Green Child Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 74

Contractions hadn’t really started yet, but with the storm rolling in I wanted to get to the hospital before things started getting wild. We were under a tornado warning and a severe thunderstorm warning. On the way to the hospital, I wanted a quick drink and snack before I wouldn’t be able to eat anymore (darn you hospitals for torturing the pregnant women), and the attendant made the mistake of saying that I looked about due. That’s when I said that I was in labor and we were on our way to the hospital. Meanwhile, my husband was asking me, if I was sure I was in labor. My water was leaking all over the place, so if I wasn’t in labor, then I was about to be. We made it to the hospital at 1:30 am We made it to the hospital at 1:30 am after driving through down pouring rain and a lot of bright lightning. I was 5 cm dilated and I was still doing great. They got us up to our room and the nurse (who was ever so patient and kind) started asking all sorts of questions. It was at this point that my contractions were to the point where I just wanted her out. We finally finished, and I was at the point of considering an epidural (my original plan was natural), but the nurse (who remembered my birth plan, thankfully someone did!) insisted that we try the bath first. I agreed and she checked me again and I was still only 5 cm. Ugh, not another repeat of my daughter’s birth. No! 74 I got into the bath and after a few minutes the nurse left to get some ice chips and water for me. That’s when things got really crazy. My contractions were back to back and I started telling my husband that I felt like I needed to poop. I started feeling an involuntary bearing down sensation as well as a stretching sen sation going on down below. I naturally started positioning myself for delivery even though I was very much oblivious to the fact that I was about to deliver because I had an epidural when I delivered Chloe. I naturally started positioning myself for delivery even though I was very m u c h oblivious to the fact that I was about to deliver My senses kicked in and I yelled at my husband, who was in a state of disbelief to get help and before I knew it there were people crowding into that tiny little bathroom as I was bracing a head in my hands. They immediately tried to transfer me out of the tub but the baby was already coming out as the midwife stepped in. The midwife tried to reassure me that “she” was ok. All I could say at the moment was “I thought I was having a boy!” I was still standing in the tub as he was born and whisked out of the room by the staff. I was able to freely walk out of the tub (with umbilical cord still hanging) over to his warming table to see him. Christian Alexander was born at 3:54 am July 1st, 2014 weighing in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches long.