I had to get this post up ASAP because it is just too miraculous not to share. As you know my sister and I were both expecting. Another fun aspect to our story is that we both got pregnant unexpectedly around the same time. That would be our first of many what are the odds?
We later find out our due dates were a week apart. We were in shock and couldn't stop laughing over it. Move forward a few more weeks and we find out we are both having baby girls. How fun! They are going to have such a special, unique relationship. We can't wait.
Fast forward to now, I am an induction and my sister is a scheduled cesarean due to complications with her previous birth. My babies are victims of shoulder dystocia and the earlier we can induce the safer it is for them. 39 weeks is the earliest you are allowed for an induction and the 9th put me at 39 weeks and a day so in we go for my induction.
We went in at 11:30am and started the usual process I know so well. This time around my body went into labor, consistent mild contractions and instead of just breaking my water my Dr. decided to just let me labor and see if we could get away with out any other medical interventions. So what usually takes 12 hours start to finish would now be taking me late into the night and well on to the next day. We did a lot of walking and stair climbing. I am not the type to lay in bed and wait for my baby to come. Being up and moving around is crucial to your baby dropping down safely and in the right position. It can make or break a natural labor. I knew if she came down wrong and I experienced back labor than an already painful process would become unbearable.
2 am comes around and I am beyond exhausted and feeling worried that I wont have the energy for when REAL contractions begin. At about 3cm I stopped contracting. We decided to get some rest and continue with breaking my water in the morning. I was happy with that decision because she still hadn't dropped down low yet and I really wanted family there when she was born.
9:15am we break my water and real labor starts to progress. My sister was due to come and take photos and be there for the delivery when I was around 7cm. We then get a text from Travis her husband that they are on their way because Corey had gone into labor and was contracting every 3 minutes. I knew if she was beginning to dilate that she would most likely be having her baby girl before me. Oh yeah.... AND we have the same Dr. Our Dr. and all of the nurses were dying over this. They couldn't believe it! It was really fun and exciting. Corey texts us and says she is dilating and that they we're going in for their C-section at 1:00 pm. At this point it was about 10:30am.
My labor began to intensify fairly quickly. The pain of each contraction was worsening every few minutes I felt and I was having a hard time staying in my zone and coping with the intensity. By 11:30 I was certain I was getting close only to find out I was 4cm. If you're planning on delivering with out pain meds I highly recommend not checking dilation unless you feel your labor is progressing quickly. It can be very discouraging and I almost lost it. There was no way I could continue in this amount of pain for much longer. I could no longer sit down, I was pacing my room, in and out of shower, my music was on full blast. The wireless headphones were clutch by the way and I highly recommend them. I was doing everything I could and really having to go deep in to my zone.
Then it was 12:30. My sissy popped in all prepped for her c-section and we hugged and off she went. At that moment I remember thinking, my Dr is going to in there for at least an hour and I knew by the level of my pain that I wasn't going to be another hour. More like 10 minutes. At 12:45 I knew she was coming. Nurse told me I was a 5. I knew there was so no way. There is a very distinct feeling when you are about to have a baby. Your body goes into auto pilot and there is no stopping it. I am screaming, "NO! I have to push, she is coming. I can't stop her. Get my Dr!!" She comes in on her way to my sister in the OR and says ok, you're about a 6. You're doing great. Just transitioning. By the time I am done you'll be a 10."
She walks out. And 2 minutes later you can probably hear me screaming throughout the entire labor and delivery wing. There was no way I had more then 2 minutes before this baby birthed herself. Nurse yells, "She's a 10! Grab the Dr. from the OR or I am going to be delivering this baby myself."
Let me recap that for you...I went from 5cm to a complete 10, baby literally being born in less than 10 minutes. My Dr flies in, screaming for gloves and little Indie is born 30 seconds later. I never even consciously pushed. She just came out. It was insane!! I had no complications so my Dr. stepped out, mind blown and delivered my little niece Ryatt 20 minutes later.
This is my what the hell just happened face! I was in shock for about an hour...
And, my brother in law got the entire thing on video. What a whirlwind experience. My favorite movie has always been Father of the Bride 2 and I still can't believe we got our very own version. I feel so shocked that this happened. How cool and an absolute miracle.
If my sister hadn't been there for her delivery my family would't have shown up in time for my delivery. Because of her my girls and our family were able to be there and actually thought it was my sister who had the baby and not me. Being that I completely skipped 6-9cm. I am just so grateful for all of the little things that took place leading up to her being born. Thank you Jesus for a once in a lifetime moment and 2 beautiful, healthy baby girls.
We are so in love with our little twinnies. It was such an exciting day that we will all cherish.
Indie Mae
Born 1:24 pm
7lbs 12 oz
19.5 inches long
Ryatt Rae
Born 1:44 pm
6lbs 9 oz
19.5 inches long
Sister, it was such a special gift sharing this with you. We are beyond blessed to have such a strong sisterhood and friendship. We have a bond stronger than any. I love you and my sweet little niece to pieces. We are looking forward to sharing every mile stone together
******My type of labor is known as "Precipitous labor." Only a very small percentage of woman experience this. My nurse informed me that what causes an express labor could be an efficient uterus that contracts with unusual strength and very compliant soft tissues as well as a sensitivity to oxytocin. I also looked it up because I wanted to read a little bit more about it. I was intrigued and wondered if any of the things I did to prepare my body for delivery may have also been a factor. I found that a well aligned pelvis and baby positioned extremely well. Here is what I did the last month in a half leading up to delivery Chiropractor 1 to 2 times a week for last 6 weeks. Acupuncture starting at 36 weeks, eating 6 dates a day starting at 34 weeks. From 35 weeks if I were sitting, it was on my exercise ball. I also did a lot of yoga poses and lunges leading up to labor as well as doing them in early labor while I could still tolerate it. One thing laboring moms don't realize is that you can use the stairwells in the hospital to help baby drop and speed things along. With Willow and Indie I would alternate sides, and lunge up 2 stairs at a time. Its extremely effective in helping the baby engage properly.
I'll never really know, but I do believe all of the extra steps I took to help make things easier for a natural birth really actually helped a ton. Labor is a marathon. If you don't start preparing well in advance, you leave yourself open to longer strenuous labor for you and baby.
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. These opinions are entirely my own. All I can base this off of are my own labor and deliveries. Please do not try anything listed above with out first consulting your Dr. 3>