Arlo James 's Birth Story

My birth story begins at 7 am monday morning. I woke up to what I had been feeling previously the last few days around the same time each morning, light menstrual like cramping but it had usually fizzled by 9 am in previous days so I stayed in bed changing positions. This time I noticed that the consistency of contractions seemed to be about 10 minutes apart by 9 am I decided to empty my bladder to see if that would help as well. Upon wiping I noticed I lost my mucus plug. So then I thought something was going on. Sat on my birth ball for about a half hour as my hubby got my son ready for breakfast and the day. Noticed that the contraction were still coming consistently every 10 mins. I decided to take a bath to see if that relieved them as well. It did not and by 11 am the contractions were 7-8 mins apart and lasting 30-45 seconds. I knew this was labor by that time. I called my doula over to my home around 11 am. She was there with me laboring at home until we decided to head to the hospital around 3pm. I was 5 cm upon being admitted. less than 2 hours later I was at a 9 cm. I labored in a birthing tub for a few hours where my water broke. I had a hard time pushing him out in the tub and had to get out and push him out in a side laying position. He was out and crying with three pushes. Born at 39+4 weeks pre e and hellp free, all natural birth. only using the birth tub for pain relief. The recovery has been night and day compared to my first son born by induction at 34 weeks.
Mommy and baby are both healthy and the entire experience was so surreal.

	Comment from Mrs.Mom » Posted Mar. 23, 2015 10:49am PS...6 more days til your 40 week mark! Crazy!!
	Comment from Mrs.Mom » Posted Mar. 23, 2015 10:48am Have to say I miss our Sept 2012 group of ladies. The site doesn't seem as busy these days. Everyone was so good at keeping in touch!
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Mar. 23, 2015 7:25am You're SO CLOSE!!! This is so exciting! It would be so ironic if you were going to go past your due date... but I'm sure baby will decide the time has come very soon! It's so exciting to think you could be in labour as I type this!!!
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Mar. 15, 2015 7:06pm Haha, you'll be just fine! After what you've been through the first time around, natural delivery will be a breeze! As for me, everything's going smoothly! Baby's now head down, but I'm hoping he'll stay put for a while! I'm a bit stressed because we're still in the process of finishing up our basement in order to move my boyfriend's office there, and we can't start working on the nursery until that is done... but we'll manage - hopefully!
	Comment from ginabee » Posted Mar. 12, 2015 7:03am Thanks for the welcome back!! Congrats on your baby boy #2! Yay for making it to 38 weeks! (hug)
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Mar. 6, 2015 9:51am So how is week 37 treating you? I can't wait for you to finally have that baby boy in your arms!