Mark Henry's birth story

I've been meaning to come on here to tell his birth story, but I just never seem to have the time. (Surprise, surprise that I'm saying that with a newborn in my care!) Although, he's not so new anymore -- he's 12 weeks! This is my last week of maternity leave so I figured I better get it on here because I'll have even less time once I start back to work!

I started having contractions Saturday morning (the 17th) at 6 am. I'd been having Braxton Hicks but these were happening more often so I thought I was in early labor. Called Shari, my doula, and she said to just go about my day. So I hung around the house, we watched football and I played with the dogs. They never really progressed so Sunday morning I realized I wasn't in labor. It was pretty disappointing, especially because I just "wasted" a Saturday staying close to home for no reason. Plus, I felt silly for calling Shari and then having to keep in touch with her all day with nothing new to report. Since I was fed up and a little embarrassed, I told Tad to forget the last 24 hours and let's go about our business. We went to church to get out of the house and make things "normal". I rested more Sunday and that evening they came back... a little more intense but nothing major. Mom and Dad came over (I wasn't sure this was a good idea because I was thinking that if the contractions were real and progressed, then they wouldn't leave the house!), but I had them go ahead and stop by. When a contraction would come, I would go into the other room so Mom and Dad wouldn't know, but towards the end of their visit, I was having a hard time hiding them so I told them what was happening, but made sure to point out that it could be more of the same (BH). After they left around 9:30, the contractions kept progressing and by 11:00 I knew it was real - hooray! I called Shari and the midwife (they had an answering service and asked me a million questions before they had Anjli, the midwife, call me back. But more on that later).

I wasn't sure if my hypnobirthing mp3s on my iPhone would be of much help since I didn't practice it daily like you're supposed to do, but I decided to give it a try. I did the first track in the nursery floor with pillows around me and I couldn't believe how much it helped! It was unbelievable! When the 35 minutes would end, I would try a couple of contractions without it (just over the yoga ball or on the toilet) and they were so much harder that I would scramble to turn it back on. My body continued to show me that this was the real thing (lost my mucous plug, had loose bowels). I called Shari when I threw up a couple of hours later. I just knew that she would be ready to come over and help me. She said I sounded great and that when I had a hard time managing through the contractions, that's when she would be there (she was about 20 minutes away). I decided to get into our bathtub to help me relax... she said to stay in there as long as possible because it really helps.

So where was Tad through all of this, you ask? Just hanging out. Seriously. It's so funny because we did the childbirth class and learned all these things for him to do to help me through labor (like massage, putting pressure on my hips, putting cold towels on my neck, walking around with me, etc.) but I really didn't need any of those things since I was listening to the hypno track. So he was just watching Sunday night football and then a movie. :) He checked on me periodically. When I was in the tub he said I was hunched over and totally in the zone, with the headphones in my ears. I don't think he could even tell when I was having contractions. I just remember thinking that if I could do two really deep, slow cleansing breaths that the worst of it would be over. It worked. I stayed in the tub 2-3 hours... played the relaxation track over and over, reheating the water twice, and only getting out to use the restroom (because I was drinking a lot of vitamin water to stay hydrated). Finally, I decided to get out and do something different. The next contraction I had I was hunched over the sink and felt an involuntary bearing down. Uh oh! I called Shari and said I felt like I needed to push... she asked if it felt like I had to poop. I said I didn't know and she replied that she was on her way. About 15 seconds later I had another contraction and called her back in a panic - yes, it felt like I had to use the bathroom! She instructed me to call the midwife and go to the hospital immediately. I remember laying over the daybed in the nursery while calling the midwife. Of course, I got the answering service and they asked me the SAME MILLION QUESTIONS -- name, social, dob, how far along are you, what are you feeling. I pretty much told her I was about to have the baby on the floor and she needed to get Anjli on the phone immediately. I think I would have punched her in the face if she had been in front of me. Haha. During this time, Tad was quietly gathering our things to go. He was worried that now the "real" contractions had started and that it was going to be a tough labor for me because I had been so calm and quiet the whole time and then all of a sudden I was in a panic.

We rushed to Atlanta Medical Center around 3:30 AM. Tad called our parents and sisters to let them know -- his words, "Just wanted to let you know that we're on the way to the hospital and Ashley is doing fine." I remember thinking, "I AM NOT doing fine! This baby is about to come out!" He was so calm though. Again, probably because he thought I was being overly dramatic. :) We pulled up to the ER and got a wheelchair attendant to take me to L&D while he parked the car. I remember having a contraction as the automatic doors opened and screaming. I'm sure I was quite a sight for those people in the waiting room! The attendant kept saying, just hold on miss, just hold on. I think he was worried I was going to have the kid in the hallway. Getting to the 7th floor took FOREVER. Finally they put me in the first L&D room and put a gown on me. Three nurses were in there and one said, "We're just going to check you to see what's happening". Now, I hadn't been checked before, not even during my last visits because I think it's pointless since you can be 2 cm for a month before the baby comes. And I put in my birth plan that I didn't want to be checked at all. But at that point, I could care less. They could do whatever they wanted as long as I was able to push! The nurse's next statement: "Oh, you're 10 cm. We're going to have a baby soon!" Really, lady?! I could've told you that! I exclaimed, "I do not want an episiotomy!" Haha. Of all the things, this is what was on my mind. (By the way, I guess my water broke while I was in the tub because I never felt it). They brought in a midwife from another practice because they were worried Anjli wouldn't be there in time. There was a small part of me that panicked, being that I had never laid eyes on this woman before, but at the same time I didn't care - I just wanted the baby OUT! I was so thankful to be in a hospital bed and not at home/in the car/in the hallway. Soon after, Shari got there and started calling the shots (what I love, love, love about her). She asked if they could dim the lights and she took my gown off so I would have immediate skin to skin contact with the baby. She was also calling Tad, telling him that if he wanted to catch the baby he better hurry up and get the car parked! When he finally got to the room, someone said, "Wash your hands!". I think he was a little overwhelmed that it was happening so fast, but I barely paid him any attention because I was so focused on pushing. Friends of mine have freaked out when their husbands weren't there, but I honestly would've birthed the baby without him at that point. Glad it worked out that he made it though. :) Anjli got there next. What a relief - she was the one that I wanted there to help me since the beginning of my pregnancy! And I remember her looking a little surprised. She said she figured she had plenty of time when I called since this was my first. Nope!

I pushed while holding on to Shari's strong hands and she kept whispering in my ear between contractions to stay relaxed and that I was doing great. Everyone was giving me encouragement. I eventually moved to my hands and knees on the bed to let gravity help get the baby out. This made pushing much more effective. Before I knew it, the baby was here! Tad caught him/her (we didn't know at that point!) and put the baby in my arms. Tad came around and we realized it was a boy. I'm crying thinking about that moment even now. What a flood of emotions and endorphins! Such overwhelming love. No question that there is a God much bigger than us that is responsible for all of this. Empowerment that I had done it! I had birthed this baby with no drugs and only relying on my own body, which knew exactly what to do. Tad and I both looked at each other and down at this miracle in utter amazement. We both cried (he may deny it, but there were tears for him too). A son! With ten fingers and ten toes! And a cleft chin! :) That was the first thing I noticed about him. Definitely not the mailman's!

We arrived at the hospital on Monday, September 19th, around 3:50 AM and Mark Henry was born at 4:41. It was a perfect birth. Fast, not as planned, but perfect nonetheless. It's true the only person who knows how it will go is the baby. We had packed all this "labor" stuff for the hospital - speakers for music, lavender oil, spray bottle with a fan, vitamin water - none of which we used because I was there less than an hour before he was born. I even put on a sports bra as we were leaving home just in case I was able to have a water birth. Hilarious! And that's another thing, Mark Henry had plans to arrive by land and not by water. (The birthing tub takes 45 minutes to get ready so that went out the window.) He also wanted to be 9 days "late" because he knew he had to fatten up a little bit. The boy was only 6 pounds, 2.5 ounces at birth! Such a little guy!

After they wiped him down while on my chest, we immediately starting working on nursing. Anjli and Shari told me he would only be awake for 1-2 hours so we needed to take advantage of that time. I'm so, so thankful for that now as he's been a great nurser from day one. And talk about bonding right from the start - it was awesome! I'm also thankful for Tad and his patience. After catching him and immediately giving him to me, he waited two hours before holding him again. We have a picture with a clock in the background to prove it. :)

I think I was on a birthing high for 2 weeks... I felt like I could conquer the world. I didn't even want to sleep! It's the most empowering thing I've ever done. Yes, I'm proud of myself. I told Tad that as quick as it all happened (~ 6 hours) that the next time I may do a home birth. There's no telling how fast the next one will be! If the Atlanta Birthing Center is open that will be a hard decision though - I would love to work with the Intown Midwife team again. They're amazing. And at the birthing center you leave 6-8 hours later - sign me up! Staying overnight at AMC was torture. I wanted to rest and every 5 seconds they were coming in to check my vitals or take Mark Henry for some test. The goal was to leave the next morning by lunchtime but of course the pediatrician dragged her feet so we didn't leave until 5:00. Twelve hours was enough for me! But that's a minor thing when I think about the whole experience. Like I said, it was just perfect. And you can bet your dollar that I'll have the hypnobirthing mp3s all ready for the next go around!