Kaleb and Carson's Birth Stories

Kaleb was due October 4, 1997. On October 1, 1997, I had my weekly check-up with my midwife at 9:30 am. After being checked, I was still at 2cm and 60% effaced (the same for the last two weeks). When I was checked, my midwife stripped my membranes. I went home, took a nap and woke up with a slight discomfort. This was about 1:30pm. After about an hour of this, I decided to start timing them. Nothing regular about them, anywhere from one minute to ten minutes apart and 30 to 45 seconds long. I called Sue, my midwife, to let her know it had started. In the meantime I kept trying to get a hold of my fiance at work, but he wasn't returning my pages. Bob finally returned home and we decided to leave for the birthing center.

We arrived there about 9:30pm. I was at 3cm and 90% effaced. We walked and did everything to get labor going, but after a sleepless night I was stuck at 4cm. We decided to go home and try to get some rest. At about 7:30 pm the next night we decided to go to the hospital, where my midwife was delivering a baby, to be checked. I felt like I couldn't take it anymore. I was exhausted. I was at 5cm and still 90% effaced. They gave me some sleeping pills and we went home.

Sue said I would probably be calling her around 2 or 3 a.m. to let her know it was finally time. Well, the sleeping pills did not work at all and by 3am we were calling Sue. The birthing center was an hour away, but we made it there by 3:30 am.

Finally we were getting somewhere. I was 7cm and 100% effaced. Sue broke my water and labor really came on then. I got into the tub and for the next couple of hours, I was in and out of the tub trying to get comfortable. The tub wasn't much more comfortable, just hot. Finally after 45 minutes of pushing Kaleb Michael was born at 8:57 a.m. He was 8lbs 4oz and 20 3/4 in. After 42 hours of labor, he was more than worth it.

Twenty months later we were back again. Carson was due May 29, 1999. On May 26, 1999, I had a weekly check-up at 4:30pm. Sue had stripped my membranes the week before and I had contractions on and off, but nothing ever came of them. I was at 4 cm and 50% effaced this week. The prior week I was 3cm and 50%effaced. I went home and by 6:30 p.m. I was feeling contractions. I knew this time it would be a while though, so I just got things cleaned up around the house, gave Kaleb a bath and cooked dinner. We just went on with the nightly rituals. I woke up about every two hours that night and Bob decided to take that next day off. I have a daycare in my home and I decided to go a head and take kids. My mothers thought I was crazy! This time I felt like I was in more control of my body and new what to expect. I called Sue to let her know it was time, but that it would still be a couple of hours.

Finally at 9:30 p.m., we arrived at the birthing center. I was 5cm and 100% effaced. His head wasn't engaged though, so I squatted through my contractions. An hour later I was at 7cm, Sue broke my water and I got into the tub. After 13 minutes of pushing Carson Alan was born at 1:24 a.m. He was 7lbs 12oz and 19 1/2 in.

I had completely natural labors and long ones. I would never use any type of drugs and I encourage everyone to try it naturally. It is the most wonderful feeling. My labors were 42 and 30 1/2 hours long with good size babies. Carson is almost a year old already. He is still nursing and I don't think I will be weaning him anytime soon. He is still very dependent on me. Besides, Bob says we are finished and I am not ready to break that bond. Kaleb weaned himself at 10 1/2 months and I am so thankful Carson is a mama's boy!