It’s been 1 week now since Hunter was born. The week just flew by. My originally thought was to have his birth story posted right away, mainly so I wouldn’t forget anything. Well 1 week has passed and nothing has been forgotten, and I really don’t see myself forgetting any of it.
It all started on Friday, May 25th, which, coincidentally was my due date…
The build up
I had woken up early to make it to my favorite 5:30am strength workout. I sure hoped my water would break during the workout and things would get started.
Right before the workout began I hit up the bathroom, where I found a little blood… that resembled the end of your period. I was totally freaked out, but still did the workout. Turns out I had some bloody show, a good sign labor will be happening soon(ish).
Later that afternoon I had a midwife appointment. I got checked for the first time and was 90 effaced, 1-2 cm dilated. I had my midwife strip my membrane a bit in hopes of getting things going. Jacob and I really wanted Hunter to show up that weekend.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday I did tons (TONS – at least 1.5 hours each day) of walking and also had a few more contractions.
Sunday afternoon I decided to take some castor oil. Castor oil only works to bring on labor if your body is ready to go into it. If its not, you just give yourself the runs and feel horrible for 12 hours or so. I was willing to take that risk. We both had this feeling it was time, especially with my bloody show and the contractions I’d been having.
A cup of OJ, fresh strawberries and a shot of castor oil all blended together went into my belly around 1pm on Sunday.
The wait
Jacob and I went to Fred Meyers that afternoon, and did something we never do — bought 3 movies. Then we did something else we never do — watched 2 in a row. We just *knew* something was going to happen.
At 8pm, about halfway through the second movie I began to feel a warm liquid starting to flow out of me. I dashed to the toilet, excited and hoping this was it. I couldn’t tell if it was my water breaking, me peeing myself or just lots of discharge. I called my midwife, she said it probably was my water breaking, to see how the night goes and come into the hospital in the morning unless labor progresses faster.
So we went for a walk, and 1 hour later the contractions started. Jacob got the biggest grin on his face during those early contractions. It was time!
I always wondered what contractions would really feel like, and to me it felt like really, really bad menstrual cramps. Before being pregnant mine were pretty bad, so being worse means they were really uncomfortable.
Fast forward a couple hours and the contractions were about 1-2 minutes apart and about 30 – 45 seconds long. I was feeling kind of freaked out, how could it be happened so fast? I spent a good amount of time in the shower, letting the warm water run down my low back (which was a big part of where I felt my contractions) for a little relief. Nothing really made them change. Jacob was on the phone with our midwife a few times… we both didn’t know why they were so close so soon. Was my labor really happening this fast?
Around 11pm we tried to get some sleep in, knowing we had a long night ahead. I couldn’t nap, they were so close together. I made it to 12:30am Monday morning and told myself at 1pm we will leave the house and head to the hospital. I could make it just 30 more minutes right?
At 12:45am we got the bags, were in the jeep and on our way to the hospital.
It really couldn’t be happening this fast… could it?
24 comments
wahoooo! I was so excited to see this post go up! Awesome that y’all didn’t have to induce
Awww, I enjoyed reading this…
Oh my goodness, I LOVE birth stories!! It takes me back to 4 LOOOOONNNGGG years ago when I had my 2nd child. I think I will still have baby pangs when I am 50 and reading stories like this. There seriously is NOTHING better than bringing a baby into the world. I look forward to reading the rest. Oh and CONGRATS!!!
Thanks Suzanne! It was definitely an AMAZING experience
Can’t wait to hear the rest!
The suspense is killing me!
Haha totally planned it that way!
Ahhhh! I’m going to be so impatient waiting for part 2 🙂
Nooooo…..I have to wait for the rest!?! I tried castor oil my third time around….never again!!! My butt hurt so bad!
Lol I guess I was lucky with the castor oil!
Yay! I love hearing birth stories!
I too love hearing birth stories, seeing my due date was May 30 and I still have him stuck inside…. so I guess I’m looking for tips and if anything symtom wise happening to me could maybe relate to what you went through! hahaha
I lost the bloody show on Friday, sort of getting contractions now but so not often, so unluckily not as fast as you! Can’t wait for part II and I hope I won’t be pregnant by then.
I hope your little guy shows up soon for you! My friend was due on the 26th and is still pregnant… they show up when they want to!
Suspense!!!!
I have to ask about the castor oil …because I might try it after my due date too…did you experience any of the unpleasant toilet-hugging side effects? It sounds like you didn’t really…My fear is the pooping will be so bad that I’ll regret it even if I do go into labor!
[you don’t have to answer specifically if it’s TMI : ) ]
Haha not TMI at all. I didn’t even get any of the unpleasant toilet effects… my only guess is that instead of it irritating my bowels, it irritated my uterus more (since they’re so close together), which then put me into labor. I think if my body had not been ready for labor I would have probably spent a lot of time on the toilet. Guess I was lucky! If I hadn’t had my bloody show + on/off contractions I’m not sure if I would have done it…. but I am impatient so I probably would have still 🙂
Love it! thank you so much for sharing, what an exciting time for the two of two!! I love the idea of Castor Oil, will have to make a mental note of that 🙂
xoxo
~Lori
love the suspense!!!!
Castor oil, huh! Was it totally gross?
Nope not at all hidden in a smoothie
Eeek! I can’t wait to hear the rest!!!!!
It’s up now!
i love this!! thank u so much for posting ur story…im so excited/scared!
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