Our Homebirth - Pt 1
I’d had prodromal (False labor) off and on for the last couple weeks. Contractions would start with no real pattern then go away the next morning.
At 41+1 weeks, I started having contractions again Saturday evening. They were inconsistent and I could talk through them. So while I hoped this was the real deal, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. Around midnight I lost my mucus plug & had some bloody show so this made me think it was actually probably happening! I was still reserved tho and didn’t want to get my hopes up. I kept doubting if this was really it.
things intensified overnight but contractions were still irregular, ranging from 4min to 17min. I think I slept 2.5hrs as they would wake me from sleep off and on.
Noon rolls around the next day and things continue to slowly pick up. I can still talk through contractions but slow down to breathe through them. I have a pretty high pain tolerance and the second the contraction ends, I’m perfectly fine. Because they were still so irregular, our birth team isn’t concerned and we all assume this could be the start of a multi day event. (LOL in hindsight)
By 2pm things were building however my contractions were irregular STILL and had no identifiable pattern so again I didn’t know how long this would be and couldn’t really gauge where I was at. They ranged from 5-12 min apart so in my head I thought I still had a long way to go if this was it. We were in contact with our doula and midwife but weren’t quite ready to need support. I’m still feeling really good in between contractions and bouncing back quick.
By about 5:30pm is when things start to get intense and I really wasn’t able to talk during or in between contractions. I feel myself drifting off to some place else, like I’m not fully in my body. I had my husband take over communication with the birth team. By this time contractions were getting closer, ranging 2-4min apart and they were really taking me on a ride. I needed a lot of comfort and support during them. I told my husband I was getting ready for additional support soon and to get our team on their way, I started to feel like I was a little in over my head & this is when I started to think things were progressing fast. Again, I have a high pain tolerance and I don’t think I realized how much had been happening all day. I also think all the false labor had me doubting whether this was more of that or not. Because things are still so irregular, our team doesn’t come yet and were all probably thinking I had a longggg way to go.
I’m laying on the couch & each contraction starts to brings with it intense low back spasms and tailbone discomfort like I’ve never felt. It was like every single muscle in my low back was spasming. Even now, I’m not feeling “pain” - discomfort, pressure, intensity yes. But not really what I’d describe as pain. My MO going into labor was to let my body work. I realized there wasn’t much I actually had to do besides just surrender and let my body do what it was made to do and not get In the way.
7pm rolls around and I decide to take a hot bath, praying I’d find some relief. I do & I rock back and forth in the water through each contraction breathing deep, low groans and long exhales which helps relax me. I am fully locked in on my support now and really need them every second (my husband and Monique)
Our birth team starts to arrive around 7:30 and has me sit backwards on the toilet to help dilation. I opted out of cervical checks so I have no idea if I’m at a 3 or a 9. Moving positions takes almost everything I have and not being in the water I’m feeling things wayyyy more intensely.
