Camden Zebedee’s birth story
August 24, 2010
I started having labor contractions (what I would consider NOT braxton hicks) for almost a week before Camden made his appearance. He was moving around a ton during those contractions so I assume he was getting into a good position. They ended up being a little stronger by the weekend of July 30. Sunday August 1, they were pretty intense by bedtime. I somehow managed to fall asleep as my midwife appointment was the next day. I woke up on August 2, still contracting somewhere between 7-10 minutes
apart. My mom came over with my sister and we went out to lunch at Lux Cafe. I would have to focus during the contractions at this point, so it wasn’t easy to eat really! My midwife appointment was at 4 so John came home and we headed there. He mentioned that we were taking the 40 minute drive to just have a baby that evening. I got there and the midwife asked how I was and of course I just replied with…”I hurt!” I had a contraction pretty much right then. They were still only about 45 seconds long and 7-10 minutes apart at this time. She said she would check me if I wanted and I was curious if the week long contraction party had done ANYTHING. It had! I was close to 4cm and 80% effaced. We decided not to schedule another appointment but if he hadn’t made his appearance by Sunday we would call to schedule one. (Sunday, really…today was MONDAY! How would I of been able to handle another week of that!!) We left and went to McDonalds…yes, probably not the best idea when you are in labor. We got home probably close to 6:30pm. I was walking around, contractions seemed to be getting a little stronger…John decided to can the tomatoes that we had sitting on the counter because it wouldn’t get done after the baby came so I’m glad he decided to do
it right then so we didn’t waste a ton of tomatoes. Around 8pm I decided to nurse CJ and try to get him to go to bed…I remember laying in the bed with him and it was 8:13…and then between 8:13 and 8:27 I had about 6 really strong, quite painful…LONG contractions. I came out to John and told him this…I think he thought it was funny…It was pretty much one long one stretching that time period. I had to stop nursing CJ because it was too painful. I went to the bathroom and noticed I was starting to lose my plug…I decided to get a few things together, started the crockpot for some rags and moved the crib into CJ’s room so that I could have the space by the side of my bed. We turned on my hypnobabies birth day CD, I put a blanket on the floor and alternated between leaning on the side of the bed and sitting on the birth ball leaning on the bed. The contractions started to move closer together, but I was taking it all in stride. I believe the hypnobabies definetly helped me and kept me relaxed. About 9:30, the contractions where somewhere between 4-5 minutes apart and lasting over a minute…John asked if we should call the midwife…at this point I decided we probably should. He called her and she was on her way, then I called my mom and she was on her way
too. I stayed in the room until the the midwife arrived and started setting up her supplies. My mom arrived a few minutes later. This was about 10:30pm. The contractions were strong, but by staying relaxed I was able to get through them. I was talking inbetween them even if it didn’t make a ton of sense. I started talking about how this was my last kid, and that modern
medicine is the way to go…you should just go and get the baby cut out of you…and not have to deal with this. (snort, this is pretty funny…wish I had it on video!) The next hour and a half really were a blur but they went by really fast…I never noticed the contractions change much, maybe they got closer together or maybe I was just so focused I couldn’t tell. I was saying I was done by this point (transition I guess?) I was quiet during all contractions still and talking when they were over. Around 12am the midwife wanted to get me to the bathroom to try and pee, I was not too happy about getting up…I was comfortable! I somehow made it to the toilet and sat there for awhile. A few minutes later they were urging me to get back to the bedroom…I
guess they knew more then I did because I didn’t think I was that close yet! I did manage to get back and they
had set up the birthing stool…I was sitting there and they were asking if I felt pushy which I thought for a second and I did, I felt lots of pressure. I then exclaimed that I had to pee…and they told me to go ahead and of course…my water broke…all of the assistants pants. My mind switched to OH CRAP for a second because with CJ once my water broke the contractions got way worse and came slamming into one another. I refocused and they told me I could push during a contraction…it really felt good! I started questioning….”does this mean I am 10?” and “and 100%” and they just nodded. I was kind of in shock. My mom and sisters came in and were behind me at this point. I pushed during 2-3 contractions and I remember when they said he was rounding the corner and then when they could see his head. They told me to touch his head and I just said…NO…for some reason I can’t do that…I said the same thing about CJ. Then came the burning…yikes, but at this point I knew it was soon and the grunting noises began. (I do have a iphone video of this, thankfully!) It burned like heck, and then they told me to ease up as we were trying to not tear/not tear as bad as I did was CJ. So…I’m holding a babies head half way out of my vagina and they are telling me to hold up, yeah thats FUN! We worked on his head through the next contraction and then his head was OUT! Then they told me to push and he came out…and was in my arms. My sister then said…whats his name (we didnt tell family) and John said Camden Zebedee! The placenta came only a few minutes later and we got into the bed. He started nursing right away, a champ just like his big brother. They went out to do paperwork and I got to cuddle with mr squishy. He has alot of gorgeous brown hair and blue eyes. He weighed 8lbs 14 oz and had a 14 inch head. So yes you can have bigger babies naturally too! The newborn + toddler thing is quite stressful as everyone has been going through a big adjustment but I know in the long run them being close will be worth it. In my opinion (and the midwifes, she said it seemed like I was in my own world the whole time! thanks hynobabies!) it was a great birth. I did tear and need stitches but oh well. He’s healthy and thats all that matters. I wouldnt do it any other way. :)
