Maysa Jean's Birth Story

My pregnancy with little Maysa was less than glorious. While I have appreciated and enjoyed carrying each of my babies and found it amazing that my body could grow a tiny little human being, I was more than ready to be done being pregnant by the time Maysa was born. I was met with a lot of nausea at the end of my first trimester and it continued throughout the second trimester. I also had sciatic pain, nerve pain, round ligament pain, and restless leg syndrome right from the beginning. I had pregnancy induced eczema. I had a low grade fever for the first 30 weeks that made me chilled and tired. Toward the middle of my second trimester I started to have severe stomach pains that continued into the third trimester, and ran into more nausea during the last several weeks of my pregnancy. I had pain that shot through my abdomen and down my legs at unexpected times. I started to get uncontrollable chills, especially at night. I would also get light-headed at random times due to her pressing on a nerve in my back. I still gained 25 lbs, but that's a good 10 lbs less than I gained with Gavyn and Alli. I had a fair share of these issues with them too, but they were amplified and added to in this pregnancy. Oh and my prodromal labor during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy gave me anxiety about first going into labor early, then not making it to the hospital, then thinking my body just couldn't get into complete labor. However, all the while my strong little girl was kicking and turning and playing away, and she always reassured me that everything was going to be OK. I sat every day and focused on enjoying her while she was a part of me. My body went through a lot the past 9 months, but nothing compares to knowing you are growing life inside of you.

My contractions started at about 4:00 pm on March 19, 2016. I had laid down with Alli for an afternoon nap and woke up to fairly strong contractions. Which was nothing new. This had happened countless times before. Just another bout of prodromal labor, I thought. Time to get up and move around, and they'll go away.

Then they didn't. They were irregular but getting stronger, and I debated calling everyone that was waiting for the call. About 7:00 I knew it was the real deal. We called our good friend over to stay with the kids, called my Mom to come down, and texted the birth photographer to give her a heads up. We got the kids to bed just before our friend got to our house at about 8:30, and we were out the door. By the time we got to the hospital my contractions were about 4 minutes apart and I was 4 cm. They hooked me up to the monitors. I went back and forth on telling them I didn't want them to, but they promised I could walk around so I agreed. John was putting pressure on my back to ease my pain during each contraction. I've had back labor with all of my children. I have a nice bruise from him drilling into my back, but I don't think I could get through labor without him doing it. About 40 minutes later, I was already at 8. My birth photographer got there about the same time we did, which was perfect. All my worries about getting to the hospital were gone. It was time to focus on me and my daughter. We moved to the delivery room (they had us in a "check-in" room at first), and I decided to have my midwife break my water at about 10:35 pm. I knew this would make things go quickly, as it has before. I got up on the bed, shed my gown, and assumed my most comfortable birthing position - on my knees holding the back of the bed. I had about 4 extremely strong contractions - transition had hit! My mind has already begun work on shutting out that pain. I imagine my daughters going through that as mothers and I cringe at the thought. I can't protect them from that pain. They'll have to own it themselves. I knew I was close.

A big contraction hit, but instead of finishing out as usual, my body pushed. It wasn't a decision on my part. My body pushed, and it pushed HARD. I felt Maysa moving down and out, so fast and forceful I could only hope somebody was there to catch her. I couldn't speak. Later I was told I really took everyone by surprise and I probably should have warned them I was pushing. But I couldn't. My voice was lost in transition and lost in birthing my daughter. After that one, strong push, I felt her leave my body and heard a sharp, quick cry. I felt hands help me move onto my back so she could come onto my belly. There she was. Perfect, tiny, wet and warm. She was loud and healthy. I told her how glad I was she was here. That I had her, I would keep her safe and warm. I was in so much pain, but so elated at the same time. I heard my birth photographer snapping photos and was so glad she was capturing these first moments with my last child.

Maysa's cord was tiny and thin, just like her. It stopped pulsing and John cut it. I was able to lift her onto my chest and put a warm blanket over her. I delivered the placenta, which was quite a relief. I stopped for a moment to admire her placenta - her life source for the last 9 months. She rested, and I held her close. About 10 minutes after birth, she lifted her head, and dove towards my breast. She knew what she wanted and right where to get it! She latched on immediately and perfectly. She nursed for maybe 15 minutes, unlatched, and started to take in the world around her. She looked at me; seeing my face was relaxing to her, and seeing her eyes was magical for me. After such a hard pregnancy, holding her tiny little body was the reward that made all the pain in the world worth it.

She stayed with me for about an hour and a half. It was time to move to the post-partum room the next floor up, so I let John take her to get weighed and checked over. She was 6 lbs, 3 oz. My littlest baby. I managed to get cleaned up, dressed, and comfortable in the wheel chair while Daddy took care of Maysa.

We made it up to the post partum room and Maysa nursed again. Then she went into a deep sleep. She was so tired. She slept for almost 6 hours before wanting to eat again. She had some amniotic fluid in her stomach she had to get up before having an appetite, but after that she ate regularly with vigor! She had to have her blood sugar tested before each feeding because she was "small for gestational age" but passed every test with flying colors. It was hard to let them prick her foot every time and after a few passed tests I "forgot" to tell them I was about to feed her. I had very strong contractions for about 3 days after having her (I call them aftershock contractions). I know they have a purpose but they get worse with each baby and while some ibuprofen helped a little, it didn't help much. Oh well. All of her hospital checkups came back perfect. We went home on Monday, March 21st. We were eager for Maysa to meet her big siblings because they weren't able to visit the hospital due to a recent H1N1 outbreak. Luckily they were having a good time at home with Nana!

Watch the Video Collage!

She has continued mostly eating, sleeping, and pooping for the past week and a half. I know she is going to grow fast, so I am spending lots of time sitting, staring, singing, and admiring her every feature. Her birth was textbook perfect. However, it will always be special and unique to me. Gavyn and Alli are so in love with her and have been very gentle and caring with her. John has been very helpful while he is on paternity leave. Life just keeps getting better for our family!