Silvio Dominic was born at 12:30 am Easter morning.  19 3/4 inches.  8 lbs 4 oz.  And super cute!!!  No medication and plenty of estrogen.  And born in the tub.  Who’d a thunk it!!  Saturday afternoon, we met her parents for dinner after a nice day of hiking.  On the way home, she said she felt just sort of crampy.  That evening at home, I heard her yell, 

“Honey, I think my water just broke.” 

After muttering and running into the walls (over and over again), I said ok.  We finished packing the bags, I made the labor aid, packed a PB&J sandwich, clothes, rice bags and put the car seat in the car.  We tracked our contractions and were at 3 minute contractions.  Yes, we started with 3 minute contractions.  After talking to the midwife from the hospital, she suggested we stay home for a bit, but not too long.  At our dr’s appt last week, we were 100% effaced, 2 cm and 0 station.  Ava’s cervix was ripe.

We called our friend Paula, who was our other support person.  She was over at the house in about 10 minutes and we left for the hospital around 9:45 pm.  I wanted to stop at Eggshelland, but that would be pushing it.

We got to the hospital around 10.  Of course, we went to the wrong floor twice.  Finally, we ended up on the correct floor.  Ava had to walk all the way, so it took us some time.  But 4 contractions and 2 stops to vomit and we were in the maternity ward, plus we scored the Tub room!!! 

The midwife on call was Linda and we worked with two other nurses.  They were very excited to work with us, since we were going natural.  Our first check, 6 cm and +1 station!  So, Linda said,

“We should think about preparing the tub.”  

Now the contractions are 2 minutes apart.  Amy is laboring well… she’s got a great mantra going

“ok… ok….alright….ok.”

Our next check, 45 minutes later and she was at 8 cm and +2.  WOW!!  The baby’s heart rate is good.  Ava’s blood pressure is good.  All is well.  She did have to do some laboring on her hands and knees because we were worried the baby might be sunny side up and she had some back pain.  Our next check 20 minutes later, she had a bit of a cervical lip;  we did some leaning to the right.  Then one last check, she was fully open.

At this point, Linda said it was ok to push, if Amy felt the urge.  In addition, Amy was a bit more stressed and her vocalization changed.  Welcome to transition.  “ok…ok…alright” become “oh honey….oh honey… HONEY.”  And Linda stopped charting and said

“Let’s get the tables ready, this is going to happen soon.”

Ava’s pushing was all self-directed and for this part, she was seated in the tub.  I was outside the tub, holding her under her armpits helping keep her up in the tub.  The baby’s head was born under water, but she was struggling with the shoulders.  So, Linda said ’stand up.’  Yes, stand up with the baby between her legs.  Don’t try to imagine it.

With one more push, the baby would be out.  In this new position, Ava’s back is to me and I’m about 16 inches from the baby’s head.  That was definitely not something we talked about in class.  I was suppose to be at Ava’s head, not the babys.  But finally, the baby is out and in one big swosh, he want from Ava to Linda’s hands to MINE.  Yes, I’m the one holding the baby 2 seconds after he is born.  I did at least notice it was a boy so I said so. 

“It’s a boy.”

Linda tells Ava to cut the cord.  At first she said no but Linda said

“Just turn around and cut the cord.”

Ava, while shaking and standing in the tub, twists around and cuts the cord.  I’m still standing there holding the baby muttering ‘you can’t take my baby…’  The nurse was cleaning out his nose, mouth, wiping him off, wrapping him up.  I’m still muttering ‘….you can’t take my baby.’  Amy shakes her way out of the tub onto the bed.  Our friend Paula is calling me

“Isabella, bring us the baby.” 

Whoops….so, I take him over to Ava and the baby starts rooting right away.  We work on his latching and he does great.  We kept that baby on her belly for over 90 minutes.  The only reason they took him was so we could get his stats, then we could call our parents.  We were in the post partum room around 3 am.  And of course the baby roomed in with us.

Welcome home Silvio Dominic

Total labor time:  4 hrs 45 min.  Booyah!!