Flynn Sebastian's Birth story

I was 42+4 on October 18th. That's 17 days past my due date. I was so sick of being pregnant. And, between wondering about a malpositioned baby and family conflict, I was starting to worry that labor may not start on its own. I didn't want to wait around until baby wasn't well and end up w a less than satisfying birth experience. Definitely weighing the risks of waiting versus a natural induction. Or, more natural than pitocin, anyway. Any induction isn't really natural. Id never induced w any of my other kiddos so even the consideration of it felt wrong, foreign, risky. But, after talking w several mamas who had successively used castor oil induce labor, and w my midwife's(Jen) go-ahead, at 2pm, I took 2 T CO in a small milkshake, and waited. There are different ideas about how much to take, and I had no experience... I was HOPING that junk wouldn't just send me to the bathroom in full diarrhea mode. Nothing. So, an hour later I took another 2T in grape juice. That was grosser. Like oily juice.

 At about 5:15 I felt the first contractions, and they started at 5-6 minutes apart, puny, painless, and short. Maybe 20 sec long? But I was hopeful that this could actually work! (Get out, baby!)

I had called a friend (Annie) earlier to let her know that I was doing this and I'd like company. So she showed up about 6 w Panda Express and we ate and hung out. It's kind of annoying to have someone there before labor is a sure thing...like, I hope this goes somewhere and I don't waste her time! What if I just cried wolf and I don't actually have a baby? Ugh. I had been pregnant so long it seriously felt like this baby may never be born.

Alas, ctx stayed coming along. About the same rate but started to feel like the usual crampy "real" ones I was expecting. I kept Jen updated w any progress. I really didn't want to have her come until birth was imminent. All my labors have been between 6 and 9 hours long so I didn't expect a baby until AT LEAST midnight. I was hoping for that soon! I let my other friend (Theresa) know she could come over any time, but no rush. She arrived at about 8.

Chris, Theresa, Annie and I watched a movie (Baby Mama, because laughter is good for labor, and that movie is hilarious!

"Have youw pawtnor masssssage youw pewinnium wif EVOO..." "Can't I just spray a little Pam down there?" Bahahahaha!!!)

Anyway...  Kids were in bed, labor started picking up, slowly but surely... I told the friends that I wanted to have Jen come over "when I have to vocalize through ctx." That started happening about 1am, so I texted what was up and asked her to

Come. Jen and Dani had a drive and weather so they showed up around 2am. I was definitely in a zone.

I probably had about 30-45 min of hard labor and transition. I'm pretty sure it was the hardest transition I've ever had. I kept thinking I had to push, but it wasn't quite right. I didn't have an uncontrollable urge yet, just tons of pressure. So i started pushing a little w each ctx because it felt like it took some of the awful horrible pain away. THEN I had a tearing/slicing feeling ctx and that urge you can't avoid. I screamed at someone to take my pants off. Ha! I never like to be naked while in labor. I feel like it's the one thing I can control so I keep my clothes on until the last minute. It's a small victory. 

I started pushing hard and expected a baby to emerge. At my last birth (arias) I almost had to hold her back, she was descending so fast. Nothing happened except the pain. I didn't feel any baby coming out, or any movement at all. What the HECK?! Where is the baby?!!!! I can't remember if I pushed again or just checked straight away. 

For those of you wondering why the midwife didn't check or help or something, I had asked her to not do anything except in case of emergency. I knew I could give birth and didn't want any interference. It may have been hard for her to sit on her hands but she did! She was super respectful of my wishes and took pictures of the birth instead (w her gloves on, of course, just in case!:)) 

So I put a finger in my vagina and could feel a baby head, but waaaay high, not any where CLOSE to coming out. That was super not cool. I had three more gargantuan pushes and then I felt the head move down. I looked up between ctx and said "somebody look at the clock. I want to know how long im pushing." It felt like an eternity! When his head FINALLY came out, w lots of screaming(me, not baby), Jen said, "you have an OP baby!" What?? Occiput Posterior, sunny side up, is NOT the most efficient way to be born because the head can't mould, and usually results in back labor, which I never had. Weird. But ok. Makes sense why I had to puhsh so hard. I reached down and touched a face (!) and then waited for the next ctx. 

I think I looked up to see Lucy, my 4yo, who was sitting in front of me watching, and said something like "look! The baby's coming out!" I was worried she'd be scared from all the screaming and you know, the head emerging from my body. I had prepped her a bit, but how do you REALLY prepare for seeing that?? Lol! She was groggy from Just waking up, but was fine. Someone had woken all the kids, who had all asked to be there, and the boys were fine. They both remembered Aria being born, so they were just excited. 

Had another ctx, pushed w all my might and the shoulders and body gushed out, in a giant stream of blood. Another anomaly. Usually the blood comes with the placenta which comes later, but apparently the placenta had detached about the same time as baby was born so it all came out together. Well, the placenta not yet. I was worried the kids would freak since I hadn't prepped them for a lot of blood. They seemed unphased.

Annie said "I think you have a boy(!)" and sure enough, BOY! 

Rowan said, "of course because I prayed for a boy!" 🙏🏽💝

I had delivered on my knees and I left baby lying where he slid for a second. He gurgled and fussed a little as I rubbed his back. They always look so squished and purple at first...

I felt the stream of blood so I picked babe up and Layed on my side to press my uterus and make sure I didnt pass out upright. Wouldn't that be exciting! It looked like a crime scene, just sayin'. I was glad there were plenty of people to grab fresh chux pads and make sure I didn't soil the carpet the unmistakable color of murder. Placenta came out, blood flow slowed, all was well.

I eventually went to shower, the friends trickled home, the kids went back to bed, and we weighed this monster of a kid......

....10 pounds 10 ounces!! A full 2 1/2lbs heavier than my last baby, and malpositioned to boot. No wonder he took some effort. 22 inches long makes him our longest baby, too. I guess I'll put away the newborn clothes. 

Everyone is smitten. The big siblings fight over who's turn it is to hold him. We re in love. 

Fun Flynn Facts:

*We named him Flynn Sebastian, which means 'the venerable son of the red headed one' which is pretty much exactly right.  Ha!

* Flynn gets to stay intact, just like his brothers. Born perfect. Staying whole. 😍 if you're unfamiliar w the beneficial functions of the foreskin, learn more at www.drmomma.org.

* Flynn looks the most like Lucys baby pictures. 

* Flynn has the shortest name of all his siblings. Only 4 syllables, compared w their 6-7. Oops. Hope he doesn't feel overlooked.

* we burned the cord instead of cutting it. Held it over a candle for 20 minutes or so. It smelled like hair held in a curling iron too long.