Today I’m sharing all the details from my second natural labor and birth story. The arrival of surprsie gender Wilder is one to remember.
It’s a boy!
My second gender surprise baby is finally here and we couldn’t be more grateful for HIS safe and beautiful arrival.
I’d be lying if I weren’t nervous for labor. You’d think with this being by third I’d been calm as a cucumber but nope, not so much. There’s a lot unknown with birth that you just never know what to expect.
I’ve been blessed two wonderful vaginal births and thought there was no way I’d be lucky enough to experience that again but the Lord sure does provide because I couldn’t have asked for a better birthing experience.
My Third Pregnancy
This pregnancy was by far the most difficult of the three but even saying that I feel like I had it easy compared to many others.
In early pregnancy I had pretty bad nausea but no vomiting apart from a nasty stomach virus starting right at 6 weeks on the dot.
As my pregnancy progressed I began experiencing frequent Braxton Hicks contractions. Some of them were so strong I convinced myself multiple times of preterm labor. As I approached my due date these contractions became even more strong and quite regular! The only thing keeping me from running to the hospital was that they never intensified or became closer together.
Natural Labor Induction Methods?
Despite knowing in my soul that I’d go past my due date there’s still that part of me that wondered if I may go early this time. One by one all the September babies were being born and a few October but here little ole me was,
still pregnant…
I tried multiple natural methods to try and get labor kick started.
1.) Nipple stimulation (both manually and pumping)
2.) Bouncing on the birth ball and other labor inducing exercises
3.) Miles Circuit on three separate occassions
4.) Labor inducing meditation
5.) Walking
None of these four seemed to do any bit of good but eh, baby comes when baby is ready so I was trying my best to be patient.
Signs Of Labor
On 40 + 1 weeks pregnant I had an appointment for a non stress test at my Dr’s office. Everything went well and thus far no signs of labor whatsoever.
My OB’s resident checked me and I was 1.5 cm dilated, 50% effaced and my cervix was still posterior but starting to come forward. Basically, I was about the same as I’d been for weeks.
So reassuring…
Frequent BM’s and Mucous Plug
I went home and that night I started having some looser bowl movements. When constipation has plagued ya for months any sign of poop is a great sign haha! I thought for certain I was going into labor that night because this is how it started with Wren.
However, the next morning I woke up still pregnant and disappointed but I did have one more possible sign. I lost my mucous plug around 9 am! No blood though so not a definite sign of labor because the plug can regenerate. With me being past my due date though I thought this looked pretty promising.
That afternoon I took a walk with the kids and Kody in the cow field. There were several hills and it wore me clean out.
We ended the night with sitting around the campfire in the backyard with friends (social distancing of course). I told them to speak it into existence that I’d go into labor the next day.
Is It Labor Or Am I Crazy?
Around 10:30 am on September 25th (40 + 3 weeks pregnant) I started having what I assumed to be Braxton Hicks contractions just as I’d had nearly everyday for months. I went about my day ignoring them but suspected that something may be up. Instead of the usual stomach tightening I was feeling these in my lower back and pelvis area.
I was swinging on the kids swingset as we listened to music. Kody and Wyatt were hanging out on the hammock and I snapped a photo. I remember thinking that this would be such a nice cool day to have a baby. It started to sprinkle a bit so we went back in the house.
Contractions
Originally I started timing my contractions and they were anywhere from 4-6 mins apart. Eventually I pulled out the contraction app on my phone and started recording.
Around 12-1 ish I decided to take a bath to see if I could get these possible false labor contractions to slow down. Kody started to get a little nervous and decided to set an alarm and told me we were gonna head to the hospital soon if these didn’t stop. Poor thing knew how labor went with Wren and didn’t want a home birth haha!
The bath didn’t slow anything down and although I wanted to wait it out at home Kody felt much more comfortable with heading to the hospital so I texted mom to come watch the kids at 3 pm.
Did My Water Break Or Did I Pee?
In the meantime I began packing some last minute items in the hospital bag and helped Kody install the carseat. I felt a trickle of fluid and thought my water was leaking. Ya’ll I’ve never seen my husband in such a hurry! We ended up leaving the kids with friends next door and heading out before my mom arrived. I assured him that it was most likely urine (it was) but didn’t slow him down a bit.
At 4 pm we checked into the hospital and my normal Dr was not on call. Actually none of the Dr’s from my practice were there. They ended up having to call someone from a different practice to fill in. I was very uneasy about it but this lady ended up being absolutely amazing every step of the way!
The on call Dr checked me and I was 3-4 cm, 90% effaced, -1 station and had bulging waters so progress from my last check two days prior! She decided she would check me again in an hour and decide whether or not to admit me.
At 5:30 pm I was a solid 5 cm and officially admitted! Baby was looking great on the monitor and so I was permitted intermittent monitoring. This was such a relief because I didn’t like laying in the bed. During my time off the monitors I bounced on the birth ball and Facetimed mom and the kiddos. At this time I still wasn’t really experiencing pain, just some pressure especially in my back.
I was checked again at 6:45 pm and 6-7 cm dilated. Contractions really started to pick up from here and I started experiencing more intense back pain although still very manageable! While sitting on the birth ball I started having Kody apply hip squeezes and firm pressure on my back during contractions. This helped immensely as did the heat pad we brought along.
Transition
The nurse came back into the room and it was time to hook me back up to the monitors. I remember thinking oh man I really don’t want to move back in that bed but decided it would be okay just to check on baby a bit. The next couple contractions were much stronger and I could feel baby moving lower. I told Kody it wouldn’t be much longer. I started squeezing my fine tooth comb I brought along in the labor bag to trick my brain and relieve some pain.
My water broke at 7:46 and I told Kody to tell the Dr because baby was coming. The Dr walked into the room and I could feel baby already starting to crown. It was all I could do to move my feet into the stirrups and my body started involuntary pushing baby out. The ring of fire was much more painful this go round verses my last labor and I’d say because it went so quickly!
For the first time I got to “catch” my own baby and that was such an awesome experience! The Dr helped me flip him around and I brought him up to my chest. I took a quick peak underneath and seen that I had a little boy!
He’s Here!
Wilder Eldon Fox was born at 7:52 pm EST weighing 7 lbs 14 oz and 20.25 inches long.
Besides announcing he was a boy I remember saying that he was another Wyatt. Wilder reminds me so much of him as a baby.
I only ended up with a slight tear along my scar from my first delivery. Just a couple of stitches and I was good to go! It was such a difference recovery wise this go round compared to experiencing 4th and 2nd degree tears with the other deliveries.
I was blessed once again with a beautiful and healthy labor and birth. I prayed so much during my pregnancy and especially those last few weeks wondering how things were going to play out.
Wilder made his arrival on God’s perfect timing and he took care of us once again.
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7
Leave a Reply