Before this, I’d gotten out of the water for a while, just to realize that as I pressed my hips into the doorframe (that really felt good), I was pushing too. What?!? You mean it’s time already? Merrie wasn’t sure whether she believed me when I said it was really time. Then, I felt a HEAD! I’ll never forget the feeling of the top of her head right there inside of me.
Ah…water. More frozen fruit bars, this time lime. Where’s my Corona to go with this? (nice Alfalfa hair, eh? At this point, I SO didn’t care!)
This is during active labor, but before transition. I took a break from the pool for a while, and Merrie considered running for a quick salad. I panicked and pretty well begged her to not go anywhere. To me, she was the only thing keeping me calm — even though she tells me I never seems that I was near losing it.
With the next VE, my feelings of panic were explained. I was at 7cm (around 5pm).
Scott starts getting the pool filled up. Isn’t this a peaceful setting for bringing a baby into the world? (My version of nesting was that I HAD to make the bed…grin.)
Pressure on my back and hips made the (now) intense contractions a little more liveable.
Midwife Merrie arrived a bit after 3pm. During the exam, I was a bit distressed to learn that I was *only* 3cm dilated. Huh?!?! You mean this isn’t transition?
Lani tracks contractions for their length, intensity, and frequency. At this point, Allison was convinced it was hard. HA! Little did she know, but this was only early labor. REAL labor started around 2:30-2:45 in the afternoon, as she had to hang onto the crib to remain upright!
On the final day of pregnancy (my water had broken!), I head outside for a few final shots of what the prggers-me looks like. 
Notice that maternity shirts no longer cover my ample self. Like the pants? Target pj special, since nothing fits anymore! Aaaack! By a week before this date, I was heading up on 195 pounds. Amazing.
Look at that belly! You’d think I had an enormous baby in there…
Scott talked me into a few pictures for “the day.” As we headed outdoors, a doe was enjoying the beautiful day too. We took a different route to the overlook so we wouldn’t disturb her.
Since I’ve not posted here since a few weeks before her birth, I’m going to backtrack with a few photos…
(written 11 November, backdated to September 23)
