After almost 2 weeks past my due date, our little girl decided to join us. Meet Mayble Laverne Hansen born April 6th, 2013 at 11:50 pm delivered by her wonderful dad. She weighed 8# 12 oz and measured 21 1/4 inches long.
So last Wednesday I went to the midwife to get checked and try to get things going. I was already dilated at a 3 or 4 and she said my cervix was very ready with a very bulgy bag of waters. So she stripped my membranes gently and I went home with all hope that she would come that night. We got the crib out and cleaned the house. I was having light contractions about every half hour, but was disappointed when I went another night without her here. I continued to have contractions that were very mild and very spaced apart. I went 2 more nights and we were very bummed out. So I talked to the midwife and we made a plan for her to come Saturday and get things going.
I spent my Friday night at a Hansen gathering where we met Caleb's future inlaws. It was really nice to get out of the house and get my mind off reality. I have been a hermit the past 2 weeks and really haven't interacted with anyone. I had forgotten how nice it is to be with people!
The midwife came on Sat. at 2pm and I was dilated to a 4 or 5. She said she could even stretch my cervix to a 7! She went around my membranes quite a few times and they said they were surprised that I wasn't wincing with pain. She was being pretty rough but for some reason it wasn't hurting. I got in the shower for an hour to try and stimulate and then when I was tired of that they massaged the pressure points on my feet. I was having contractions in the shower about every 10 minutes and the foot massage was helping as well. Eventually I was having contractions every 5 minutes. I had woke up that morning with a really bad ache in the left side of my back. The same side that I had the sciatic nerve pain, so I was sure it was related and I was nervous about it bothering me. I couldn't lay down and could only sit in my rocking chair with a heating pad to make it feel better. But I was so ready to get this baby out and wanted to continue to try and get myself into labor. My back was pretty miserable the rest of the day. My contractions did get stronger but stayed at 5 minutes apart. Some were worse than others but for the most part it was very manageable. I eventually got in the shower and tub to help my back. It did help but it seemed that my contractions were slowing down. So I got out to make sure they were still strong and we did some more foot massage. My midwife suggested I do an enema or castor oil but I really didn't want to go that route yet. I got back in the shower for a while and let it run on my back and then I was starting to get tired. I got dressed and decided to try and lay down for a while to rest. Thankfully my back was feeling good enough to lay down and I eventually fell asleep (much to everyone's dismay). My contractions weakened and started to space out. The midwifes came to listen in on the baby and check on me about every half hour.
At about 10:30pm she did her checks and then gave me some choices. We could either do an enema or castor oil and get me started again, I could rest some more, or she could check me and go from there. I decided to get checked and we were extremely disappointed to find that I was still at a 4/5 but more thinned out. Later she told me that the baby had moved up as well. My contractions were not strong enough to make me progress that day. She suggested that I continue to rest and they would go home. I would call if anything changed and we would make a new plan in the morning.
I couldn't believe it! I was pretty depressed at this point and very tired. I felt like I was giving up for the night by choosing to rest but it sounded so appealing and I didn't want any more stimulation. I just wanted to be left alone and get some sleep. The midwives left at about 10:50pm. The baby was really moving around at this point and it was very uncomfortable on my cervix. I had some contractions here and there but for the most part I was able to sleep. I just wanted my body to take over for the night.
At 11:30pm I awoke to an extremely hard contraction and huge POP! My water had broke. So I immediately got up and waddled to the bathroom. It was a big gush at first and the hard contraction continued for another minute. Usually when my water breaks I go fast after that but I figured I had an hour. I was a little nervous so I called the midwife and woke up Aaron. My midwifes had just pulled into their driveway in Queen Creek so they had a 40 minute drive at least. My next 2 contractions came fast but they were very mild. All I could think was, great now I will be up all night with my water broke. So I went and sat in my rocking chair. My next contraction was like a bomb went off. I could hardly stand it and then I felt the pressure and I started to cry out in pain. The baby was coming.
So I grabbed my phone and told my midwife that I had lots of pressure and the baby was coming. We ran into the bathroom and started the bath water. She told me to hand the phone to Aaron and they were going to have to talk him through the delivery. I was in a lot of pain, I was panting heavily and was worried they wouldn't be here in time. I had jumped in the tub and there was no stopping this baby from coming. They told me to put my head on the ground and my bum in the air. I was in the tub so I couldn't do that exactly and Aaron kept checking for the head but was unsure. I assured him that the head was coming out and so he just kept telling me to push. I had pushed her head out to her chin and they told me to get out of the tub and lay on my back to deliver. So here I am with the baby's head coming out and Aaron it trying to help me out of the tub as fast as we can. I laid on the bathroom mat on the floor and gave one good push and she slipped right out into Aaron's arms. The midwifes were still 10 minutes away. The cord had been around her neck slightly and Aaron had unwrapped it. She was limp and we were told to try and stimulate her and talk to her. It took about a minute before we saw her try to take a breath, and then another and then she just started to cry. I was so relieved! We wrapped her up and just sat there taking in what had just happened. From the time my water broke until the time she was born was only 20 minutes. I could not believe it all just happened that fast and that Aaron had delivered her. It was an amazing experience and I love that we have been able to have homebirths.
We called Aaron's mom to come over to help us hold her and deal with things until the midwifes got there. They delivered the placenta and did all their checks. Aaron cut the cord and they took the baby into the bedroom. I was helped up and situated in the bedroom as well.It was over! After all of our waiting and wondering it was finally over! I was so relieved and so happy. She is of course precious and beautiful and perfect. She has lots of little Whetton and Hansen features with some really big hands and feet.
I had been praying that it would go fast and it definitely did, just not exactly how I had imagined it. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for watching over us, answering our prayers and allowing us to be at home to birth our baby.
I am so grateful to not be pregnant anymore too! This has been a long road with lots of bumps in it, but looking back I regret losing faith at some points. It is all worth it for sure and Heavenly Father is mindful of us and each of our challenges!
Thank you to everyone for your prayers, help with children and jobs, meals and love. We especially want to thank Hayley, Nana, Ompa, Paca and Grandma for all of your help! We appreciate your sacrifices for us!!! We are so glad she is finally here!
Weighing
Checking
My wonderful midwifes