Malachi's Birth Story

     I was 40 weeks pregnant on Thursday August 8, 2013. I was already getting anxious about baby arriving late. I was playing worse case scenarios in my mind: getting my membranes stripped, being induced, c section if he didn't arrive within the two weeks I was allowed to be overdue. I spoke with Monica, my doula and she said that I should plan a busy weekend and just have fun and try to keep my mind off the “elephant in the room”. 

     Friday was Chris' birthday and we went to the movies. Saturday, I woke up, did laundry and tidied up the house until my friend Jessica picked me up. We went to the Bijou to see “Black Fish”--a movie we had been really excited to see. When the movie was over Chris picked me up and we met my parents at their house and all of us drove in Chris' truck to Huhot for dinner. We had been joking that I needed to eat a spicy plate to induce labor. I had a mild plate with a little kick to it. After dinner, all four of us went to HEB to pick up some things for Matt and Chris' birthday dinner the next day. Mariah was working.  

     Mom and Rex waiting in Mariah's line while Chris and I waited in the next line. It was about 10:45 and Chris was showing me a magazine with Jessica Simpson on the front of it, when all of the sudden, I looked at Chris and said, “I think I just peed myself....but I couldn't control it!!” I was in a bit of shock and started laughing. Chris told me to go to the restroom and motioned my mom to go with me. As we approached the restroom, we noticed one of the employees cleaning the restroom—just my luck!! I called out to him and said I needed to use the restroom, and my mom chimed in that I was really pregnant, and he let us in. Once in the bathroom, I was freaking out a little. I didn't know what to do, I felt like I was gushing uncontrollably and all I could do was laugh about it. I sat on the toilet, and my mom gave me a HUGE stack of paper towels from the employee's cart and I stuffed them in my panties, washed my hands, and we walked out. We met Rex and Chris in the parking lot, and I called Monica. She said that I should breathe, take it easy, and try to get as much sleep as I could before the contractions started. 

      Chris decided that it would be best for us to stay the night at Mom and Rex's house since it was much closer to the hospital than our house. At Mom's house, I took a shower to try to calm down, and Chris went to our house to pick up our hospital bags, my car, and the car seat. I laid down on Mariah's bed and tried to sleep around 11:30. Mariah and Matt eventually showed up at the house and so did Chris. I was able to sleep for a little while here and there, but not very deeply. I awoke around 4 AM with contractions that were manageable, but not ignorable while sleeping. Mariah was still awake with a stomachache, so she turned on Pandora and offered to paint my nails. We talked and spent time together until Chris and Mom awoke. The contractions kept getting stronger and stronger, but were still about 5-7 minutes apart. I at a Luna bar, continued to drink lots and lots of water, and used the bathroom. Rex went to church, but the rest of the family stayed home with me while I labored. In between contractions, we talked, laughed, and listened to Pandora. Chris kept encouraging me to call Monica and have her come over, but I wasn't ready for her. I knew my contractions were really strong, but didn't want to call her if I was still really early in labor. I didn't know how long it would be. Chris breathed, “oooo'd”, and “mooed” with me through every contraction as I tracked it on my phone. He applied pressure to my lower back and whispered encouraging words in my ear. He was so fabulous. 

      Finally at 8:30AM, Chris convinced me that it was time to call Monica. She arrived at a little after 9AM. I was sitting on my birth ball in the kitchen with the family when she walked in. The first thing she did was ask me if she could pray for me. She whispered a beautiful prayer in my ear as she massaged lavender oil on my shoulders and neck. I could feel my body relax. She told me to give in to the contractions and stop fighting them. As soon, as I did, the contractions got significantly stronger and closer together. She asked if I wanted to take a walk outside. Chris came outside with me and we walked around Mom's front yard. Monica stayed back with Mom and Mariah. Matt came outside too and played with Nola. I had to stop every few minutes to let a contraction pass. Chris and I were “ooing” and it got progressively louder. Thinking back now, a few of the neighbors were out on their front porches drinking coffee...I'm sure that was an interesting morning for them. 

     After about ten minutes, Monica asked me how I was doing and I told her I felt like I needed to poop and pee at the same time!! LOL I just had so much pressure in my pelvic area. We went back inside and I went to the bathroom. Monica followed me and asked me if she could check me. She looked at my butt crack(sorry, TMI) and from that was able to tell that I was very close to being fully dilated. When we walked out of the bathroom, Monica gently and quietly let everyone know that we should start heading to the hospital. I was having really really strong contractions at this time—leaning on the table, and then leaning on the side of my mom's vehicle. I was moaning very loud at this point. Monica and I rode in my mom's vehicle while my mom drove and Matt, Mariah, and Chris rode in my car. It was really difficult to get into Mom's SUV, and even harder to sit down. That was the longest car ride I had ever taken and in reality it was probably only 10 minutes. Every speed bump, every red light, every time my mom sped up was hell. The contractions were almost unbearable at this point.

     When we got to the hospital, Rex met us there, and we all walked into the maternity ward together. It was 10:45. The walk to my room was probably about 100 yards, but took me almost 20 minutes to get there. I had a few contractions on the way, and was moaning very loud because of the pain. Someone in the hospital informed a nurse that I was in pain and the nurse brought a wheelchair out to me. It hurt to sit down, so I refused the wheelchair and walked the rest of the way to my room. As I was walking up, I saw that Lauren was the midwife on call. That reaffirmed God's presence in this experience. Lauren and the nurses didn't take me to triage, insert a heplock, or take any blood from me. As soon as we got into the room, Lauren checked my cervix and said that I was fully dilated and that I could start pushing whenever I was ready! I asked if I could take off my dress and Lauren attached the birth bar to the end of the bed. I was on my knees and supported my weight on top of the bar with my arms. 

     The room was surprisingly quiet, calm, and peaceful. No one spoke over a whisper and Lauren, Monica, Chris and the two nurses encouraged me through the whole process. The kept saying, “You are doing great!”, “You are a rockstar!”, “Just a few more pushes!”, “You're almost there!” My mom came into the room about this time. I screamed a few times because the pain was like nothing I had ever experienced. I felt like I was going to rip in half. In between contractions, I had a couple minutes to catch my breath and rest. After a few more pushes on the bar, Lauren recommended that I lay on my side to prevent me from tearing. It was very tough to move onto my side, but I did slowly. I pushed on my side and Monica or Lauren told me, “Mallory, the intensity you are vocalizing through your mouth, try to channel that to your vagina while you push.” As I did this, everyone exclaimed that they could see Malachi's head. They asked me if I wanted to feel it or even use a mirror to see it. I immediately said “NO!!”. I just wanted to get him out! After a few minutes I asked if he had hair, and then felt his head. I started to say, “I'm so tired! I'm so tired, It hurts!” and after one more extremely painful push, his head was out! He was not even completely out and was already crying. What a beautiful sound! I had another contraction right after that and felt the urge to push but Lauren told me not to push and just breath. I just kept saying, “It hurts, it hurts!! I can't stop pushing! I have to push!” Chris and Monica were in my face forcing me to breath with them as I clutched the side of the bed for dear life. I tried to concentrate on breathing, and then the rest of Malachi came out. He cried. I cried and thanked GOD! Malachi was born less than an hour after arriving at the hospital. I pushed for about 30 minutes and delivered him without any kind of medication, epidural, or drugs.

     He was still attached to the umbilical cord and Lauren placed him on my chest. I held him and loved on this sweet tiny human while I delivered my placenta. Malachi was attached to the umbilical cord for about 15 minutes and then we tried breast feeding. Chris and I were able to “oooh” and “ahhh” over him for almost an hour before any of the routine procedures were done. Malachi's birth was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had. It was intense, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I learned so much about myself and the strength I possess. And saw God's hand in the whole process.