My contractions started Sunday morning around 5am and continued for most of the day until they tapered off into nothing... unless I was moving around. So Val (my midwife) told me to just use that time to relax, sleep that night and see what happened in the following days. She had originally told me that more than likely they would stop because I was still significantly early. At 8pm they started up again, but I tried to get sleep anyway. I was up all night, resting when I could, but not much. Around 5am I gave up and just went into the living room to read my book, but I couldn't even do that. The contractions were getting strong but I was so scared this was going to be a repeat of Sunday... until the bloody show started at 6:30am. I was pretty sure at that point this was it.
I spoke with Val around 9:30 and she said that she would be over within the hour and the day just went on from there. Contractions all day... walking up and down the stairs to speed them up, in and out of the shower, work work work. It was hard, but doable!!!
Around maybe 1:00pm Val asked if I wanted to check my cervix, just because my water hadn't broken, I was starting to crap out a little and she thought it would give me a second wind. I was at 9cm and Ellie was RIGHT there, but still with an intact bag. She told me that when the ctx came and I felt the urge to bare down, it would help with moving the baby down and getting the bags to maybe rupture. It didn't work. I was on the stairs, having what felt like one continuous contraction and near tears with the pressure. I have heard that when you are in transition you feel like you can't do it anymore. Thankfully that never happened for me. I always knew I could do it. However, at one point I told Val that I felt like if I pushed my body would split in half. She told me to stop holding back. So I did. And I pushed. And my water still didn't break.
We decided it was time to get set up in the room because Ellie was coming sooner rather than later. I was squatting at the end of the bed on the floor with Hugo supporting me and we pushed a little bit. Ellie just wasn't budging much because of the amniotic sack, so we decided to go ahead and break it. That was PAIN!!! She told me it was a really strong bag, but what do I know? I pushed about 2-3 more times, 6 minutes, and Elllie was born!!! It was amazingly fast, and so surreal.... but it was hard. I could feel everything, her head, her shoulders.... the relief when it was over. Amazing!!
Ellie was born weighing 6lbs 11ozs is 19.25inches long! only 2 weeks and 3 days early! So little compared to my 8lb 8oz 21.5 inch boy! I had one teeny tiny tear and felt like Icould do anything a couple hours later. It was so nice to be able to eat immediately, shower immediately, and to be at home.
Oh, and as for Alex.... When he first saw her he gasped with shock... I know he was in love immediately. He wants to be on top of her all the time, kissing, hugging, bringing her pictures to look at...
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