Naomi Elizabeth Felder
Born: Wednesday, December 10th at 9:07pm
Weight: 6lbs 13oz
Length: 19 1/4 inches
*Fun fact: Josiah was 5 days late, Malachi was right on time, and Naomi was 5 days early! I love the symmetry!
Tuesday night, a whole 24 hours before she was born, I started feeling contractions with some pressure. I'd been having Braxton Hicks since week 18, so I knew they were different. With these, I felt pressure but no pain. I thought to myself, "Great! She's coming tonight!" I slept for a few hours, but not well. I could still feel the contractions and I was getting anxious. But they were still wonky, not consistent, and were getting further apart.
Around 2am I got up, ready to move things along. I couldn't go many places in the house we were staying in without waking others, so I grabbed the exercise ball and computer and set up shop in the bathroom. I bounced and paced and Facebooked for an hour and a half, timing each contraction. They started going down to around 7-8 minutes apart, but still no real pain. Shucks. What was going on?! (Read here for Josiah's story and Malachi's story--nothing like this!) At almost 4am, I gave up the bathroom and climbed back into bed, a little defeated, but figured I'd better get some rest because she'd be here in the morning! Right?
I slept hard for the next few hours. When I got up, I was a little mad that I'd slept so hard. That meant that I hadn't felt any contractions! What was this girl doing to me?!
Michael was supposed to go into work that day. I wouldn't let him, knowing she'd be here soon. It was freezing outside, but I truly contemplated going outside to walk and get things moving. It worked with Malachi! But it was just too cold. So I paced in the house. And they got further apart. I wasn't happy. So I kinda gave up for a while. What else could I do?!
I laid down for a nap around 2pm and woke up at 4pm with real deal contractions. Finally! Pain! I never thought I'd be so happy.
I started timing them, and they were still all over the place. 15 minutes, then 7, then 25, then 10. Craziness. But they hurt, so I knew something was happening. She just wanted to come differently than her brothers, I guess!
The friends we were staying with were going to take care of the boys while we went to our midwife's house to deliver. They got situated and went to a church function, which left Michael and I to decide when to leave the house. By 6pm, the contractions were getting closer, but still not super consistent. They averaged around 6 minutes, so I told Amber (midwife) we were on our way.
I wasn't looking forward to the car ride because contracting while being constricted in a chair is not ideal. But, since they were still wonky, I only had 2 hard ones in the car. Not so bad. And nothing compared to the ride I had with Josiah!
We got to Amber's around 7pm. She had already kicked out her hubby and 4 teenage kids. (So thankful for a midwife that lets me have a home birth in HER home!!) She had the birthing room all set up, complete with ambiance. We sat there for about 10 minutes, then it got awkward. I felt like we were all just staring at each other while my still-slowish contractions came. So I started walking circles in her house. Contractions were still coming, but still around 5 minutes apart.
By 7:30 or so, I was ready for a distraction, so we turned on the TV. It was quite the ordeal turning it on because sweet Amber didn't know how it worked. Can't blame her for not knowing since she never watches it! After Michael finally decoded all the remotes and gadgets, one of the first things on the guide was Ducky Dynasty. That's right. We watched it. We knew it would be clean, so why not? A little lame humor and silliness is good for a laboring mama! We all sat around, eating soup, watching while I labored. Amazing. And hilarious.
By 8:15, the contractions were finally coming faster and much stronger. I couldn't focus on what the Robertson clan was doing anymore, so I decided it was time to move to the tub. I got into the blissful warm water and relaxed through a few more hard contractions.
Within 20 minutes, we were moving along! Transition came quickly and I found myself moaning and groaning while grasping the side of the pool. A few things I remember saying during some of the hardest parts:
"Get her out of me!"
"This hurts sooo bad!"
"I can't do this again!"
"Get her out of me noooowwww!"
Right when I got in the tub, I had asked Amber to remind me again how to avoid tearing. I tore with both boys and didn't heal correctly after Malachi, resulting in a minor surgery later. So I wanted to do all I could to avoid that again. Her reply, "Don't push." I immediately thought she was nuts, but knew she was right. I just didn't know if I could do it. "Just let your body and contractions do all the work," she reminded me. Yep...I'll try.
I didn't do so well. It hurt, and I wanted her out. So I pushed. And then I tried to stop, afraid of tearing. But then I could feel her head coming and I pushed it out. Because I couldn't not push. Once it was out (or so I thought--Amber told me later that at this point, only her head up to her eyebrows was out!), I remember saying, "Oh, thank God that's over!" With the next push, the rest of her came. I laid my head on the side of the tub, so, so glad she was out. Then I remembered I was supposed to be catching her! Amber handed her to me under the water, and there she was. Beautiful. She sucked in her first breath, then cried. Amazing.
I checked for all her fingers and toes...then checked to make sure she really was a girl. :)
I then noticed that the water was pretty nasty! I was immediately grossed out and wanted to get out, but needed to wait. With Malachi, the water was still clear, so I wasn't expecting it, although it was normal.
I tried nursing her pretty soon, and it took her quite a while to figure it out. But, once she did, she wanted to stay there, thus making me sit in nasty water for almost an hour. Ew.
My placenta still hadn't come out, so I sat on the toilet, had one contraction, and out it came.
Thankfully, Amber let me take a shower. Her hubby had detached the shower head to hook up the hose in order to fill up the tub, and we couldn't figure out how to put it back on. We all laughed as I took a shower with a straight stream of water. I told her no worries--I've done much worse. Like a bucket full of nasty water in Nigeria.
Upon inspection, I only tore a little, and everything has healed on its own--without stitches. I could tell it wasn't much of a tear pretty much immediately because of how great I felt! I guess it helped that she was a nearly 2 pounds smaller than Josiah, too.
After we got all cleaned up, we took our time with paperwork and such. By about 1am, we were ready to go. Amber offered for us to stay there, but we knew it'd be better to be in our own bed. Some of her kids were home by then, and I'm sure they wanted to go to bed, too! I'm sure they thought we were bonkers for having a baby in their house. Ha!
Amber told me later that one of the times I was screaming "get her out of me!"she had her head all the way out, her hand on her face (ouch #1), then she turned her head from side to side (ouch #2). What, was she looking for the best way out or something?! Thankfully, when Amber and Beth (other midwife) saw that she had her hand up, they wisely told me to change positions so the rest of her would come out a little easier.
We stopped by Walmart for some supplies on the way home, then rolled in close to 2am. We snuggled in for the night and I tried to sleep while still on a high for being privileged enough to bring a baby girl into the world.
Amber has said with every child that I shouldn't climb stairs for at least a week to give the giant wound inside time to heal. With Josiah, I didn't know any better. I didn't do stairs, but I did a lot more way too soon. Healing was slow. With Malachi, I was basically a single parent one week after he was born because Michael had to go back to China early. Healing was extra slow that round.
This time, I was determined to rest well. Except I hate resting for long periods of time. Even when I'm in pain. But Michael helped. I was in the guest room on the 3rd floor, and every time someone came to visit, he'd carry me down the stairs. What a great hubby! I made it to day 5 without any stairs. I call that success. I noticed the bleeding stopped a lot earlier this time! The Chinese rest for a month. Americans rest for 1-2 days. I think we should meet in the middle. Rest is good.
So far, she's a pretty great baby. I'm doing my best to enjoy every moment, not knowing if we'll have more or not. And, she's a girl and there's something extra special about that.
Getting weighed in the baby hammock!
Best. Team. Ever.
Josiah LOVES Naomi to pieces! He loves holding her, making sure there is always a bow in her hair, and protecting her.
Malachi loves her in his own, special way. He gives her kisses occasionally. :)
Sweet lips!
