Mallie's Birth Story

(This is long. If you don't make it through all the way still click on the link in the last paragraph to see the sneak peak pictures. They're pretty great!)

My parents flew in on Thursday and we spent the afternoon walking around the mall, shopping and eating out. I had some contractions but they were just braxton hicks so I didn't get excited but I told my Mom & Dad the whole day that I was planning on having the baby the next morning. No, I really can't plan these things I just think I can and for some reason my babies cooperate.
I got a call from midwife around 7pm that night letting me know she had just left a 48 hour birth and was probably heading to another one. Poor woman, I understood that Thursday night was definitely not ideal to have this baby. Around 8pm we sent my parents back to their hotel to sleep since they had woken up early that morning and David & I finished putting the kids to bed and hung out. Around 9pm I sat down to watch my recorded Project Runway and noticed my contractions were starting to wrap around my back. They weren't really painful but I knew this was probably the real deal. I turned off the TV and tried to go to bed since I usually sleep through this early part of labor and I had no idea how long it would last. In bed I timed the contractions and they were coming every 7 minutes. They weren't painful but I decided I had better start getting everything ready in case this went as fast as I was expecting. At 9:58am I texted Cori (my midwife) and said "This is a VERY early heads up. Haven't you always wanted to deliver 3 babies in one day?" She called me right away and asked what was going on. I told her this was very early labor and asked if I would get her or the backup midwife if she was at the other birth. She said she was at home and to keep her updated. Then 15 minutes later she called me back and told me she was coming over. I told her not to and basically begged her not to come because I thought it was way too early. Thank goodness she knows me and my history because I would have Mallie just 2 hours later. She said she'd grab something to eat and head over slowly. So then I called my parents and let them know Cori was heading over but I still thought it was way too early. My mom said to call them back in the next 15 minutes and let her know how contractions were feeling. I was still in denial I was in active labor because contractions just weren't hurting enough for my to justify calling everyone. I convinced David to go outside walking with me to try and get things to pick up before everyone came over. Contractions picked up to about every 4 minutes apart but still not too painful so I thought we had awhile.

At 10:58 my parents pulled up into the driveway. Cori was just 5 minutes behind them. We started filling the tub with water and my Dad & David went to Whataburger to get some food just in case they were in for a long night. Cori asked if she could check me to give the other midwife some notice since she had a bit of a drive. I have never been checked during labor so I had no idea what to expect as far as how far I would be dialated. I was thrilled to hear I was at a 5 and 75% effaced feeling like that took no work at all. Elizabeth (friend & birth photographer) called Cori and asked if she should head over even though she had been at births for the last 3 days and hadn't slept and Cori told her yes. Around 11:30pm contractions were picking up in intensity and David or my mom were rubbing my back with every contraction. I asked Cori to check me again because I wanted to see if I was getting closer. Sure enough I was now at 7cm. Between 11:30-12 I remember people arriving David's mom, Elizabeth, Kim (the other midwife). It was big party in the living room. Everyone had me laughing and kept me pretty distracted. My dad was sitting in a room full of women saying "This is so surreal". Everyone kept asking me if I was going to get in the tub and I kept saying it was my last resort for when I just couldn't handle it anymore... so I kept waiting.

At 12:10am or so I was in the kitchen and Cori asked to check the baby's heartrate I told her yes and then contractions started and they just didn't stop. I had 3-4 that just rolled one right on top of eachother. I remember looking at a bowl of apples sitting on my counter thinking I'm going to cry this hurts so bad and I remember my mom saying "this is transition - you're almost done" and then the contractions ended. I knew she was right. I went to the bathroom and Cori and Kim came in with me. As soon as I sat down I felt the distinct urge to bare down with a contraction. Cori looked at me and said, "Can you make it to the tub?" I said "yes" and walked as fast I could back to the living room. I got in the tub and just a few contractions later I pulled Mallie out of the water at 12:22am. The midwives put a towel on her right away so David & I moved it and got to say "It's a GIRL!" I still hadn't decided if we were going to name her Mallie so we waited to call her anything. She was covered in vernix just like Hannah but was still as cute as can be. After the baby is born is what I absolutely LOVE about birthing at home. I just sat and held her and chatted with everyone while I snuggled my baby. Eventually I made my way to the bedroom and snuggled, nursed and chatted with everyone for another 20-30 minutes before Cori even started the newborn exam.

We all sat and talked and guessed what her measurements would be and I remember being so grateful to everyone who was there. That room was full of lots of love and exactly the emotional support that I wanted. It was perfect. I think my Dad's reaction was my favorite he kept saying "How do you talk about this and how amazing it is without sounding like a born again?" He had heard all about Hannah's birth from my mom but seeing Mallie born really made him understand why I choose to do it at home. It was just perfect.

Elizabeth who is AMAZING already put sneak peaks of the birth up on her site. You can actually see the pics of me in transition in the kitchen. I told Elizabeth I really wanted her there for the pictures after the baby was born of everyone holding her for the first time. I never thought I'd want to see pics of me during labor but looking at these now I'm so glad this is all documented. Click here. to see the sneak peak. If you're in DFW she is the woman to go to for all things photography.