A month overdue - Homebirth of Henry, Our Rainbow Baby

Our rainbow baby is finally here! ♥

What is a rainbow baby?

“Rainbow Babies” is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it doesn’t mean the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy and hope.

It was a great birth and quite the experience, but not what any of us expected. I'm ecstatic I finally got to have my homebirth. Waited so long for it.

Backstory

Mark arrived home on R&R Christmas morning. That night we 'baby danced' twice hoping it would put me into labor. I did get contractions ranging from 3-5 minutes apart for about three hours, but there was no change in dilation or effacement. I was still 5 cm and 80% effaced. My midwife did say my cervix moved more anterior and wasn't off to the side as it was before. So some progress, but not labor or anything.

The 26th was the day we had long planned on inducing me. This was the day my midwife and I talked about getting things going as Mark was due to arrive on Christmas and I was ready for this journey to be over. I finally wanted to have my rainbow baby. We got up the morning of the 26th prepared for a long day ahead of us. We knew with induction it could take time. The girls were already at my mom's house, but we decided to get them to give her a break. I spoke to my midwife about our plans. The methods of induction included castor oil and herbs. We figured we'd start with the castor oil first since it's known to work within 2-4 hours. This is what we were hoping for anyway. I took my first dose of castor oil at 1:30 p.m. It was a CO concoction I bought a while back that had other stuff in it (blue cohosh and clove and lemon EO). Thinking it would kick in within 2-4 hours we filled up the birth pool. The girls were getting very excited. It still didn't see real to me or Mark.

My midwife arrived a little after 2:00 p.m. After a few hours of waiting for the CO to take effect we decided to go for a walk around the apt. complex. The girls were getting restless and we were hoping walking would help with getting my bowels moving. I took two doses of CO total. We hoped the second would take effect. The first dose was utterly disgusting. I took it in V8 juice. Gross. The clove and other stuff didn't help, either. The second dose was better because I mixed it with rocky road ice cream. Much better. My midwife was confident this time it would work. All this time had passed and we were beginning to think I was an anomaly. No bathroom trips at all 6 hours after the first dose and 2 hours after the second. Time for herbs. We alternated between black and blue cohosh. I believe I took 4 doses total inside of two hours. During this whole time I was getting braxton hicks contractions. No active labor contractions or change in cervix. They were muck like warm up contractions like I'd been having on and off for over a week. We spent a good amount of time watching TV to kill time. The girls started getting restless so I had Mark take them to my mom's. We had planned to call her as soon as we knew I was in labor.

The good stuff

We were beginning to think the CO would never take effect or if it did it would be after the birth. 8 hours after the first dose I found myself taking a trip to the bathroom. Finally! I think I took about four trips to the bathroom. I would get contractions during the BMs. I felt cleaned out. More braxton hicks started coming here and there around 10:50p.m. Whenever I did get them they felt somewhat productive, but nothing to write home about. To my disappointment they never stuck. I'd get a few that were 3-4 minutes apart and then they'd go away. My midwife checked me around 11:00p.m. and said I was 6 cm. My guess is from me sitting and rocking on the loo during all those trips to the bathroom. For my FaceBook buddies you will know this was around the time I updated my status. I took my laptop to the bathroom with me so I could rock on the toilet. It seemed to help. I'm told it helps bring the baby down. I'm not sure at what point I went back into the living room, but I went to get a drink and my midwife and her intern looked at me wondering what was up. My midwife asked if I was having contractions and I told her I was. I was in the middle of one when I was in the kitchen. Apparently I'm one of the quiet ones. I go on about my business as usual during the whole process. From my end I wasn't in 'labor' so it was completely normal for me to behave as if nothing was going on. I felt fine, but very impatient.

With the news that things were sort of progressing I decided to call my mom to let her know. I was in the girls' room when I was talking to her on the phone. I had about three contractions during our phone conversation. I would just keep swaying and circling my hips. At some point during our conversation I felt something leaking. I felt to see what it was. I thought it was fluid, but no, it was blood. I didn't really think anything at that point. Just walked back into the living room and showed my midwife the blood on my fingers. They laid me on the bed to check his heart tones and all was good. Heartbeat in the 140's. She checked my cervix and it was a stretchy 6 cm. It was swollen and puffy in the front, which was the cause of bleeding. A lot of pressure on the cervix can cause it to swell, which she thinks was from me sitting on the toilet. I was still talking to my mom on the phone when they were checking me.

As soon as I got off the phone they had me turn on my left side to relieve pressure on my cervix. The next contraction I had was intense. Lying down made contractions worse. The one after I felt some pressure. I was clinching my sheets with the next contraction. That pressure was intense. The thought of getting into the birth pool came to mind, but there was no way I was moving. The contractions seemed like they were coming back to back. I told my midwife I was feeling pressure and she said not to push yet because my cervix wasn't ready. I felt like I had to hold him in. With the next contraction I propped myself up a little and said, "He's coming!" She rushed over and could see his head was already out and my legs were still partially closed. I reached down to feel his head while trembling and shaking. I was in such shock that I didn't know what to think. Holy hell! How could his head be out when not 5 minutes before I was still 6 cm? I was *just* on the phone with my mom! She quickly moved my right leg back and he just shot out. I'm pretty sure my membranes ruptured when his body shot out. My midwife caught him and put him on my chest. He was born at 11:51p.m after a virtually nonexistent labor.

Mark said he called my mom as soon as I said "pressure." He was born right after he hung up the phone. During this short period of time Mark was just standing there looking completely shocked and stunned. I think we all were. We all know I have fast labors and births, but hell, that was crazy. I was in such shock after he was born I didn't know what to think. I felt him move and heard him cry and breathed a sigh of relief knowing he was alive, but my mind was racing with thoughts of "What the hell just happened?!" After I was able to take it all in I looked him over. I thought he looked more like 7 pounds than 9, but my midwife said he looked 9 lbs and he was. 9 pounds and 22 inches. His head was 14 inches. With the very precipitous birth I was left with a skid mark, labial split and small tear. No sutures were needed.

It was a crazy experience, but a good one. There was a huge mess. Blood and fluid everywhere. All over my sheets and mattress and floor next to the bed. My poor down comforter. Fluid went flying when my membranes ruptured. Good thing we had hydrogen peroxide to get the blood out. Hopefully next time I'll get to have a waterbirth. No mess! I was just never sure when to get in the pool because my contractions never developed a pattern and were barely noticeable until right before his birth. There really was no real "labor." No video or pictures of his birth. They were charged and ready, but there was no time to do really anything. Things progressed too quickly.

I'm so happy he's with us now. Feels like I've waited so long for this. My arms are no longer empty. He's real. He's here. Finally! I love looking at him and smelling him. Oh how I missed that smell. He's so lovely and sweet.

Here's some sweet baby goodness:

Isn't he yummy?

Exam pictures:

Maybe baby?

I guess we shall see.  Midwife called yesterday to cancel my prenatal appt. because she was heading to a birth.  She did say that depending on how she feels she may be up to getting things going.  We're hoping a good membrane sweep will do the job.  She's confident it will put me into labor.  So either today or tomorrow.  Still waiting to hear from her.  If not today or tomorrow then Saturday.

Most recent belly pic:

Belly Photos

 31 weeks -

35 weeks -

37.4 weeks -

Overdue pics of Henry - 33 weeks

My beautiful little guy. =)

Belly Picture!

29 weeks -

Visit with the perinatologist

A little overdue. I had an appt. at the MFM practice on the 14th. I had been anxious about how I was going to find a specialist and how to get a referral since I'm not seeing an obstetrician. I e-mailed one in town about my situation and he agreed to set up a referral even though I was not his patient. I was quite surprised.

I was a ball of nerves that day. I was so anxious and excited to see him and see how he was doing, but then I was nervous about the actual ultrasound and whether something would be found. I first met with the genetic counselor and she was very nice and understanding. After meeting with her I met up with the u/s tech and she was great. She took her time and told me everything she was doing and I asked questions. A lot of things looked familiar to me from all the other ultrasounds I've had in the past. She told me that everything looked good to her, but the doctor would be coming in to check some things out and talk with me. There goes those nerves again.

The doctor asked a lot of questions about my pregnancy history and I told her about Duncan's complications. She took her time goinf over his heart. I held my breath a couple times because she'd spend her time focusing on one view of the heart. Good thing all is okay. She did bring another doctor in to see if he could get a better view of the heart because little Grayson was in a funky position. According to the u/s tech and perinatologists he's looking great. He was estimated the weigh 1 lb. The u/s tech was really nice. The entire ultrasound lasted about an hour. It was pretty detailed, which was reassurring for me.

They want me to come back in a couple weeks so they can get a particular view of the heart. Yay for a good ultrasound!!!

Half Way There - 20 weeks!

 

Woohoo!  Some days it feels as though this pregnancy is flying by.  I hope it continues to feel that way.  I'm beginning to feel more movement now.  I was beginning to grow very impatient about not feeling stronger movement.  I think this is the first time I've had an anterior placenta.  I have "popped" somewhat, but unfortunately I'm still sporting a B belly. :sigh:  I figure I'll start to really show in a couple weeks or so.  My next midwife appt. is on the 27th.  I still need to get the diagnostic scan done.  I've been playing phone tag with the nurse from the doctor's office I called.  I'm still nervous and apprehensive.  Sometimes I worry about his condition wondering if everything is okay.   I just want everything to be okay.  I know I'm going to be so nervous come the ultrasound.  Hopefully everything is shown to be in good working order and I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Today also happens to be Mark's birthday. =)

A Little Overdue - We're Having A . . .

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BOY!!!!

:Happy Dance: :Happy Dance: Woohoo!!

Found out last Saturday. I was on pins and needles. My instinct told me boy and have felt boy vibes all along, but I prepared myself to be fooled and hear "girl" at the u/s. I spotted the "turtle" (boy parts) and then she said it. I was beaming ear to ear. I was still in disbelief after two days. I love him. He's so handsome already.

Gender Preference and . . .

Disappointment. The feelings involved in gender preference and disappointment are very real.

We find out the sex on Saturday, in two days, and I'm SO nervous. Since the beginning of this pregnancy I have kept thinking boy because this pregnancy reminds me so much of my pregnancy with Duncan. I'm getting total boy vibes. My intuition was right with my others, but I'm not so confident now. I've been preparing myself to hear "girl," and as much as I try to be as excited and happy about the prospects of another girl, it's hard. I try to think about the positive aspects of having another girl, but I can't help but yearn for a boy. I wanted a boy with Duncan and I got him, but in the end, I didn't get to keep him. =(

It doesn't help that I think I see a boy nub in the NT scan picture. I don't want to get my hopes up, though. I'd love to experience a mother & son relationship. Just two more days! Ack!

NT Scan

I spoke to the doctor after the scan and he said the measurements looked great and I'll get the results from the BW in about a week. Baby measured 12w4d.

I think I feel flutters!

It feels like buzzing or butterflies. I felt the flutters a couple times when using the doppler. It's such an awesome feeling.

I heard the bean's heartbeat!

Woohoo! It was faint at first and then I got it to stick and heard it loud and clear. It was in the high 170's to 180 bpm.

It's ALIVE!

We have a heartbeat! I was SO nervous about not seeing a heartbeat or measuring behind. The heartbeat measured in the 150's and the babe measured exactly 7 w 4 d. My exact calculation based on ovulation/conception. I very much look forward to the start of the second trimester. I'm oh so tired the majority of the time and the nausea seems to be in full force. This pregnancy appears to mimic my pregnancy with Duncan. I go back and forth between wanting a boy and wanting a girl, but I know I'll be happy no matter what. I know deep down I want another boy. One I get to have and keep. I guess I'll find out what we're having in about 10 weeks or so.

The Dawn of a New Life: A Big Fat Positive Tale

Translation: I'm pregnant. I'm due with our fourth child December 31st 2009. At 11 dpo (for you non-TTC folks -- 11 days past ovulation), the morning of April 20th, I woke up and took my temperature. 98.1 the basal body thermometer read. Still high. Even though for the previous two weeks I told myself that I wouldn't test until 12 dpo, I caved in. I scoured my bedroom in search for the last internet cheapie test I had. I was hesitant to test because I didn't want to be disappointed, but I also thought to myself that I hadn't experienced any spotting so that must be a good sign. I went in search for a suitable cup for my liquid gold (pee). I ended up using a kid cup (sorry girls). I dipped the IC strip in for like 15 seconds and laid it on the counter. I knew it was best not to look at it until a couple minutes had past, but I was too impatient to wait a couple minutes. So, I waited like 10 seconds, if that. I told myself nothing was there. I'm fooling myself. After 30 seconds or so I see a faint pink line appear. I think to myself, "This can't be real. There's no way. I'm imagining things." But, I wasn't. There *was* a line, but I was still doubting it. I needed to confirm it with a FRER (First Response Early Result). I asked my kind husband (Mark) if he could run to the store to get me a test. Mean while, my cup of pee was sitting there waiting for me to dip another stick in it.

So, where to from here? Oh yeah, Mark went to the store and came back with bags of groceries. I'm standing there like a kid waiting anxiously for her birthday present wondering which bag holds my treasure. I peeked in a few of the bags and didn't see my pee sticks. :cry: I had waited like almost two hours. I was getting so anxious. I asked Mark about my sticks and he said he completely forgot about them. I guess taking two kids grocery shopping with you can do that. He volunteered to go back to the store. Of course, at this point I was *still* on pins and needles needing more of a concrete answer. I think roughly 45 minutes went by and my nervousness was getting worse. Finally, after what felt like forever, I see the car pull up. What was my response or reaction? I run to hide in my room. I didn't want to look like a fool, all anxious and excited about her pee sticks that she had long been waiting for (not really long, but to a TTC woman, 3 hours is a long time to wait). I peeked out of the room and glance at the bags. About the third time I did this I found, to my horror, my daughters waving the box of pee sticks in my father-in-law's face! NOOOOO! I didn't want him to know what the deal was just yet. NO! I can only hope that he didn't have a clue what was in that pink box. Yeah right!

When I saw them waving it at him I got one of the girls to bring me the box. I hurried into the bathroom. I managed to get a SMU (second morning urine) collection before testing. So, I had the FMU (first morning urine) and SMU collection. I wanted to see which collection produced the strongest line. I dipped the sticks and waited. I waited like 5 seconds to look at the sticks. Within 30 seconds I see lines! Woohoo! These weren't faint lines, either. These were nice pink lines. I felt SO relieved. Now I didn't have to hold back my excitement. The SMU collection yielded a darker line. It was such a pretty line. I was in disbelief. Here we were with a BFP, less than two weeks to go before Mark deploys. I just had a feeling this would be the case.

I couldn't contain my excitement even though I was nervous about this pregnancy. Pregnancy after a loss can be nerve-wracking and scary. I told some family members that day, including the in-laws. The following day I called a local homebirth midwife to schedule an interview. The interview was set for that Thursday. It was a great interview. The midwife and her assistant midwife were wonderful. I felt nothing but good vibes. My first appt. is June 1st. There are times I'm still in a state of disbelief. I'm nervous and scared. I want this pregnancy to be uneventful and painless. I also remind myself multiple times a day to take it one day at a time. And to remain optimistic and positive. I know every baby and pregnancy is unique. I want very much to treat this pregnancy with the same innocence I had with my others. I want so much to enjoy this pregnancy. All I can do is remain positive. This little bean is part of me and I want to cherish every moment I have with him/her. Hope for the best is about all I can do. That is my plan.

**As for the picture, the 11 dpo test line doesn't show up well here. I took the picture three days after I took this test. It had lightened after two days. This was the FMU picture, the lighter test line.