Aravis Nicole
It is hard to tell Aravis’s birth story without first briefly mentioning her older brother’s story.
In December 2008 after an uneventful pregnancy Rex was discovered breech two days before his “due date.” The next day after a failed version attempt he was born via cesarean section which meant that any children I would have afterwards would either be born by elective repeat c-section or VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). If I had my choice I wanted a VBAC.
In November 2011 I found myself pregnant again due in the middle of July 2012 and with a different provider. My pregnancy was again fairly uneventful but this time I paid very close attention to the location of my baby’s head. Was it up or down? The closer to my due date I got my doctor even seemed to pay more attention to where the head was at each appointment (maybe for my benefit?). At my 36 week appointment, after a cervix check (0 cm, 0% effaced) Dr. Hintz did a quick ultrasound to confirm that yes baby was head down! I was one relieved mama!
The next week (June 26) at my 37 week appointment I didn’t even have a cervix check. It was fine with me as I had been preparing myself to be pregnant for at least 5 more weeks. JR and I had joked that I wouldn’t make it to my due date and I had jokingly suggested to my friends and coworkers that I would go into labor on July 3 with the full moon. I didn’t believe that I actually would. That night at midnight I lost my mucus plug and starting having irregular contractions. This lasted through the night, I ate, drank, slept, walked, took a shower and they still continued. They continued for 18 or 19 hours and I even called my parents to come up from Oklahoma to help watch my son if things got more consistent. I went to work (I work at the hospital) and JR called into work. Then the contractions stopped. I felt a little foolish and was reminded by my friends that this type of prodromal labor could last for weeks. My parents decided to stay in town until the 4th of July to help and just in case I did go into labor soon.
Over the course of the next few days I did have a few bouts of irregular contractions but no true labor. I kept reminding myself that my body was preparing for true labor and all the work now would make things easier later. On July 2 (Monday and JR’s and my anniversary) I had bloody show and spotting in conjunction with irregular contractions. These contractions were a little more intense than the ones earlier but still not too bad. They continued all day but didn’t ever get regular. I went to work as usual and worked my usual shift. JR and I decided that he should call in just in case. Walking out I mentioned to one of my coworkers that I really felt like I could be done with work and just wanted to know when I would actually be done (with working). Yes, I still was telling myself I had up to 4 more weeks but sooner would be just fine with me. I went home, had a long talk with my mother after which I went to bed at about 11:30 pm.
July 3, 2012
I woke up needing to pee at about 2:00 am. I went to the bathroom and came back to bed, then would need to get up about 5-6 minutes later. This continued for about 45 minutes or so until I realized that I was actually having contractions that were regular, I could actually time these! I decided to lie down on my side and time a few contractions while trying not to wake JR. The contractions were lasting a minute at a time and were coming 8 minutes apart, 6 minutes apart, 3 minutes apart. I was in labor! I texted my doula, Bethany and woke JR up letting them know what was happening. I had planned on taking cake pops in with me to the hospital but since I had planned to make them in the coming weekend I set JR to making cupcakes while I took a warm shower. It was about 3:45 am.
At about 5:00 am Bethany arrived and JR (we had run out of muffin tin liners) came back from the store. My contractions were a little less than 5 minutes apart which was making my mom, who had woken up when I was in the shower, nervous that we weren’t going to get to the hospital in time. After finishing the cupcakes it was getting light outside and Bethany suggested we try going for a walk around the block. We walked around the block stopping every few minutes for contractions. With each contraction I leaned against JR for support and as the walk continued contractions became closer together and more intense. Approaching home we decided to start thinking about going to the hospital.
At 7:30 am we arrived at the hospital and were admitted into triage for observation and a check to see if I was truly in labor. I was 4 cm, 80% effaced and baby was at -2 position. Contractions had slowed from 2-3 minutes while we were walking to 5-6 minutes while sitting and being monitored. Yes, I was in labor and was going to be admitted and have my water broken. I was a little worried at having my water broken right away and decided to ask Dr. Hintz if it was too early.
We got into our room, filled out more admission paperwork and sat on the monitors while waiting for my doctor. As I was sitting contractions continued to be inconsistent in strength and only about 5 minutes apart. At 8:50 am Dr. Hintz arrived to check me (4 cm, 90%, -2) and break my water. I voiced my concern that it might be too early to break my water and he explained my options (labor at home and come back, don’t break my water but stay at the hospital or break my water and stay) and after weighing the pros and cons I decided to have my water broken. He broke my water and then said he would be back to check on me in a few hours.
After my water was broken JR, Bethany and I started walking the halls as we had earlier in the morning and contractions returned to 2-3 minutes apart lasting 1 minute at a time. However, while the contractions were getting stronger and more intense I never felt that they were painful or more than I could handle. As each contraction began I would lean against JR and let the contraction wash over me as I entered my own little world and stayed in that moment. We continued to walk the halls taking breaks every now and then for monitoring. It was interesting that each time I sat down for monitoring my labor would slow down, at one point contractions were 10 minutes apart! I can only imagine if I had chosen to have an epidural and could only sit. It actually took until a little after noon to find a position that worked for my labor in the room and being monitored. I would get on my hands and knees on the bed and JR would rub my upper back while Bethany put a warm cherry pit pack on my lower back. I was having a little bit of back labor, but really more than anything I just appreciated the warmth.
At 12:50 Dr. Hintz came back to see how my labor was progressing. I was 5 cm, 100% effaced and baby was at zero station. So, while I was disappointed that I hadn’t dialated much my labor was progressing. With that Dr. Hintz left saying he would come check in on me in a couple of hours. At the same time Tracey arrived to take over for Bethany and we went back to walking the halls. Our nurse, Marcia, suggested that I try laboring in the tub for a little bit as it might help me get a couple of centimeters. I thought it sounded good, I really enjoy being in the water and had looked forward to laboring there but hadn’t given it much thought since my contractions were pretty easy to tolerate, though pretty intense.
At 1:30 pm I got in the tub. Marcia gave me a few pointers to laboring in the tub, lean back and use your feet to create counter pressure during a contraction. Throughout my labor I had not been comfortable sitting or on my back so I was really hesitant to try laboring that way, however, I’ll try anything (within reason) at least once. In the tub contractions intensified quickly without much of a break between them. The water felt good between contractions and while they were much more difficult to tolerate I did sense that being in the tub was helping my labor and kept telling myself (and JR and Tracey) one more contraction and then I would get out. At this point I became nauseous and started throwing up.
At 2:00 pm Marcia came back in to see how we were doing and to let us know that her shift ended at 3:00 pm. She told us that she would be back in a little bit to check on us. At about 2:10 pm I finally decided to get out of the tub and with the help of Tracey and JR made it back to the bed where I would either stand at the foot of the bed leaning against JR or on my hands and knees on the bed.
Contractions were much more intense and instead of the low moaning that had been the hallmark of my labor thus far I began whimpering. Up until this point labor had been pretty easy but now I was exhausted and beginning to wonder what on earth had possessed me to try and labor naturally or even try labor. After all I was in the rare position to have a choice; I could have easily chosen another c-section. Of course I also reminded myself that I knew first hand that a c-section is not easier and that the side effects I have from medications are usually worse than this. Plus this seems a lot like self doubt, I’ll bet this is transition and my baby should be born soon. Really though, what I wanted to do was rest between contractions which seemed to come right on top of each other. I tried laying on my side for one contraction but it was so intense that I immediately flipped over onto my hands and knees. Yes, moving during a contraction hurts, but at that point laying on my side hurt worse.
Right after I had flipped over onto my hands and knees Marcia came back in (it was about 2:15 or 2:20) and immediately sensed the shift in my labor. She offered to check me. I felt that I was in transition and was starting to want to push so I decided that it would be a good idea for her to check my cervix. I’m not sure anyone really expected the results 100 % effaced, baby was at +2 station and my cervix was a very squishy/soft 9+ cm. “You could easily push past that” she said and went to call Dr. Hintz to come down.
With each contraction the urge to push got stronger, almost uncontrollable, each contraction I had to be reminded to blow through each one. At 2:38 Dr. Hintz was there and ready, I could begin pushing. It was such a relief to push! It took 2 pushes to figure out how I needed to push but then 6 pushes later Aravis Nicole was born at 2:48 pm. She was tiny at 6 lbs 3.3 oz and 19 inches long. I got to hold her right away, something I had to wait nearly two hours to do with my son. I was so engrossed with exploring all her features from her tiny fingers to her tiny toes that I don’t even remember giving birth to the placenta. Later, with the help of our nurse Betsy, Rex and I gave Aravis her first bath.
Natural childbirth was an amazing experience! I feel blessed to have had such a supportive birth team so that I was able to focus on and participate in the natural process of birth. It was a long and hard journey (over three years!) to achieve the birth I had dreamed of having with my son with my daughter but well worth every minute. There are countless people who have helped along the way with support or education for both me and JR. I will say one thing, I chose this birth and it was worth it!
In December 2008 after an uneventful pregnancy Rex was discovered breech two days before his “due date.” The next day after a failed version attempt he was born via cesarean section which meant that any children I would have afterwards would either be born by elective repeat c-section or VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). If I had my choice I wanted a VBAC.
In November 2011 I found myself pregnant again due in the middle of July 2012 and with a different provider. My pregnancy was again fairly uneventful but this time I paid very close attention to the location of my baby’s head. Was it up or down? The closer to my due date I got my doctor even seemed to pay more attention to where the head was at each appointment (maybe for my benefit?). At my 36 week appointment, after a cervix check (0 cm, 0% effaced) Dr. Hintz did a quick ultrasound to confirm that yes baby was head down! I was one relieved mama!
The next week (June 26) at my 37 week appointment I didn’t even have a cervix check. It was fine with me as I had been preparing myself to be pregnant for at least 5 more weeks. JR and I had joked that I wouldn’t make it to my due date and I had jokingly suggested to my friends and coworkers that I would go into labor on July 3 with the full moon. I didn’t believe that I actually would. That night at midnight I lost my mucus plug and starting having irregular contractions. This lasted through the night, I ate, drank, slept, walked, took a shower and they still continued. They continued for 18 or 19 hours and I even called my parents to come up from Oklahoma to help watch my son if things got more consistent. I went to work (I work at the hospital) and JR called into work. Then the contractions stopped. I felt a little foolish and was reminded by my friends that this type of prodromal labor could last for weeks. My parents decided to stay in town until the 4th of July to help and just in case I did go into labor soon.
Over the course of the next few days I did have a few bouts of irregular contractions but no true labor. I kept reminding myself that my body was preparing for true labor and all the work now would make things easier later. On July 2 (Monday and JR’s and my anniversary) I had bloody show and spotting in conjunction with irregular contractions. These contractions were a little more intense than the ones earlier but still not too bad. They continued all day but didn’t ever get regular. I went to work as usual and worked my usual shift. JR and I decided that he should call in just in case. Walking out I mentioned to one of my coworkers that I really felt like I could be done with work and just wanted to know when I would actually be done (with working). Yes, I still was telling myself I had up to 4 more weeks but sooner would be just fine with me. I went home, had a long talk with my mother after which I went to bed at about 11:30 pm.
July 3, 2012
I woke up needing to pee at about 2:00 am. I went to the bathroom and came back to bed, then would need to get up about 5-6 minutes later. This continued for about 45 minutes or so until I realized that I was actually having contractions that were regular, I could actually time these! I decided to lie down on my side and time a few contractions while trying not to wake JR. The contractions were lasting a minute at a time and were coming 8 minutes apart, 6 minutes apart, 3 minutes apart. I was in labor! I texted my doula, Bethany and woke JR up letting them know what was happening. I had planned on taking cake pops in with me to the hospital but since I had planned to make them in the coming weekend I set JR to making cupcakes while I took a warm shower. It was about 3:45 am.
At about 5:00 am Bethany arrived and JR (we had run out of muffin tin liners) came back from the store. My contractions were a little less than 5 minutes apart which was making my mom, who had woken up when I was in the shower, nervous that we weren’t going to get to the hospital in time. After finishing the cupcakes it was getting light outside and Bethany suggested we try going for a walk around the block. We walked around the block stopping every few minutes for contractions. With each contraction I leaned against JR for support and as the walk continued contractions became closer together and more intense. Approaching home we decided to start thinking about going to the hospital.
At 7:30 am we arrived at the hospital and were admitted into triage for observation and a check to see if I was truly in labor. I was 4 cm, 80% effaced and baby was at -2 position. Contractions had slowed from 2-3 minutes while we were walking to 5-6 minutes while sitting and being monitored. Yes, I was in labor and was going to be admitted and have my water broken. I was a little worried at having my water broken right away and decided to ask Dr. Hintz if it was too early.
We got into our room, filled out more admission paperwork and sat on the monitors while waiting for my doctor. As I was sitting contractions continued to be inconsistent in strength and only about 5 minutes apart. At 8:50 am Dr. Hintz arrived to check me (4 cm, 90%, -2) and break my water. I voiced my concern that it might be too early to break my water and he explained my options (labor at home and come back, don’t break my water but stay at the hospital or break my water and stay) and after weighing the pros and cons I decided to have my water broken. He broke my water and then said he would be back to check on me in a few hours.
After my water was broken JR, Bethany and I started walking the halls as we had earlier in the morning and contractions returned to 2-3 minutes apart lasting 1 minute at a time. However, while the contractions were getting stronger and more intense I never felt that they were painful or more than I could handle. As each contraction began I would lean against JR and let the contraction wash over me as I entered my own little world and stayed in that moment. We continued to walk the halls taking breaks every now and then for monitoring. It was interesting that each time I sat down for monitoring my labor would slow down, at one point contractions were 10 minutes apart! I can only imagine if I had chosen to have an epidural and could only sit. It actually took until a little after noon to find a position that worked for my labor in the room and being monitored. I would get on my hands and knees on the bed and JR would rub my upper back while Bethany put a warm cherry pit pack on my lower back. I was having a little bit of back labor, but really more than anything I just appreciated the warmth.
At 12:50 Dr. Hintz came back to see how my labor was progressing. I was 5 cm, 100% effaced and baby was at zero station. So, while I was disappointed that I hadn’t dialated much my labor was progressing. With that Dr. Hintz left saying he would come check in on me in a couple of hours. At the same time Tracey arrived to take over for Bethany and we went back to walking the halls. Our nurse, Marcia, suggested that I try laboring in the tub for a little bit as it might help me get a couple of centimeters. I thought it sounded good, I really enjoy being in the water and had looked forward to laboring there but hadn’t given it much thought since my contractions were pretty easy to tolerate, though pretty intense.
At 1:30 pm I got in the tub. Marcia gave me a few pointers to laboring in the tub, lean back and use your feet to create counter pressure during a contraction. Throughout my labor I had not been comfortable sitting or on my back so I was really hesitant to try laboring that way, however, I’ll try anything (within reason) at least once. In the tub contractions intensified quickly without much of a break between them. The water felt good between contractions and while they were much more difficult to tolerate I did sense that being in the tub was helping my labor and kept telling myself (and JR and Tracey) one more contraction and then I would get out. At this point I became nauseous and started throwing up.
At 2:00 pm Marcia came back in to see how we were doing and to let us know that her shift ended at 3:00 pm. She told us that she would be back in a little bit to check on us. At about 2:10 pm I finally decided to get out of the tub and with the help of Tracey and JR made it back to the bed where I would either stand at the foot of the bed leaning against JR or on my hands and knees on the bed.
Contractions were much more intense and instead of the low moaning that had been the hallmark of my labor thus far I began whimpering. Up until this point labor had been pretty easy but now I was exhausted and beginning to wonder what on earth had possessed me to try and labor naturally or even try labor. After all I was in the rare position to have a choice; I could have easily chosen another c-section. Of course I also reminded myself that I knew first hand that a c-section is not easier and that the side effects I have from medications are usually worse than this. Plus this seems a lot like self doubt, I’ll bet this is transition and my baby should be born soon. Really though, what I wanted to do was rest between contractions which seemed to come right on top of each other. I tried laying on my side for one contraction but it was so intense that I immediately flipped over onto my hands and knees. Yes, moving during a contraction hurts, but at that point laying on my side hurt worse.
Right after I had flipped over onto my hands and knees Marcia came back in (it was about 2:15 or 2:20) and immediately sensed the shift in my labor. She offered to check me. I felt that I was in transition and was starting to want to push so I decided that it would be a good idea for her to check my cervix. I’m not sure anyone really expected the results 100 % effaced, baby was at +2 station and my cervix was a very squishy/soft 9+ cm. “You could easily push past that” she said and went to call Dr. Hintz to come down.
With each contraction the urge to push got stronger, almost uncontrollable, each contraction I had to be reminded to blow through each one. At 2:38 Dr. Hintz was there and ready, I could begin pushing. It was such a relief to push! It took 2 pushes to figure out how I needed to push but then 6 pushes later Aravis Nicole was born at 2:48 pm. She was tiny at 6 lbs 3.3 oz and 19 inches long. I got to hold her right away, something I had to wait nearly two hours to do with my son. I was so engrossed with exploring all her features from her tiny fingers to her tiny toes that I don’t even remember giving birth to the placenta. Later, with the help of our nurse Betsy, Rex and I gave Aravis her first bath.
Natural childbirth was an amazing experience! I feel blessed to have had such a supportive birth team so that I was able to focus on and participate in the natural process of birth. It was a long and hard journey (over three years!) to achieve the birth I had dreamed of having with my son with my daughter but well worth every minute. There are countless people who have helped along the way with support or education for both me and JR. I will say one thing, I chose this birth and it was worth it!
