On March 28 I woke up at 12:30am with contractions starting but I was able to go back to sleep 🙏🏼
They woke me up again at 1:30 & 2:30. By 3, I was officially awake & knew I was in real labor.
I woke my husband up around 3:30 & called the midwife around 4:00. Contractions for this labor were really only lower belly contractions, similar to a menstrual cramp - very different than my first homebirth (in such a great way)! Thank you @painfreebirth for expanding my experience here🙏🏼
We started filling the tub around 4:15 & I just paced around while we waited. I chilled in the tub breathing through contractions for most of the time.
I had a bit of cervical lip so sitting on the toilet helped with that (& that is where my water broke)✨
Instead of pushing forever as I had with first, I surrendered to my body knowing it would happen when it was supposed to happen. I actually slept between contractions instead of straining to push (which can cause hemorrhoids, prolapse & major dysfunction in your lady organs)
There is actually a part of labor called “Second Stage Latent Labor” when it seems like labor is “stalled” but it’s really just part of the physiological process. During this time, contractions get further apart and baby is doing 6 specific moves as it moves down the birth canal. It has to tuck its chin, spin clockwise & essentially prepare itself in the most innate way possible. Trust your body during this time. This is a time of rest. You’ll KNOW when it’s about time to push because contractions will get stronger again & things will temporarily become more intense.
🙅🏼♀️Patience was the hardest part about this birth... waiting through that second stage latent labor & for that fetal ejection reflex to happen...waiting for baby to take his time twisting, descending, & preparing for an optimal entrance into the world. I played @christianhypnobirthing on repeat & just relaxed as much as I could.
🌊10:00am: I was feeling defeated...like nothing was progressing...until my 3-year-old daughter came in & gave me a big hug.🥰 I then experienced a suuuper strong contraction- unlike any before.
My midwife started to make her way over to the tub because she could tell something had shifted & progressed.👍🏼
The next contraction was even stronger & it felt like a bowling ball just dropped from my stomach to my pelvis. 😖 He was sooo heavy & strong waiting to come out.
💣10:07am: With the 3rd contraction post-hug, his whole body shot out quickly like a cannon. I was finally holding him & feeling the most ecstatic relief you can imagine. 🤩
We sat in the tub for a while breathing, relaxing, crying happy tears, nursing, & rubbing vernix into his skin.
🛌 I eventually got into bed waiting for the placenta which took about 40 minutes. We kept the cord attached for a little over an hour as well. Overall everything was amazing & I’m grateful to have crawled right into bed after for lots of relaxation.
🙏🏼It was a beautiful experience for our family & I hope others can have such a wonderful time on their birthing days☀️
