Daniel's Birth Story

January 22, 2012 Sunday
We've been staying with Mom since Friday. I brought all my birthing supplies, but Daniel isn't budging. Mom keeps reminding me to enjoy this last stretch. I'm trying. We're all just so excited to meet our baby. (And I'm getting pretty uncomfortable.)
It's 10:30 am now. Dad is in Montana. Mom is at church, she teaches the 9 year olds. Ben took Nephi and Abish to attend Sacrament with the 11:00 ward. Then he's taking them hometeaching with him to the Love's. Jared is here with me, at Mom and Dad's house in Elk Ridge. Yesterday it rained, then turned to snow and left us in a winter wonderland. It's beautiful, and I have “no place to go” so I love it. Hot chocolate, BYU-TV, couldn't be any better than this, right? (Yes, I'd rather be in labor!)
Sigh.
January 26th, 2012 Thursday
We're back at home, and I want to record the miracle of Daniel's birth. Sunday night I felt some small “dilating” contractions during the evening. I sang songs around the piano with Nephi and Abish. We did a video chat with Caleb's family and the Whitney's. Hazel called to see how I was doing.
I went to bed around 10:30. At 11:30 I began having “real” contractions that told me the baby was coming! My game plan is to stay in bed as long as possible to rest between contractions and stay as relaxed as possible. I did get up after Ben came to bed at midnight, and walked around the kitchen and living room briefly, but didn't have any more contractions. I went back to bed and the contractions came one at a time, very strong, about every 30-45 minutes. That was unusual, but very welcome, since it was gentle, steady progress and I slept very well in between. At 7:00 am I got up and got a glass of water. Nephi woke up too to use the bathroom and I told him Daniel was going to be born that day! He was really excited and asked what he could do to help (isn't that thoughtful?). The contractions were coming pretty regular by then, so I leaned forward on his big bouncy ball (using it as a birthing ball) and he tried pushing on my back, but found that sitting on it worked best. We got through 5-6 contractions this way, with him running around excitedly in between, and lastly waking Papa up and telling him it was his turn. This didn't make me very happy because Ben and I had gone to sleep on poor terms and I was determined not to ask him for any help. (How foolish of me!) When he came in he said, “Honey, I don't feel very good, I have a cold.” I said, “Ah, that's too bad, you'd better go back to bed.” He asked, “why are you acting like that?” and I answered, “because you don't want to help me.” Well, this wasn't the best time to have a discussion, as I was advancing quickly into active labor, and it seemed we called a sort of silent truce, as he was determined to help me and I was quickly becoming more humble as the pain increased in intensity and frequency. He began filling the bathtub, and I wondered if it were too early, since I wanted a water birth, but didn't want to be too tired of being in the tub. Ahhh, it was the right move. Getting into the water was wonderful. Abish had woken up by then and decided to climb in with me. Ben called in to Bluehost and told them he wouldn't be coming in today. Ben was holding Jared, who kept getting the point across that he wanted to eat. Nephi had run outside to play in the new snow. I asked Ben to let Mom know I was in labor and give the care of Abish and Jared over to her. She was in the basement, on the phone with Dad, and was surprised to learn that there was all this action going on. She took over with the children from there and Ben stayed with me.
After perhaps 45 minutes in the bathtub, I felt like I needed a change. I stood up to use the toilet and had another contraction. It was then that I realized just how much the water helped to soften their intensity. I expressed to Ben, “wow, it's a lot easier in the water.” He therefore expected that I would go directly back to the tub, but I felt so tired that I wanted to lie down. Mom and Dad have a couch in their bedroom, and Nephi had been sleeping on it so there was a comforter and pillow for me to lay down on. I lay on my side and did my best to relax completely during contractions. Ben kneeled beside the couch and put my knees against his stomache and pulled on my back, to provide counter pressure relief. It worked well and was a big help. He also had his i-pod touch playing some beautiful music, the song I remember most was, This is the Christ. He was timing the contractions too, and while I fell into a deep sleep between each contraction and imagined they were 10-15 minutes apart, he said they were actually about 30 seconds apart, the longest rest was 2 minutes. After one particularly long, strong contraction, where Ben could judge by my breathing that I was struggling, he suggested that I get back into the tub. He drained some of the water and added more heat, then helped me in. Ahhh, again. The contractions were very strong by now, but the water helped so much that I wondered if I were really as close as I hoped and wanted to be. I had guessed it was about 8:30 am, but I was glad to see as I walked back toward the tub that the alarm on Dad's dresser said it was after 10:00.
Ben kept assuring me that I was “doing so well” and held a cup of cold water up for me to drink from frequently. I changed positions often in the water, alternating between squatting, and kneeling and leaning forward. Ben would reach into the water and push on my back. The handles on the bathtub helped me change and find helpful positions. My arms became quite tired from holding myself up, so Ben stacked a couple of towels on the edge of the bathtub and encouraged me to lean forward onto them. He continued to push on my back, massage my forehead, and speak words of comfort. I remember a feeling of peace that came as I heard the words from the music “. . . Ye shall obtain . . .”

An interesting sidenote to this labor was that Daniel would move before each contraction. Either he was the impetus, or he felt them coming on and didn't like it. I had noticed during the night, and Ben could actually see as I labored, that Daniel would give a big movement that preceeded each contraction. As I pleaded with Heavenly Father for help, Ben coaxed Daniel, “Come on, baby. Mommy's ready for you. It's time to come out. Everything's ready. Come on , Daniel.”
Then Ben asked if I'd like a blessing. I said yes, and he quickly placed his hands on my head and blessed me with strength to endure, and the assurance of my Heavenly Father's love as I participated in His great work of families and procreation. Ben closed the blessing but continued to pray vocally and fervently that this birth could be accomplished quickly and that mother and baby would be safe. I pushed with a strong contraction as he prayed and my water broke. I was relieved to see that it was nice and clear (no meconium). Two more contractions and I began pushing as the baby moved down the birth canal. I felt the “ring of fire” and was exhilerated to realize that we were almost there! No more trying to relax, now I could put my energy into birthing this baby. I roared as I pushed, wondering if I would tear in half, but knowing that I wouldn't. Ben reminded me to listen to my body and wait for the contractions. He was the perfect labor coach. As Daniel's head emerged, Ben reached down and felt his head and face. It was so exciting to see his little face under the water as his body whooshed out with the next big contraction. I lifted him up and Ben wrapped a receiving blanket around him. He wasn't in a hurry to take a breath, so I rubbed his back until he gave a lusty cry. Satisfied, I lowered him back down into the water and asked Ben to go get the other children. Nephi, Abish, and Jared lined up along the tub excitedly. Jared reached toward Daniel saying, “baby! baby!” Abish squealed, “Oh, he's super, duper cute!” and Nephi cooed, “I can't believe he's here! Baby Daniel!” It was wonderful. 10:48 am. Mom snapped a couple of pictures, and after 15 minutes or so, Ben cut the cord and passed the little man off to Mom while he helped me out of the tub. I was able to birth the placenta quickly and easily after everyone left. I seemed to tune in to the music that continued to play quietly in the background as the question was posed, “How many drops of blood were shed for me?” I was weak and nearly overwhelmed by the mini-gethsamene I had just been through, and this really hit home for me as I stood, dripping blood, and thought of my Savior, willingly suffering for me. I felt so humble at that moment. Willing to forgive anyone and everyone, wanting to repent of all hard-heartedness. Wanting to lighten the Savior's load and heart. To return his love.
Ben helped me wash off and step into those wonderful stretch panties with a cold-pack pad. I put on a comfy gown and went to bed where I got to nurse little Daniel. I was so proud of how well he latched on, like a little piranha. :)
Ben examined the placenta, and was satisfied that it was healthy and intact. He cleaned up the towels and rinsed out the bathtub. Mom took care of the children and brought me some beef broth and a banana. Then I slept. When I woke up, Ben was sleeping too. How nice that Mom was there to help with the children. I got up and ate some more, and saw that Jared was put down for his nap.

The next two days we stayed with Mom and she helped with the children and meals. Ben did have a cold, but continued to attend his classes and study, as well as help with the house and children. I was grateful for Lansinoh cream, and percocet as I adjusted to nursing and a shrinking uterus. The children played happily at Grandma's house and enjoyed holding their baby brother frequently (albeit briefly).
Grandma made lots of green smoothies, which the children loved, and we watched several movies, including: Courageous, Flywheel, and Horse Crazy Too.

Details: Daniel's birthweight: 8 lbs, 8 oz. Length 22 inches – measuring from crown to rump, rump to heel. Head circumference: 14 inches Gestational age: 40 weeks 5 days. (via ultrasound) 41 weeks 3 days from LMP. He had virtually no vernix left and his skin is peeling everywhere. He had three meconium diapers in the first 24 hours. I'm so glad he wasn't stressed and didn't pass any of that in utero.