The Birth Story of Rhodes Martin Moore. Born at 10:47 AM on April 17th 2010.

Two days or 22 hours of labor, however you want to measure it =).

The birth of Rhodes really starts about a week before his actual arrival. I was feeling BIG and TIRED but still was continuing on with my days of (boundless) activities with my sweet Rhea. We went on our hikes and playdates like usual to keep her tired and me out of the house. The first thing that I really started to become aware of was my back started to ache in a way that made me really take notice. I had been visiting the chiropractor every week in my 9th month. Little baby had been presenting right of anterior, instead of the preferred left of anterior and I wanted to get myself as aligned as possible for an optimal decent =)). The week before Rhodes was born, the intensity of the ache made me feel like a big ol’ wimp and I mentioned to Scott a few times how I wasn’t going to be happy if I had to have these back pains for a few more weeks (I was not due for two more weeks).  I brushed off the back pain though and attributed it to too much activity and carrying my ever-growing Rhea around. I still was not due for two weeks, so I needed to suck it up!

Fast forward later in the week, to two days before Rhodes was born, Thursday, April 15th. Braxton Hicks contractions were warming up and happening often throughout any given day. I could tell if I was ever over-doing it because the Braxton Hicks would kick up a couple of notches until I settled back down (or sat back down=)). Back pain was intensifying, aching most all the time, and I was feeling VERY VERY grumpy ! I called my amazing chiropractor, telling him he HAD to fit me in early. In the recent weeks, every time he adjusted me I was in heaven for a few days b4 the ache started to set back in. He saw me immediately. When he started working on me, he noticed my pelvis was much wider than the last week’s adjustment and commented that I would probably not go all the way to my due date, which was now a little over a week away. He also told me my muscles and ligaments were extremely flexible due to all of my ‘birthin hormones’ starting to work and making my body a bit noodley.

He warned that the adjustment probably would not last long and to come back in if I needed, he would see me as often as I would like. So, like he said, I felt great for about half a day b4 the small-of-the back ache returned, this time with very very warm practice contractions- maybe about 5 or 6 that day. I call them “Braxton Hicks with a KICK !” Some may count this as the start(ish) point of my labor. Contractions=Labor, right? Maybe.  I had no clue how labor would start this time.

With Rhea, my water broke at 2’oclock one afternoon with no contractions even slightly starting until about 6 hours later (and even then- they started very very lightly.) So that Thursday night, I was in full grump mode. Tired and thinking how hard it was going to be to get around for the next week or however long it took for this sweet baby of mine to finish cooking. The next morning, Friday, April 16th (the day b4 the birth), we were up bright and early to meet some friends at the playground. But OH! How my back was killing me! On the way to the park at about 10 am, I was seriously uncomfortable and again called my chiropractor, to see if he could adjust me once again to get a little relief. He said to come right in. I turned around on the way to the playground, and drove back to his office for the adjustment. Oh sweet relief!! Again, he noticed my pelvis getting even WIDER and thought the baby was right around the corner. Scott and I had just been discussing when we thought his mother should fly into town. She was going to be with Rhea while I was laboring. The timing was going to be tricky though. I did not want her to come too early and me feel like a loud ticking clock was right behind me screaming “have this baby nooooowwww” and of course…coming too late would be…well,too late! I thought I would surely make it until the next Wednesday since my due date was not even until that next Friday…so we had decided for her to wait.

Well, off we went to the playdate after the adjustment. It felt good to be out of the house and surrounded by my favorite Mamas, all asking how I was feeling and lending a sympathetic ear to my back-ache and Braxton Hicks (with a kick) grumbles. Little did we all know I was in the beginning of my labor!! We enjoyed a great day at the park with me lounging in the sandbox, feet in the sand, thinking how these Braxton Hicks contractions were nice and KICKY. “Getting all warmed up for the big day” I kept thinking. The contractions put me in a good place mentally. It has always helped me to think of the practice contractions b4 labor as starting a car and letting it run. The longer it runs the better it drives for you when you get in to start your journey. So with each (what I thought to be) “practice” contraction, my body was ensuring for me a smooth ride.

Rhea and I headed back to the house around 2ish for her nap. In between, 2-4pm (can’t remember exactly), I went to the bathroom and noticed a faint amount of ‘color.’ Oh, man- did I just stand there in shock!! I quickly called my midwife, Beth, to let her know and to ask her what she thought. She said “it could be today, or it could be next week!” Ahhhhkkk! That did not help me much. Sooo, of course I called my sister. She was super excited but had no definitive answer for me either. Darn it I wanted answers! A date! A time! Now! I called Scott trying not to sound or feel too excited. I would feel pretty silly if this baby was still a week away. We discussed what was going on and he convinced me that his mom should try to get and early flight out the next morning, just in case- better early than late. It seems, in hindsight, that I kept pushing off pretty clear signs of early labor and kind of turned a blind eye to the possibility that I even might be in labor at this point. I’m so glad Scott talked me into having his mom come! After a quick phone call, Bonnie (B.B) was to arrive in Atlanta at 8:30 the next morning (Saturday, April 17th). So the day continued, with everyone trying to act as casual as possible, I think both of us hiding our excitement- what if this was IT?!!  Mild contractions started to become more apparent, about 15 minutes apart but STILL we wanted to be as normal about it as possible. We knew this could be more practice. My body had been this this kind of warm up for sometime now, and the birth could still be days away. We hopped in the car and took off to the grocery to pick up some dinner to grill out. Steaks! MMMM! As we were walking to the checkout, I had a particularly ‘warm’ contraction and after telling Scott and noting they were coming with regularity and with a pattern, we just kind of looked at each other with these goofy grins- this probably was the real deal!!

       Fast forward again to the evening of Friday, April 16th. Dinner was fabulous; Scott always can whip up the perfect feast. Contractions were still regular- warm and wonderful at about 15 minutes apart. Video camera was officially whipped out and some footage was taken of the early labor. We asked Rhea if the baby would be here soon and she said yes and she predicted she would have “a brother” (we had waited to find out the sex- a big surprise!). I wanted to get some sleep ( with Rhea, I was up for the entire 26 hours) so I told Scott he had to sleep on the couch!! Heehee (the woman in labor gets to boss everyone around right?!) So, Scott pulled out his camping cot and decided to sleep on the back patio- it was a cool and mild night. I tried to lie down around 9:30pm and dozed lightly until right around 1:00am.  Contractions were getting warmer and warmer and were keeping me awake. Wanting Scott to rest as much as he could I timed my contractions in bed starting at 1:35am. In the first hour, from 1-2am the contractions went from 12 minutes down to 4 minutes apart. Around 2:30am, the intensity started to take more of my attention and I wanted to MOVE. I got on my hands and knees and rocked and rocked and rocked thru each contraction. I woke Scott up around 3am. The feelings were still very manageable but they were pretty close together and I really wanted him to rub my back. Crack those knuckles and start massaging!! He came in and lay next to me and massaged my back during each contraction while I rocked away.

We called our midwife at 4am when the contractions were 5 minutes apart and lasting around 30-40 seconds. She was exited for us and said to let her know as things progressed further and she would head our way. I just LOVE the early and the early-active part of labor. The contractions are KICKIN but so very manageable, life continues on between each one- laughing, planning, and excitement abound in the (now 4 minute) lulls. We decide to get out of bed around 5 am, contractions still about 4 minutes apart and seem to be steady at that pace. I wanted to MOVE AROUND and I wanted to be outside to see the sunrise on the day my baby was to be born.

Outside we go around 5am, Scott sitting in the rocker and me bouncing away on my yoga ball. Not to sound like a total romantic, but the sunrise was the most beautiful EVER. Birds chirping away. An amazing April morning with the azaleas in full bloom. We called Beth again at 6am to let her know things were still going strong, contractions at 4 minutes apart- but to hold off coming yet…I did not feel like they were at the intensity that would warrant impending birth =). Don’t get me wrong at all, they were certainly kickin but not a baby-comin-right NOW type of contraction. There is a BIG difference.

So we enjoyed our morning. I ate a few blueberry muffins and would bounce away and lean forward in between contractions and would stand at a (very specific) spot on the porch during the contractions while Scott kneaded and thumped away on the small of my back. Around this time I started to have to be a bit vocal so I started in with my ahhhhhhhh!!!!’ssssss and ooooooossssssss’ssss during each one. I would lean waay into the rail of the porch, with my stomach dangling and do a crazy hip-sway- dance-marchy thing that would rival any hula dancer. A few hours passed like this, the movement of my hips and stomach a good counter to the sensations. I started to want to WALK in between my contractions ( it is amazing to me the most simple things you would never think of feel so amazingly good in labor- I think this is the body’s way of telling us how our baby needs to descend and rotate). So I began to pace perimeter of the yard and grab hold of trees during contractions (yes- we are officially THOSE crazy neighbors- literally a moaning treehugger. There goes the neighborhood!) Rhea woke up about 7:30am and she joined us outside after Scott cooked her a yummy omelet (which she would have none of =)). I had talked a lot to Rhea about birthing noises and she had seen quite a few natural births (thanks You Tube!) so she was totally at ease seeing me pace and moan about the yard like a Mama Lion. She thought it was funny to grab at my swaying backside and sweater as I rocked back and forth. I think she even came in for a bum smack!! So here we were, the Moore clan laboring in the front yard as a few of our neighbors jogged by. Thankfully I was never having a contraction during our exchanged hellos but our one neighbor got a shock when she asked the customary “when’s that baby coming” and was answered with a resounding “TODAY!”

Right before 8am, Scott was itching for everybody to come on over. In my laboring mind, we had ages to go. The intensity was good but still not what I was thinking would warrant help. We decided to call anyway, thanks again to Scott for putting his foot down and making the call.

It felt SO GOOD to walk and walk and walk and pace up and down our little hill in our front yard. I wanted to lean on Scott now during the contractions but I wanted to hang off of him, not have him hold me. Touch was getting to feel not-so-good. I think my body gets to a point where the contractions are as much stimulation at one time that I can take. Even a hand on my arm is too much. So I would hang onto Scott during the contractions and pace pace pace in between them. Contractions now at about 2-3 minutes apart. It also felt amazingly good to stand and jitter my legs back and forth (almost in a mock run) during each contraction while pushing my thumbs deeply into my back. Probably looked pretty crazy but it felt amazing and almost completely countered the intensity of each contraction. The faster I moved the better it helped. I was on top of it and felt like a BIRTHING GODDESS! Side note: Why is it that women have been birthing for eons and no words can articulate the feeling of a contraction? A vibration…a rotation…with heat…radiating within your uterus and around the small of your back. Like a wave, the ebb and flow being the intensity of the experience. Starts slow and builllllds, then seeps away into nothing. Maybe for me like a ball of heat that when danced around and when the body is in motion, seems to be contained but not eliminated. Ok, enough descriptives.

        The midwife’s assistant- Liz, both of the midwives- Beth and Rachel, and Scott mother all arrived within about 45 minutes of each other- between 8:30-9:15am( THANK GOODNESS we called and had Scott’s mother get that flight in!!!.) Liz came first and it was nice to have her sit and relax as I labored. She sat in the rocking chair on the porch with us and enjoyed the morning. Rachel, Bonnie, and then Beth came shortly after. With all of the new arrivals my contractions started to feel like they were slowing down and I started to feel a tiny bit anxious. Again, in my labor land stupor, I thought that they would all get there and would be waiting around for me all day and all night for me to have this baby. Instead of wanting to continue my labor outside, I wanted the privacy of my birthing tub. With Rhea, water was an amazing tool to counter the intensity. Baby’s heart tones were checked, I was checked and off to the tub I went. I had told my midwife not to tell me how dilated I was, since- what does it really matter, and I wanted my morale to stay high and focus on myself instead of a number to hit within a given amount of time.  The last thing I needed was to be kickin labor in the tail and then to be told I was like, 3 cm or something.     

Looking back, I had a pretty typical transition (the most intense part of labor) with me telling everyone that I was not ready, that I needed a break, that I felt sick (while whipping my head furiously from side to side- probably made myself nauseous from all the head banging=)), chanting loudly NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!and OHGODOHGODOHGOD! Thank goodness for the amazing people surrounding me and sitting patiently and calmly within my birth space, allowing me to labor (somewhat loudly) with grace. At the most intense parts of this birth, when I thought I could not hang on any longer, when I thought I couldn’t continue- the remarkable people around me reminded me of what I was and what I could do. At one point, I remember Rachel looked right at me and said “You CAN do this Alea, you ARE ALREADY doing it.” And I am so thankful for Scott as he just held my arms and told me how amazing I was doing and that we would meet our baby so soon.  He even hung in there when in the middle of murmuring encouraging words, I paused long enough in my “OHGOOOODDDSS” to snap “SHAADDDDUUPPPPPP!!” Throughout it all, no one told me what to do, or tried to fix anything or do anything but just sat with me as I labored.

Looking at the birth tape, in between contractions (about 30 sec-1 min apart at 1+ minutes long) I appear cool, calm and collected. Funny though, all I remember is wave after wave after wave coming at me and I felt like I was not getting any breaks. It felt like one long contraction, I don’t remember the breaks AT ALL. I remember saying to Scott at this point that “I just need to relax. Help me to relax.” I just could not catch my breath. I needed a break. Things were happening so fast, I was mentally taking a beating. I think I was just surprised at the swiftness of the intensity. You hear time and again the second birth is faster, yet I don’t think I was fully prepared for the so swift kick into high laboring gear. My brain was not registering I would be having this baby NOW. After all, I was just walking around the yard the hour before!

POWERFUL vibration- and- heat sensations continued at a higher frequency/intensity with increased urges to PUSHHHHHH. The power of our bodies. Simply amazing and so curiously primal. It always leaves me in awe- nothing like it.  All business now, I hung on to Scott as he whispered encouraging words into my ear and I growled and yelled my baby down (while at times trying to climb right out of the tub!) Scott was so excited at this point, I remember him making really loud exhales in my ear, puffing away as the birth was getting close. Again in my mind, I was trying to prepare and gather myself to continue this for a few more hours (I pushed for two hours with Rhea- why would this time be different riiiight? ;)).  As I would check my own progression, I could only feel my bag of water (my water sac was still intact) bulging. I kept asking “Well WHERE is the head??” “Is the baby coming soon?” “Am I close?” Bwaahaahaa. Um…yea, by about 11 minutes =). My midwives are so awesome. They patiently answered every time that yes, the baby was indeed there (complete with a head) and would be arriving shortly for me to greet. Beth offered to break the water sac but I said No. I wanted everything to progress as hands-off as possible.