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My Birth Story 8/14/2018

8/20/2018

I first want to say I think every Birth is amazing regardless of how any woman delivers. It’s amazing what our bodies can do and it truly is something to celebrate, as “Birth Day” to me, has a whole new meaning!

On 8/3 at 9:45pm I lost part of my mucus plug and that night had Some mild contractions. But no other signs saying labor will be soon... I finally reached 39 Weeks on Sunday 8/12, and it felt like it took me forever to get there. Very pregnant during the most humid and hot summers in San Diego, my hormones have been raging and I was uncomfortable waking up 4-5 times a night whether it was because I had to go to the bathroom, extremely thirsty, felt some crazy contraction, or wanted to rip off the covers as I was sweating. I was getting consistent Braxton Hicks since week 33 and was tracking them through the Bloomlife App. Also starting week 37, I was taking 1000 mg Primrose oil Supplements, drinking Pregnancy Tea, and eating about 4-6 dates per day. I needed relief with sleep and wanted to wait till I reached 39 Weeks tio schedule acupuncture just in case it induced labor. My midwife at UCSD Villa La Jolla said they would allow me to go to 41 weeks into my pregnancy without being induced. So after I had acupuncture on Sunday, I got back home and took the longest nap, it felt so great. Monday 8/13 came and It was a regular work week day for me and still no sign that Labor is near. It was 6:50pm and my husband Kyle and I were hanging out on the couch watching CNN and I was also working on some school work for my anthropology class as I am enrolled into Ashford University. I felt a weird sensation and thought the baby jumped and then immediately felt a warm gush of fluid. I got up quickly to go to the toilet and checked a PH strip and it turned blue for alkaline and knew right away that my water broke. I called the midwife hotline and they asked me to get my bags packed, grab something to eat, and make my way over to the hospital. My bags have been packed and ready for weeks so Kyle got all the bags in the car While I ate some chicken salad with crackers that I made earlier in the day. We got in the car and started calling our family and close friends letting them know Kenna is on the way! We live about 20 min from the hospital, and while on the drive to the hospital I felt 3 labor contractions, I breathed through them using hypnobirthing techniques imagining the ocean waves coming in and going out. I wanted to have a short labor in the most calm and relaxed environment I could create. I knew if i tensed up that might make the labor more painful and longer. The contractions were definitely different from the Braxton Hicks contractions, these contractions were in a pain scale of 3-4, dull achy and very low similar to an uncomfortable period and would last about a min. My Braxton Hicks were never this uncomfortable. I continued to breathe through each one and we arrived at the hospital around 7:30pm. We got to the triage room where the nurses took my vitals and because my water broke, was going to be admitted and get the birth center room ready for me. The nurses said they will come and monitor the fetal heartbeat with a Doppler but will allow me to continue to labor and let the contractions do their thing and will check my dilation around 1am. Because I chose the birth center at UCSD, there is no medical interventions and no epidural which allowed me to labor in whatever position I chose. The only position I found myself comfortable in was on my knees kneeling over the sofa with a pillow underneath me. The air conditioning in the room was blowing right on me which made me cold so my husband threw on his hoodie on me. I labored in the Birth Center listening to Jack Johnson Radio on Apple Music. The lights were dim and being on the 9th floor I had a beautiful view of La Jolla and the city lights. When 11:30 came around the contractions were getting pretty rough and I asked if we could start filling the labor tub.

The tub was massive and took over an hour to fill it up so I am glad I requested it. I wasn’t even sure if I would really like it as I was afraid to try any other positions because none of the ones I did try were comfortable. Kyle helped me into the tub around 12:30 and the water was a warm, 99 degrees, i felt so relaxed and felt it helped with any tense muscles I did have. After a few contractions in the tub, the midwife (Erika Vu) checked my dilation as I laid back in the water, I was 5cm. As I transitioned into active labor I sat on my knees and leaned over the tub, it became more and more uncomfortable as my contractions were getting stronger and longer! I needed more relief, so I asked for the nitrous oxide gas. One thing that also helped during the contractions was to make a low and deep moaning sound when I breathed out. It felt a little animalistic but felt it saved my energy. I am not sure if the nitrous oxide was actually doing anything for the pain but it gave me focus on my breathing and mentally helped me through the active stage of labor. I was in the tub for nearly an hour and half and as 2am came around I couldn’t help the feeling but to push, there was so much pressure. The midwife checked me again and stated we were very very close and that she could feel her head! At 2:30am they got me out of the tub as I was not allowed to deliver in the tub. I got on the hospital bed again on my knees leaning over the bed and was now in pushing phase. I remember feeling the ring of fire which was the ultimate pain I felt during the process following a huge relief as Kyle helped me flip over and Kenna was placed on my chest for skin to skin. I was so exhausted and so happy to be done with the labor and never felt so much love for the little person who was relaxed and alert on my chest. I still needed to deliver placenta. It wasn’t very comfortable as I was now laying on my back. After the placenta was delivered the midwife said I had a small tear and asked if I wanted a stitch. That area was throbbing and painful, I couldn’t stand anyone else touching that area anymore so I passed on them stitching me up and would rather have the tear naturally heal itself. After about an hour of skin to skin, they took Kenna’s measurements. She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz, and was 20 inches with a 31.5 head circumference. We didn’t sleep much that night as nurses were coming in to check on us consistently. We called the Grandmas and they came over in the morning so spend the day holding Kenna so we could get some sleep. From the time my water broke to delivery it went by so fast, I am sure I am missing so many details but it’s all I could remember of those 8 hours. All in all, my birth plan went exactly to plan and I am so fortunate that we didn’t have any complications or interventions. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. My husband Kyle was my rock and was supporting me all the way through. My midwife that delivered Kenna was amazing and couldn’t ask for a better nurse staff. Thank you to everyone who made mine and Kenna’s birth day possible. With Kenna not even 24 hours new, Michelle Mattox came and took Fresh 48 pictures of Kenna.

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My Birth Story 8/14/2018