On Monday, I woke up for school as usual, but had a feeling that my water was "leaking" and told Mark that I thought today might be the day (but not to get his hopes up). I went to school and during my conference period (break time), I lost my mucus plug. I text messaged Mark who proceeded to tell everyone that fairly gross detail!
Around 9:30, my water broke enough for me to call Cammie and need to go home to change my clothes- it looked like I wet my pants! Cammie said I could stay at school or go home, my choice. Since I needed new clothes I started saying goodbye to my team, who were all thoroughly excited. I told them not to get the kids all worked up and just to let them know tomorrow. But, the excitement was contagious and the kids got wind of what was happening. I told them all I was off to have the baby and they were very cute, all giving me hugs, etc. I was rounding the corner when my water REALLY broke (like you see in the movies) and I made a break for the bathroom. The school nurse came and gave me some new, very stylish, pants and laughing hysterically, I called Mark and headed home. He said he was going to have some Thanksgiving lunch at work (since he got up early to cook the turkey and all) and then he'd be home. No contractions yet, but as I got nearer and nearer to home, they started coming almost like clockwork every 3 minutes. I called Cammie again, who said she had an appointment with another lady and would be over after that. She said she'd check me and then decide to stay or go.
I got home around 11:00 and my mom suggested that we put in a movie to distract me. I chose Knocked Up, which seemed appropriate for the occasion. Mark got home around noon and started timing my contractions, which were definately getting stronger! They were around a minute apart and lasting longer and longer. Around 1:30, I had Mark call Cammie to make sure she was on her way and lo and behold, she was right outside the door! She came in and moved me to the bedroom, where she checked me and I was already 7 cm! I think she was a little surprised and called Siobhan (the other midwife), right away. Mark called his mom and both she and my mom were there for the rest of the labor and Wade's birth.
Labor progressed quickly and when Siobhan arrived, I was 9 cm. I was in a variety of positions including hanging from Mark's neck, which was apparently very exhausting and painful for him, but for some reason, I really have no sympathy :) Around 3:45 Wade was born and immediately grabbed onto my shirt. He was purplish at first, but let out a cry and was instantly red! Mark's biggest concern was his very cone-shaped head. The midwives quickly assessed that he was perfect and gave him to me for Mark and I to stare at. Eventually, they let Mark cut the cord and after about an hour, they did his exam. He scored a 9 on the APGAR test, just because his hands and feet were a little purple still. They also assessed his true age, which was 37 weeks- 3 weeks early.
After I had the best dinner I've ever eaten, pasta from Carinos, we had many visitors- Uncle Brandon & (soon to be) Aunt Sam, Uncle Tim, Uncle Greg & Aunt Shelly, Grandma & Grandpa Maruszak, Grandma Kludt and Brian & family from across the street.
Everything went so smoothly that day- like Mark and I keep saying, we got up, went to work, came home, had a baby, ate dinner and went to bed- how perfect! I am so greatful to have had the opportunity to have the baby at home. Both of us couldn't imagine doing it any other way. We were so relaxed and surrounded by just the people we wanted there. Everyone asks me if I would do another home birth- and never once did the thought cross my mind that I wish I had pain medication or that I was in the hospital, so of course, my answer is yes, I would hope to never have to have a baby any other way!
So, in case you were wondering- that's baby Wade's story!
