Johanna Ruth - story of her birth

Johanna Ruth Plattner ~ August 28, 2009 ~ 21” ~ 10lb 12oz

My week leading up to her birth ~ this will help understand her birth a little.

This past Sunday I had mild contractions most of the day, getting a little stronger and then tuckering out in the evening. The following couple days I had some mild contractions but not anything major. I had other signs including sleeplessness which added too my weariness the last couple days.

Wednesday night I had strong contractions during the night from midnight till 5 AM; most were about every 10 minutes with some closer to 20. Last night I had even stronger contractions starting shortly after I lay down and lasting all night. The problem with all these contractions is that they only occurred when laying in bed or sitting in certain positions. This made it quite difficult to get rested and I had no energy to do anything standing up!!! When I lay down to take my nap I still had those contractions. So even though I got some sleep it was not without interruption.

I had been in contact with my midwife so she knew what was going on. I spoke to her this AM, but though the contractions were getting stronger and longer they were still sporadic unless I was lying down. I thought it was likely today was the day, so Grandpa Plattner came and took the children to their house.

The contractions were the same this AM. I was so tired I tried in vain to find a position I could rest in. Chad went to work (about 7 min from home) for a little while, I called him home when I couldn’t rest and felt pretty miserable. Shortly before he arrived I started having some hard contractions while up and about. Shortly after Chad got home they were doubling up on top of each other. Chad called my midwife and shortly after I told him she wasn’t going to make it and that he should call a friend nearby that knew somewhat about what to do. It was the third friend we tried that was home and she left right away. While Chad was on that last phone call my water broke which for me means delivery isn’t far away! A few minutes later Johanna made her grand entry and shortly after that came our helper! Even though she didn’t make it in time for the birth we were grateful she was there to help till my midwife’s assistant got there.

From the time I new that this was the “real thing” till birth was probably 30-40 minutes!!! I went from sporadic contractions only occurring when lying down or sitting in certain positions wondering if this would ever turn into the real thing to transition and a quick birth.

It would not be our choice to have an unassisted birth, but we are thankful that all went well. Obviously all those warm up contractions were doing something, but if I had the choice I wouldn’t do it the same way again although it was quite nice to have just an hour of the real thing!

That is our story! I will get some pictures uploaded later and tell about the childrens first meeting!