Kolton Is Here!: April 2005

From the Dad's perspective

This is my sequence of events in Kolton's birth. Maybe someday soon Heather will write her perspective and see if we saw anything differently!
Tuesday, April 5th, 2005:
4:35am Heather woke me up and let me know she started getting some "real" contractions Monday night/Tuesday morning. We were pretty excited that they came so regularly, and I decided to work from home in case things pick up (I was going to take the bus to work - about a 45 minute trip each way!) The contractions didn't hurt at all - they were just there. Sometimes Heather didn't know she was having one until she felt her tummy.
5:50am Heather and I were surprised to find out she lost her mucous plug - that didn't happen untill much later last time.
8:00am We all went together to Aurora's 18-month appointment. (As a side note - Aurora was such a brave little girl! She got two shots - one in each leg - and she just grimaced and then was okay after the needle was out!). Heather continued to have contractions, but about 10 min. apart, lasting 1 minute.
7:30pm We tried some natural induction methods, which didn't seem to do anything. We went to sleep, figuring Heather was still in early first-stage labor, and it could be another two or even three days before the baby comes, but we hope it's April 6th!
Wednesday, April 6th, 2005:
2:15am Heather woke me up to let me know the contractions have really picked up, since about 1:30am and she couldn't sleep anymore. I say "let's test it." So we time a few contractions - 4 minutes apart lasting 1 min.
2:26am She then got up and walked to the restroom, and as soon as she laid down again, we timed for almost twenty minutes. She had them all about 4 minutes apart for 45 to 90 seconds each. Heather were talking about how it's so different that with Aurora's birth, and I'm thinking maybe this is still just early first-stage labor, and that we should all try to get some sleep. Heather tries to let me sleep, but I get the feeling she should eat something, in case she does go into hard labor and doesn't feel like eating.
3:00am I'm in the kitchen making ham, egg, cheese, and roasted pepper sandwiches and oatmeal for Heather and I. We both eat and get ready to try to get some sleep.
3:20am We finish breakfast and Heather starts getting very uncomfortable - all of a sudden she gets 10 to 15 full minutes of contractions - boom-boom-boom! We joke that the trick was something in the breakfast - maybe the roasted peppers!
3:40am I called Shayna - poor thing! She said 'no problem' and said she'd get dressed and come over.
3:40 to 4:00am contractions are now two to three minutes apart, lasting over 1 min. We try to reach Barbara Pepper(the home birth midwife) - first her pager, then her cell phone. Heather is finding these contractions painful, but she is working really hard to relax through them. She is also very shaky - but says she isn't cold, she's just trembling all over.
4:10am Got ahold of Barb on her house phone - she just happened to be awake, and asked "Do you want me to head on over?" I blinked and hesitated - looking at heather barely able to get into the warm bath I've gotten ready for her. "Umm. . . . I think so. . . . it seems to be going faster this time than with Aurora", came my reply. She said 'ok' and that she'd dress and call her daughter and come over. Heather feels the contractions ease up while she's in the water - it gives her tired body the break she needs to keep pressing on.
4:15am Shayna shows up and sets up blankets on the couch - Rori hasn't made a peep since going to bed around 9:30pm. Heather goes back to the bed and almost instantly the contractions are stronger and definitely two minutes apart.
4:45am Barb shows up with her daughter, Aimei (sp?). And start setting up - Heather is relaxing through the contractions, but sometimes tenses her forhead, neck or feet - I gently remind her to "relax completely and let her uterus do all the work" - she does so, and makes it through the contraction. She also tries "sounding it out" - which she feels helps. She can feel the baby actually traveling lower with each contraction.
5:00am Heather mentioned she's starting to get the urge to push - or go to the bathroom, she can't tell.
5:00 to 5:38am Barb does an exam, and there's only a little lip left of the cervix - Heather moves to "hands and knees" position with some difficulty, but stays there for three or four contractions, and Barb checks again and lip is gone.
5:38am Begins to push gently.
5:38 to 6:00am Heather is pushing, but is very tired. Barb can feel the water bulging, and reccomends moving Heather to the toilet - this allows the water to break and let Heather's pushing focus on the baby, not all the water.
6:00 to 6:52am Heather is pushing with all her energy - she later notes that she is much more tired this deliver than she was with Aurora, even though she got more sleep. We think it may be that she wasn't in as good athletic shape as previously, or that her body used up a lot of energy getting ready for delivery so quickly.
6:52am Heather switched from the side laying position to the sitting up position around 6:48am and is able to get the head out at 6:52am. Barb feels to make sure there's no cord around his neck - which there isn't, but it is very tight. Heather pushes and is not able to get the baby out. The cause was shoulder dystocia. Barbara had Heather turn onto hands and knees again to get the baby out quickly.
6:54am Heather pushes with all of her might and gets the baby out! She didn't tear at all, but the placenta was pulled away by Kolton's body on the way out - so she had heavier-than-normal bleeding.
7:24am The placenta was delivered and everything looks normal.
7:28am Kolton latches and starts nursing very well!
7:30am I gave Heather a blessing to help with the bleeding.

Vital Statistics:
Born 6:54am on April 6th, 2005 (just after the 6:46am sunrise)
8lbs 5oz.
21.5 inches long
Kolton (middle name to be determined) Mandeville

This was such a wonderful experience! We were so happy with Barb and the home birth in general!