Birth Story of Nico Malachi

N is for NICO

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.  Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you... " Jeremiah 1:5

"Women who have natural births are working hard and are committed to the process! They aren't lucky, have high pain tolerances, or have easy labors! It comes from within." unknown author 

Let me start off by saying, I wanted a home birth like with my Earth Day baby, but we couldn't this time around.  But I want to acknowledge Touro Infirmary's L&D nurses and most of all my midwife for respecting everything on my Birth Plan. I had an excellent experience and was given top notch care. A big thanks! (note: unfortunately the postpartum nurses were not nearly as warm and friendly, sigh). But overall, I recommend Woman to Woman Midwifery to every pregnant woman. My whole experience was perfect.

Here is my Birth Plan if you are interested in reading my wishes for my labor and delivery.  


Now to the story!

9/1/11 @ 4:30AM...
I woke up feeling crampy. Contractions were lasting about 10-15 seconds duration but they were still coming at irregular intervals.  I got out of bed to drink a glass of water and to go pee for the hundredth time.  Then I climbed back into bed to rest, but I was hot, uncomfortable, and anxious.  I did stay in bed until Angel's alarm went off at 6:30AM.
At this point I let know him that I was positive I was in early labor.  I told him to head off to work but to expect a phone call from me once my labor progressed.
I had an appointment with my midwife at 11AM to check my BP because it had been borderline high all week. I called my hubby to come pick me up because I was feeling too crampy to drive myself.
My daughter came along with us to the appointment. We arrived at Woman to Woman Midwifery right at eleven. They hung out in the receiving area, while I went to the patient room to see how everything was going.  Baby's heart beat was fine and my blood pressure was normal, thank God. She checked my cervix and I was dilated 4cm.  Contractions were still coming irregularly so she told me to head home and eat and try to rest b/c I was having my baby tonight.  Carmen fell asleep on the car ride home and she stayed asleep until about 2:30PM.  I tried to keep busy in the meantime.

happy... journaling for my blog, while trying to eat soup

My mother-in-law had a bowl of homemade chicken soup waiting for me when I got home. It smelled delicious but I had no appetite. I did force myself to eat some of it b/c I knew it would be a long night and I wouldn't be interested eating much later. At that point, I went ahead and called my midwife and told her I would be heading to the hospital around 4PM.Then I made arrangements with Jamie (my cousin) to be at my house around 3:30pm to take care of Carmen while we went to Labor and Delivery (@ Touro). 

this is my I am having a contraction face...

Sitting on my yoga ball bouncing and swaying back and forth to ease the intensity of the contractions and my lower back was comforting at home.  I didn't use the ball once at the hospital. Texting with a few friends helped the time pass, and kept me distracted while I was waiting for Jamie to get to my house. I also found an app on my phone to help keep track of my contractions.
Contraction Calculator-a handy APP that I downloaded to my phone, which simply recorded the time and duration of each contraction in a nice format by a click of a button, is the most useful APP ever... 2:47 PM...contraction = 50secs... come on baby boy... I couldn't wait to meet him!!!

 Once Jamie arrived around 3:30PM, I kissed my daughter good bye and we were off to have my sweet baby.  We gathered up everything and Angel, my mother-in-law, and I headed to Touro. Let me tell y'all that was the absolute WORST car ride of my life!!  I sat in the back seat of my van to allow for more room for myself.  However it was impossible to focus and breathe through a contraction in the car.  The roads here are so bumpy and the stop-and-go of the ride was killing me. I was so thankful once we got to the hospital entrance.... I was dying to be out of the van.

Once admitted, I gave my nurse my birth plan and answered a few questions.  They checked my cervix, which was 5.5cm at that point (about 4:30pm) and checked my BP and baby's heartbeat.... and from there on out it was a waiting game.

Trying to rest a bit b/c I was going to need every ounce of energy in my body to give birth.

At around 7PM my cousin brought dinner to my hubby and his mom from Subway.  She also brought my 3yr to visit us for a bit.  I kindly asked them to leave after about 30mins I was having trouble managing the pain of my contractions with all the distraction. Initially I wanted my daughter there to see her brother being born, but I feel like it was hard for me to focus while the she was with us.  She was sweet and followed me around and asking if I was okay the whole time. 

 

My cousin in the chair.  My 3year old following me to check on my while I walk through my contraction.  I love this picture bc it reflects how sweet my 3yr was the whole time.  She wanted to be with me during the contractions.

I was about 6 cm for 3hrs what seemed like an eternity.  I was started to get discouraged at this point. I was so tired I felt like I wasn't progressing and it was starting to get pretty intense.  So I decided to get in the shower for a while which was at least an hour.  The hot water really helped me give in to the contractions and let them become me.  I found myself most comfortable on the shower floor in somewhat of a child's pose position (a yoga pose). I was able to focus and accepted the waves as they came and rest in between.   My hubby was so awesome he stayed in the steamy hot bathroom the whole time sitting on the ground beside me while encouraging me along.  He also snapped a cool photo of me while in the shower.

I stayed like this for over an hour.  It was the most comfortable place for me.

After I got out the shower my midwife checked me - I was 7cm and super soft but baby was still up high .  She suggested me to stand resting my body over the bed in and and letting my belly hang. I swayed through a few contractions this way while she applied pressure to my lower back.  She was hoping baby boy would be able to get into a better position  this way. Then she left the room to check on another mama in labor.

 I knew things were coming along, b/c I was very vocal at this point.  I am a noisy woman during transition stage of labor.  I was grunting a lot, I sounded like Serena Williams when she plays her tennis matches.  Or maybe it was more of a low deep moan.  I don't know really, but being vocal really helped me through.  I was moaning through every contraction now and they were coming back to back. I started pacing the room leaning on my hubby the whole time bc I was so tired.  Then the next contraction came and I was puking.  Swoosh, my water broke at the same time.  From here on out everything happened so quickly.  Another wave... more vomit... the contractions were so intense I was kneeling on the floor leaning against my husband while he helped support me. He was awesome and helped me so much the whole time.  The floor was a mess and so were my hubby's shoes. It all  happened so quickly... puke, water breaking, kneeling on floor, feeling pushy, baby is coming.  Once I was kneeling on the floor I was ready to push. My mother in law called for my midwife to come and she walked as I was pushing, nurses were throwing blankets under me and my OB was taking photos of me birthing my son.  I was so surreal.  I still cannot believe how quick he came it was 3 pushes and he was here.  He came less than ten mins after my water broke.

His head is just beginning to crown.

Reaching down to catch my son. So wonderful. Everyone should be able to experience catching their own baby.

9:41PM, He is in my arms.

My awesome placenta that nourished my baby for 40weeks.

Bonding, I love this picture.

Skin on skin, with my sweet boy. 

Big sister Carmen loves baby Nico so much.

My Birth Plan for Nico

I am posting this after the birth of Nico.  I thought it would be nice to show women that it is always good to have a birth plan.  I was given excellent care and my birth plan was respected and followed by the hospital staff.  I know this isn't always the case and I feel very blessed.

I was so skeptical having a hospital birth after delivering my first daughter at home via water birth with a midwife.  I know being in a hospital means more medical intervention, which I wanted the least amount of interventions. 

Feel free to copy this and use for yourself or only take bits and pieces if you like.

Birth Plan

My Name and My Husbands Name

Patient of: 

Pediatrician:

Estimated Due Date: 8/31/2011

Labor:

I would like to be free to walk around, use my birthing ball during labor and/or use the birthing tub or shower.

I wish to be able to move around and change positions during labor.

I will be bringing my own music to play during labor.

I would like the environment to be kept as quiet as possible.

I would like the light to be kept low in the room during my labor.

I do not want vaginal exams during labor unless it is absolutely necessary.

Monitoring:

I do not wish to have continual fetal monitoring unless it is required by the condition of my baby. 

Labor Augmentation/Induction:

I would prefer to change positions and to try other natural methods (walking, nipple stimulation, etc.)  to help labor before pitocin is administered. 

I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially.

Anesthesia/Pain Medication:

I do not want to be offered pain medicine, I will ask for them if I need them. 

Before considering an epidural, and if the situation warrants, I would like to try an injection of a narcotic pain relief.

Cesarean:

Unless absolutely necessary, I would like to avoid a cesarean.

If a cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to be fully informed and to participate in the decision making process. 

My husband would like to be there at all times if my baby requires a cesarean delivery.

If my baby is not in distress, my baby should be given to my husband immediately after the birth and stay with him until I am out of surgery.  My husband would like to use the warmth of his body and not heating lamps to keep the baby warm.

Episiotomy:

I would prefer not to have an episiotomy unless absolutely required for the baby’s safety. 

If possible, I would like to use perineal massage to avoid an episiotomy.

Delivery:

I would like to choose the position in which I give birth including squatting or a hands and knees position.  If the birthing tub is available to use I would like to have the option to deliver in the tub.

I would appreciate having the room lights turned low for actual delivery.

I would like to have the baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.

During delivery I want as few of the medical staff in the room as possible. 

During the delivery, my 3 year old daughter and her caretaker may or may not be present.  

Immediately After Delivery:

I would like to have my husband cut the cord only after the cord stops pulsating.

I would like to hold my baby while I deliver the placenta and any tissues are repaired.

My baby will be evaluated in my presence.

I plan to nurse immediately following the birth to aid the delivery of the placenta.

I plan to practice Kangaroo Mother Care and would appreciate if the evaluation of my baby be done with my baby on my abdomen, with both of us covered by a warm blanket, unless it is absolutely unavoidable. 

If my baby must be taken from me to receive medical treatment and conditions are such that my husband or I cannot be with him/her, we would like her brought back as soon as possible.

I would prefer to hold my baby on my chest between my breasts instead of having him placed under heat lamps so he may receive the warmth of my body and the reassuring sound of my heartbeat(Kangaroo Mother Care).

After the birth I would prefer to be given a few moments of privacy to urinate on my own, before being catheterized. 

No eye ointment will be administered to my baby as discussed with my pediatrician (Dr. Capone). I do not have any STD’s and it is unnecessary.

Do not give my baby any vaccinations.

I would like to nurse/hold my baby while he/she receives the vitamin k shot and PKU test.

Do not remove my child from my room without my consent.

Postpartum:

Unless required for health reason, I do not wish to be separated from my baby.

Please perform the bath in my room and allow my husband to aid in bathing our son.

As I discussed with my pediatrician,  he will examine my child in my room with me present.

Our son will not be circumcised.

Depending on the time of the birth, we would like avoid an overnight stay if possible assuming that there are no complications.

Breastfeeding:

I plan to breastfeed my baby and would like to begin nursing immediately after birth.

My baby may not have formula/fluids (including glucose water).