If you read on the blog here about Sampson's labor and delivery, my desire to have a natural labor and delivery with Maverick was no different. I wanted to go into labor naturally and at home and have little intervention.
But in the last couple of days of my pregnancy, when I had my high BP readings and I knew the inevitable was near...that I would have to be induced again...I couldn't help but be disappointed in myself. That, again, I couldn't stay healthy enough to go into labor on my own, despite all of my healthy lifestyle hardwork. I felt that I had failed myself and my desire to experience the labor and delivery that I wanted with Sampson and now Maverick that would not come. And as I cried to my momma bestie girlfriends in our Glide app video chat... I was reminded by them in this simple fact. YOU DON'T GET AN AWARD. I do not get an award for how this whole experience goes down. 1. it doesn't matter how my baby gets here, but that it gets here and we are both happy and healthy. 2. God already knew how this experience was going to go down from the moment I was me in my mother's womb. From the moment I was created, God knew how my life, pregnancies, labors, deliveries, motherhood, LIFE would be. And I had to accept that His plan was not my plan. So I knew in that moment that my friends talked me off of the cliff I was overlooking that it would be perfectly OK. I was not going to win an award for doing this exactly how I had planned and wanted to do it. And yet, it would be just fine anyway. I was also reminded by my doula, Rebecca, that even though this wasn't how I wanted/planned it for this time around.... that I couldn't forget my first time. And that I rocked the induction with Sam and labored and delivered without pain medication just like I wanted the first time. This time would be no different. So at 1:45pm on September 29, 2017 : the induction started with pitocin. I was already dilated to 2cm at my appointment the day before, so the Cervadil to soften and start the dilation process like I had last time was not needed. I sat in the hospital bed and waited as my contractions started, and I was having about 3 per every episode of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives 😂. Then it progressed to about 4-5....and by about 4:45pm Rebecca arrived to 2-3 minute apart contractions. The doctor checked my dilation shortly after and I was... a 3.... 3?! That's it?! I was exhausted already, and unable to fully move around to manage the contractions. Every time I moved around too much they lost Maverick on the external monitor. Not to mention the dang blood pressure cuff would go off, be unable to read correctly and/or read too high, and I had to sit through my contractions to get my BP back in their safe zone. With each contraction I rode the wave as best I could. Again, we were blessed with amazing nurses and doctors on staff. And Libby had 4 kiddos of her own and she had some if not all (can't remember exactly) naturally as well. So she understood my desires and reassured me in my contractions. I focused on her eyes and she rode the wave with me and helped me breath low, deep, and slow. I rocked back and forth and semi danced as each one took me and she reminded me that each one was one more closer. Rebecca prayed with me and she and Dominic rubbed and put counterpressure on my hips and back. It takes a village to raise kids, but also to get one here. And I was blessed and thankful for my village. When I was able to focus and intentionally ride the wave, I was calm and breathing through each one. I don't even think I barely made any noise. And some drowned me, took me in the current and under the water when I wasn't ready. These waves were extra tough and took my breath away. So I highly recommend having your village know the signs of when you are about to lose the focus to help reel you back in. It's worth it. At this point I was sure that I would have to get an epidural to be able to manage the contractions and stay safe in the BP that I needed to be in. Paired with my exhaustion, the contractions I felt were rolling from one right into another without much break in between. I remember looking at Rebecca and crying that it was too much. I was too exhausted and I couldn't do much more if I hadn't progressed much. So at 6pm the doctor rechecked me.... a 6. 6?! Wonderful! It meant full active labor, no turning back now. And that meant I could get into the Labor water tub to manage the contractions in wonderfully relaxing and belly floating warm water. I went to the bathroom and got into the heavenly warmth. If you have the desire to have a natural labor and have the opportunity to be in a warm labor tub...I highly recommend it. We had a one time use blow up tub with a liner. It was about... 4ft tall and about that wide I guess. It was very sturdy and the warmth was so amazing and my belly just more or less floated in between contractions. And once I got in the water the contractions changed, and I knew in the back of my mind that the time was near. But if you get out of the water to be checked for dilation, there's no getting back in. So I wanted to stay in the labor tub as long as possible. And I was at 6cm so I had a ways to go you would think, right? Wrong. Again, the contractions changed, and in a way that you cannot stop the automatic pushing that your body does at this stage of labor. I can only compare it to when you have the flu and you throw up and/or dry heave. I don't know about you, but my abs and muscles contract to dry heave to the point that I cannot stop myself from doing it. I just have to get through it until my body says I'm done. That's the only way I can compare it to this. You quite literally cannot stop yourself from pushing. I'm not afraid to say it, YES I pooped. No worries, the little fish net was perfect for retrieving it and disgarding it from the tub. You see, they call it a labor tub because it is supposed to be just that, to labor in ONLY. After a few contractions of this I realized that I was close to the end. I didn't want to get out and risk leaving the heavenly warmth to only be a 7 or 8. But I couldn't necessarily feel Mav in between contractions. I don't know if I was just that relaxed by the water and didn't know I was feeling it or if he went back in just enough that I didn't feel it. But in the last moments I thought to myself, I think he's coming... And sure enough I put my hand down to feel and his head was about 1/3 to 1/2 way out. SHIT, Rebecca he's RIGHT HERE, I can feel him! And Dominic rushed to the door, yelled BABY IS HERE, and ran back. In that time, I had one final push...and there he was! I simultaneously reached down into the water and pulled him up on my chest. He was here! and the labor tub became the birthing tub. And it only took 20 minutes. Yep. Maverick Gabrial Schmillen was born at 6:35pm on Friday, September 29, 2017. To Be Continued....The First Day
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