Birth Story of Miss A. P. Turnage

September 23^rd, 2011

I was rudely awakened at 3AM with a very strong contraction. I knew immediately that I was in labor because I felt it in my back and it hurt! Tyler was sleeping and I didn’t want to wake him up right away so he wouldn’t be tired. It was going to be a long day!

The contractions started out 7-9 minutes apart, so it was actually quite nice. My other labors started out much closer together. The contractions stayed around 7 minutes apart for a few hours. About 7:00AM they started getting a little closer together, every 4-5 minutes or so. They were not always consistent. Some would come closer together and then they would spread out again. I still didn’t time them often because I knew I was in labor so I didn’t feel the need.

8:00AM – the contractions started to get more intense and closer together. They were still about 3 minutes apart but lasting over 90 seconds each. My boys were starting to get anxious watching me and my 19 month old (B) wanted to sit on my lap during contractions so we decided to head out to the birth center. We called my midwife and told her we were getting ready to leave. By the time we were ready (it took us about an hour to get ready because I had to stop during every contraction) and had said good-by to the boys the contractions were really close together. So close that Tyler was afraid that if we didn’t leave soon he would have to deliver a baby in the car!

Once in the car the contractions spread out again. I think I had about 5 in the 30 minute drive.  We arrived at the birth center just before 9:30AM. My midwife and her assistant were there already, preparing the birthing suite for delivery. The contractions started getting close together again once I was at the birth center. My midwife took my vitals, checked baby’s heartbeat and asked if I wanted to get into the tub. I of course said yes!! So she started running the water. A few contractions later the tub was full and ready for me. Just before I got in I had my hardest and most painful contraction.

The tub was amazing. There are no words to describe just how amazing and relaxing it was to soak in that tub! I could still feel the contractions but they were not nearly as intense. A couple contractions and about 10 minutes later (the contractions had spread out again) I felt like I had to push. So I did. My midwife and her assistant came into the room then (they had left us alone).  I pushed when I felt like it, which wasn’t every contraction at first. It started getting more intense and I changed positions. I had been reclining on my back but that was getting uncomfortable so I switched to be on my hands and knees.

I do not know how long I pushed. There were no clocks in the room and neither Tyler nor I had a watch. I just pushed. I remember getting to the point where I knew her head was almost out but I didn’t want to push anymore because it was very painful. I asked my midwife if I could quit. She told me that I was almost done and that my baby was almost born. I then decided to get it over and done with and push with all my might. I think it took two pushes and her head was out completely. My water never broke so she was still in the caul.

 I pushed again and expected the rest of her body to be born but nothing happened. It took me a little bit to realize that something was wrong – she was stuck. It hit me just as my midwife turned to her assistant and told her that she was stuck and that I had to get out of the tub. Oddly enough I wasn’t scared. I was very calm and so was my midwife. She helped me out of the tub – not an easy feat with a baby’s head sticking out – and onto the floor. Tyler helped hold me up as I tried to get onto my side on the floor. This again was extremely difficult but I somehow managed to do it. My midwife had been holding my baby’s head stable (I think it was her – it could have been her assistant) while I got into position. Thankfully the movement of swinging my legs to get out of the tub dislodged her and I was able to push her out the very next push. I remember pushing as hard as I possibly could, knowing that my daughter needed to get out immediately. She came out easily then and cried right away. I was so relieved! I was able to hold her immediately. She was the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen!

Her cord was extremely short so I was unable to hold her to my chest right away. She only came up to my bellybutton so I had to hold her to my tummy while I walked to the bed. I chuckle now (8 months later) at the image of me walking to another room holding a baby to my belly! I had wanted to delay cord clamping but I was bleeding too much so my midwife and I discussed it and decided that the best thing to do was to cut her cord immediately so I could breastfeed her. I cut her cord and she latched right away. I did hemorrhage but my midwife was able to stop the bleeding without any medication by having me breastfeed and uterine massage. Lots and lots of uterine massage!! That was VERY painful. More painful than my labor had been! The word ‘massage’ there is very deceiving. I was grateful that she was able to avoid using Pitocin so I gladly put up with the so called ‘massage’.

Everything went well after that. She nursed well and her vitals were great, which was awesome since she got stuck. Miss A. P. Turnage weighed 10lbs 5oz and was 21.5in long. Big girl! With no tearing at all for me, yay! We were able to go home when Missy was 4 hours old. Her brothers were so excited to see a baby in the house!

Missy is now 8 months and such a happy little baby. Her brothers love tackling her and she loves it. She can hardly wait to walk so she can join in their antics. She is such a joy!