Thayer August's birth story

My 40 week appointment was supposed to be on Tuesday, but on Sunday night, Desiree rescheduled it for Monday morning. Monday, we got up a tiny bit quicker than usual like we do on appointment days, so we could get the main level somewhat presentable. I fed Arden and I breakfast...oatmeal with flaxseed. While we sat there (at the computer, because I was trying to write a post about our day at Aquia, and upload some photos while we ate), I noticed some contractions and I realized they were coming pretty frequently. I didn't want to pay them too much mind, but since Desiree was already coming I wanted to have a few on record to see what she thought. Around 10:20, I ran upstairs, stripped our bed, grabbed the dirty diaper pail liner, ran to the basement and started the diapers soaking and the sheets washing. When I came back up, I was in the kitchen working through a noticeable contraction and Desiree called my phone. Apparently she'd knocked and rang the doorbell and I hadn't heard because I was in the basement.


Around 1130 Desiree left...we got through our appointment just fine, with me trying not to pay too much attention to the contractions still; although palpating the belly was pretty undesirable at that point. Desiree had another appointment, which I told her it was fine to go to since from my experience, I had plenty of time. I just thought I'd call Mom to keep me company in early labor. It was very shortly after that, and after I texted Drew to give him a little fair warning, just in case.Shortly afterward I called him and told him it was true, he ought to come. I was getting pretty desperate for some company. I resolved to get Arden fed and down for a nap, which was pretty challenging with as intense as the contractions suddenly got after Desiree left. Leah texted me while I was getting her ready and at that point I was pretty convinced I was in labor so I told her so. She told me she'd come soon. She also told Aimee what I'd told her, and Aimee called and told me she was getting on her way too. So I had Desiree, who had finished her appointment, Leah, Mom, Drew and Aimee were all on their way and I didn't want to go back downstairs to let anyone in...so after I put Arden down (without nursing her, for the first time!) I wrote a quick note on a sticky and put it on the door...for whomever was to arrive first. I got back upstairs, put on my swimsuit and got in the bath before anyone could tell me "no"...I was pretty desperate for some relief. I couldn't believe I was wimping out so quickly...I knew I just had to have quite a ways left to go.

So from the time everyone got there (about 1, I guess...I have no idea!) to around 2 or 2:30, I stayed in the tub and labored, frequently getting out to relieve my bladder (to keep it from slowing progress). I could tell there was cervical change because I kept finding "show" in my swimsuit. Desiree encouraged me to get out, to try to get some movement to keep progress going. I did get out eventually, and laid on the bed after changing out of my swimsuit into a tank top and undies. I labored on the bed for a little bit...that was pretty peaceful, just lying on my side, Drew facing me and encouraging me. (About 2:30-3:30) I did my best to relax through the contractions, which seemed more intense out of the tub. After a while, I moved to the ball, and I found the contractions much more tolerable there. I used a lot of hip-circling and side-to-side movements. I did this probably from 3:30-4:30. Desiree again encouraged me to get up and move around. I thought it was impossible. So I finally resolved to get up and use the bathroom again, and I made myself go around the bed and into the hall bathroom instead of directly into ours. Had one contraction while I was in the bathroom; leaning over Drew's shoulders...and I noticed a powerful force taking over my body and making it push. I had no control over it. I got up, went to the bed, laid on my side and had another contraction which did the same thing. I didn't think it was possible that it was the "urge to push" already! After that one contraction on the bed, I asked someone to get the older shower curtain from Arden's birth and put it on the floor, since the newer one was on the bed. I wanted to get on all fours and the bed doesn't work well for that because it's so soft. I never ended up on my hands and knees though. I got on the floor, with one knee kneeling, and the other foot flat, a kneeling lunge. At that point, with the next contraction I felt a very intense stretching, but couldn't believe it was the head already...so I asked why it felt that way and someone looked, and then told me "because your baby's head is right there!" I was astounded! I helped my body push for the first time, and his head was born. Unbelievable! One more forceful contraction with a little help from me, and my little boy was born!!! At 4:55 p.m., not even 6 hours after I admitted I was in labor! Desiree caught him before he hit the floor, and I reached down and picked him up out of her hands, since she was behind me.


He nursed like he'd been doing it all along, let us try to burn his cord ("try" meaning I didn't have any of the right stuff so we gave up and Drew cut it...after it being attached for around 3 hours!), and weighed a hefty 9 lbs 6 oz!!!