CASSIE'S BIRTH STORY

Part I - Labor and Birth

It was 5:01am on Saturday, January 6, 2001 when I finally was aware of why I was waking up every twenty minutes. I decided that I was in for the long haul so that I should try to rest or sleep as long as I could so I opted to remain in bed for a while. I finally got up around 7:00am with contractions still about 20-30 min apart.

My labor went on all day but was never really regular. I'd have an hour or so of contractions 30 min apart ... then a while with them 10 min apart and they continued to jump around like that all day. The only times when they were regular was when my toddler Rebecca was nursing. She nursed twice and during both nursings the contractions were 2-3 min apart. There is DEFINATELY something to be said for nursing in labor!!

I wasn't very hungry all day so consequently didn't eat or drink much. This may not sound like a big thing now but it definitely made a difference later on.

About 3:00pm I decided that the contractions were really hurting and that I would feel better in the bathtub. I filled it and got in with my husband close behind. He had put the kids in the living room and they were watching a video.

Since the nipple stimulation had provided some regularity to the contractions he suggested we try that. That got them much more regular. He was an angel pouring warm water over my belly as I would contract and helping me to relax between the contractions.

At some point I decided that we should probably call my mom even though I was not sure that the contractions wouldn't space out again. I figured that she'd been there, done that three times and she would totally understand. So during the next break between contractions my husband called her. We decided against calling my brother yet since he was supposed to be working and I didn't want him to miss out on work just to sit around. Poor judgement call on my part as I gave birth 20 min after my mom arrived and my brother missed the whole thing.

The contractions started getting much more intense at this point although they never got any closer than 3 min apart. I was having a really hard time staying on top of the peak but my sweet husband always seemed to know the right thing to say in the middle of it all to help me make it to the end.

I felt my water break and asked my husband if there was any discoloration indicating meconium. It was perfectly clear ... good! At some point I remember reaching just inside and feeling that the baby's head was coming. Things were still very intense and all of a sudden I felt something change inside. I said something to the effect of "baby's coming" although my husband said that he didn't think it was out loud because he didn't hear it.

The next thing I knew I was pushing. I fully intended to push very gently and slowly but this little one would hear nothing of the sort. I didn't plan to birth in the water but at this point I wasn't going ANYWHERE so in the tub was where she was born. Derek was very happy about this since he liked the idea of a waterbirth from the start of the pregnancy.

I could feel that I was making some progress so I reached down to feel her head ... something I had always wanted to do with my previous births but hadn't gotten to do. Derek asked if there was a cord around the neck but I replied with, "All I can feel is ears." She was only out to her nose and ears. When her whole head was out, Derek tried to check for a cord and didn't feel one. The rest of her beautiful self was born in the next couple of contractions into her daddy's hands. She sputtered a little and then cried right away. It was 4:50pm and Cassandra Grace Wilson had entered the world at a weight of 8lbs 9oz and with a height of 21.5". Her head measured 14".

Siblings and Grandma were called in to see their new little sister and granddaughter. What a miracle that had just occurred!!! The spirit was strong for me especially as she was being born. Something about just having my eternal companion and my Father in Heaven being the only ones in attendance was just purely wonderful. I knew then and still feel that my Heavenly Father was pleased with our choices.



Part II - The Transfer

The placenta was born quickly and easily but part of the membranes were adhered on one end inside me and on the other end to the placenta. I waited and tried pushing some more to see if it would release but nothing seemed to work. I called my midwife apprentice friend to get some advice and she said she'd be right over.

She helped me out of the tub and onto our bed so that she could see better what was going on. We tried and tried to get it to let go and nothing seemed to work. We used some herbal tincture and I talked to my body telling the membranes that they had done a good job taking care of the baby but that their job was over now and it was ok for them to let go. Sounds weird I know but I feel that my body is a temple of the Lord and it can understand me. My husband gave me a priesthood blessing and my mom took the kids in the other room to say a prayer for me.

My friend decided that it might be easier to get the membranes to release if I were sitting on the toilet so I sat up to get into the bathroom. The room suddenly got very warm and my head started spinning. I told my friend that I was NOT ok and that I was going to pass out. She helped me get laid back down and took my blood pressure. She said it was VERY low and she was going to reach inside and try to get the membranes out. This time it worked.

She told me she would feel better if I would go and be checked out. Plus I had torn during the birth and needed some stitches. I called the midwife we used with Rebecca and she said to get to the hospital and she'd meet me there. Since I couldn't make it to our van myself she said to call 911 so that they could carry me out and I'd ride in the ambulance. I SO did not want to do that but I knew that I couldn't get up to walk.

The paramedics arrived and started an IV. It took four times before they could find a vein but that was really what my body needed. Remember when I mentioned that I hadn't eaten much or had much to drink? They also gave me some oxygen and asked me some basic questions. Since the baby was doing great they concentrated on me. It took a while but eventually I arrived at the hospital and was given some pitocin to help the uterus clamp down better and remove any extra pieces of membrane. My midwife arrived and teased me about how this was the most anti-climatic birth she'd ever attended and I replied with, "Well, Donna. You stitched very well :o)." We both laughed.

Would I have done anything differently? I would have made sure that I was well hydrated and well fed. Would I have changed my mind about having our baby at home? Definitely NOT. I feel that my Heavenly Father is pleased with our choices. I am so thankful for His guidance. I am thankful for my eternal companion Derek and the love he has for me and his children. I am thankful for my mother and the way she cared for my children and me. I'm thankful for my brother and the fact that even though he was suffering a horrible migraine, he remained by my side in the hospital so that my husband could be with baby Cassandra while the hospital staff was assessing her. I am thankful for my friend and her willingness to love and serve. Most of all I am thankful for my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the many blessings I have in my life.