Naomi Vivian’s Birth Story

Published by admin under In The Begining on May 13, 2009

Naomi was a week overdue, and I had decided at my next pre-natal appointment to do a membrane sweep. Not a decision easily made since if it is not done carefully it can cause the membranes to actually rupture (your water break), and then you would be in labor. Holly did the membrane sweep. It was uncomfortable, but it didn’t hurt to much. She told me that I would have some cramps afterwords, but probably would not have contractions for up to 48 hours if it was successful at all. The sweep of the membranes is suppose to releases hormones called prostaglandins, which can start your labor.  Sometimes they do not do anything, and in my opinion should not be done until 40-41 weeks because the date of conception can be off. Anyways we went home, and put Vera to bed. That night at 1 a.m. I woke up with stomach cramps. Vera had also woken up and was crying. I went to go put her back to bed, and she wasn’t having it. She was throwing a massive fit, and I was getting irritated because the cramps were getting worse. It was like she knew, and was trying to keep me awake or alert me because it didn’t even cross my mind I might be in labor. I went and got Matthew, and asked him to put her to bed which sparked a fight because he wanted to sleep since he had to get up and go to work in the morning(or so he thought haha). He did it anyways, but Vera wasn’t going back to bed and I couldn’t either. The cramps got so bad that I was on my hands and knees rocking back and forth, and then It hit me….this was labor! I called for Matthew, and let him know that I thought it was labor. He called Holly, and wanted me to talk to her which I wasn’t capable of doing. I guess he didn’t think I was or something haha. He kind of got off easy the 1st time in the pregnant wife department. After taking the hint he had Olivia come over to watch Vera, and we headed off to the birth center to meet Holly. The car ride to the birth center was my personal hell on earth. It was like he was hitting every single bump right during contractions. Matthew said that I had asked him several times to pull over. Thankfully he didn’t listen to me, although I don’t remember asking. It’s a good thing I was prepared with a bucket because I threw up a couple of times too. I remembered getting sick last time during labor so I had grabbed it on the way out last minute. Holly was there a few minutes after us, and once we got inside I immediately felt more relaxed and back in control. I suddenly sympathized for all the pregnant women going to hospitals haha. Holly checked to see how far I was dilated and it was 7 cm. That kind of worried me because the contractions were much stronger then I had remembered them being before when I was at 7cm with Vera. I thought I was in for a long labor so I tried relaxing a little bit more, bent over the edge of the bed and swayed from side to side. That helps during contractions. They went ahead and filled the tub up for me, and I changed and got in. The benefits of water during labor are unbelievable. The contractions were immediately more easy to handle. However the tub wasn’t like the pool, and I wasn’t able to stand up. That was bothering me a little so I turned around to get on my hands and knees(another position that helps). Your body is amazing. I can’t even begin to describe how it can practically give birth without you haha….I must have made a low groan or something because Holly asked one of the assistants to check how far I was dilated. I hadn’t even been in the tub an hour. Everyone was shocked when she said 9 so Holly checked too, and sure enough I was 10 and the baby’s head was right there. I was kind of worried because the water was still intact, but that was a short lived worry because right as I thought about it I had the urge to push. After two pushes the water broke which made me want to stand up because at the same moment she crowned. It wasn’t at all the unpleasant stinging sensation I had with Vera, but a wave of relief of pressure. One more push and she was out. It was very quick, and in one fluid motion the assistant unwrapped the cord from Naomi’s neck as Holly caught her. It was like she just shot right out when I stood up haha. I held her while the placenta was delivered, and the entire time she had her eyes closed. We laid down on the bed so that I could feed her, and get my exam. I guess I was passing a lot of clots and part of the placenta had broken so I had to get a shot of pitocin. That helped give me some contractions to pass the rest of it. Then I got up to shower while they did her exams. Wouldn’t you know it she opened her eyes, and Matthew was the first person she saw :P . She was 8lbs 5oz 20 inches long. We all fell asleep at the center since it was 5 something in the morning, and then we went home at 8. Olivia said that Vera had not gone to sleep until 5 too which is interesting. Children are so intuitive. She was even up when we got home. She was so relieved to see us, and very intrigued by Naomi. When we told her it was her sister Naomi, she asked “Nomie”. That is how she got her nick-name hehe.