Lena's Birth Story

Lena Shae Coller was born Wednesday, February 10th

8:58 pm

9 lbs 8.6 oz

21 inches long

This is her story.

O, squishy cheeks!

Around 4ish Wednesday afternoon,  I started noticing semi regular contractions.  They were not long or very strong, so I didn't pay them very much attention.  In fact, over the previous few days, contractions would start but then fizzle out, so I just assumed that was what this would be.

I happened to be on the phone with Rebekah (my doula) also, from a little before 4 for the next hour.  She agreed that this could be labor starting, and that we were in for a long night.  Rebekah advised me to relax and go about our evening as planned.  

SIDE NOTE: this whole pregnancy, I was expecting labor to be AT LEAST 12 hours, because both Jaden and Elijah's labors were 24+.  (Let's keep in mind what they say about assuming things, shall we??)

5:30 comes around, and the contractions haven't  changed.......so we got ready to go to small group dinner.  I figured a distraction would be good for my mind, and I thought once we were there, contractions would stop since  that seemed to be the pattern.  We loaded the kids in the car and started driving across town.

It is a 30 minute drive for us to get to small group.  Along the way, contractions were starting to get a little more intense...but still not too close together.  We arrived, unloaded, and started eating dinner with our friends.  During dinner, I had to start breathing through contractions-and sitting still wasn't helping.  So I got up from the table, and started walking around the living room.  I think, by now, the time was 645 or 650 pm.

Over the next half hour, I timed contractions using my stop watch app on my phone, all the while walking around the living room at small group.  I was chit chatting with some other girls form small group at the same time, trying to get my mind off of contractions.

The time is now 715, and my contractions are 5 or 6 minutes apart, and they are lasting a good minute and a half to two minutes.  I walked over to the kitchen to get Derek, who was talking with the hubbies.  I had to lean on Derek through some of the next contractions ... and Derek had another couple form small group load the kids in the car.

We drove home.  Our conversation in the car went like this:
Derek: What should we do?  Should we go to the hospital?
Me: (OPERATING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE HAVE ALLLLLLL NIGHT TO LABOR)
No, let's go home, and I can labor for a bit in the shower while you bring the kids to Liz's.
Derek: are you sure?
Me: yes.  (BECAUSE, HELLLLOOOOOOOO, who wants to labor for 12 hours at the hospital??  no, thanks.)

All the while, contractions are MUCH closer together and I am having a really hard time getting on top of breathing and relaxing through them.  I texted my doula friend, and she advised us to go home, and then go to the hospital.  While on the phone with her, I had a contraction that felt like the baby dropped-and that meant that I felt like pushing.  Rebekah (very calm, cool and collected) said to get to the hospital ASAP, and to NOT PUSH because we were NOT GOING TO HAVE THE BABY IN THE CAR, for the love.

By now, the time is 810 pm, and we have arrived home.  Derek almost literally threw the kids at Liz, and then got back in the car with me.  These "pushy" contractions are getting stronger-and most definitely not going away.  We drove MAYBE a block away, and suddenly-CONTRACTION-----and WATER IS EVERYWHERE.

Our ensuing conversation:
Derek: Babe, what just happened?
Me: I'm pretty sure my water just broke....and I feel like pushing this baby out.
Derek: OH NO. PLEASE DO NOT HAVE THIS BABY IN THE CAR.  
Can you make it the hospital, or do we need 911?
Me: there's no time, call 911.

Derek flipped the around and called 911.  The operator helped coach me on breathing through pushing contractions when we pulled back into the drive way.  Minutes later, EMS came and whisked me away.  They also were coaching me the whole way to the hospital.

The time is now 848 pm.  We arrived, and got wheeled upstairs.  Dr. Gaines (from my OB office) was called for and she came running.  She didn't even have to check me-she just said "yep, we're there".

9 minutes and 3 pushes later, and sweet baby girl was born!  (I got to catch her myself-which was a sweet, powerful and magical moment.)

My labor was 4 hours and some change.  

I am very thankful for the team that responded to help us-and actually, 2 of the EMTs were the same 2 EMTs that helped us when we hit a deer in November.   I am also thankful for Derek, my sweet hubby, who kept his cool even though I know he was FREAKING OUT when my water broke in the car.  I am thankful for the hospital staff and nursing staff that helped us with Lena after her birth.  I am thankful for Rebekah, who made it to our hospital room with 5 minutes to spare.  (She also took all these pictures).

So, lessons I learned:
NEVER, EVER assume that the third baby labor will be the same as the previous two.
A birth plan can be made, but something ALWAYS goes wrong-or not exactly to plan.  In this case, the whole thing went out the window.
The Lord's grace and mercy kept us all safe and got us where we needed to be at exactly the right time.  His timing is truly always perfect.