he waited for no one!

Finally, our Brax-man has arrived!

I am still processing the entire birth. It was such a whirlwind experience, certainly the most intense and painful thing I have ever done. Much moreso than even Moose's birth. Are you ready for it? I wasn't.

My water broke in my sleep at 1:00 am on Saturday morning (May 29th). I woke up my husband and told him what had happened, and we got up and started to get ready to go. Not sure how much time we had until contractions hit, we didn't exactly rush but we did leave as soon as we could. Hauling the remining hospital gear and a very sleepy and confused Moose, we headed to the car. I called my mom and told her it was time to have Brax and asked her to meet us at the hospital to take Moose. At the end of the phone call, a minute or two before we left, painful contractions began.

The ride to the hospital was...interesting. I was having awful contractions every minute or two, but they were fairly short. I couldn't talk through them, I just had to focus on breathing. Hubby drove as quickly as he safely could. We arrived at the hospital and I checked into triage at 2:15 am. They started me on the long sign-in process, but once they saw that I was obviously in too much pain to give a urine sample and fill out endless paperwork they took me into the room to monitor me. I could tell right away I didn't like the nurse who took me in. She talked painfully slow and moved even slower, yet she treated me like I was taking forever to get into my monitoring belly band and on the table. As I was leaning against the wall trying to breathe through contractions she was whining that she didn't want me to have the baby in triage. Finally the contraction stopped and I got on the table. The midwife came in and checked me. I was 6.5 centimeters and contractions were now every two to three minutes but lasting much longer and intensifying. Upon being asked if I wanted an epidural, I was quick to say yes. I always say that I think it would be cool to go through a natural labor at least once, but when it comes right down to it labor is insane and both times I have given in and asked for pain meds. This time was no different.

The whole way to the room I kept telling the nurse I needed my epidural. I was practically thrashing off the table as they wheeled me through the hallways and into my delivery room. She moved so slowly. I looked at my husband and said "Is she freaking crazy!?" because she was taking so long looking for a room for me. Finally in the room, she decided that she needed to take my blood and give me a saline lock before giving me anything for the pain. I could hardly sit still as she poked and prodded me. My mom arrived around this point, and the nurse left the room.

I was laying there writhing in pain and there was neither doctor nor nurse to be seen. I was in panic mode because I pretty much knew they were not going to get me anything in time. My mom applied counterpressure to my back through contractions and my husband went looking for someone to come help us. He came back and said the dreaded words no mom in labor wants to hear: There is no one here.

It was at that moment that I felt Brax's head crowning and my body began involuntarily pushing. I looked at my mom and husband told them I had to push, wondereding which of them would deliver my baby if no one came. Finally the nurse entered the room with both my mom and I yelling that I needed to push. The truth was, I already was pushing. But instead of reacting quickly, she continued to dawdle around the room and tell me she was getting some meds ready for me to tide me over until I could get my epi. Um, too late.

Finally another nurse came in. This is all kind of a blur to me because I was in so much pain, but my mom said that she was the first person to start paying attention to what I was saying. She urged the other nurse to check me. Sure enough, that boy had crowned and was well on his way out.

I don't know how long it took the midwife to get there. It seemed like one moment she was not there and the next she was. The second nurse and midwife (both of whom I loved, by the way) talked me through the birth, telling me to take little pushes and breathe so I didn't tear. Some people say pushing is the easy part. Not for me. A different kind of pain than just the contractions, but every bit as excruciating. It felt to me like it took an eternity to get his head out, but Hubby said it was only maybe 5 progressive pushes and a few non-progressive ones sprinkled in there. Once the head was out I easily (well, relatively) delivered his body and the placenta. They placed my screaming Brax on my tummy and stitched me up from a tiny tear. Every pair of eyes in the room was wide-eyed at how fast the labor had gone. So in shock were we all that only one person remembered to check the time: 2:50 am. It had only been 35 minutes since we had arrived at the hospital and just one hour and 50 minutes after my water broke at home.

Brax was born weighing 8 lbs 7 oz and measuring 21 inches long, exactly the same measurements as his older brother at birth. Hey at least I know I'm consistent, right? I am so thankful that the birth happened when it did. Despite my impatience with labor it really could not have been planned for a better time. Had my water broken when my husband was not at home I may not have made it to the hospital. And it has been wonderful having him with me for all of this over the long weekend. We were discharged from the hospital today and he has taken care of all of the chores and cooking and anything else I need help with.

I still cannot believe I had my natural, unmedicated childbirth.

Brax is nursing wonderfully and is such a sweet baby. He has his Papa and big brother's lips and a head of dark hair. When asked "Where's baby?" Moose will point to his little brother instead of my belly. Mama is tired and dizzy from all that has happened, but so blessed.

Life is amazing and crazy and full of surprises. And above all, God is good.