Quinton's Birth Story- It's a birth story, so if that sort of thing weirds you out, don't read :)

Birth Story of Quinton Aaron Montez

8 lbs 7 oz 20 1/2 “ long

 head and chest 13 ¾”

Quinton was born Aug. 27^th, 2012 at 8:15 p.m., 1 day before his due date. He came fast and furious, after a long, long slow beginning. J I started having a lot of braxtons about 2 months before he was due. Since this was my 3^rd baby it seemed normal based on what I’ve heard. Around 36 weeks they started getting stronger and more consistent. I had them check me at my appointment because Mike was considering going on a week long trip to visit some offices in Portland and Kansas. I was dilated to a 3 at that point, and about 60% effaced, head down low.  We decided he shouldn’t go.  I continued to have braxtons and around this time one night I woke up to the strongest contraction I can remember having. I didn’t even have a chance to switch my light switch off (hypnobabies) and it lasted for what felt like 2 or 3 minutes. I just tried my best to breathe through it. Afterwards I got up to use the restroom and felt super shaky, not cold though. It was so weird and I thought that he was coming. I had one other mild contraction, then nothing the rest of the night.

The next week at my appointment I was about the same as before, but now at a 4 instead of a 3. So I still expected him anytime. The days and weeks dragged by as nothing happened, even though I tried my best to enjoy the last few days I had with just my girls and Mike, as well as trying to get everything done I wanted.

Week 38 at my appt. I was still at a 4. About 70% effaced, but my cervix was still far back.  This week Mike had a training meeting in Utah for 3 days. I had still been having braxtons giving me false alarms. After a lot of discussing/praying we felt like it was ok for him to go on the trip since nothing was happening at the moment and they were still fairly inconsistent, mild pressure waves.  He left Monday night at 8 or so. After getting the girls in bed I started noticing braxtons getting stronger and closer together. I started timing them and they were pretty consistent. They would go from 2-3 minutes apart then to 5, then to 1 for a few times, then 10, then back to 5. After looking online we found that that was a sign of false labor. So I went to bed. Around 3 a.m. I woke up to a strong contraction. 2 more followed, 2-3 minutes apart, so I called Mike and he headed home. (he had gotten to the hotel around 1, so 2 hrs of sleep and he was back to driving 4 hrs. right back home. Poor guy) I called my brother and sis in law to come watch the girls, once they got here things just stopped. Mike was already over an hr. into the drive and said he was just coming home anyways. I had absolutely no braxtons the rest of the night. 

Two days later I woke up at 2 to strong consistent contractions. I got in the bath and they kept coming, so we called the midwife and she was already going to the hospital for another birth, and she thought we should meet her there . We called my brother again, and he headed down. We were afraid we needed to leave sooner since I was so far dilated, and they were getting stronger. So we called our sweet neighbor who ran right over until he got there. Once at the hospital I was at a 6! I had 4 hrs. of labor, then things just stopped. The midwives checked me and I hadn’t dilated any more. Still a 6.  The contractions weren’t that strong, but I thought it was my hypnobabies working. They were stronger than they were before with just braxtons tho. The midwife wanted to break my water, but I was afraid that if things didn’t start up and I didn’t progress that I would be faced with induction with pitocin, or worst-case scenario a c section.  So we chose to go home. I was so frustrated. And Mike and I were exhausted with two nights close together with no sleep. When we got home the girls were expecting a baby brother. We tried to enjoy the time we had and be patient.

The next Monday I went to my appt. and was dilated to a 7! My favorite midwife was on call and mom and dad were coming that afternoon to spend the week with us, helping hopefully with a new baby! So I decided that I would let them break my water after she reassured me that if they did they would give me more time than 24 hrs. before they took further steps if things didn’t go on their own.  My parents had just gotten in town and I headed home to pack up for the hospital. Mike and I ran to taco bell first because we were so hungry. Crunchwrap supreme!!  But my midwife said she would meet me there in an hr. or so. So we were hurrying. Once we checked in and got monitored, etc etc. We waited. We had to wait at hr. at least for the midwife to get there. There was a midwife in training that did most of the birth and check-ups. I really liked her! They broke my water and stepped out of the room while I did some nipple stimulation.  Then things really got going! We walked the halls for a while to keep them coming. I decided I wanted to use the jacuzzi,  mike joked to the midwives that I would prob. Have the baby before it was ready! Haha..yeah right. They checked me and I was at an 8 at that point. Well, I got into the room to hop in the tub, and I had a really strong wave and had to hold onto mike. I started to have those weird noises that come out when I push, and Mike and I both recognized that this was it. Back to the room and they got the squatting bar set up. They didn’t even check to see if I was fully dilated or not!  I chose to stand facing the bed with thesquatting bar set up to the height of my chest. When I was having the strong contractions with the urge to push before I had wrapped my arms around Mikes neck and hugged him/hung, and that felt the best, so I did that same sort of thing on the bar, hanging from it by my arms, then I could lean on it to rest in between waves.  I had asked him if I could push the baby out while holding him, but he wasn’t thrilled. Haha, j/k, we did joke about it, but there was no way.  Especially since he had gotten splashed when I was pushing Mae out just standing to the side of me!  (that sounds really gross, but my water typically breaks as I push) Anyways, I think it was 2 or 3 contractions and his head was there. The midwives helped me ease it out while trying not to push. Then I expected instant relief I’d had with the girls as they slid right out. But I had to repeat the whole thing with his shoulders!  They handed him up to me and I lay back on the bed.  His cord was pulsing awhile, but I delivered my placenta before it had stopped pulsing, and so before they had cut the cord! I held him for a long time and he started nursing.  He had so much hair! It was amazing to finally get to meet him. Once he was finished eating the nurse took him for his first bath and weight and measurement. His face was very bruised, they said because he came down and out the canal so quickly. Poor little guy! It was purple and blotchy for a few days afterwards. He had lots of dark blonde hair. His eyes were a murky grayish color and I thought for awhile that he would have Mae’s and Mike’s hazel eyes. But they have turned a gorgeous deep blue. The nurse told me she thought he looked like he was a pretty big baby. When she told me he was 8 ½ lbs I was shocked! I didn’t even tear, thankfully. Recovery was great, I was feeling so good, until he was a week old I got mastitis, and it was so bad I couldn’t treat it on my own, so I got antibiodics. We are now doing so well, he is getting super chubby, I love it. He definitely grunts a lot more than the girls, and we have had a lot of pee accidents at the first, but now we are getting the hang of having a little boy. I am so grateful for him and that he is healthy and everything went well, that I was able to have the birth I wanted after all was said and done. Mike timed me, they broke my water at 7:17, so I had him in 58 minutes! A part of me Is curious to see how things would have happened if I hadn’t had them break my water, but being at a 7 I didn’t really want to risk not making it to the hospital in time. And I was at the end of my patience. And my parents were only there for 1 week because of their work schedule so I was feeling the pressure. J  Maybe if we have another baby I will see what happens. J