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 brandypandywittmer » Posted Sep. 29, 2014 2:17pm congratulations on the boy!
	Comment from TXkadams » Posted Sep. 26, 2014 11:57am Congratz on your baby boy!! Brothers will be awesome!!
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Sep. 23, 2014 7:15am Note taken, I will ask for help for sure! I'm really nervous about when fatigue is going to kick in.... At least my son isn't jumping yet! (Although his favorite pastime right now is walking around the house while holding my hand - MY hand, certainly not Daddy's! - so I might not get much of a break either!)
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Sep. 19, 2014 12:26pm He's doing good! He's a perfect baby.... except when we try to put him to bed! lol We feel so blessed to have him. How are you finding being pregnant while having to take care of a kid? That part is making me nervous!
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Sep. 18, 2014 11:35am That's good! It would be scary to be followed by a doctor that doesn't speak your native language.... especially when you're in a high-risk situation. I'm crossing my fingers you'll get to 40 weeks this time!
	Comment from Quartz3 » Posted Sep. 18, 2014 11:22am Heeeey! I saw you were pregnant again too and was going to leave you a comment during my lunch break! It must be quite something to experience a pregnancy follow-up in Germany!