Christmas Preparations

Today is the first day in days that I have taken the day off from shopping or going anywhere. This week as I have been running from store to store, I have noticed that most people that are shopping are not happy. Kids are screaming, including my own, and people are just trying to shuffle their way through crowds. A couple of people have come up to me and talked to me about my baby since I carry him on my back. One elderly lady said she knows what I do all day and I felt sort of a kinship with her as I was waiting in line but the next moment I was being called up to make my purchase. I'm grateful for these tender mercies, these angels that you meet here and there, especially on Christmas time. Some kind family and strangers have given us money and gift cards this year. So I'm grateful I was able to buy gifts and things without the worry of finances. I know God is watching out for us! I was able to get the kids clothes and Christmas outfits! They're going to look so cute on Sunday! Feeling less stress about the things i feel I should be able to provide my family has lifted my heart so I can feel my Savior's love more easily. I have also been trying to #lighttheworld as the Savior would and have realized that I truly do have the ability to become like the Savior if I seek His direction and grace. It is with love that I share these experiences

and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

My Amazing Home Birth

So it is May 25th at 7:44 p.m. and I finally started to truly feel better from my birth and decided to start writing my birth story. Before I get started, it might help for you to have a little bit of background on how this whole program works. On my last birth, I was a vbac and used hypnobabies to have a medication free birth. For my first, I also wanted that but was not equipped with this entire program. I only had hypnobirthing which teaches you to have faith in a pain free birth but doesn't give you too much technique so when it got really intense, the only thing I kept thinking was no pain, no pain. In hypnobabies, they give you other things to think about such as key words that relax you and set you in the right mode. It is true that when you try not to think of something, that thought keeps recurring in your head. So I put it into my birth plan not to even use the word pain but instead say discomfort since that can be eased rather quickly. So the way this program works is, when you are in your birthing time and as you're getting ready for your birthing time, you always say release to go into a deep hypnosis state that basically knocks you completely out. This is good for the early birthing stage when pressure waves begin getting closer and closer together. So this was the easiest part for me and I slept through my early labor with my second and now my third birth. I actually started having regular pressure waves on Saturday the 14th which was... one day after my due date. This is the first time I'm actually sharing my due date with you all because I knew due dates are inaccurate and I didn't want to focus my mind on pushing myself when I had no control over that aspect. Anyhow, pressure waves continued in the evening for 4 days and were mainly 10 minutes apart until Tuesday, the 18th. On the 18th, they were more like 4 to 6 minutes apart. They were also felt in my pelvic region rather than just high on my stomach. Me and the boys decided to go on a walk around the neighborhood so I could see if I could get the pressure waves going in a rhythm. While we were on a walk, our good neighbor friend saw us and reassured us that if we were going to have the baby tonight, they could take the boys. As I was walking, I found it hard to walk through some pressure waves and that is when I knew it was time. There were texts from my mom and mother in law since Saturday asking how I was doing and how my pressure waves were coming along so they were ready when I decided to call them and my midwife. We called the neighbors and they immediately came and picked up the boys who were so excited since they also love their kids. When my whole birth team showed up, the pressure waves decided to slow down so we went for a walk and they sped up again but I decided to lay down and almost fell asleep. She checked my dilation and I was completely thinned out and almost at a 5. This is when you usually get admitted to a hospital. Then my sweet midwife, Kim Flake said that I should get some rest even if it's for a couple of hours. I told her I was sure that they would be back early the next morning. So they left to go sleep around 11 p.m. My mom stayed and slept in my son's bed since he and my other son were with our neighbor. At around 3 a.m. my pressure waves started one on top of the other and they were really strong. I tried to wake my husband three times but I basically had to shake him. He was asking me if I was sure and I said yes! Then he called his mom and I called my midwife. I told her it was time and she asked how long each wave was and I said that I was not able to time them but that they were really close. Then she said she'd be there and she also brought her assistant to be there for the baby as well. This was part of the plan when she was sure. Next, I went into the boys’ room to let my mom know that it was time. She came into the living room and I asked her to rub my forehead which was another cue for me to relax. You see, when woman give birth there are 2 sets of birthing muscles that work together. One is horizontal as it thins out, and the other is vertical and that will push the baby down. When you are relaxed, those muscles can work together efficiently and with minimal to no discomfort. In hypnobabies, they call it the easy birthing time. Although, when I was at this stage, it was not easy. My mom, had to keep rubbing it and when my husband had finished telling his mom to come over, he had to rub my shoulder for the other cue. The problem I was having was actually looking forward to the pressure waves. I felt them coming on more powerfully and I started shaking like I was getting hit by a huge electrical wave which felt good but was so shocking to me. When they first started, and she was rubbing my forehead, they actually felt good but then they became so powerful I started to lose my focus and then my husband helped me regain more focus. Then 20 minutes later my mother in law came and I lost focus and she helped by rubbing my forehead and my mom started rubbing my shoulders. Only she began rubbing too hard which felt good on my shoulders but it was taking away my focus. So I asked her to rub gently. As they got stronger and stronger, I began to feel like I didn't know what to expect next and I began to question whether I was really prepared for a comfortable birth at all. This reminds of when Peter walked with Christ on the water and he was doing good at first but then he began to doubt. This whole time I was also listening to a powerful cd from hypnobabies called hypnobirthing 1 and 2. It kept saying the affirmation, I deserve to have a comfortable birth. As I was sinking deeper and deeper into doubt, I began having thoughts like you don't deserve to have a comfortable birth. I even heard more powerfully that since Christ suffered I would have to suffer but then I remembered that that is the opposite of true since there is a scripture in modern revelation saying in Christ words, I God have suffered these things for all that they might not suffer. So I was able to immediately dispell that and I envisioned giving this burden to Christ. I believe that was the moment I began to progress rapidly. As each pressure wave would come over me, I would prepare for it and then as it came, I would say peace which is the key word for active birthing as compared to when you’re in your early stage. I would start to calm it down and within seconds would feel good again. Then I would smile and wait for the next one. I was leaning on my birthing ball. At this point, my midwife asked my husband if she thought I needed to set up the labor pool and my husband said you're not going to have time because he remembered from the last time. A couple seconds later I started pushing. I pushed my water out and there was that gush. This was at 4:09 a.m. By this time I was really sweating profusely. I asked that my pushing baby out cd began being played.  I had to stand up a couple of times like the baby was stretching his legs to move down. As I was laboring there, I said a prayer that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I would have the strength to push this baby out. Then I stood up one last time and I went into a squatting position I have not been able to achieve with such strength for longer than a few seconds previous to my birth and I pushed so hard. I reached in to feel how close the baby was and then pushed some more with an enthusiasm that he was almost there. I told everyone how much I loved them. The baby gradually began to crown all 14 inches of his head. My midwife provided perineum support to help lessen tearing and any injuries. Then she guided him as he came out like a slide just as the birthing cd was saying. I was so overjoyed at that moment, as my midwife invited me to pick up my baby. I picked him up and layed there on the floor with so much peace and excitement and relief all at the same time. I was glad that it was all over but mostly I was happy that he was happy. Within a minute, he let out his first cry as he got some of that flem out of his lungs. However within those first 2 minutes, my bleeding became excessive and they had to cut the embelical cord. Originally I was going to let the embellical cord stay there until it stopped pulsing in order to get all the nutrients to the baby but in this case, it was medically necessary to cut it. After that, I was administered a few shots in order to stop the bleeding. Within 1 minute of that happening, I delivered the placenta and then the next min I bled some more. Kim said it was just as much as a gunshot wound, about 700 ml. I knew it was ok. I sort of felt like I had already been through this with my second son only this time it was a little extra. Anyhow I was too occupied with my newborn that I wasn’t really paying attention. I knew I was in good hands as well. Right after I started bleeding again, my midwife started massaging my stomach and got the bleeding to stop. From there, I was stitched up on the bed for 45 minutes. I received stitches on my perineum in 3 places. However I only had a second degree tear. While I was being stitched, my newborn got his check up. He was born at 8 lbs exactly! I’m so glad he waited to come out at 40 weeks and 6 days. He was so worth the wait! He was also a good 21 inches so just the cutest little legs and arms on this tall boy. I am so grateful for all the support I have had in bringing my precious little newborn Ambrosio into the world. I’m especially grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for allowing His Son to bear my burdens. Without Him, this whole birthing experience would not have been the same but thanks to Him, it was a dream come true!