost six pounds of sweet perfection.
We finished all the routine checks in the delivery and gathered our belongings to head to our recovery room. I felt fantastic and refused to be wheeled down the hall. I couldn't get over how wonderful I felt after delivering Merritt! I was definitely on cloud nine and adrenalin was pumping.
Merritt's birth was the most beautiful experience. Everything went flawlessly. Marshall's coaching through it all was so impressive and I'm so thankful to have him as my husband and the girl's daddy.
