The Birth

So, I'm finally getting around to typing this out. I know many of you have been dying to know about how Hugh made his grand entrance, so I hope I can satisfy.



My mom had been here since Tuesday(May 7th) waiting for the big moment. Every night we'd say, "maybe this is the night." And then nothing would happen. So there was little reason for me to think Thursday night's (May 10th) mild pre-bedtime contractions would be any different than every other night during the past week. I finally got to bed around midnight and tossed and turned, because of the contractions, until 1am. I got up to use the bathroom and went back to bed; still thinking, "maybe this is the night." Then I slept solid until 3:45am when I woke to use the bathroom again. It seemed all contractions had ceased and I was back in the "false alarm" boat. But by the time I crawled back in bed the contractions were back and stronger than before. I practiced my relaxation techniques(which aren't necessarily quiet) and ended up waking Adelaide up around 4am. Nate brought her into bed with us and I continued to labor until 4:30am when I couldn't take it anymore. I needed a back rub and Adelaide's constant "Mama, hold you" wasn't helping either. As soon as I sat up to go wake my mom for some support, my water broke! I hopped off the bed and grabbed a towel. Luckily my mom had suggested putting a towel by my bed!

After running down stairs, cleaning up and putting on my robe, I had my mom run a bath for me to try and slow my contractions which were coming 2-3 minutes apart. While she ran the bath I waited on the couch shaking uncontrollably. I thought perhaps I was in transition, but quickly dismissed the thought since I'd only been in labor for a couple of hours and my water had only just broke. I got in the tub, which was quite a site...picture Shamu trying to fit in a lap pool. So has I breathed, relaxed and scooped water onto my massive belly my mom and Nate ran around packing the car and herding Adelaide, who kept wanting in the bath with me.

Nate called his mom and told her to come quickly. Then he called the hospital to tell them we would soon be on our way. As I extracted myself from the tub I kept thinking, "why do we do this to ourselves?" I had no desire to ride in a car to a hospital to give birth, I just wanted to stay home and have my baby. I even contemplated calling a friend who is a midwife. But after snapping out of my silly fantasy of a surprise home birth and putting on my robe, I made a bee line for the car.

We pulled out of the drive way at 5:05am and I kept asking Nate to turn off the heater, then to turn it back on, then to turn it off and roll down the window, poor guy. Because I was determined to be a "good girl" and keep my seat belt on, and was also slightly reclined in my seat, I had horrible back pain with every contraction(which were now about every 1-2 minutes). I had to jam my hand into my back every time a contraction would hit. And with my other hand I would squeeze Nate's hand, concentrating as hard as possible on how hard I could squeeze. By the time we made it to Eureka I was moaning so loud I was sure all the morning commuters could hear me! And as we exited the highway in Arcata I was moaning, praying, and asking for God's help. We made it around the 2 round-abouts, with much complaining from me, and pulled into the hospital parking lot at 5:50am. As soon as I stood up and walked around the car to the hospital door I felt the urge to push. A nurse was waiting, holding the door open, Nate told her I wanted in the tub a.s.a.p. and she said I needed to be checked before I could use the tub. So...I waddled as fast as I could to the birthing room got onto the bed and was told I had an "anterior lip" but was otherwise ready to push...so I kept pushing even though the nurses told me to breath through the contractions if possible; it wasn't possible. The nurses called in the ER doc, just in case Baby couldn't wait for the midwife. This man looked like the last thing he wanted to do in the world was deliver a baby. I definitely wanted my midwife and not some worried looking ER doctor. He informed me that I looked like I "knew what I was doing" and to continue doing so. So while he hung out in the corner(literally) I continued to push as I felt the need. I thought I would want to deliver squatting, but my legs were shaking so badly I didn't think they'd hold me, so I turned and faced the back of the bed(which was fully inclined) and knelt. At some point soon after we arrive, probably 4-5 minutes, my mom arrived. Then right after that the midwife came, yeah!! She just jumped right in and made me feel very confident about the birth. There was no yelling "push, push, push!" No counting to ten, it was wonderful, I pushed when I wanted for as long as I wanted and was only given gentle guidance by my midwife when I needed to wait to push, or push just a bit more. It was awesome. I remember pushing feeling the "ring of fire," but convincing myself that the baby couldn't possibly be crowning yet and that I'd need drugs if I felt pain any more intense than that. But then I heard the nurse tell me I was now going to have to push the shoulders out. What!? I was so shocked his head was already out. Nate was too, he said he looked and and there was Hugh looking up at him. I gave another push and he was out. Turning over was a bit of a chore, but I managed to get into a sitting position without kicking anyone and was able to pull Hugh onto my belly right away.

We waited until the cord quite pulsing and then Nate and I cut it together, I enjoyed being able to do that. Immediately I was asking my midwife if I'd torn. She told she didn't think so, but double checked. Nope, no tears!! I was so glad since I had torn with Adelaide and had pushed in a different position to avoid tearing again. Next thing I asked was what time he had been born, since it seemed so fast. 6:12am. I had been at the hospital for 22 minutes and was already done! I was surprised, but not as surprised as everyone else. During our stay we kept saying maybe we'd have a home birth next time, even the nurses and midwife told us that was a good idea!

I feel like having our baby at Mad River's Birth Center was the best decision we could have made. It was such a wonderful, natural experience. Although I realize I wasn't there very long before Hugh was born I was glad that the hospital staff let me be in control of my birth. I didn't have an IV, the nurses never mentioned drugs and they let me do whatever I felt comfortable with. They even turned town the lights in the room so that the only light was soft and relaxing. And when I refused certain treatment or asked them to postpone weighing and checking the baby, they didn't bat an eye but complied until I informed them I was ready. I just can't say enough about how wonderful they were.

When I finally allowed them to weigh our new son he was 9 pounds exactly!! He was also 19 1/2 inches long and quite the little "chunk."

Hugh Caleb Cash Downey