This is a little long—only read if you like birth stories.
We were ready to have Harriet for weeks before she came. I think because she was breech for several weeks off and on, and there was talk of being induced when we knew the head was down, we somehow got in our mind that she would come early. We really wanted her to come before Brian’s parents left for Hawaii (early on the 21st) so that they could help make the transition for Elna as good as possible. She loves them, and I knew that if she was staying with them, that she would be the happiest possible, and that was very important to us. I did everything I knew of to get her to come—lots of walking, hikes, and a few other things. Sunday, March 17th I decided to take castor oil. It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I plugged my nose, never tasted the castor oil, and chased it with a spoonful of molasses. I took one tablespoon twice that day. I went to church a few hours after taking the first dose. Part way through Sacrament meeting I realized I would be spending a lot of time in the bathroom. I went home after Sacrament meeting, took the second dose and started having pretty consistent contractions. I had them for most of the day. I even thought I might actually be in labor, and headed to the hospital to see, but they sent me home because I was only at a 1. I was bummed.
Monday morning, March 18th, I woke up and doubled my doses of castor oil and molasses and took the doses closer together, hoping to get some crazy contractions going. Nothing! I was bummed again. I had an appointment with my midwife that day—the day before Harriet’s due date. I dropped Elna off at Brian’s parents house, thinking I would be back to get her in an hour or so. June measure me at a 3! I asked her to strip my membranes and told her I wanted the baby that day! She said she could break my water, but that if I didn’t progress fast enough after that, she would have to give me some pitocin. I called Brian and we decided to go for it! She sent me over to the birth center (which is part of the hospital and connected to her office building too).
Before changing into the hospital gown—my last pregnant shot.
Brian got to the hospital around 5:00 p.m. and my water was broken around 5:30 p.m. I think. It was a pretty slow leak, so I took off walking the halls for several hours. I had very weak contractions and was hardly progressing, so I was given a very small amount of pitocin, which after a few hours started really helping my progression. I wish I had written down the times and how dilated I was, but I didn’t, and now I have no idea. Around 10:00 p.m. that night contractions really started getting painful and I was at a 7 I think. I used a birth ball to get through the beginning stages of transition. At around midnight, when I was at about an 8, June took me off pitocin and let me finish on my own. At about 12:20 a.m I got into the birth tub.
The birth tub felt so nice when I got in. It was quite hot, and I thought that would be just what I needed. I was surprised later that it ended up feeling too warm for me. Even with it being too warm, I think it was a great way to labor and deliver. I had hoped that it would take away more of the pain than it did. I have come to the very sad realization that unless I get an epidural I will have crazy, insane, out of this world pain once I start transition and all the way through the end of delivering. So, even though the birth tub didn’t take away any pain exactly, I liked it because I was able to move around easier than I would have if I was on a bed. I could move quickly in and out of positions and try to get into a position that was more comfortable. I would do it again, and hope to be able to next time.
My mom texted Brian some time before midnight when I was still on the birth ball and I told him to just put her on Skype—she ended up being able to see the whole thing. You can see her on the laptop near June.
The most amazing part of being able to deliver in the water was being able to pull Harriet out myself. Between contractions I would feel where her head was and how much further I had to push to get her out, and then when she finally did come out, I pulled her out and put her right on my shoulder. The most rewarding and amazing experience of my life!
It’s strange to go from being in the worst kind of pain to no pain at all with that final push.
I absolutely adore my midwife, June! I was lucky to have her this time around since she had just had thyroid cancer surgery the week before. The year before she had breast cancer—she is one strong woman and one that I look forward to seeing each time I get pregnant—I will miss her for the next few years!
Harriet came out looking so so tiny to me and also very pretty looking—not as puffy as my previous babies.
Looking at the time she was born: 12:55 a.m.
Cutting the umbilical cord.
8 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. 14 inch head circumference.
Dad giving her her first bath while I sat in bed taking pictures.
Checking vitals with nurse Cyndee—who was also great! She took all of those pictures above from when I was laboring/delivering.
After I had held Harriet for a while in the birth tub, I got into bed and delivered the placenta and was stitched up a bit while Brian held her. I then nursed Harriet for a while—she ate well right away. I have been blessed to have babies who nurse really well. After she nursed, Brian bathed her. Then the nurse, Cyndee did Harriet’s vitals. We were exhausted when we were finally able to go to sleep—around 3:30 a.m.
She has the Clark cleft chin and we thought she looked like a smaller version of Elna when she was born, but now we don’t think she looks like E much at all and aren’t sure which of us she looks like. I suppose we will see as time goes by.
She is such a sweet and peaceful little girl and we are so blessed to have her in our family!
