| Kian Alexander: Our greatest accomplishment |
[Jul. 10th, 2007|05:50 am] |
I really wanted to have a memory of Kian's birth before all the details fade from my mind. This entry is more for me, however some people are curious about the details so Im going to make this a public entry.
Here is the story of how my beautiful little guy came into this world.
Kian was due on July 2nd, 2007. My pregnancy leading up to his birth was wonderful with very few aches and pains until nearing the end. I was looking forward to a drug free birth, and my hope was to be able to labour at home for as long as possible before heading to the hospital.
A few days prior to his birth, I experienced some mild period type cramps in the night, and several times I thought labour might be approaching, but by the time I awoke they were gone, almost as though I imagined them, and life carried on as it does.
However at 2:00am on July 6th, I felt my first real contraction, and knew immediately that this was it. The pain was very mild and I felt so much excitement because I knew I would be meeting my son for the first time very soon. I woke Alex up and asked him to start timing the contractions, although I was certain that they would be very far apart and that we would need to go back to sleep.
The first two contractions were 10 minutes apart, the next two were five minutes apart, and then they were coming between 3 and 4 minutes apart very steadily for about an hour. Thinking it was still too soon, but overwhelmed with excitement, Alex and I took turns showering and getting ready just in case.
By 3:30am the contractions were coming between 2 and 3 minutes apart and lasting a minute each time. I still felt it was early, but I phoned my midwife and she asked a few questions, suggested a few things, and asked us to phone back when we felt "ready".
By 5:30 the contractions had gotten much stronger, and I was having difficulty coping with so little break time between them and we phoned back and she arrived and I was 5cms dialated. Since they were coming on so fast and furious, it was evident this was going to be a relatively quick first labour, so we rushed off to the hospital.
I dropped to the ground several times on the way to the car, breathing as best I could through the contractions, and was on my hands and knees in the car as there was no way I could sit down comfortably.
Alex, in the rush to get us there, drove to the Children's side of the hospital at first by mistake. However we eventually made it to women's, and I was given a private birthing room and the most comfortable position for me remained on my hands and knees on the bed.
I was checked and told that I was 7cms dialated, and I wanted to cry as I knew there was still another three cms to go. By this point, the pain had become more tortuous, and like nothing I had ever experienced before. I begged for something, anything to help me, and everyone was amazing at encouraging me to breathe. The nurse, two midwives (one was new and learning the hospital routines) and Alex supported me through each contraction, as they came one after another with no let down.
I was offered and started using the gas. For each contraction I breathed it in deeply and then exhaled at the height of the contraction and either breathed or screamed deeply into the tube. It helped so much to have something to concentrate on; something to help me focus on what my body was trying to do.
The other thing that helped was a picture of a baby on the wall behind the bed. Since I was on all fours for most of the labour I was facing this angelic face and knew that soon enough the face of mine and Alex's creation would be in my arms.
I admit it though. The pain felt unbearable at times. I begged for relief, but because I had previously asked everyone to stall me they were able to do so until it was time to push.
I pushed for a little under two hours and tried about four different positions to get my son out. Each time I was sure I wouldn't be able to move to switch positions and each time I proved to myself that I had more strength than I thought. Trying so many positions helped to open my cervix more and each time I felt a new, powerful determination to push harder.
Alex kept saying, and still can't believe the kind of strength he witnessed in that room. There were so many amazing things, not the least of which was watching his son's head crown and seeing how wide it finally was in the end.
Alex caught Kian as he entered the world, and tells me that his eyes were wide open as he came out, and that, amazingly, once the shoulders and arms were out, before that final push, Kian reached out his little arm towards his daddy and Alex caught him as he birthed.
He weighed 8lbs 4 ounces when born and is perfect in every way. Almost the moment he was placed on my chest the pain started to fade away and looking down at his big blue eyes and seeing him drink me in made it all worth every moment.
Labour was, without a doubt, the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and probably will ever have to do in my life. However, now that it's over, and I realize how strong I am and how strong my body is, and women's bodies are, I feel SO empowered and it's like a whole new woman was birthed in that room along with my son.
I have a new respect for women everywhere, and that, combined with a love for my child, my husband and our family that I didn't know before has made this whole experience worth doing. I get it now.
Kian is three days old now and is doing super. He has taken to breastfeeding and although our latches are not always perfect, with patience we are doing our best to learn what works for us. My milk has finally come in, and to see that little face all red and puffy once he's fully satisfied after a meal is painfully cute.
Mommy is doing well, although physically I still need more time to heal. Emotionally too, I suppose. I crashed down from the high last night, however today has been a wonderful day.
And here he is, our little baby bird:
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