lunas birth: part one?

Im calling this Luna's birth story part one, because it kind of is...but isn't?

Long story short, my labor started, I almost reached transition and then it stopped.

And it hasn't started back. I am really practicing patience now, relaxing and breathing.

I have dealt with the disappointment and I am looking forward to when Luna decides to come.

Heres the long story...

Early Tuesday AM, I woke up several times with light contractions but so much pressure I couldn't sleep- I made a bathroom trip about every 15 minutes. I started having thoughts that this could be it, but I pushed them from my mind and tried to sleep. Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well. 

Ocean was still getting over her ickyness and Marc and I were exhausted from dealing with it.

We laid around the house all day, reading books and generally being lazy.

At around 3:30 I realized I had been contracting consistently all day.

I had also been having other signs here and there that something was about to happen.

I finally looked at Marc and said- I think today is the day.

We had dinner plans with his Dad that night so we just took it easy and then got ready to go to dinner.

I took a bath with some clary sage again...

After my bath I decided to get a little dressed up, considering we were going to dinner and all.

We left for dinner at 5:00...

During dinner I was getting pretty uncomfortable- It took me awhile to realize the contractions were close together and getting stronger.

At 6:00 I texted my midwife to let her know what was going on.

I called her when I got home and explained in better detail what was happening.

She said it sounded like labor but to keep her updated. I told her I would call her again at 7:00.

We decided to go on a walk...

Again at 8:00 I called, things seemed to be picking up so she said to call again at 9 and let her know.

We called her at 9 and she said she would leave in an hour.

We called my parents too and it was their anniversary so they were out but I let them know granddaughter Luna was on her way. My mom and 3 sisters left almost immediately. :)

(my dad and other sisters were going to wait until the birthing process was over ;) )

At this point contractions were stronger but more like light menstrual cramps, nothing I had to focus on.

Marc gave Ocean a bath and I read to her and put her to bed. She went out quickly (thankfully!)

After that I was bouncing away on my birthing ball watching "The Colbert Report" with Marc.

My family arrived and I kept bouncing while we talked.

My midwife arrived around 11:00 and we checked Lunas heartbeat (which was perfect) and my cervix.

I had dilated to 31/2 cm and was still about 80% effaced.

At this point she advised going to sleep.

We got everyone situated and went to bed. I tossed and turned a lot- the contractions started to pick up at 2:00 that morning and It got even harder to relax, in between them though I was sleeping so hard I was drooling. Finally at 3:30 I couldn't sleep anymore, I got my midwife and we check her heartbeat and my cervix again, I was about a 41/2 at this point. We decided to go ahead and get the pool set up...

My mom, sister and Marc got it up without an air pump. (!) We didn't want to wake the sleeping babies.

My ingenious husband came up with the idea of using the vacuum hose to get the water into the pool rather than the hose (don't worry, we cleaned it) ;)

At this point I was starting to have to focus on my contractions, they were coming close together and getting more intense- not quite painful yet, but really uncomfortable.

At this point I was starting to get "in the zone" when I had a contraction. I noticed nothing else, I was focused on breathing and relaxing. At around 5:30 I started feeling nauseated, I decided to go to the bathroom and waited a bit thinking I might throw up. It was nice being alone in the bathroom through my contractions, I got completely quiet and just breathed through them.

I decided to sit on my ball and lean against my bed with some pillows, so I did. 

I threw a blanket around me because I was getting chills. 

Marc and Liz were in our room talking and I couldn't listen I was so focused on contractions.

I felt pretty sick at this point, but It was such a good feeling because when contractions hit I just laid my head in my pillow and zoned out completely. That is an amazing experience.

I decided to lay down, It sounded great- and it felt great. I went to sleep instantly.

I woke up about 7:50 to find contractions had almost completely stopped.

At this point I was preparing myself...I knew something was off.

I woke up my midwife and told her, she offered a smile and told me that just being completely honest she thought this might happen. She said I could be willing myself into labor.

At this point I was fighting back tears, she told me to lay back down and rest, so I did.

I got back in bed and cuddled up to Marc, fighting off tears.

I wanted to do anything at that point to keep labor from stopping but I knew that if it was stopping that it was for a reason. SO much inner conflict. I started to tear up, I woke Marc up and told him what was happening, he just held my hands and offered a sympathetic look. We both knew there wasn't much we could do but wait. At 9:00 we woke up and I let my midwife know that contractions had stopped.

 At 10:00 Marc told me that we should go on a walk, At this point I needed it.

That was a highlight for me- As soon as we walked out that door I started crying...just blubbering to Marc about how frustrated and disappointed I was, he held my hand and reassured me after letting me talk it all out to him. It was about a 15 minute walk but by the time we got home I felt like a new woman. When we got home I talked with my midwife, mom, Marc and sisters and cried with them a little too. My midwife reassured me that this happens a lot, that nothing was wrong and to look at it as progress. I was almost halfway there (dilation wise). She decided to go onto work and told me to call her at 1:00 to see if anything had changed and then instructed me to go relax and sleep.

She told me to call her if anything changed between now and Friday.

We left the tub and everything else in place so we are ready to roll! :)

My mom took my sisters and Ocean to Target and Sonic.

I took a bath. A long soak with clary sage.

After about 30 minutes of crying and soaking, Marc told me to get out and he would give me a good massage to help me relax. I got out, put on some comfy clothes and laid down. Marc talked calmly to me while he gave me a good back rub and I was on the edge of sleep.

I don't remember falling asleep but I woke up at 1:30 to my midwife coming in the room.

She checked on everything and then told me that if by Friday nothing had changed that we would try a homeopathic remedy and see if that got things going. She told me there is a reason this is happening and to soak up all the relaxing I could. After my nap, I completely agreed. I felt a lot better and could look at things with a more reason than emotion :)

My mom called my dad and explained everything, it was decided Liz would stay here to help out until the big day. Ocean was exhausted- she had been up since 4AM and hadn't napped all day.

At 4:00 I decided to go nap again and my mom came in and talked with me.

We talked about her birth experiences and she reassured me that this was fine and that if I was at a hospital they would have induced me, so to be thankful for being able to rest rather than being forced into labor. I agreed. Things weren't going as planned but they would be fine.

I would be fine. Luna will be fine.

Its going to be okay.

I slept for about an hour and when I woke up my dad and 2 other sisters were there.

We talked a bit and then they left.

Ocean was exhausted and ready for bed at this point it was about 6:30 and we hadn't had dinner, so we gave Ocean a yogurt and fruit to eat- she was falling asleep in her highchair! Poor baby! haha

Marc and I decided to go have a mini-date grocery shopping.

(SO nice!) We went to Earth Fare and just leisurely strolled around...we loved it.

We got stuff to make dinner and smoothies.

We chatted and just relaxed! (Anyone who grocery shops with toddlers knows how amazing a trip to the grocery store is minus the toddlers, haha)

I pick up "Fear-Less" flower essence to try, I have always been interested in the flower remedies but never tried them so decided to give this one a go since I still felt anxiety.

We got home around 7:45 to find a sleeping baby and a crocheting Aunt.

She said Ocean didn't even make it through one story.

Marc got dinner going while Liz and I watched funny videos on youtube.

Laughter was so nice- I had been an emotional wreck all day and laughing was relieving my body of so much tension and stress.

After dinner we had some strawberry popsicles...

and a little bit after this I realized how at peace I was with everything...

I went to bed that night feeling very calm and accepting.

She will come when she is ready, my body can do this and it will be fine.

I slept in until 10:30 this morning and I am living up being pregnant.

I am letting Marc and Liz wait on me hand and foot and being lazy.

haha- Well, thats what I am suppose to do!
♥

Dear Luna-

Come on out lady...but only if your ready. :)

Love, Mama