I apologize in advance for the length, but at least it's very detailed! :)
Sebastian’s Birth
Story
Sebastian’s
birth story starts on the 7th of July 2012. Charlie and I had been busy
all day getting laundry done and various errands in preparation, not only for
Sebastian’s arrival, but also for my mother-in-law’s arrival on the 11th.
Sometime around 3p.m. I started having real contractions. Which was super
exciting seeing as I had been having Braxton Hicks since week 22. It was nice
to know my body was trying to prepare to get him out since I really didn’t want
it to come down to having to be induced by the hospital. I had been feeling off
the last few days and this day was just the pinnacle of it.
The
contractions were enough to slow us down a little in our errands but we pressed
on. We got home sometime around 7 and I went to go lay down for a bit since the
contractions weren’t stopping. They were too far apart and very inconsistent so
I was not overly worried but I decided to time them nonetheless. I continued to
drink water and time my contractions. I chatted with my mom for a little bit
and with my friends online. Around 11p.m. they just stopped. Didn’t come back
the rest of the night. Charlie and I were a bit baffled but realized that it
had given us time to start packing our hospital bags, just in case. Since I had
been lying down and Charlie had been busy around the house, neither of us had
eaten so we looked up pizza places that would deliver to our home. Since he
wanted me to take it easy, we opted to eat in bed and watch some Modern Family
and Big Bang Theory on the computer.
The
next morning, 8 July 2012, I woke up feeling just a bit tired. I figured the
contractions from yesterday had taken a bit out of me. Charlie and I lay there
wondering if we should join my unit for family day in the park out in Mannheim.
It was going to take us about an hour to get out there and I was worried that
it might be too warm out and that I was just too big and uncomfortable to enjoy
it. We opted to stay home so that I could relax and we could keep unpacking our
moving boxes and getting our hospital bags ready. We woke at about 8:45a.m. and
Charlie finally got up about 9:20. I stayed in, cruising the Internet, checking
Facebook and reading on the iPad. I was just about to get up and go hunt up
some food at 10am when I felt this urge to lay on my side. I rolled to my right
and took a deep breath…not only did I feel it, but I swear I could hear this
loud pop sound. Immediately, I felt these bubbles in my belly area and felt a
slight gush between my legs. My first thought was, “Get off the bed!” Once I
stood up I felt more bubbles and started yelling for Charlie. As I waddled
toward the bedroom door, I felt liquid move down my leg. Charlie met me at the
bedroom door looking freaked. I told him my water broke and he got into super
go-mode and told me to get my stuff quickly. I made him pause for a second
cause I got excited enough to cry. Once I collected myself I slowly waddled to
the bathroom to clean up a little (this was pointless to do, I discovered
later). Charlie went and called the delivery ward at St. Johannis Klinikum
where we would be delivering to let them know I was in labor.
We
grabbed our stuff fairly quickly and were out of the house by 11 after double,
triple and quadruple checking everything. Knowing our friends’ experiences here
in Germany with the birthing process, we knew that the first one could take
some time so we ran by the commissary to pick up some water and snacks. Now, I
know someone might be reading this thinking we were crazy to not rush off to
the hospital as soon as possible but our doctor had told us at my last
appointment that I was in a position to take my time getting there since I was
already at 1cm dilated. I wasn’t having contractions until Charlie was in the
store and then they started coming. I began timing them again just to see where
I was at, roughly 5 minutes apart and lasting for a minute. To be honest, I am
glad we stopped because the water and food came in handy much later.
We
walked into labor and delivery at 12 noon on the dot. Immediately I was hooked
up to the Doppler to monitor Sebastian’s heartbeat and they hooked up my IV
port, just in case they might need it. After some monitoring and a physical
exam, the midwife and doctor told us that his head had moved a little and that
he needed to drop down a little more. They asked us to go take a walk and try
to wiggle him down a little and see if I would dilate more since I was still
sitting at 1cm. So, I got unhooked and Charlie and I decided to go walk outside
since I was feeling warm and the fresh air might be nice. They asked us to come
back at 2pm for more monitoring to see how we were progressing. Before we went
outside they showed us which room I would be staying in after so that if we
decided to go get things from the car I could stick them in the closet.
So,
we began walking and paused for one more pregnant me photo in front of the
hospital’s fountain at the main entrance. The contractions were very strong and
I was just so uncomfortable. Nothing really felt good, except the cool breeze
blowing around on this cloudy day. We made our way down the stairs to the
parking lot, stopping every so often for contractions. Charlie would hold me
during them, since it was getting harder for me to keep standing through them
and squatting or sitting wasn’t anymore comfortable than standing. We made it
to the car, where we agreed to just grab the water and snacks; Charlie was
worried that I was feeling weak due to the lack of food in my system as I had
not had breakfast and we were well past lunch time. I did have about half a
bottle of Berry Blast Naked juice so at least I had a smoothie-like drink going
for me. As we walked back to the main entrance, I told Charlie I was really
hurting and wanted to see if maybe laying on my side might help. I was feeling
a bit tired and the discomfort was making me feel really edgy. We got into my
room and Charlie helped me lay down…this lasted for all of one contraction. I
had had enough. I wanted the birthing tub. Charlie checked the time and it was
a quarter to 2pm so we figured they wouldn’t mind checking me a little earlier
than they wanted. We went back to Labor and Delivery and got hooked back up to
the Doppler and had another physical exam. I was now at 2cm and the midwife
said Sebastian was doing excellent. She said he had dropped down again and that
we just might have him out before midnight. Charlie and I were excited to hear
this and I asked her when I might be able to get into one of the birthing tubs
since it was my hope to have a water birth or at least do the bulk of my labor
in the water. I was hoping to avoid medications but knew that I could reach a
point where I might want them so they were not 100% off the table as an option.
She said I needed to be monitored for another 10 minutes before they could put
me in the tub and she would be able to provide us with some aromatherapy
options as well.
Shortly,
before the 10 minutes was up I told Charlie that I was going to be sick. He
looked puzzled since we were so early into the labor, he really didn’t think I
would feel sick until much later. Nonetheless, I threw up my berry smoothie and
Charlie called the midwife back in the room. They looked at my contractions and
Sebastian’s heartbeat and said we were progressing well but if I wanted the tub
I had to wait another 15 minutes since I had thrown up. She was concerned that
if she put me in the warm water, that I would just get sicker or get too
lightheaded and possibly pass out. I agreed to keep sticking it out, I was hell
bent on getting in the water. Charlie grabbed a water bottle for me to keep me
hydrated so that I could try and make it to the tub. Halfway through the 15
minutes, I got sick again and again the midwife said we were still doing
fine…she would prep the tub but I really had to try and not get sick again or
the tub was off the table. Charlie wanted me to drink a little more water and I
refused mostly cause I could feel that I was teetering on the edge in those
last few minutes. Finally, the timer went off and they hooked me up to the
wireless Doppler and we were on our way to the tub. They had me go to the
bathroom first so I wouldn’t slip trying to get out after getting in the water
should I need to pee later; also to insert a vaginal suppository that was going
to help me dilate more. Charlie helped me get undressed…the contractions were
enough to have me closing my eyes at this point.
That
first moment when my foot touched the delightfully warm water was enough to
make me want to weep with gratitude. As I eased into the water I could feel my
back relax a little more and just about every muscle in my body go a little
lax. It was wonderful. For some reason though, I forgot how to cope with my
contractions and messed up on my breathing over the next few but between
Charlie and the midwife I got back on track quickly. At this point, it was
about 3:30-4pm…time gets a little fuzzy at this point, due to my eyes being
closed a lot during the contractions and when they were open I was focused in
on the monitor waiting for the next contraction to build. The midwife checked
me again after being in the water for an hour. We went from 2-3cm (almost 3
when we got in the water) to 5 almost 6 cm. I reached my limit when we hit a
solid 6 and asked if we had time for medications. I was whimpering my way
through some contractions and figured I had done pretty well, but discomfort
and the pain were getting to be too much. She calmly explained that I was
simply progressing too fast for the drugs to make a difference at all. She said
that with my fast progression that they baby would be here within a few hours
and I really just needed to focus my energy toward getting him here. She also pointed
out that at this point, the meds might just slow me down and prolong the agony.
I looked at Charlie and he simply said, “You’re doing great without them. You
can do this.” I agreed and began to collect myself; almost in the way that I
focus myself for a grueling task or, as corny as it sounds, when I am
weightlifting and struggling through it. Charlie told me later in the recovery
room that once I did that, I started handling the labor very differently. I had
more control it seemed to him. All I remember at this point was that my last
conversation with my dad and him telling me to remember that I didn’t really
need the drugs and that they would just slow me down. This kind of became my
mantra. The midwife and Charlie turned the water back on to get some more warm
water in the tub since it had cooled off some.
The
midwife had left to get prepared and I believe it was around 5pm at this point.
Charlie and I were on our own again in the pool room. The soft lights in there
were nice and I think helped keep me a little more calm than I was feeling
earlier. Charlie and I were taking turns sharing the water bottle; I was still
sipping slowly trying to avoid anymore vomiting. The urge to push was starting
to come around 5:20-5:30; again time is a bit hazy. There was a clock but I was
deep in my own concentration or focused on Charlie, cause I realized how tired
he was getting and I kept thinking how hungry he must be too at this point (odd
I know to be worried about him while I am in labor but hey, what can I say
except that we’ve always been a team and look out for each other always). I was
not in pain anymore. I just had a lot of pressure in my hips, back, and
obviously in my lady bits. I do remember my contraction at 10 minutes to 6pm
and the urge to push was insane. I had Charlie call the midwife back in. She
had checked me earlier at the 5:20 mark and had been telling me to not push yet
cause I was only at 8-9cm. Now I was at 10cm and Sebastian was already starting
to make his way out so she gave me the go ahead to push but only when the urge
was great. Which was pretty much all of them I remember only have 3
contractions from this point until the time he was out that I did not feel the
urge to push. She stayed for 2 of the contractions and was helping Charlie
coach me through the pushing. We once again, warmed up the water to help keep
me relaxed and the midwife slipped back out to get an oil to help make my
contractions last a little longer so that I could get the most out of my
pushing. Let me just say to those who think holistic medicine is bologna; you
couldn’t be more wrong. This stuff worked. The midwife had Charlie hold the
gauze pad that was soaked in this citrus smelling oil in front of me between
contractions then remove it during the contraction. It was crazy how much
longer the contractions were lasting.
At 6:45pm, the midwife
said that my position in the tub was not going to help get Sebastian out and
since I was uncomfortable in any other position in the tub that we were going
to go back to the delivery room to deliver him. Charlie smiled at me and told
me that if Sebastian came out before 8pm that we could have Johnny Rocket burgers
for dinner to celebrate. We both smiled since we were both pretty hungry. Charlie
and the midwife dried me off and slipped a hospital gown on me. We walked
slowly to the room. I got up on the birthing bed, which for my audience in the
U.S. looks like this weird circular bed that changes angles and whatnot.
Birthing in Germany is not done on your back, as I am about to explain. They
had me climb up on the bed, facing the back of the bed so that I was on my
knees, leaning forward so that when I would push, I was to lean downward and
rock back toward my heels. I hated this position. They had me in this position
only for 3 contractions since Sebastian cooperated and was right there and
ready. They had me turn over and raised the back of the bed so it was more
recliner chair-like and my feet were braced on the slightly lower level of the
bed. After one contraction and 3 pushes in this position, the doctor and
midwife told us his head was right there, 3 more pushes and he’d be out. I got
really excited, as did Charlie. They asked Charlie if he wanted to see the top
of the head. He said yes and took a look, right then I got hit with another
contraction and began pushing again, pulling my legs toward me as instructed.
Three pushes and he was not out, but he was close. They asked if I wanted to
touch the head or see it. I said no, mostly because I just wanted him out and
in my arms. They kept encouraging me to look or touch and I argued my way into
the next contraction where the doctor and midwife had their hands in and
started to help pull his head out. At the end of the first push I was doing
this growling/yelling thing. They told me not to scream, I kept thinking I
wasn’t but Charlie still seems a bit skeptical at this statement. I started the
next push and again at the end was growling/yelling and then both Charlie and
the midwife got really excited and said the head was out. I could feel that
there was a lot less pressure. They told me not to push at this point and I was
able to hold back until the next contraction and urge to push came. It was so
strong and I really couldn’t hold back; but they went with it and with that, he
was out.
“Sebastian!” Was all I
could say. He was gorgeous. His eyes were open and he was just looking around
and the doctor and midwife cleared out his nose and mouth. They gave him a
little rub and he moaned which was enough to have them laying him on my chest
and stomach. I remember grinning at Charlie who was just beside himself. We
just sat there loving on him, kissing his hands and head while talking to him.
One thing I do remember was that I was not at all surprised to see his face. It
was like I had seen him before. Instant recognition, no hesitation whatsoever.
Charlie and I chuckled as his color started coming in, pointing out that he
looked like a little blue smurf. The staff told us he was born at 1908
(7:08pm). He was 52cm and 3870grams; which works out to about 20.5 inches and
8lbs 8oz. I delivered the placenta about 30-40 minutes later. We spent quite a
bit of time just the three of us in recovery, enjoying our first few moments as
a new family.
Sebastian Lukas, I
hope someday you will read this story about your birth and know that your
father and I will always remember this day. We waited so long for you and you
are nothing but a pure joy and a complete blessing to us both. We love you very
much and will always be proud of you. All our love, Mom and Dad.
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