Clive's Birth Story
Welcoming the third little Vacaro
It was the morning of June 9th and I was thoroughly ready to have my third baby.
The past two weeks leading up to this day had been some of the hardest I can remember, with my body still struggling to recover from a case of the flu which had turned into bronchitis which had turned into a sinus infection. These ailments on top of a full term pregnancy had utterly drained me. I was also six days past my due date.
I had a prenatal appointment scheduled that morning, during which I planned to ask for a membrane sweep to get things moving. I had a sweep with Cove which had put me into labor within 24 hours, and one with Haven that may or may not have contributed to my water breaking a few days later. Either way, I was ready to try anything!
Before leaving the house at 8:00 AM, I told Matt to prepare himself. I had been 4 cm dilated for almost a week and having strong Braxton hicks contractions throughout the days and nights. I knew things could happen quickly, especially with a third baby. So I packed my bags, made the bed, and tidied the house before driving to the appointment with my mom in the front seat.
when we got there, the nurse strapped me to the monitors to give Clive a non stress test. After 30 minutes it became clear that he wasn’t moving enough to pass the test. My doctor wasn’t too concerned, but the results did give him a valid reason to send me straight to labor and delivery. Honestly? I was thrilled! I could still feel Clive moving regularly, which made me think he had just been sleeping deeply during the test and wasn’t in any kind of urgent distress. I was grateful though for an official excuse to have the baby, and, it turns out, my body was ready too.
My mom and I headed straight for the hospital. After getting checked in, I was pleasantly surprised by the familiar face of my nurse and personal friend Lydia Schisler, who had come to take me to the delivery room! We both hoped I would give birth before her shift ended in seven hours so that she could be present for the whole process. Expectations at this point were cautious, however.
Once settled in the room, Matt arrived with the hospital bags and relieved my mom, who gave me a hug and a kiss and advised I strive for patience, since inductions are notorious for taking a long time. I was eager but prepared to endure for as long as it would take.
The next pleasant surprise was discovering that my younger sister, Molly, who also works at the hospital, was on duty that day! She popped in to say hello, and we promised to keep her updated so that she could be there for the big moment.
At this point I was strapped to the monitors with IV in arm and ready to begin. The doctor’s plan was to break my water since I was already at 4 cm, and then get me started on some Pitocin. I also knew I wanted to get an epidural, not for the contractions necessarily, but for the pushing and recovery/stitching up phase of things. During my labor with Haven, I had waited a little too long to ask for the epidural, which had resulted in me receiving one in the middle of transition. I was hoping to avoid that experience again, but didn’t want to jump the gun before I had the chance to labor standing up for a while. We decided to play things by ear.
The doctor broke my water and I stood up and started moving around, hoping to encourage contractions. They didn’t take long to arrive! Soon they were rolling over me every few minutes, building steadily with intensity. I asked the nurse to hold off on the Pitocin since I had a feeling I wouldn’t need a drop of it!
As labor started, Matt and I began our “dance” routine, so to speak, which we had learned from our doula for Cove’s birth and have practiced with each birth since. It involves me standing and swaying to let gravity move the baby down, and then draping my body over Matt’s back as he bends forward into a table position, allowing me to relax as thoroughly as possible during each contraction. There is just something about his warmth, presence, and strength during those moments that are inexpressibly comforting. I have never felt closer to Matt than during these moments!
After 90 minutes I just knew that I was progressing more quickly than expected. Contractions were reaching the point of high intensity, and I recognized them as transitional. Sure enough, the nurse checked me and I was between 7 and 8 cm dilated and fully effaced! It was looking like I would once again be getting the epidural while in the middle of transition. I wasn’t discouraged though! I was not afraid to give birth without one, especially since my pain level at this point was very manageable. But after two wonderful experiences with epidurals in the past, I had started to see it as a tool instead of a cop-out, and knew I would prefer the experience with one than without. Either way, I was surrendered and ready.
The anesthesiologist arrived just in time. Soon enough I was sitting in bed nice and relaxed, still able to move my legs and feel the pressure of each contraction without the pain. Such a mercy! (I know not everyone’s body reacts this well to epidurals, but for some blessed reason I seem to take to it like a charm.) Now there was nothing left to do but let my body do the rest of the work until pushing time.
However, in about 30 minutes I began to feel a pain in my left side that made me very uncomfortable. It seemed as though Clive’s head had moved over and was pushing on a certain nerve during contractions. The nurse helped me shift around to ease the pressure, and although the epidural took the edge off, I still had to hold Matt’s hand and breathe deeply through the discomfort.
Then, suddenly, Clive’s heart rate drastically dropped and Lydia (my nurse/friend) decided to be better safe than sorry and alert the other staff. The room quickly filled as Matt stepped out of the way. Thankfully, Clive’s heart rate climbed again after I flipped over to my other side, which we believe helped him resume a better position. Regardless, we decided it was time to deliver since I was officially “complete” and everyone was ready!
I got into position for pushing and we waited for the next contraction to hit. Matt sent a quick text message to Molly, my sister, who sprinted over from the other building just in time! As soon as she stepped into the room, the first contraction arrived. I was able to watch the whole thing take place in the reflective glass on the ceiling (anyone else do this?), and I could tell that it wasn’t going to take long to push this baby out! I could still feel the contractions and the bearing down pressure beautifully, and after a mere 70 seconds, Clive was out and in my arms!
He cried strongly, but was easily calmed by his dad and mine’s voices. Meanwhile, the doctor was tending to me down below due to a sudden hemorrhage. She worked to deliver the placenta which thankfully caused the bleeding to cease, and then she stitched up a small tear as Matt cut Clive’s umbilical cord. I was aware of all the details, but, thankfully, the epidural kept me comfortable throughout. Soon enough everything was wrapping up and I was snuggling all 9 lbs 10 oz of Clive, who had already latched and was nursing like a pro. The room emptied and calmed.
At this point I got the post birth shakes (an unpleasant but non dangerous reaction to adrenaline and other hormones). Matt read me some Psalms, and then pulled out the electric heating pad I had packed and laid it over my chest at full temp. Within a few minutes the warmth had calmed my body back down and I was feeling very happy and sleepy.
The next 24 hours were filled with every kind of sweet (and difficult) moment as we moved to the mother/baby floor and started the typical routine of checking vitals and attempting to pee and ordering food and nursing Clive, etc. etc. The night was long but easier the third time around now that we knew what to expect and how to care for a newborn.
Another hospital employee and fellow King’s Church member snuck in at the crack of dawn to give me a hug and Clive a beautiful, handmade baby blanket (something she does for all the new babies in our church! See it in the picture of Clive below.) It was the perfect way to start off the day! Then, around 4:00 PM we were discharged and made our way home to our new life with a third baby in the backseat.
Matt and I are in awe over the goodness of God. My labors have been getting shorter and easier with every baby, and even though the home stretch was difficult, the Lord has blessed us with an easy recovery and postpartum season so far. Now we are enjoying a full 8 weeks of paternity leave for Matt (thanks Geico!) and are savoring every moment as a family of 5. Cove and Haven couldn’t be more in love with their new brother!
Our God is gracious and we are grateful.
Love,
Naomi