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 Quartz3 » Posted Jan. 13, 2015 10:06am Haha, we're actually toying with the idea of having a third baby, see if maybe we could get a baby girl! I keep thinking we had a baby girl with the first pregnancy.... such a shame it turned out the way it did. We'll see I guess. I'm like you, I get jealous whenever someone around me announces they're having a girl now! I'm still excited for a baby boy, but the idea of never having a girl makes me a bit sad. It's probably the same for you. How are you feeling now that you're in that critical period?
	Comment from Mrs.Mom » Posted Jan. 11, 2015 1:52pm here we go that worked....yes due sept again! Hoping for an end of Aug baby:) Had Ruby Oct 1. Sadly I'm severely sick AGAIN ...can't eat or drink anything adn vomitting constantly :(
	Comment from Mrs.Mom » Posted Jan. 11, 2015 1:51pm I've been trying to reply and can't
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Jan. 7, 2015 12:43pm Hey, it looks like we're on the same team, that is, Two Boys Team!!!
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Dec. 8, 2014 7:08am Yeah, pretty much ready for the holidays! We put up the Christmas tree over the weekend and our son has spent the weekend poking at it and grabbing the decorations that are low enough for him to reach. We're wondering how long it will be before he actually falls into the tree or makes the tree fall down! How about you?
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Dec. 5, 2014 7:06am Glad to hear you're doing good. I don't blame you for forgetting to come here... I'm on here so much because work is crazy slow and I often don't have much to do lol. In my birth club there's basically just me and another lady doing the posting... it's not super entertaining!