Baby Mason

My water broke at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, December 28th, and I thought it may re-seal since I did not feel any contractions. Matt called our doula, Sarah Skogberg, to inform her of what had just happened. She recommended that we get some sleep/rest and if things did not progress by the morning, then we'd probably need to decide at some point when we'd want to go to Cottage Hospital. I was in denial, but also was hoping that things would get going so that we could have the baby tomorrow (Tuesday, December 29th), which is the day that our primary doctor/CNM Wanda Westerman, with Sansum, is on call at Cottage. I decided to get the remainder of my bags ready & take a shower as I knew I had time now.

Weak contractions started at about 1:30 a.m. I was feeling something so knew at that moment that the labor had started and it was real. I was very happy, but also still surprised that Mason was starting his descent just as I had asked him to because we had hoped he would come December 29th or January 5th - both Tuesdays - and it was happening! (Our due date was: 1/7/10.)

Stronger contractions started by about 3:30 a.m. Matt called our doula to let her know labor was definitely progressing. At this time, I was spending a lot of time in the bathroom "emptying" & I threw up three times. I was working through each contraction - either in the bathroom on the toilet or in bed, mostly on all fours with low moans or on my side with Matt timing contractions. They seemed to be very close together & approximately 45 sec. to 1 min. in length and it was difficult for me to distinguish between each contraction because it all seemed to be running together with not much rest time in between (less than a minute apart). I had discomfort in my lower back - upper butt - and needed Matt to press on the top of each cheek, specifically, as the contractions became stronger. Matt called our doula again around 5:30 a.m. and asked her to come to our house as things were progressing fast and the contractions were very intense & very close together.

Our doula Sarah arrived at our house about. 6:15 a.m. and immediately started helping. She also applied pressure to my upper butt and explained that my pelvis was opening. She helped me breathe through my nose — big deep breaths — and breathe to the baby with each contraction. We worked through several contractions together & she asked me if I wanted to sit on the yoga ball to try and move my hips, which I did for a little while. Then back to the bathroom I went where Sarah and I worked through another couple of contractions while Matt loaded up the car. I felt the pressure arrive, which signifies wanting to push perhaps, so I told Sarah. We decided it was time to go to the hospital at about 7:15 a.m.

As we left to go to the hospital, Sarah advised that we park in the lot, so we could get the last breaths of fresh air before going inside. But as Matt took the left turn on Pueblo Street off Bath, Sarah said, “Wait, just pull up to the front door.” Matt did so, going the wrong way up the one-way driveway and the valet told him he had to turn around. “She’s having a baby right now,” Matt told him, and the valet relented, but charged the customary five bucks for parking.

We got inside the hospital at 7:30 a.m. I worked through maybe three contractions while walking to the elevator and to Labor & Delivery. When inside our room, I went straight into the bathroom to work through one or two contractions with Sarah. Then, I came out of the bathroom to be "checked" & I was at 9 3/4cm! Wanda was near the hospital and would arrive shortly. There wasn't much time for anything — no hep lock, no drugs — but the nurse managed to draw some blood, which was about it. Wanda arrived and checked me again and I was at 10cm and the cervix was completely effaced. She said I could start pushing at a little after 8 a.m. Mason came out at 8:46 a.m., and went straight to my stomach attached to the umbilical cord, which Matt was able to cut.

That's our birth story! Thanks so much Tracy for providing us with great knowledge going into our Cottage Hospital (very first) birth!

Joanna, Matt, & Mason