Birth of Micah Dean Hawes
1/21 I was staying busy, waiting for baby to come. Late afternoon, I spent an hour on treadmill with Marrie and then in the evening we went to Hannah's basketball game. In middle of night I noticed more pelvic pressure so I walked around but nothing changed.
1/22
when I woke up I noticed a decrease in fetal movement. He is normally pretty
active at night. I called triage at our clinic to see if I could get an
appointment that day instead of waiting till my scheduled 41 week appointment
on 1/23. The triage nurse didn't seem overly worried and said she would have my doctor's nurse call me when
they came in. A few hours later
my doctor’s nurse called and said to come right in to be seen. On our way to
the hospital and while sitting in the waiting room I noticed an increase in
back pain. I wondered if this was the start of contractions.
Before going to the hospital
Benz was very clingy the past two days
The Non stress test results were not ideal...not enough accelerations with
baby's heartbeat and I didn't notice him moving during the test. My Dr, who is very hands off, wanted to admit me and get
labor going by breaking my water. So
I was admitted and my Dr broke my water at 3:45pm. At that point I was 3cm dilated and 90% effaced.
We
were told a water birth was not an option due to not being tested for Hep C
(which I don’t have) and not filling
out a permission form in the clinic when I first arrived (neither in which we
were informed needed to be done in order to have a water birth) I was SO
upset that this got missed and the nurse who informed us made me feel that it was my fault. We let our doula
know what was happening and said no
need to make extra quick arrangements so she was going to join us
later...later quickly turned into
ASAP when the contractions started to come strong and often. I didn’t realize contractions would come so hard so fast.
I
utilized the birth ball and stood next to the bed raised up. Once those positions started to hurt more than
help I moved to being on the bed. Nathan described me as looking like a
gorilla as I was on the bed with my head dropped over the head of the
bed, on my knees, using hands for bracing. Immediately when our
doula arrived, she jumped up on the bed providing me w counter pressure and
squeezing my pelvis. I was having mostly back labor and she applied peppermint essential
oil to help get him to turn. I remember it smelling good and feeling warm.
I
appreciated our Doula, her confidence and knowledge of what to do to help. I didn't know what I needed, so before she arrived when Nathan would ask, "what can i do?" I didnt know what to say. She and Nathan kept reminding me to breathe
slowly because that's what the baby needed me to do. My natural reaction was to hold my breath or take fast breaths. Knowing the baby
needed me to breathe slowly helped. Nathan held my hands and let me hang on
him...he didn't leave my side.
My mom brought our hospital bags and some food. Sadly contractions were too
intense so I couldn't eat and
felt nauseous after the few bites I had.
7pm I was 8cm.
Somewhere between 7 and 8p they measured me an 8/9. At this point with each
contraction my body started pushing. I remember with one I urinated on the
floor. Labor is messy...blood, mucus, urine, poop and gas.
Lots of prayer!!
8pm I was 9cm. Contractions were so close when they would check me a
contraction would come. Lying down was
the WORST position to be in during a contraction. Also being talked to, asked
questions, loud noises or
basically anything that distracted me from solely focusing on the contraction
or upcoming one made the
contraction worse because I was not prepared and focused.
I was so
super focused that Nathan, the nurses and our Doula all said (after birth) that I didn't make any noise (screaming/crying). I remember tearing
up quietly into my pillow because of the pain. I was happy to hear that because I wanted to maintain a calm presence during labor.
815 at 10cm w a little lip
they helped get his head passed using their hand during a contraction.
This was quite uncomfortable. I was on the bed tilted on my side
when it was time for pushing w/ nurses, Doula, Nathan holding my
legs. This helped give me something to push against. My doctor was close to not
making it...one of the nurses was putting two gloves on in case...no one thought
it would be this quick.
It may sound crazy
but pushing didn't hurt, I didn't feel the ring of fire even though his head
sat there while I was waiting for the next contraction to push. When his head was
visible they had me feel. I wanted him out and for the contractions to stop.
This is probably why I ended up w
/ a
2nd degree tear
and two
stitches. He came out at 844pm... I pushed for 15 minutes. Hearing him
cry and being placed on me was the best moment, the moment I had been waiting
many months for.
Daddy's expression--priceless
We waited for the cord to stop pulsating; meanwhile he was on my chest. The way he was placed on my chest I wasn’t able to see his face. Nathan said he looked like a crabby old man...I probably would too.
I was so happy he was here!!!
It took us a few minutes to pick what name fit him. Nathan
said Micah... I said yes Micah it is. This was our name for if the baby
looked sweet...he did. Daddy cut the cord. The placenta came right out,
just one small push. The doctor
showed us the placenta and inverted it to see the sac Micah was living in.
Then the doctor stitched me up while we looked at our sweet baby. I am in awe of the process of life and so
thankful to have experienced this process.
Daddy eventually got to hold Micah :)
Family of Three
Nathan
went to get grandma Marrie who had been patiently waiting in the lounge. When
she walked in we both started crying and I said “hi grandma,
this is Micah"
Baby Boy Micah!
Water broke at 3:45pm---Micah arrived at 8:44pm
I have never felt so proud of myself. My goal all along was to have a "natural" childbirth one without medication etc. I wanted to birth my child the way my body was intended. I have so much pride that I cannot describe. I feel so empowered and so strong. I feel blessed and grateful to be able to carry a baby and birth a baby.
Photos and Doula services provide by Mandi Morgan:
