4 Weeks Post Partum

Its been an incredible month with our new little family. With many ups and some downs, I feel like things are settling and we are all getting into a new groove. Here is the story of little Jonas. This is the end of my pregnancy blog.

Questions Answered

This is just a quick response to the questions I have had about the bleeding after Jonas was born.

When I began to bleed alot moments after Jonas was born, the midwives were ready with a shot of oxytocin which they injected into my thigh - I couldn't feel it at all - we were still laughing and looking at our little Jonas. The oxytocin is a hormone that helps the uterus contract quickly (among other things)- our bodies release it, but they just gave me more to help in the contracting department. Once the uterus begins to contract, the bleeding slows and stops and the placenta is delivered. I was given a second shot of oxytocin as I was still bleeding quite abit. I was feeling fine at this point, but the midwives wanted to be cautious, so they gave me an IV with oxytocin at which time they decided it would be best for me to be at the hospital for observation. It all happened very fast and by the time I got to the hospital the bleeding had slowed and I was stable - and still in happy La La land with Jordan and Jonas.

We spent the night at the hospital, which was comfy and easy. The nurses helped with latch on. The next day we went home and although I was quite pale looking with dark circles under my eyes, I felt really good. I am not sure but I think I was running on adrenalin for several days after the birth - I just felt so good. I also took alot of iron supplements and ate alot of kale and spinach and meat. I am not a big meat eater, but my body really craved it then.

I felt completely confident throughout the birth and with the midwives and even when I was bleeding, I was never worried. We have such great healthcare in Canada and I am just glad that when emergencies do arise, we have nurses and doctors who are well trained and able to perform at high levels in the rare situation when things don't progress smoothly. Our midwives are also highly trained with many years of intense schooling behind them.

I hope that answers some of your questions out there!

The Birth Story

Its been hard to find the time to get away and update this blog, so for all of my friends and family out there, this is our birth story. And for you, sweet Jonas, this is the story of your physical arrival into our world, making us a family!

After being in denial for a little while, maybe an hour, I decided to play it safe and call work to let them know I wouldn't be in that day - that maybe I was in labour, but not sure. During this entire time I went from being a little sore sitting at the computer to bending over into childs pose with each contraction. After getting off the phone I got really excited and giddy and walked around, ok, ok, what should I do? I guess pack some clothes and go to town??? Maybe wait for Jordan to come home and then head over??? I was just too excited, so between phone calls to my mom and sister and Janet, I decided to throw some stuff together, do some dishes and drive over on the 2pm ferry from our island over to Campbell River, which is where we were planning a home birth. Of course, of all the days for Jordan to work in the forest, it was the day I was to go into labour - so, I just kinda laughed at it all and left him a note and caught the ferry. Luckily I could relax through the contractions on the 10 minute ferry ride.

Janet left work and picked me up and I settled myself into the room I had chosen to labour in. At this point I wasn't able to talk through my contractions, which, from the start at 10AM were about 3 minutes apart and 20 seconds long. Very consistent. I put a heating pad on my lower back and pelvis/sacrum area and drank tea while relaxing in childs pose. All of the discomfort was in the back area; nothing up front! Not at all what I had thought true labour would be like. Chatted with my mom and sister on the phone and stopped to breath through each contraction. Janet kept on trying to contact Jordan. I called the midwives at this point to let them know and they thought that my body would probably wait until Jordan came to me before I went into further labour. They said that they would stop by after work that evening.

Jordan finally got home and I spoke with him on the phone - he was so excited, yelling into the phone, getting ready - he was probably as giddy as I was earlier on in the day when I realized I was in labour.

By the time Jordan arrived around 5:30 my contractions were getting a little longer, but still around 3 minutes apart. We chatted and we settled in - still totally comfortable. The midwives arrived around 7pm and my first internal exam showed that I was indeed thinning and approx 3 cm dilated. They left and said they would call again in a few hours to find out our progress. At this point I was beginning to feel like I wanted to be alone with Jordan. Up until that point I was feeling very social and had been hanging out with Jerry, Janet, Case and Linda. I began to feel like I needed to go within myself further - not only during the contractions, as I had been doing. I was still bending over into childs pose for each contraction because there was definitely alot of discomfort.

We decided at that point to try out the big tub - it was in our plan to use it alot and perhaps to give birth in it. It didn't work. I needed to stay in a bent over position for each contraction and I wasn't able to emmerse myself fully into the water like this. At this point I began to realize that many of the things I had planned for this birth wouldn't be used - I am glad I was prepared though. Also, none of the massage techniques we had practiced were useful yet - in fact, I didn't want to be touched at all!

Jordan was wonderful and did all he could to make me comfortable - gave me water, gatorade, timed contractions, adjusted heat pad and pillows. At this point he said that I was getting 75 second contractions every 3 minutes and so we decided it was time for him to call the midwives...meanwhile, I had totally retreated into my body and just let everything happen. My body and baby completely took over and my mind was left to visualize and help the process along. There was pain, but it was a powerful pain that reminded me that I would soon be meeting our little Guido.

The midwives came, and after my second internal exam, I was 7 cm dilated and my bag of waters was pushed tight against my cervix. There was alot of pressure at this point and from this point on, I am prety sure I was so focused that my eyes were shut throughout most of the rest of the labour. I know I was making alot of noise at this point. Powerful woman warrior noise - noise I had never made before.

My eyes were open, however, when my waters finally broke all over the bathroom floor. Alot of pressure was taken away at that point and I felt good and relaxed, but then I must have dilated right to 9.5 cms becaause all of the sudden I heard the midwives exclaim that my sounds had changed and they knew I was getting to that pushing stage. I was beggining to feel the urge to push. They checked me one final time and there I was 9.5cms dilated with a little flap of cervix in the way. Candice said that she could help get it out of the way if I could endure some sharp pain for a few moments, so I agreed. She pushed the flap down and got me to push hard, push until the head was over the cervix.

And there I was, pushing, holding tightly onto Jordan's hands and then having him massage my thighs. Sheila suggested we head to the bathroom and try a squat. I squated with the help of Jordan, while he sat on the toilet! It felt good. I later found out I was almost sleeping between pushes! And then within the hour, out came Jonas and into the arms of his laughing parents. I will never forget that moment! We were lauging! It was wonderful! He was pink and his eyes were open and just calmly, contentedly staring right at us! He was so calm!

Jonas Davin

Feb 22, 2007, 2:47pm

6lbs 14oz, 20.5 IN

It couldn't have been better, the whole event was powerful - nothing will ever compare to it.

Afterwards we had to go to the hospital because of my excessive bleeding - a precaution. In the end I was fine - but had lost a litre of blood. Jonas was totally healthy and Jordan was as always my totally supportive and loving partner.