Caleb's Birth - Part 2

When the nurse checked me, I was between 4 and 5 cm dilated.  I was disappointed because you can't get into the birthing tub until you reach 7 cm.  With Anna, I showed up to the hospital at 4 cm and progressed 1 cm per hour, so I thought I had several hours to go.  Since I was a VBAC, they put me on the monitor for about 45 minutes.  

When the midwife came in, she told me that she didn't think my contractions were consistent enough and that I would have to stay on the monitor.  I wanted to be able to walk around to get the contractions going.  She was a new midwife to the practice and was telling me that it was hospital policy, blah, blah, blah.  I pushed back and told her that I had been at my nephew's birth 5 months previous and my sister was attempting a VBAC.  They monitored her about every 20 minutes with the doppler.  The midwife agreed to just not admit me and let me walk around. 

Brad and I walked up and down the hall in the hospital for about 30 minutes and I told him I wanted to go back to the room because the contractions were getting pretty intense.  I asked him to get the midwife because I was starting to feel the urge to push.  She came back in and we were all shocked that within 30 minutes, I had already progressed to 8-9 cm.  I immediately asked to get in the tub and the midwife was hesitant, but reluctantly agreed to let me labor but not deliver in the tub.

 

I practically ran to the tub and once in, I felt almost instant relief.  There is a reason the tub is called the aquadural!  I started pushing during some of the contractions right after I got in the tub and rested through others.  After about 30 minutes of pushing he started to crown and then would go back in.  Finally, I asked the midwife if I should get up and squat to try to get gravity to help him out.  The whole time I was pushing, she kept telling me to just listen to my body and that is what she told me again.  At the time I was frustrated by that because I wanted someone to rescue me and tell me exactly what to do to get him out.  In hindsight, I appreciate that she let me do what was natural and helped me to trust what my body was created to do.  As soon as I stood up to squat, I had a contraction and out he came!

What a rush of emotions, the greatest of which being pure joy!  As I held him in my arms, I heard the song Holy Spirit, which is the same song out of the many songs on my playlist that was playing when I woke up as my water broke.  The chorus of the song is:

Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence Lord.

I cannot think of better words to be sung as the life of our precious son was ushered into this world.  The presence of the Lord was felt by us and we were overcome as we praised Him for the good and perfect gift He gave us.

 

 

 

I love this picture of Brad kissing my forehead that the nurse snapped.  He was very much a part of Caleb's labor and delivery and such a support.  Sometimes the days go by with him working long hours at his job and me staying home with the kids, and we can feel like we are each doing our own thing.  This experience helped to remind us that we make a great team and are stronger together than we are separate. 

I knew I would love this little boy, but honestly after being a mom to two girls, I wasn't sure how quickly I would feel a bond with him.  When I got him in my arms, any worries I had about that were gone.  There are just no words! 

 

Caleb Henry Bruce

Born on September 9, 2013 at 4:42 a.m.

8 lbs. 15 oz.

21.5 in