If you haven’t heard (you’re living under a rock), today Clara turned one year old!! They even gave her a free smoothie at the gym today! Now THAT’S good customer service!
And to celebrate this milestone of her surviving with a mother like me, I thought I’d share Clara’s birth story with you guys. I’ll warn you – it’s kinda long and quite possibly boring if you’re not her mother! So if you’re not into this sort of thing, come back tomorrow for a giveaway.
[Totally joking…I don’t have anything to give away. Except maybe Henry after he’s taken his pull-up off, pooped and then smeared it all over his arms and legs. Yes, that really happened. Four times.]
Clara’s story actually begins a week before her birth. I started having very intense contractions, each lasting a minute, but they would never evolve into a pattern. Family and friends were on high alert for days and after nothing happened, I started feeling a lot like the boy who cried wolf.
On Friday, the 13th, I saw my midwife. I was 3cm dilated, 50% effaced. She stripped my membranes and said, “See you this weekend”. Again, everyone was on high alert (Katy even took Henry to the lake for two days in case I went into labor). Nothing happened all weekend and by the time Monday rolled around, I was hoping that Clara would wait until the next weekend.
On Monday night around 11pm, my contractions evolved into a pattern – every 4 minutes, 1 minute in duration. This was it!! I called Katy and she came to stay the night with Henry. I figured I’d call the hospital and tell them I was coming. But when I talked to the charge nurse, she discouraged us from coming until the contractions were 2 minutes apart. I knew that I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible, so we decided to wait it out.
I labored all night but the contractions weren’t getting closer. Again, I felt so defeated. I made Travis walk around outside in the moonlight with me MULTIPLE times. The next morning, I called my midwife and she said come in and she’d check my cervix. We left Henry with Mom and headed over to Sylva. When I got there, I was so sure they would send us home, but alas, I was a 5, 80% effaced with a bulging bag of water. YEAH! I’m wasn’t crazy afterall – this was true labor!
We checked into the hospital at 10AM. At around 10:30, I was dilated to a 7! Mom arrived at 11AM with cookies and trashy magazines – I had NO interest in either, I was in “GO” mode ;) Around noon, Betsy came over and broke my water. After this, there was no turning back – we would have a baby, one way or the other, within the next 24 hours. (If the baby hasn’t been born within 24 hours of your water breaking, they’ll take it by c-section because of the risk of infection).
see, I warned you it was long….
Not long after my water was broken, the contractions got SUPER intense!! I never got to this stage of contractions with Henry – the epidural took all the pain away. Travis and I had decided that this time, we were going to try to have a natural birth – no meds whatsoever. We read Dr. Bradley’s “
Husband Coached Childbirth” together and were as prepared as we could be for bringing Clara out without any meds. I give props to Travis for making me do my exercises every night for weeks leading up to the due date and for making a GREAT coach during the actual event!
As I transitioned from a 7 to a 10, I labored on a birthing ball and in the water-tub. When I got into the water, it felt fabulous – all of the pressure was off of my joints and the warm water helped me relax. It was during this time that I began to push, in various positions, but I could never get into a good position. My midwife suggested we move to the toilet. I’ll admit, this made me freak out a bit – I remember asking if they’d make sure to catch her so she wouldn’t get dirty :). The toilet didn’t work – I couldn’t push Clara past my pubic bone. The last suggestion worked – moving to the bed. It was there that I could really bare down and get her out. She was “sunny-side up” so Betsy had to hold her neck and twist her in the birth canal. The nurse pushed on my belly and with one last contraction, Clara greeted the world. They placed her on my chest and she was perfect. Black hair and a cute button nose.
One year later and her hair is lighter, but she’s still as cute as a button!
splendid…lindsay
so beautiful, mama. I love this story.
I <3 birth stories! Kudos on going natural! I attempted, but didn't make it but will probably try again next time. Clara is so sweet! Happy Birthday to her!
Thanks, Rachel! You should definitely try next time – well worth it! The recovery, bonding, etc. was SO much better!
Hey! What a wonderful recap, I always love birth stories :). Hope your sweet little girl had a great birthday!! She is so stinkin’ cute!
Wow!! The Kate – here!?!? Thanks for stopping by! Clara had a great birthday!
Fabulous birth story! Totally wish I wouldn’t have wussed out and got an epidural now. Go you!
Happy Birthday Clara!
Cherish those cheeks, they are just too much!!!
Britt – I had one with Henry so I know how you feel. If (when) you have more, totally try for natural! It was WELL worth the pain!
What a great story, and what a sweet baby girl you have!
Thanks! She makes me want to have more.
Okay I am not even really a kiddie person but I have to say your little girl is SO cute! :) Such cute long eyelashes. Happy birthday to her!
Thank you!!! She takes after her dad! ;)
Happy birthday to Clara! She IS cute as a button…I loved reading her birth story, and how neat you have that documented too! I really like the picture of Travis holding your head with your new baby resting on you! Beautiful. What a meaningful day to celebrate!
Thanks, Bonnie!! She is a great gift to us! So jovial!!
she is beautiful!
love it!….tell ms. clara kathleen that her favorite aunt says “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
(and…yeah…i totally just claimed favorite aunt title camila, katrina, and ariel!)
The title is yours!
Why do I always cry at birth stories? Every time. Simply beautiful. So glad to know you, and Clara. She made my day with her cuddly hug this afternoon.
:) I cry too! Something about God’s grace!