Monday, April 7th, I was feeling a bit frustrated with my body, but was just starting to come to grips that this baby wasn't coming out until he wanted to. I was 40 weeks and 4 days. I had tried EVERYTHING in my power to naturally induce him and get labor to start and progress. For example, I was walking almost 3 miles every other day, eating pineapple about twice a week (a whole one by myself, talk about canker sores! Ouch!), bouncing on my exercise ball, walking up and down stairs, doing lunges, and so on and so forth.
The whole weekend before Owen came I was having contractions consistently every 20 minutes, but even with my efforts there was no progression, until Monday. In the morning I was still having the contractions every 20 minutes but they were getting a bit more crampy. I texted AJ while he was at work and told him that I thought either that night or the next day our baby would be born. At 2:30pm my contractions were 8 minutes apart and stronger, but I was still about to function through them. I would just breath and sway through them while my almost 2 year old, Eli, would try to climb all over me. I sat on my exercise ball which helped a lot.
Usually on Monday nights we have small group with two other couples from our church. I texted the host and explained I had been having contractions consistently and thought to see if she would be cool with us still coming and hanging out, which she was more than happy to let me labor at her house. (We have the best small group ever!)
When we got to small group my contractions were every 5 minutes, which was at about 7pm. I wanted to wait till my contractions were about every 3 minutes before I headed to the hospital. While at small group I texted my doula every once in a while to just give her the heads up that at some point that night we would need to go to the hospital to have the baby. She just told me to let her know when to head other there.
At small group we had our discussion and then decided to play a game. They also got their exercise ball out of storage so I could sit on it during the game because my contractions were every 4 minutes and getting stronger. I swayed through each contraction and closed my eyes to focus on my breathing. The game helped SO much and having such fun people to be around kept my mind off how strong the contractions were. I ended up winning the game too!
We finished the game at 10:30pm and the contractions were getting so strong that it was getting hard to not make noise through them. I made a comment that we were for sure having a tuesday baby because there was no way I was having him within an hour and a half. HA! He must not have gotten the memo. We left their house at 10:45pm and had to stop home to pick up a few things and let me mom know that we were going to head to the hospital. My mom was watching our son at our house while we were at small group. When we got to our house the contractions were much more intense. They were still 4 minutes apart so I told AJ that I wanted to stay home and wait but he insisted that we go to the hospital. On the way I called my doula to let her know.
I told AJ to park and that I wanted to walk to the E.R. door because I didn't think I was that far along and knew that walking would help move things along. By this time my contractions were one on top of another so getting in the hospital took a while. We get inside at 11:10pm, but don't get into my room till 11:25pm. The nurse checked me and I was 9cm and 100% effaced. She called for my doctor, who was at home, and AJ called my doula to get there ASAP. When my doctor arrived he broke my water and my body started to push a bit. The contractions were very intense then. My doula arrives just as I am getting ready to push. With three contractions, 10 pushes total, Owen James Vogel was born at 11:56pm weighing 7 lbs 15 ounces and 21 inches long. Another little redhead. We had skin to skin time right away and he latched perfect. My nurses were amazing at letting me and Owen have our time. Once I was ready they took him to get measured while I showered and moved to a different room and then brought him right back to me. Recovery was quick and easy. I felt great and had a lot of energy. This birth was fast and very peaceful. The nurses were so respectful to my birth plan and me wanting to have a natural unmedicated birth. Owen is the perfect addition to our little family. We are so in love and so blessed.
