Wow, the next contraction caught me off-guard. Must be sitting on the ball, I figured. Some positions just aren't comfortable. I had no better place to sit with the candles nearby, so I just stayed there. It was bearable. I timed contractions for the first time. 5:12, 5:17, 5:22... well, they were 5 minutes apart all day when Eliana was born. No big deal. These were really short, about 30 seconds long.
They did start without much warning. With Eliana I had time to completely let go and relax my whole body. These kept surprising me. I would try to relax or rock on the ball and then they'd stop almost as quickly as they'd begun. And I'd go back to writing.
5:30, 5:33... those were close...
5:35... well, that was just a small one, it hardly counts.
I was feeling tired and wanted to lay my head down. Not wanting to really lay down, I set the journal aside and sat on the floor next to the couch so I could rest my head on the cushions. Maybe I could sneak some more sleep before labor really got going.
Then came the fun part:)
I think I was squatting when the next contraction began. But this was no ordinary contraction. Without warning, without real labor pain, dilation was complete. My body was pushing this baby out. I was awed and shocked! I felt his body descending through my own.
When that contraction had ended, I ran to the bathroom, washed my hands, and felt for him. I didn't have to reach far - less than an inch in was the unbroken water bag. I felt his head in less than an inch and a half.
I called for Derek. He didn't hear me. I called him again. And again. He finally heard what he calls "screaming". I call it a woman trying to get her husband to wake up cause she's about to give birth!
He came in and I told him what was happening and to call our midwife. Another pushing contraction came and I wouldn't let him leave the room.
He called and she said they were on their way.
Another one and the water broke into the toilet. Very convenient:)
I had Derek spread out a blanket that was nearby so that I could get on the floor. I didn't want this baby born into the toilet!
The baby's head pushed to crowning. I felt it burning and let go of all my desires to help my body push. I knew I could tear with him coming so fast. I half squatted, half kneeled with my hand on his head, as if that might slow him down somehow. I moaned and hollered, not from pain or fear, but because of the intensity and power. I couldn't help but vocalize as my uterus worked so hard and quickly to birth my baby.
Derek called our sister-in-law Letisha, who lives next door, and told her to come over right away! She heard my moans and recognized them from Eliana's birth. I asked Derek, "Can you see his head?" He calmly replied that he could see it, while the reality hit him that this baby was coming RIGHT NOW.
The baby's head appeared. His precious, wet, sticky body slipped into our hands. In the silence of the morning, alone in our bathroom, our son was born.