41 weeks .... YES!! 41 weeks ... I was STILL pregnant!!! I had experienced TONS of false labor but I was STILL pregnant! However, on Saturday May 3rd, 2014, we all had a hunch that TODAY was the DAY!!! I had sporadic contractions all day, but with so much false labor I wasn't hopeful. The midwives had arranged care for their children for that night. I remember thinking "Ok, Johanna tonight is the time. Everyone is ready." We put our kids in bed that night, and we finally got in bed around 11:00. I watch the clock ...... wait, these are about 5 mints apart. Hmmm, but they don't really hurt. Yea, false labor ... again. 11:45 pm not so sure its false anymore. John is convinced. He's up setting up the birth pool. I am still in denial. The pump charger for the pool decides to not work. So, John heads outside to the front yard to hook the car charger up. As if we weren't strange enough with the whole homebirth thing, John is out in the front yard at midnight blowing up a kiddie pool. I always have that fear of calling the midwives in the middle of the night for a "false" alarm. John finally convinced me I really was in labor, so I call. Because I am still not 100% convinced, I don't call my sweet friend who is doing birth photography for me. Seriously, who wants to wake your friend up in the middle of the night. I finally decide to call my parents who are 4 1/2 hours away. My dad says "if we leave now, do you think we will make it in time?" My reply "I hope not."
Contractions begin picking up. I move to the birth ball ....
Midwives arrive, set up, and we get this party started!!!! These two ladies are amazing!!! I was completely amazed with their proficiency, care, and knowledge!!! *blessed*
I finally get up the nerve to call my friend in the middle of the night. We wake up Lily who wanted to be there for the whole thing. Ok, everyone has been contacted. Lets DO THIS!!!! I get into the birth pool with my midwives, husband, and daughter supporting me.
So far this birth was a walk in the park (so far .... ) There was lots of pressure but really no urge to push. Midwife asked if she could check me (notice the "ask" .. LOVE midwives!!!!) I was only a seven ... what the ...???? She suggests I get out of the pool and sit backwards on the toilet. If I known what lay ahead, I would have said NO way!!!! I sat down on the toilet and when the next contraction hit it was literally the WORSE pain I have EVER experienced. Ok, DONE with that!!! I got up. However, it had done the trick and I was in full transition. I walked to the bed and another hit ...
I told my midwife "I have to poop" because when you are in extreme pain you really don't think straight. She reminded me sweetly that that was my baby. With the next contraction I laid down on the bed. I WAS SO DONE!!! IT HURT SO BAD!!!! My midwife asks to check me again. She pushed my cervix back the rest of the way and my water broke. THIS WAS IT!!! She was coming!!! All I could think was to get this baby OUT OF MY BODY!!!! But I knew I had to listen to my midwives directions and coaching to get her out!!! A few pushes later ... remember my parents on the way??? My mom walked in at 7:00 and at 7:01 ..... my baby girl was here. She was instantly put on my chest. But I knew something wasn't right. I had had five babies and this one was GREY not pink. My midwife said talk to her. We talked, rubbed on her, but she still didn't cry. They got the oxygen and after a few minutes my precious baby was pink and crying!!! Praise the Lord for wonderful midwives!!! I put her to nurse and sweet girl nursed for about an hour. We were left to bond. Then the midwives came back in and to weigh, measure, assess her, etc.
Then came the big reveal!!!! The midwives helped me clean up and dress while John got the honored privilege of introducing her to the rest of the gang ... and as you can see in this picture Lily was quite proud of her accomplishments ...
and then my friend and photographer captured the most amazing pic ....
My EVERYTHING!!!
Dear Sweet Johanna, you were hoped for, prayed for, longed for. You were the healing balm to our hurting hearts. You are an answered prayer. You are our PRAYSE!!!!
When all was said and done, I asked Lily if she still wanted to have babies. Her reply "Yes, but I won't be so dramatic about it."
