clara's birth story

Boy do I have a treat for you today… another birth story! Not mine though — from my friend Lindsay. I just love reading birth stories, which is why I shared Hunters (part 1, part 2 and part 3). I hope you love reading them too!

Hello all you Get Healthiers! (Get Heatherers doesn’t make any sense.)
I’m Lindsay and I blog at Lindsay’s List, a healthy living blog where I chronicle my life as a wife, mom of two toddlers, personal trainer and group fitness instructor! I dabble in crazy protein powder recipes, but my true passion is for fitness and for my family.

Since Heather is “out” on maternity leave, she asked me to sub in for her. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate post than a BIRTH STORY! Clara’s, to be exact.

Clara’s story actually begins a week before her birth. I started having very intense contractions, each lasting a minute, but they would never evolve into a pattern. Family and friends were on high alert for days and after nothing happened, I started feeling a lot like the boy who cried wolf.

On Friday, the 13th, I saw my midwife. I was 3cm dilated, 50% effaced. She stripped my membranes and said, “See you this weekend”. Again, everyone was on high alert (Katy even took Henry to the lake for two days in case I went into labor). Nothing happened all weekend and by the time Monday rolled around, I was hoping that Clara would wait until the next weekend.

On Monday night around 11pm, my contractions evolved into a pattern – every 4 minutes, 1 minute in duration. This was it!! I called Katy and she came to stay the night with Henry. I figured I’d call the hospital and tell them I was coming. But when I talked to the charge nurse, she discouraged us from coming until the contractions were 2 minutes apart. I knew that I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible, so we decided to wait it out.

I labored all night but the contractions weren’t getting closer. Again, I felt so defeated. I made Travis walk around outside in the moonlight with me MULTIPLE times. The next morning, I called my midwife and she said come in and she’d check my cervix. We left Henry with Mom and headed over to Sylva. When I got there, I was so sure they would send us home, but alas, I was a 5, 80% effaced with a bulging bag of water. YEAH! I wasn’t crazy after all – this was true labor!

We checked into the hospital at 10AM. At around 10:30, I was dilated to a 7! Mom arrived at 11AM with cookies and trashy magazines – I had NO interest in either, I was in “GO” mode 😉 Around noon, Betsy came over and broke my water. After this, there was no turning back – we would have a baby, one way or the other, within the next 24 hours. (If the baby hasn’t been born within 24 hours of your water breaking, they’ll take it by c-section because of the risk of infection).

see, I warned you it was long....

Not long after my water was broken, the contractions got SUPER intense!! I never got to this stage of contractions with Henry – the epidural took all the pain away. Travis and I had decided that this time, we were going to try to have a natural birth – no meds whatsoever. We read Dr. Bradley’s “Husband Coached Childbirth” together and were as prepared as we could be for bringing Clara out without any meds. I give props to Travis for making me do my exercises every night for weeks leading up to the due date and for making a GREAT coach during the actual event!

As I transitioned from a 7 to a 10, I labored on a birthing ball and in the water-tub. When I got into the water, it felt fabulous – all of the pressure was off of my joints and the warm water helped me relax. It was during this time that I began to push, in various positions, but I could never get into a good position. My midwife suggested we move to the toilet. I’ll admit, this made me freak out a bit – I remember asking if they’d make sure to catch her so she wouldn’t get dirty :). The toilet didn’t work – I couldn’t push Clara past my pubic bone. The last suggestion worked – moving to the bed. It was there that I could really bare down and get her out. She was “sunny-side up” so Betsy had to hold her neck and twist her in the birth canal. The nurse pushed on my belly and with one last contraction, Clara greeted the world. They placed her on my chest and she was perfect. Black hair and a cute button nose.

Almost two years later and her hair is lighter, but she’s still as cute as a button!

splendid…lindsay

Lindsay Wright blogs at the healthy living site, Lindsay’s List, where she shares her fitness journey as a NASM-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. A stay-at-home mom to two children, Lindsay’s just trying to balance fitness, family and fun!! Find her at Lindsay’s List.

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chelsey @ clean eating chelsey June 18, 2012 - 10:46 am

She is such a cutie – I love those big eyes!

Lindsay @ Lindsay's List June 18, 2012 - 12:00 pm

Thanks for having me, Heather! Clara approves of this post.

amy June 18, 2012 - 12:12 pm

i love reading these birthing stories…! im definitely nervous/scared/excited-every feeling ever for the birth of or daughter…but i cant wait!!! its so amazing. and yes, clara is seriously adorable!

Jessie June 18, 2012 - 2:45 pm

I love reading birth stories!!

My little girl was sunny side up too. She was turned by the Dr at the last minute just like Clara. Crazy how fast they grow up!!

Lara June 19, 2012 - 9:54 am

I love birth stories and this was wonderful! Clara is beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

Jentry Nielsen August 28, 2012 - 12:09 pm

I just stumbled across this post, don’t know how I didn’t read it before but oh my goodness Clara looks EXACTLY the same! That is so adorable! Love this post!

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