The Birth Story

Now that things have settled a little, at least as much as they can when you have a new born in the house, I can take the time to write my birth story.

As I hoped, I believe the full moon did play a factor. Here is some research stolen from another friends blog:

Did you know that some maternity units actually have more staff available during periods of full moon?  I’ve always been fascinated by the moon’s effect on nature, so when a friend’s wife conveyed to me what her midwife had told her during the birth of their daughter, I decided to find out more about childbirth, full moon and a possible link.

On speaking to various medical staff involved in natural childbirth, the first thing I learned was that expectant mothers often experience false signs of labor during full moon. Contractions known as “Braxton Hicks” — sometimes noticeable to the mother and sometimes not — become more pronounced and many travel to the maternity unit in the belief that “it’s time”. Disappointed — or perhaps relieved — they return home, the pains having subsided with no dilation of the cervix.

While these expectant mothers visiting the clinic with their mistaken signs of labor are part of the reason why extra staff are needed, the major difference is found in the number of women whose amniotic sac — the water — breaks.

Just as some women experience false labor pains, in cases where the water breaking marks the start of childbirth, full moon is the time when it’s most likely to happen. In order to discover for myself whether this could be true, I asked several female friends how their births had started. Those who responded with “the water breaking” were then asked the date of the birth. On checking this against a moon phase chart, I discovered that almost all had given birth on, or very close to, a full moon.

The theory is that the moon’s gravitational pull effects the amniotic fluid in much the same way as it effects the water in the sea, rivers and even the water that’s otherwise found in our bodies.

“There are published works that show that there is such a relationship. One study looked at 5,927,978 French births occurring between the months of January 1968 and the 31st December 1974. Using spectral analysis, it was shown that there are two different rhythms in birth frequencies: –a weekly rhythm characterized by the lowest number of births on a Sunday and the largest number on a Tuesday and an annual rhythm with the maximum number of births in May and the minimum in September-October. A statistical analysis of the distribution of births in the lunar month shows that more are born between the last quarter and the new moon, and fewer are born in the first quarter of the moon. The differences between the distribution observed during the lunar month and the theoretical distribution are statistically significant.” – Source: Full moon, Gravitational Pull and Childbirth, Birthsource.com

As a woman’s body prepares for natural childbirth, the amniotic sac becomes distended so the point where it will easily burst if put under pressure. Under normal circumstances, the pressure of labor contractions bursts the sac. During a full moon, the pressure caused by the moon’s effect on the water inside the sac can cause the same things to happen, but without the accompanying contractions.

When this happens, natural childbirth doesn’t always move forward and with no other signs of labor present, the obstetrician may decide to induce the birth. During my own study of this phenomenon I found that of 8 women whose births started with the water breaking at full moon, 5 of them had no accompanying contractions. A coincidence? Perhaps. But surely midwives wouldn’t prepare themselves for an increase in natural childbirth activity if there wasn’t some truth in this?

One midwife told me that when it comes to planning childbirth, full moons should always be looked for around the time of the expected delivery. If there’s one within a few days either side, the chances are your baby will be born on that day.

If you noticed the line that mentions water breaking during the full moon, and no contractions...this is exactly what happened to me.   My water broke at 6:30 AM, a slow trickle with no contractions.  Since I wanted a natural birth I wanted to avoid an induction as much as possible.   I spent the morning anticipating the birth of my daughter, and trying to bring on contractions, with a brisk walk.  No such luck. After seeing my doctor about 11 it was confirmed that my water has in fact broken.  My doctor and I decided that I would continue to wait out contractions until 6:30.  About four a few irregular contractions appeared, but nothing consistent. Finally 6:00 PM arrived and it was time to go to the hospital.   I knew due to the risk of infection the doctors would not allow me to go more then 24 hours with my water broken,  and chose to take a mild pill designed to induce labor, but not be as sever as Petocin. Honestly  if I had know there were mild forms of induction I might have gone into the hospital earlier. 

An all night labor was not fun, and made for a very sleepy Momma after Zoe was born.  If I had to do it again I might have chosen another route simply so that I could of had more energy for when Zoe arrived. 

The funny part is that I did end up asking for an epidural.  Not because I was in pain, but because I was simply exhausted, and wasn't sure how much more I could endure. However,  after beginning preparations for the epidural they decided to check me and found out that I was fully dilated, and ready to begin pushing.  I was feeling the urge to push but was in denial about being ready.  I was one of the lucky few as my birth instructor said that actually got a break before pushing.  My pain was mild, and seemed to subsided, which made me believe that my contractions were dissipating.  I could only think, "oh no!"  "my contractions are going away,  I'm sure I'll have to have a c-section in the morning".  It was my mother who pointed out to the nurses that she thought I was ready.  I'm glad she was there!    

Labor was a long ordeal, but in the end I was glad I made it through naturally.  I might have been exhausted, but Zoe was spry, rolling back and forth already on the examining table. Many people attribute this to the lack of medication during delivery.

I now have a beautiful baby girl.  Born October 2, 2012.  6 lbs 4 oz 19.5 inches long. 

Pre/Post Drop

As I approach the due date, Zoe's head has in fact dropped lower into my pelvis. It's very interesting how much different this feels then it did before.  Let's just say, I'm glad the whole pregnancy isn't like this.

Here are a few major comfort differences between the baby being higher vs lower....

Prior to dropping I found that belly and by breast interfered with each others space.  Often times I would want to sit holding by boobs just so that my ribs weren't jabbing into them.  This sounds a lot worse then it was.  It was more just a random discomfort that affected me on occasion.  I also found that breathing was a lot harder.  When Zoe was higher going up stairs, felt like the most exhausting things I had ever done in my life.  I would get to the top of the stairs, and find my self breathing has hard as I possibly could. When a baby   is pressing against your lungs it not only makes it hard for you to catch a breath, but hard to breath as well.  Try to talk to a room full of students was extremely difficult during this time.

Now that Zoe has dropped breathing is much easier, and talking to my class is as well.  However, other discomforts have come with her new positioning. Imagine a little person pushing on your pelvis from the inside. As my pelvis is being forced to spread sleeping has become difficult.  My husband will tell you I am not a still sleeper.  I've always like to roll back and forth between my sides that I sleep on. But just rolling over in bed has become excruciatingly painful at times. I've heard it described as having a bowling ball between your legs.  I would probably describe it more like a cantaloupe, but that just because Zoe is smaller.  Regardless I feel it is better described as my legs fells like they are being pushed/pulled out of their sockets, and certain movements do not feel good.

I also find myself continually questioning if I am having contractions or not. A week ago Friday I swore I was.  After getting upset at one of my classes at school I found that I had this very sharp pain in me belly.  Something....new....I had not felt a pain like that before. The only reason I suspected that it wasn't a contraction was because it lasted for a while.  However during this cramp I was getting hot flashes and very uncomfortable. After, settling down with a water at friends house the cramp went away.  However on my way home for there I felt another one, however minor in comparison to the first.   That evening I sat relaxing, and very aware of what my body was doing.  Maybe a little to aware, and maybe reading into signs that were nothing. Regardless, my husband and I decided to take a stroll just in case it was early labor.  After the stroll lets just say it was not labor, and the kind of thing that a bathroom break helped fix. Since that night I have been feeling these random cramps (nothing rhythmic, repetitive, or even sever) but enough to raise an eyebrow in question at time.  At my last doctors visit I asked my doctor if  contractions start off mild.  She proceeded to explain that it is possible that my body is practicing contractions.  Today I feel as though I've been feeling these mild cramps on an hourly basis.  Yet, I don't feel like their anything to phone the hospital about or even get my husband excited about.  I don't believe they are true contractions because everything I read and hear tells me I WILL KNOW when I'm having contractions.  Part of me still wonders, Am I really going to know?  Or am I reading to much into my body signs that I'm making nothing into something just because I'm excited about meeting Zoe.

Here we are 3 days away from my due date.  This day that has been burned into my head for the last 9 months.  Is it possible to think of anything other then meeting my daughter?  Am I thinking about it to much, to the point where I'm causing her to take longer?  I just know the closer I get to the due date, and if I pass the due date there is a higher potential from them to induce her, and I don't want that to happen.

Adventures in Fertility

So it's been awhile since I've posted anything.  I've let my sister do most of the posting with her happy news and updates.  I'm just trying to work on being Zen - buddhism says that "wanting" is a negative emotion, so I'm trying not to "want" a baby.  Everyone has lots of advice and I'm just trying to take the advice and not worry about it too much.

We did go through a workup with the fertility doctor.  That consisted of me having blood drawn on two separate occasions, Evan having to provide a "sample" and me having a test called an SIS where they insert a catheter into the cervix and shoot saline into the uterus while performing an ultrasound to check for any blockages in the tubes or visible cysts.  All of our tests came back "normal".  The diagnosis is unexplained infertility with possible Endometriosis.  The possible Endometriosis is based on family history (turns out that my Mom had it and never knew until long after she had the three of us) and possible symptoms (I do get cramps each month, but how am I to say if they're more severe than what other people get.  I don't have any problems functioning when I have them and I know I have friends who are in bed with pain from theirs.).  The problem with Endometriosis is that your symptoms or lack thereof have nothing to do with how severe the Endometriosis is, and the only way they can truly diagnose it is to do a surgery to see if there are, in fact, areas of uterine lining growing outside of the uterus.  Evan & I haven't yet decided if I'll go through with the surgery - for one thing it would mean having to go on the pill for three months before surgery, and for another thing, it's surgery.  The other option the doctor would have us do next if we don't go for the surgery is fertility drugs and insemination.  It seems a little extreme to me to jump straight to insemination - I guess they feel it increases the odds more, but I did send them an email to see if we can try the drugs and trying naturally first.  We'll see what they say.

Beyond that, I don't know.  We'll need to decide if we can come up with the money for adoption (seems like a surer bet then spending a bunch of money for IVF or something that isn't guaranteed) or if we're just going to be a really great Auntie & Uncle to our currently two nephews and our niece that is on the way any day.

37 weeks and 4 Days

As I approach the end of my pregnancy there are many signs telling me that Zoe will be here soon.

One of those signs is posted to front of the refrigerator.   We have decided to start a pool predicting the day Zoe will be born.  However, this pool does not benefit the winner, instead the winner has to double the pot and give it to Zoe as her first birthday present. So far my prediction is the earliest (maybe this is just wishful thinking).  I chose the 27th of September for a few reasons.  One, I wanted to choose the 29th but Zach beat me to it.  Two, it is the day after the full moon, and a week before my due date (October 4th).  I'm not sure if this is a wives tale or if this is true, but I've heard that statistically more babies are born on full moons.  Thirdly, I chose this day because it is a Thursday.

Why Thursday, you might ask?

Well, my mom has said she needs to double check the accuracy of this, but she is fairly positive that everyone of her children were born on Thursday.  So I just figured it maybe possible that grandchildren will follow in the cycle. 

So far, Zach, my mother, and I all believe I will be having this baby early.  My mother choose Sept. 30th.  My Dad, however still hopeful that the baby will be born on his birthday has chosen Oct. 5th.  However, I believe that if I last through the end of September then she will be born on Oct. 6th. Unlike my due date, the 6th does not fit the Thursday rule.  But when I first announced my pregnancy at work this date was mentioned oddly multiple times.   Various people would ask, "whens your due date again, the 6th of October?" It began to become somewhat ominous with the number of  people that mentioned the 6th back in February.   It is also fairly common that first babies are late.  Regardless, I believe everyone comes on their own time, Zoe will make her world debut when she is ready. 

I may be ready way before she is! I have been one of those crazy pregnant women, who overall has loved pregnancy.  I always feel guilty when I say it has been easy.  Nine (actually 10) months has flown by in no time. Despite a large portion of the pregnancy being easy these last few weeks have had their challenges.  Sleeping being the toughest challenge of them all.  During the school year, I typically find sleeping difficult, mostly because I'm a worrier.  I stress over my students constantly.  Reenacting scenarios in my mind, wondering how I can better help a student or a class. I can only imaging how I'm going to be as a mom if my worrying gets this bad for kids who aren't even mine. On top of worrying (which I'm sure the stress will most likely lead to Zoe being late, not early) my comfort and sleeping has gone out the window.  I have at least one morning every week that I am awake before 4 A.M. and usually end up just getting up.  Yet, by the time Friday rolls around I am ready to sleep, and come home and sleep my Friday away.   

Teaching has also gotten really difficult, and leads to many overall aches and pains for me.  As an art teacher, my classes are active, which means I have to be active.  I don't get to just sit and let them do book work.  Standing on my feet all day, I experience several Braxton hicks. Today, on the drive home my muscles in my belly and back were so sore I began to wonder how I'm even going to tell what a true contraction is.   Not to mention, now that Zoe's head is so low my pelvis feels like it is splitting in half at times.  As I walk down the halls at school I feel as though I am limping because of a pulled groin muscle in my right leg. I wonder if I look as noticeable as a I feel?  My Dad, and Mom were discussing last weekend how I truly do have the pregnant waddle.   I still like to pretend I don't at time.

So when is your prediction?  Leave a response....Let me know...

Nursery 95% done

The boxes on the wall still need to be painted.  I plan to paint the inside of the boxes orange so that the shells  will sand out, and the outside wide to match the other shelves. 

The yellow curtains and quilt were made by my mom.  I love  the yellow glow that the curtains give the room as the sunlight shines through. 

About the only changes still to come are a few last minute organization things in the closets and dresser, and the addition of a changing table. 

Baby Zoe we are ready for you to come home. 

Just Around the Corner

It is hard to believe that 9 months has flown by so fast. In four weeks or less we will get to meet my precious little Zoe.

I have to admit I'm a little conflicted about this.  I am so excited about meeting Zoe, however there is a huge part of me that is very nervous. I'm nervous about labor, and maybe more curious.  Zach and I attended a child birth class called, Confident Child Birth, designed to prepare me for a natural birth; and I'm sure it has in many ways.  Never less I can't help but wonder are you ever truly prepare?  I've read and had many accounts described to me, however part of me still wonders if I'm going to recognize it when it begins to happen to me.

There are already many signs indicating that Zoe will make her debut to the world any week now.  As of last weeks doctors appointment I was informed that she has in fact dropped, her head is very low and I began dilation at half a centimeter. After my doctors appointment today the doctor still remarked on how low her head is, and informed me that I am another half a centimeter dilated, making me a total of 1 centimeter dilated.  Yes, I am aware that I could stay in this stage for weeks.

Regardless of my dilation the nurse decided it was best to go ahead and schedule another ultrasound for me next week because she felt as though my belly was measuring small.   However, she did later mention that she believes that could be due to the fact that her head is so low.  Needing another ultrasound is great news to me, its been so long since I've gotten to see her.  The last ultrasound was at 18 weeks when we found out the gender. I just can't wait to see her face, and get to know her personality. I've made many predictions, and want to see what comes into fruition.

Although, the idea of meeting her is very exciting it also brings on a whole other bundle of nerves. Am I ready to care for a baby?  Will I be a good mother? Am I going to be able to cater to all her needs?  I'm glad I'll be off work until January.  However, I'm already apprehensiveness about the idea of going back to work. In many ways teaching takes dedication as much as being a parent. Am I going to be able to juggle the load of motherhood and working?  I am planning to breast feed, and am very uncertain how this will interfere with my daily school schedule.  This is exactly where I need to follow my wonderful husbands advice. I need to stop worrying about things I have no control over at the moment. Things will happen as they are suppose to happen.

Maternity Photos

I had the joy of spending the day with my good friend, Diane and her son Drew.  We decided to go on an adventure and check out the local Roswell Mill and get some great maternity photos in the process.  However, the adventure was stop in its tracks  as the sky opened up.   Luckily there is a great covered bridge that created a great backdrop and shielded us from the rain.

If I haven't mentioned Diane before she is a good friend of mine who is currently pregnant with her second child, and is due just a few short weeks after me.  It has been great to have someone to share the joy of pregnancy with, and also blessing to have someone that has already been through it to ask random questions as they arise.

Check out our Photos:

  

Christi, they aren't bikini photos, however you can tell Evan I took them just for him.

 

Lets just say, if we were in a bubble blowing contest I would win. ; )

Diane and Drew:

The photo on the motorcycle was too cute not to share.  My husband loves 

introducing little kids to his motorcycle.