London's Birth Story

Since the moment I found out 

"we're pregnant!" 

I knew that I wanted this birth to be different, better, more natural and intimate than the last. We spent countless hours researching natural births, medication interventions, midwifery and doula's. I joined a support group of other expecting moms and they've since become my closest friends sharing in everything from pregnancy pains, birth stories, breastfeeding tips and baby poosplosions! We began our journey in March 2016 when we found out we were pregnant! It was so exciting walking into the playroom where Dan and Lennon were to show him the pregnancy test! We were both so excited!

I documented my pregnancy month by month on my blog and that was so fun! It is so cool looking back on my cravings, aversions, and all other crazy pregnancy things! 

We spent a lot of time looking into natural birthing methods and the astonishing success rate of hiring a doula and how helpful they are. With my history of anxiety and how awful the last birth was with an epidural and pain medication drugging me up we opted for a doula! We hired a doula and her assistant - Rita Gnida from Bay City - and she was phenomenal. 100% I could not have done this birth without her and my midwife Kelly!  

Here is our birth story!

At my 40 week appointment there still wasn't much progress. Dilated to 1-2 cm, 50% effaced and no sign of baby coming soon. So we scheduled an induction for 41 weeks, 1 week overdue. That morning I had a lot of contractions and bloody mucus, and went in for my scheduled induction. 

11:00 AM - Checked into labor & delivery. Got the biggest room on the floor with a jacuzzi tub! Changed into my gown, got situated and went through paperwork. That was the easy part!

12:00 PM - Midwife, Kelly, came to check cervix and get induction started. Cervix dilated about 1-2cm and 50% effaced, no change since last appointment. Baby's head engaged and has moved really far down (about -1) since my last appointment. She said her bone was on my pelvic bone and she was ready! 

12:10 PM - Cytotec inserted inside cervix (capsule broken for quicker release).

1:00 PM - Started to feel some uncomfortable cramps. Ate lunch. Contractions were 1-2 mins apart and lasting about 30seconds. I sat, rocked and swayed on the big birthing ball, watched some shows on Netflix and tried to relax before my doula came in! I lasted on the ball for a little more than an hour. Midwife came in periodically and said her guess for birth time was between 5-7:00 PM!! I was getting so nervous! As the contractions got more intense and closer together I texted my doula and she was on her way!

2:40 PM - Doula, Rita, & her assistant, Crystal, arrived and got me in the jacuzzi tub, in the super hot water, jets on with peppermint oil! It helped the contractions intensify. At first it was so relaxing... Until contractions intensified! I was moaning and laying on my side through most of them while Rita applied pressure to my back to help the back pain. I had extreme back labor pains that felt like someone ripped my muscles apart through the contraction. It was so intense! 

3:20 PM - Midwife came in! With each contraction I was grunting and there was definitely a ton of pressure so she wanted me out of the tub ASAP! So we got out of the tub, she checked me and I was already at 6-7cm dilated! I got in the bed on all 4's and rocked through each contraction while my doula applied a lot of pressure to my lower back, cold wash cloths to my face and Dan was such a great support holding my hand and squeezing it. After that I got on my side, nursing staff came in to prepare for birth. That's when my midwife checked me again because I was in terrible, excruciating pain... like none other. I had progressed to 9cm and that's when she broke my water! I had her give me a shot of nubane to help take the edge off, it definitely didn't help with the contraction itself but it helped me relax and save my energy in between ... I was almost falling asleep between each one! I begged for an epidural but of course my midwife said no, you can do it without one... Thankfully, because I did and by the time they would have gotten it up here it would have been too late! I also begged for a c-section - crazy hormones and  pain had me wishing this baby out of my anyway possible besides through the birth canal! Haha! While I was on my side I began pushing through each contraction. My midwife was at the foot of my bed rooting me on, and yelling at me to listen to her and not scream. Oops! Dan was holding my hands and my doula was rubbing my back, applying a cold wash cloth to my forehead and coaching me through each contraction! She was amazing! Within 3 pushes her head came out, and on the last push I reached down to grab her and I pulled her out! The most amazing feeling in the world! 

4:49 PM -  HAPPY BIRTHDAY LONDON MARIE KLEPSCH! She's here! No epidural, no tears, no stitches!!! We left the placenta in while the cord was attached. Once hubby cut the cord a few minutes later I delivered the placenta with one small push. It was more of a tugging feeling than a contraction and it was so weird feeling. Gross! 

The first night she slept on and off, feeding went okay, still learning to latch with her entire mouth. We got a couple hours of sleep... and snuggled a lot! I'm so happy! The next day we were already preparing to go home, my uterus was shrinking great, and getting lower which is perfect. My entire body was sore, I was definitely exhausted... Labor takes all of your energy! Holy cow! Lennon came to visit, the first thing she said when she walked in was "Daddy where's my baby?" It was too cute! We went home and enjoyed our first night home and ever since she's been an angel. 

Born 12/11/15

4:49 PM

7lbs 11oz.

18.25 inches