Jessica’s Birth Story: Arrival of Ruthie

At around 37 weeks pregnant I started having contractions on and off. I would have them for a couple hours but they would eventually fizzle. The intended fathers and I were in constant contact in anticipation for labor beginning at any moment.

On Monday, January 7th, I woke up and got dressed for work. Before leaving the house I messaged the dads and let them know there had been no change in consistency of the contractions. I dropped my children off at school around 7:15 am and proceeded to drive to work. Half way to work I started having contractions. They were about 15 minutes apart. Knowing that this has been going on for a week I decided to wait to tell the dads until I felt confident that they were going to continue. At around 8:30 am the contractions were about every 12 minutes. B happened to message me at around 10 asking questions in regards to plans if we made it to our 39 week appointment on weds the 9th. It was then I noticed the contractions were getting more intense and I decided to fill them in. I told them I put a call into my OB and was hoping I could go into the office to be checked instead of checking into the hospital. S asked if they should head to the hospital or wait. I asked them to wait since I wasn’t certain the contractions would continue. I decided that if I hadn’t heard from my OB by my lunch break that I would walk to the ER and check in to L&D for monitoring.

Noon arrived and my contractions were now every 8-9 minutes and some of them were hard to breathe through. I still had not heard from my Ob and decided I couldn’t wait. One of my colleagues walked me from our office to the ER and ensured I made it to L&D safely. Upon getting to L&D, they decided to check my cervix immediately. I was dilated to a 5 and 75 percent effaced and baby was at a -1 station. They notified my doctor and I updated the dads. The dads decided to go ahead and make their way to the hospital so that they didn’t risk missing the birth of their daughter. About an hour later my OB called and said they were keeping me, and that it was for sure baby day! Oddly, my contractions never became consistent. They were ranging anywhere from 3 minutes apart to 8 minutes apart but they were still progressing my cervix.

At my next cervical check I was still a 5 but 90 percent effaced. The nurse didn’t feel baby’s head and thought she may have flipped to breach. She had the OB on call do an ultrasound to verify baby was head down. Thankfully she was in the correct position but still pretty high up. The dads and big brother arrived at the hospital around 2:15 pm filled with excitement for what was to come. We enjoyed visiting while we could. One of my favorite moments was when their son, who I also carried, climbed into the hospital bed with me, and curled up next to my belly where his sister was snuggled in.

S’s parents and my husband showed up at some point. I’m not certain on their arrival times. My contractions were getting more painful but still inconsistent pattern. My cervix was checked again around 6:45 pm, I was at a 7 and fully effaced. Baby girl was still pretty high up and we needed her to come down. At that point the on call OB decided to break my water. Not long after my water was broken the contractions began to not only intensify but they were finally more consistent.

At 8:15 pm my epidural was no longer helpful and I was feeling a lot of pressure. Baby was finally moving down and fast! I started asking how far away my OB was because I really needed to push. The nurses kept telling me to keep my legs together and that I was doing so good! My OB walked in a little before 8:30 pm, and while she suited up, the nurses put my legs in the stirrups. As soon as Dr. L arrived at the foot of the bed I was instructed to start pushing. Out of all my deliveries this was the most pain I had ever felt while pushing and I’m certain it is because baby was descending down the birth canal so quickly. My husband held one of my hands and one of the intended fathers held the other and I’m so grateful for that! At some point I said, “get her out!” Which looking back I find pretty amusing because with past deliveries I would just say “ow ow ow” while pushing. One contraction and a few pushes and her head was out. Another contraction and some more pushing and she was finally here. I could hear her dads crying with joy and her sweet little cry.

Ruthie was born at 8:37 PM weighing 8 pounds 7 oz., and was 19.25 inches long. They laid her on my chest and S proceeded to cut the umbilical cord. After she was all cleaned up they brought big brother and her grandparents in to meet her. That was such a special moment. Seeing them all together brought me so much joy. The last 15-20 minutes of pain was worth it. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.