Homebirth Chronicles: Baby Daisy is Here!

Well, I am finally showered, I have finished off a pumpkin pie (all by myself), I have had some coffee, and Nate is at church with the two girls.  Daisy is sleeping, and now I can update you all on the last few days.  I know I haven't blogged in awhile, which my family likes to remind me often:), but we have been a little distracted waiting for little Miss Daisy Hope to arrive.  Nate has been home for three weeks, and we have been trying to wait patiently.  We have done practically every family outing you could possibly do together, and still, we couldn't help but get a little anxious!  But God has been abundantly gracious in blessing us with our third little girl, healthy and alive.  What an undeserved gift!!!! 

So here is how it all went down.  After the due date, October 14th, came and went, we began pondering how we could naturally induce, since we know that our midwife cannot allow us to go past 42 weeks.  We tried some castor oil, and that was just nasty and sent me to the bathroom for the rest of the day.  The midwife stripped my membranes, which really means she just tried to stimulate the cervix and coax it along.  That is definitely not pleasant and for me, super painful.  So, I wasn't too happy at this point!  Tuesday we went to the specialist, just to make sure she was all well, and by God's good grace, fluid levels were high and she was cozy.  They guessed her weight at 8 lbs 7 oz, and he told me that if I hadn't delivered in a week, he would recommend induction.  Thursday morning, we went in for a heartbeat check, and the midwife recommended stripping my membranes again and doing a double duty castor oil dose.  I was not looking forward to this.  After her appointment, we headed to get donuts and go to the pumpkin patch.  We all had one last bit of fun at yet another family outing:)  We came home and I had to drink 2 separate doses of 3 ounces of castor oil, one hour apart.  I had a meltdown.  I was physically and emotionally spent, and I was feeling so much pressure to have this baby, but I had no control over when God was ready to bring her.  I cried, and then I had to "man up" and just chug it!  I drank one dose with a whole lot of root beer, and the next dose with orange juice.  I absolutely never want to do that again!  But after that, we knew we had done everything you could do naturally.  We were waiting to see where God would lead, and we were preparing our minds for the idea of inducing in the hospital. 

I made some good steaks for dinner with potatoes and vegies, and we snuggled by a fire and had one last Bible time as a family of four.  We were tired.  Tired of waiting.  And I was tired of being sent to the bathroom every hour, thanks to that fabulous oil!  As I was browsing sale items online at Old Navy, around 10pm, it was getting harder to decipher between my stimulated bowels and if I was having contractions.  At 10:30, Nate was keeping track of them, and they were  about 5 minutes apart, lasting 30-40 seconds, but they were so mild.  We called the midwife to warn her it may be that night, and then we called some family, to warn them too.  Nate and I kept track of them till midnight or so, and then we dozed off.  My sister came knocking at the door and todl me she just wanted to be here, so she slept on couch.  At 3:30 am, the contractions woke me up, and now they were 2 minutes apart, lasting 1 to 2 minutes each.  We knew it was close.  I called the midwife, and she was happy to hear my voice and headed over fast.  I got dressed, Nate started prepping the tub.  I started walking around my cul-de-sac with my sis.  Family started arriving around 4am, and I was fine in between contractions, but during each one, I could feel the head move down...yikes! 

Probably 30 minutes later, I headed inside to the houseful of loving family and friends, knowing the contractions were getting tougher and the midwife would want to check me.  My room was all ready, bed made and tub filling with warm water, thanks to my awesome family and hubby and two great midwives!  She checked me, and I was at 8cm during contractions and 6cm in between.  I was so happy to labor holding Nate's hand and having mom rub my back.  The girls were woken up, and Annabelle was rubbing me too and holding my hand.  She and daddy recited Daisy's verse for me, Psalm 62:5-6.  As soon as the tub was full of warm water, I hopped in, and then I was able to really relax.  It was so weird trying to find a good position, but the water felt great, and I was able to give into the contractions more.  It was still awful pain, but it was more manageable than my last three.  Before you know it, I felt the head move all the way down and she was there.  I knew I had to push, but I didn't want to.  I HATE pushing!  I was squatting while leaning over the side of the tub, and I told Renee she was right there, and everyone stopped.  Renee and Nate came around behind me to deliver the baby, and friends and family came in the room.  I was definitely freaking out, but I just pushed through it, and out came the head.  Nate had to pull off the bag from around her body (I now know that is called being "born in the caul").  One more push, and she was out.  I turned over and they put her on my chest.  She was born at 5:18am.  What a crazy experience!!! 

She stayed with me until the placenta and everything else was delivered, and then we transferred to the bed.  For the next couple of hours they had to work to stabilize my blood pressure.  My blood clots so well, but this time, my uterus wasn't contracting and hardening as much as it should.  So some blood loss along with possible dehydration, they put me on an IV and gave me some medicine similar to pitocin but milder.  I am feeling great, and baby is well. Praise the Lord.  Baby ended up weighing in at 8lbs 2 ounces and measuring 21 1/2 inches long, almost a pound more than my two other girls, and an inch and a half longer!  I praise God for such a wonderfully smooth delivery.  Thank you for all your prayers.  My sweet neighbor who took pics of Paul's birth was also able to be present for this birth, so many more beautiful pics to come:)