A little back story for you (I told you I would jump around so bare with me) I went into this pregnancy with an open mind as to what to expect. I knew that my end goal and if I could "plan" how labor went was to have a natural, drug free and vaginal birth. I've never liked needles and the idea of not being able to feel everything going on scared me more than feeling contractions. But that was my "plan" and I didn't want to feel disappointed in myself if I had to have a c-section and/or get an epidural...the end result was what I wanted most, a happy healthy baby and that's all that really matters. Someone mentioned to me at the beginning of pregnancy that I should look at this pregnancy like training for a marathon. It would be really hard for me to not train and one day go out and run 26 miles. It's the same thing with giving birth to a baby, I wanted to feel as prepared as I possibly could and really train for it. I could probably write a whole post about the things I did to help prepare and maybe I will one of these days. One thing I will say is I was blessed with a very fast labor and delivery but I also strongly believe that all the things that I learned to put in place really helped move things along. I fully believe that everything I practiced made my delivery what it was. Everyone there had a role and I couldn't have done it without a team of people. So here we go Clark, your birth story!!
Ryan had been out of town all week and my midwife informed me at my 36 week appointment that she really thought he would be a 40 week baby (she jinxed us!!). My pregnancy with Clark had been very "normal" so we too assumed I would be carrying our little nugget to 40 weeks. This would be Ryan's last work trip out of state for a bit until Clark came. I remember the whole week I just felt different, almost flu like. I had experienced what I thought were a few contractions here and there but was convinced it was just Clark dropping further into my pelvis and my body getting ready for labor, which wasn't for another two weeks. The day it all happened I had mowed our lawn and installed both of our car seat bases (so true how they come when you are fully ready haha). My dad was here visiting and he was about to leave when I looked at him and started laughing cause I thought I had wet myself. I went to the bathroom and realized it was the beginning of my water breaking.."holy sh*t my husband is in a different state" is what went through my head. I'm not gonna lie, I had a moment of panic where all I wanted was to not face what was about to happen, what HAD to happen in order to see our sweet boy. I called my dear friend Veronica, who might I add was one week past here due date (sorry V) and started a bit of a sob. She came right over and was exactly what I needed at that moment. I wish I had a picture of her face, she was so excited and kept telling me "Brittany, this is it!! You are going to meet him in the next 24hours!!"
I then started to scramble a bit, throwing together a bag for the hospital and trying to get in touch with Ryan but at the same time it was so important to me that I stayed calm. I really wanted Clark to come into this world in a peaceful way. I got ahold of my doctor (Sam) and Doula (Caylan). They both thought it was best to be at the birthing center within the hour since my water had broke. Already things were moving a lot faster than I had thought they would. We had prepared ourselves to labor at home for as long as possible then head to the hospital when it was time to give birth. My dad came back and made me a quick sandwich but I started feeling a bit anxious and wanted to make sure everything was ok with Clark. Veronica, my dad and I got into the car and took the 5 minute drive to the hospital. At this point I was having what felt like pretty intense contractions about 4 minutes apart.
When we got there I started pacing back and forth a bit trying to focus on my breathing as much as possible. I originally had a doctor appointment planned for the following day and was going to do all the registration necessary so I wouldn't find myself in the position I was in...having to give them all my information. Luckily it didn't take too long and they got me into a birthing room at about 6:15pm, this was 2 hours after my water broke. Sam asked if I wanted to get in the tub to see if that felt good. As I was making my way to do so she stopped me and said she wanted to check me first cause she could tell things were moving along pretty intensely for me. I got a little nervous cause for all I knew I was dilated to a 3 and had a long ways ahead of me, I almost didn't want to know. She checked, and looked at me with a huge grin and almost laughing said "Brittany, you are at a 7 and your cervix is paper thin!!" I honestly didn't believe her. I got into the tub and Veronica and I just started breathing through each contraction. A few minutes later Caylan arrived and I started to feel so good because almost my whole team was there. Veronica informed me that Ryan was just a few miles away and my mom was heading down from Portland. When Ryan got there I was just about to get out of the tub cause I was feeling a lot of pressure in my tailbone through each contraction. I wanted to try a different position to labor in. They brought me the ball and it only frustrated me cause it was really deflated. I remember I kept complaining about my tailbone after each contraction, it felt like he was just pressing his head really hard into it. I kept moving around, trying anything and everything possible. I often tell people that I was a labor room hussy cause I was trying everything to get me through to the next contraction. First the tub then ball then toilet, stool, standing, then back to the bed. During every contraction Caylan was pressing in on my lower back and Ryan was right at my face breathing deep breaths in and out...in and out. It would get to a point that right when I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it anymore the contraction would taper off and I would rest for that short time, trying to just stay focused on the next one that would be coming. In between contractions Sam or Caylan would help me rock my hips in a circle or from side to side which helped Clark work his way down. By this time contractions were about a minute apart and I finally found a position that was as comfortable as it could be. It was then that Sam told me I was in transition and again I remember not believing her. She wanted to check me and this time she told me if and when I felt the urge to push that I could, this little guy we had been waiting for was ready! So contractions would come and go and I just stayed where I was, hunched over the bed for about an hour...I never felt that urge to push which was weird I thought. I remember Sam having me sit on the far edge of the bed and when a contraction came, Ryan would push my back forward and I would start pushing with all my might. It was such a weird thing because you really don't know how to push until you do. You just bear down and go for it. Most the time when I was pushing it didn't feel like anything was actually moving, but it is. I don't think there is a way to describe how it feels...two words come to mind and they are pressure and intense. Worse than any menstrual cramps but the pain similar in the sense that they come and go. It pretty much felt like a had a baby between my legs and I didn't want him there. I remember part way between all the pushing asking them to just take him out because I couldn't do it anymore, but in the moment I realized there really was no other way. I had to keep going. It was so encouraging when they told me they could see that he had dark hair. Sam then told me that after the next push she would ask for me to not push in the hopes that I wouldn't tear. Well, Clark must have really wanted out cause my next push he was ALL out and born at 8:53pm. All 7.5 lbs of him. I remember looking at him and just saying over and over again, "he's perfect, he's perfect". I honestly couldn't have asked for a better delivery. It was better than I could have dreamed it or envisioned it.
