Ending March in Style and FAST!

Jessie Joel Southward Smith.  Born April 29, 2021. Delivered at 9:13pm at home by his Daddy.  8 pounds, 21.25 inches. 

We planned to be home. That's about as much control as we had over the events.  The day was a typical Thursday with the gym, work, playing, and back to the gym for Emi's swim lesson.  Hailey's play class was cancelled so she stayed home with me from 4:30-6.  We had dinner prepped before everyone left so we painted Hailey's fingers and toes, taking mommy Hailey time.  I had some minor contractions but I brushed them off as braxton hicks. Joel got home at 6:15 and we started getting dinner ready.  

Joel had that look on his face of, you sure those are just BH? I set up a contraction app to clock things but contractions, spacing, and intensity were all super sporadic.  I messaged Tiffany and she didn't seem concerned.  We finished dinner and watched a vet show with the girls were the contractions became even more spaced and sporadic.  I figured JJ was coming eventually.  He was super active which was weird bc I don't remember the girls moving so much.  Tiff said that sometimes babies move a bunch trying to get into a better position.  So I stood up and did pelvic tilts and rocked my hips.  If he needs to be in a better position, why not help him out?!

The show ended around 8 and Joel got the girls ready for bed.  Because the contractions had spaced to almost 8-10 minutes and even more sporadic, Tiff said go lay down on my left side and time 5 contractions and send it to her.  This was around 8:30.  I made it thru 3 contractions on my left but they were much stronger that way and I had to get up.  I did the 4th standing by my bedside and started shaking.  I went to the bathroom feeling pressure and queasy.  I stood by my sink and my water broke.  (I have always hated the idea of my water breaking on my bed or on the carpet... who wants to clean that up!)  Yeah for the easy clean up on tile.  

The only thing was that the water was brown.  I video called Tiff right away to tell her that my water broke and that it wasn't clear.  It was 8:56pm.  She stayed on the line until the call dropped. I had the pressure and urge to push.  Contractions were over.  He was coming.  It was weird because she asked if he was crowning, so I had to check that.  Middle finger length away.  Half a middle finger length away.  He's coming fast!

With Hailey the worst feeling was the burning ring of fire when they crown and the pressure is super intense and at times more painful but on a different level than contractions.  I felt that pressure with Brystol and it was again here with JJ.  I don't know what was different this time though.  I recognized the pressure and fire and instead of shying away from it, I just breathed through it and tried to bring him down.  

During solitary confinement, aka mandatory nightly magnesium bath, I took the time to reread the hypno-birthing chapters about birth.  I think reading about the breathing and staying calm really helped.  I didn't want a panicked birth, a pain-filled or anxiety filled birth.  I didn't want screaming or cursing.  I didn't know if it was possible.

I had prepped my body over the months with exercise, massage and then 3-4 times a week pool exercise and walking.  I had practiced squatting and opening my hips in the pool and that helped tremendously.  I was able to stand and then just squat without muscle fatigue. 

We had planned for a water birth and had the pool blown up and water filling.  When my water was brown Tiff recommended not getting in.  Plus it was still way to hot.  We turned off the water and it was the perfect temperature after he was delivered.  Irony.

Tiff was on the video call most of the time then Joel called her back.  Joel has never wanted to be down in front for the birth/show.  He likes his spot up near the shoulders, so being the one to deliver wasn't his favorite idea, but when there are no other options and I'm about to reach down and do it myself, he reacted.  I think after he processed it, it was a sweet experience for him.  Hopefully he'll add to the blog later his side of things.

When JJ was first delivered, he didn't scream or cry out.  He still needed to process how to use his lungs.  But as two parents who don't deliver babies we didn't know what was normal or not.  But not breathing or crying is considered not normal.  Joel unwrapped the cord from around his shoulder and Tiff walked him through what to do. Rub him.  Tilt him slightly downward so the fluids can come out of his mouth and nose.  Pat his back.  Soon that little body came to life and started to cry and wimper.  It was never a shrill ear piercing wail, but enough to say, "Ok, ok, I'll breathe if you'll stop patting me!" 

I knew it was important to have skin contact to help regulate his body temperature and bonding, so I whipped off my shirt and naked cuddle time it was!

After he was breathing, then we just had to sit back and wait.  Tile is great for cleaning up, for keeping cool, but not so much for sitting on after having a baby!  My butt was going numb while waiting.  Tiff finally got here and checked him out.  He was doing well.  I was doing well.  We cleaned things up and handed JJ off to Joel.  I was covered in all kinds of bodily fluids and wanted nothing more than a shower!  

I got cleaned up.  Joel got cleaned up.  JJ got cleaned up.  Then we all just hung out on the bed to let JJ adjust.  This is one of the things that I love the most about a home birth vs a hospital birth.  The hospital whisks the baby away to do weight and measurements and apgar testing and xyz.  At home, Tiff wanted nothing more for me to move my caboose faster and just get in bed and have some down time.  Relax.  

2 hours later she did her testing.  

We planned for a home birth.  We didn't plan to deliver him ourselves.  I knew that I can have fast labors and deliveries but this one definitely took the cake with twinges starting at 5:30-6 and baby being born a little after 9.  

Tiff and her assistant, ___,  left a little after midnight.  JJ ate one more time and then went to sleep.  He slept from 1-4.  I tried to sleep but the afterbirth cramps kept me up.  Blasted body! Hopefully more sleep will come later as we figure out a good routine.

At 10:30, we brought Hailey in to see her brother.  She was excited and loved holding him, then gave him back to go back to bed.  At 5:45 I hear a rustle at the bedroom door, but we had locked it.  Smart kiddos, Emi came in through the back patio door to our room.  Might as well let them in and see brother.  Hailey was the bearer of good news.  Baby brother was born last night!

JJ had eaten and dream nursed from 4-6 and as soon as Hailey sat down to hold him, he crashed out.  The sound of all those loud girls didn't phase him, but almost seemed comforting enough to sleep to.  They took turns holding him and loving on him.  They are excited.

The rest of the morning and day was filled with phone calls and texts and a couple people dropping by.  Patti Edgle took the girls for a morning play date.  She kept Hailey and Emi but brought Brystol back for nap time.  It was a mellow first day.  A good day.

Sirius, our dog, stayed in the living room during the birth and then he slowly has made his way closer to check out the little man.  We were curious how he was going to react.  Any squeak or peep or cry and he comes running to check on him.  He wants to snuggle and be protective.  Once when I was taking a nap, Sirius jumped up and laid down and then scooted closer, and then put his paw on him when he'd whimper. Sirius usually loves walks and can't wait to leave, but now he reluctantly leaves and can't wait to get back.  On walks when Joel takes JJ, Sirius won't go far. JJ is spoiled everywhere. 

Photos from birth thru the first week.