Karis' Birth Story - Unabridged :)

To begin the journey of Karis' birth story is to take a step back 3.5 years to March 31, 2010.  That's when our lives were forever changed with the arrival of our precious Katie.  Katie was delivered via cesarean section due to breech presentation.  Circumstances surrounding her delivery, our subsequent hospital stay, and the first weeks at home prompted me to start doing extensive research into the realm of vaginal birth after c-section (VBAC for the birth nerd world).

In December of 2012, we found out we were expecting our 2nd miracle.  I began purchasing classic natural birth books like Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and Dr. Robert Bradley's Husband-Coached Childbirth.  Ina May's book was especially inspiring that my body was designed, capable, and extremely competent to deliver vaginally.  Other ways I prepared for VBAC included switching care providers to an amazing midwife, focusing on optimal fetal positioning to avoid another breech baby, and monitoring my diet which involved daily protein boosts of pb and chocolate. ;)

On Saturday, August 10th, at nearly 38 weeks, I was feeling joyous for being full term.  I harnessed what little energy I had to scrub the house from top to bottom, corner to corner.  That afternoon, I spent about 5 hours in prodromal "false" labor.  I was excited, but exhausted by the irregular back contractions.  This was a sign that my body was gearing up for the main event!

After a good night's rest, we went to church the next morning and I felt fairly normal.  Around 1:30 Sunday afternoon, on our way out the door to my aunt's retirement party, I decided to make one last bathroom break.  I was surprised to find signs that labor was on the horizon - granted that horizon could have been 2 days to a week away.  I felt a little uncomfortable the rest of the day and into the night so Steve decided to at least take Monday morning off school.

Monday around lunch time, Steve headed off to school.  I was very grateful when Michelle volunteered to pick up Katie and take her back to her house to play so I could rest alone.  She brought over chocolate and some magazines and warned me that things may start to get a little exciting now that I could rest and focus on what my body was telling me.  Boy was she right! Not long after she left, I started having timeable, regular, slightly uncomfortable contractions.  I was finally convinced that this was the main event! 

My mom came over after work to play with Katie so Steve and I could get our act together.  Trina also came over after work to provide support.  I needed the spirit of my sister by choice present and to draw on her natural birth mojo. :)  Around 7 pm, I suddenly had this urge to go to the hospital.  Up to this point, I had been coping through some strong contractions, but was definitely still in the early stages of active labor.  My brain questioned whether it made sense to go to the hospital, but my gut said go!  Cristin, the master doula, was just finishing up teaching childbirth class and met us at the hospital.

Katie, junior doula, applying counterpressure

Daddy, Mommy, and Aunt NeeNee deciding whether to check in.  Still all smiles!

Once we arrived, I still hesitated to check in.  My worst fear was to check in at 2 cm and be subjected to all kinds of interventions.  Our labor troupe wandered around the new hospital killing time until I was ready to move on.  Finally around 8:15, my midwife requested that I go ahead and check in.  I was relieved to find that I was 4 cm dilated.  Everyone estimated a 3-4 am birth.  We spent the next hour and a half settling into the delivery room and getting registered. I changed into my birthing outfit of a nursing sports bra and skirt.  I wanted to be able to move freely and have easy access to the fetal monitoring belts.

I was very happy to be able to get back on my feet and move labor along.  I felt that I needed to make up for lost time.  The mood was still light.  For some reason we go on the topic of pop tarts.  We also started watching an episode of Golden Girls on Trina's iPad.  Random, I know, but I remembered that Ina May said one of the most effective ways to open up your sphincters is with laughter.  Pretty much nothing else makes me laugh as hard as good ole' GG.

Cristin suggested swinging my hips like a hula hoop and in the figure 8.  At 11:15 pm I felt a familiar and strange pop (my water broke with Katie as well).  Suddenly I was thrown into transition!!  It was all I could do to hop back into bed and land on my right side grasping the bed.  I couldn't believe the words, "I can't do this" were leaving my mouth.  I couldn't imagine feeling that level of intense discomfort for the next 4 hours.  Everyone replied, "yes you can" but basically realizing "you have no choice!"

The next 45 minutes were a blur of lights, sounds, pain, hormonal rollercoasters.  One minute I was yelling "damn ya'll, damn ya'll", the next "I love all of you guys."  Before I knew it, I felt the urge to push.  My birth plan stated that I wanted to push with my own urges and not be told when to do so.  Everyone was very patient with this process.  My sweet midwife sat on the edge of the bed encouraging me along the way.  Steve was by my side, letting me squeeze the heck out of his hand.  Trina was documenting the process with pictures that I will treasure forever, but will spare anyone reading this from viewing.  Cristin, bless her heart, was holding my left leg up in the air.  Pushing was quick and actually not very painful at all!  The worst pain I felt was from my backside.  In hindsight, I would have requested compression if I could've gotten the words out.

At 12:05 am on August 13th, beautiful Karis Lynn left her warm cocoon and joined us earth side.  She was placed on my chest and I immediately felt a bond - something I was cheated out of with Katie's birth.  A few short minutes later, we were nursing and snuggling. Daddy cut the cord after delayed cord clamping.

Skin to skin with Mommy

Proud Daddy

Cristin: doula, BFF, soul sista

The most amazing midwife, Brende!

"Big sister, little sister, best forever friends"

Karis Lynn, Greek for grace

People have asked in the days and weeks since if I would have natural birth again or if I would change anything about our experience.  My answer is a wholehearted NO!  I encourage every woman to educate themselves on natural birth and to believe in God's divine design.  Everything about my pregnancy and her birth was a redemptive experience by the Grace of God! 

~Carla

Adventures in Babywearing

A Sling

There's a problem here its become quite clear.
Got a 6-month-old Sling fanatic who is clearly an addict.
Wakes in the mid of night screams with horrific might.
So outa the bed I fling and don the medicinal Sling.
Over the head the tool I fit and in it, him I sit.
Instantly he begins to cooo tis amazing what the sling will do.
Which route should I pursue, when he's 20 what should I do?
I gotta wean him from the Sling I tell you, its an addictive thing!
— Bondweign, Hanrath

A few years ago, I had no concept of what baby-wearing really was.  A friend of mine was a distributor of the Maya wrap (ring sling- adjustable with metal rings) and I bought one from her for my cousin.  I wasn't really sure what it was or how she would use it, but I decided it would okay since it came with an instructional DVD.

Fast forward 3 years and I have a baby of my own.  That same sweet friend who I bought the Maya wrap from not only got me one, but also got me a pouch sling and my Ohio besties sprung for a Boba 3G (Carla's recommendation) from my Amazon registry.  I also borrowed a Moby wrap from Carla.  So all in all, I have 4 babywearing devices to choose from.

Moby

Maya ring sling

Boba 3G carrier

When L was a newborn, I found that the Maya, Moby, and Boba worked best.  He was 7 lb., 1 oz and he fit snug as a bug in a rug.  In the early days, I could tuck his feet, bend his knees, and fit him snugly against my chest.  He would lay his head near my heart and that familiar sound and warmth would woo him to sleep.  I liked each wrap for different reasons.  For outside the home, I preferred the Maya or the Boba for several reasons- the Boba provides more support than the Maya, and was easier for me to use when alone.  The Maya wrap took me FOREVER to figure out how to put it on.  It was easier though to adjust to get the perfect fit.  I liked to use the Moby at home due to the ridiculously LONG fabric.  The Moby is just one looong piece of fabric folded in half, so it is much easier to use at home.  I didn't want to drag it across the parking lot.

Now that he is 5 months old, I am continuing to change the way I use my carriers.  Now I prefer the Boba and Maya.  I can now carry him on my hip in the Maya (thanks to my friend Rachael).  In the Boba, his legs can hang out, but he is still facing in.  He gets mad at this sometimes because he likes to be able to look around.  I have also tried to wear him in a pouch sling recently, but it still feels awkward to me. 

I LOVE to wear my baby.  Sure, I get some strange looks sometimes from people, but I love that it is a time for bonding with him.  It is amazing how much he calms down when I wear him.  It is also much easier when going shopping or doing a lot of walking than carrying that HUGE infant pumpkin seat.  Good gosh, my child is tiny and it is still way too heavy for me!  Before "luxuries" such as pumpkin seats, baby swings, and bouncers existed, moms (and dads!) were "wearing" their babies.  They understood (centuries ago) the calmness, bonding, convenience and joy that baby-wearing brings. 

Review the following links for the benefits on baby-wearing:

Dr. Sears on Baby-wearing

La Leche League on Baby -wearing



For your viewing pleasure, check out this video:
Baby Mamas (Put a Sling On 'Em)


~Trina

Breast milk popsicles

Sooo, the babe is 3 1/2 months old.  NO ONE warned me about teething.  We were happily enjoying our non-fussy, sleeping through the night, "good" baby.  Then, he started teething.  It started a week ago.  We were out to dinner and he was sleeping away in his car seat.  Well guess what?  We got our food and you know what happened-- He woke up in a fit of rage, or maybe, pain.  He was frantically grabbing at his ears, so much that I was afraid he had an ear infection.  I actually ended up taking him outside to hold him until we could pack up the food and pay.  Awful.  We tried all the pacifiers and teething toys we had, but nothing seemed to calm that shrill cry.

He has been fussy on and off this week, but today has been one of the worst.  Last night I decided to take a bottle of my milk out of the fridge and pour it into an ice cube tray.  Enter breast milk popsicles.  How, you ask, does one feed a 3 1/2 month old a popsicle?  A mesh feeder.  The ones I have are made by Nuby, and if you can get past the annoying screw-on lid, they are wonderful (I am a speech pathologist and I use them with my kiddos who have feeding issues).  I realize they are for 6+ months, but I'm using breast milk, not food. 

Should have had a bib on!

After 3+ hours of screaming/nursing I decided to pull out my popsicles.  I popped the cubes out and wrestled opened the mesh feeder, but neglected one thing.  The cubes were too big for the feeder bag.  No biggie, break those suckers in half and we were good to go.  He immediately started gnawing on the milk cube.  He did this for about 1-2 minutes, then I think it got to be too cold.  He started screaming again.  In theory, this was a great idea, and I may try it again.  It did give me 1-2 minutes of consolation.  ;) 

Trina