Contractions started on a Thursday around 9 pm while we were praying the Rosary.  They were not very strong, but they were consistent.  They were low and in my back. I didn't say anything to My husband.  They were about 3-5 min apart until about 2 am on Friday. They were just the right length to pray a Hail Mary through, so that's what I did.  I was getting tired and wanted sleep, so I feel like I made them peter out for a few good hours of sleep.  They picked up again once I woke up.

I stayed in bed while my husband made breakfast for everyone.  He got our toddler ready for the day, and they were starting to head outside.  I got up and got dressed and went with them to do chores (with the random contraction).  I was so tired from only a few hours of sleep.  My husband and I were talking, and having the baby came up, and I said "Maybe today." My husband: "Are you having contractions?"  Me: "All night long."  My husband: "You gotta tell me."  I told him I didn't tell him because he needed sleep and they weren't strong enough or close enough to do anything.  There was also minimal bloody mucus

MIL invited my toddler and I to go to the sandcastle competition at the beach.  I wasn't sure if I should or not.  I decided to go, and I'm so glad we did. My husband helped with the carseat, and we were off. I didn't tell MIL about the contractions.  

It was a nice cool day with a high of 70.  We didn't really look at the sandcastles because my toddler wanted to play.  The water had washed way up on shore making little pools.  My toddler ran around in them and was so happy.  The water was very wavy, algae was being washed up, and it was sunny.  So perfect.  We stayed about an hour.  Went home and got naps.  We hung out the rest of the day.  I had random contractions all throughout the day, but they were never regular.  I was kind of thinking that the nap might kick it up a notch, but it stayed the same.  We went to MIL for a bit while waiting for my husband to come home.  He came home, and we had dinner and did chores.

We were putting my toddler to bed around 9 pm (praying the Rosary and nursing), and the contractions had become more regular.  I had My husband do some of my part of the Rosary as I breathed through a contraction.  I was so happy I was able to nurse my toddler to sleep and we had a normal bedtime.  I wanted that so bad before we had the baby if it was to be born at night.  I stayed sitting in bed after the Rosary because I was comfortable.  My toddler was sleeping next to me, and my husband was cleaning the house and getting things ready.  The contractions were about 5 min apart if I was left alone.  They were also getting stronger.  I told my husband to stop all the stuff he was doing and take a shower.  We were debating when to tell the midwife to come.  I think my husband texted her before his shower (if not it was right after).  

I was walking around getting a few things ready that were on my mind.  I got cameras out and the film for them. I set up a San Damiano crucifix and a 3rd class relic of St. Gerard on the kitchen island.  I also put out the candle we had saved from the Candlemas blessing.  It was a small pinecone.  I was also texting the midwife updates seeing when she should come.  During contractions I would lean on the island.  The contractions were still getting stronger, but they would spread out if I was talking to my husband or doing something, which usually meant that the next one would be stronger. My husband started to fill the stock tank just outside our back door, but it was taking a long time because our hot water heater is small.  He also put a pot of water on to boil at some point.

I lit the candle shortly before 10:30 pm.  As I watched it burn, I wondered if it would last as long as my labor, would my baby be born before it burned out?  The midwife showed up shortly after 10:30. She did her normal checks and checked the baby's heartbeat, everything was good.  Maggie showed up next, and she jumped in to getting things ready.  Violet was 3rd and last to arrive and also started getting things ready.  She also checked my temperature because I didn't have a thermometer, and the midwife's was left at the birth she just came from.  I had asked my husband at some point to put pressure on my lower back during contractions.  It felt nice to have him rub it. In between contractions he worked on filling the tank/tub. Violet checked how much water was in it, and whispered, "There's only about 6 inches..."  I tried not to think about that because I really wanted to get in the tub.  I trusted there would be enough water.

My toddler woke up from my noise... I was getting loud as the contractions were getting closer and stronger.  I was doing my best to keep the sounds I was making low to help stay calm and open things up. My husband left to be with our toddler and was trying to calm our toddler down and get our toddler to go back to sleep.  The midwife or Maggie would put pressure on my lower back.  My husband did more the way that I liked, but what they did did help.  However, I wanted my husband to do it, and I wanted to make sure I could get in the tub, which needed a little more water.  I asked the birth team to tell my husband that I needed our toddler to go to Grama's.  They said that if our toddler was to go somewhere, that our toddler should go soon as they could tell it was getting close to baby.  So my husband took our toddler up the hill around 11:30 pm.  I felt bad that our toddler was crying and upset, but I knew that Grama's would be the best place for our toddler and everyone at that point. My husband came back during a contraction and switched out with Maggie.  I was so focused that I didn't even notice.
I was getting really hot and sweaty.  I was still dressed and had a hoodie on because the day had been cool.  I wanted to take the hoodie off, but I didn't do it because I felt it would mess things up.  I asked when I could get in the pool, and the was given the go ahead for whenever I wanted.  I just had to make sure baby was under water when it was born.  I stayed inside a few more contractions.  I could feel so much pressure from the head.  I felt the urge to poop, and during a contraction I was saying "no" a bit because I knew that that was a sign baby was almost here, I wanted in the pool.  I didn't want a land birth.  After that contraction I was ready to move outside.  I was trying to get my clothes off, but the team and my husband were wondering if I should wait until after the next one.  I said no let's go now.  It needed to be now.  We transitioned outside quickly.

I wanted to sit like I saw in a bunch of pictures, but that was not comfortable due to the head.  I ended up on my hands and knees.  My husband was rubbing my back.  The night was beautiful.  The sky was so clear, and you could see the stars.  There was a light breeze, which felt amazing after getting so sweaty.  There was enough water (although the midwife did remind me a few times to keep my bum in the water), and it was just warm enough.

It got really intense outside, and I started pushing only a few contractions later.  I tried to keep positive thoughts and my sounds low.  There were a few contractions that started out a little high and screetchy, but I transitioned them lower because I knew that was better.  Those contractions outside were so hard.  I didn't want them, and I said that a lot.  I knew I was getting close to holding baby, but I also knew there was hard work left, and I wasn't sure how much I really wanted to do that work.  I knew I couldn't go back, only forward. I had the thought during pushing that this was our last kid and I didn't want to do this again.  I had the same thought at some point while in labor with our 1st. I yelled a lot, and I don't remember much of what I said, but I was trying to keep it focused on God and the gift that I had been given.  I asked for God to sustain me and give me the strength to keep going.

My water broke at some point with a pop! bringing some relief. The head started coming out, but would go back in, which actually felt good to me.  The midwife told me when I could touch the head, but I didn't want to.  My 1st baby's birth kind of weirded me out there because when I did I felt the water sac vs baby's head.  

Everyone seemed surprised in some way with how fast it went, about an hour total from when my toddler went to Grama's and the baby being born.  But it didn't feel fast to me.  It was faster than I thought it would be, but it was still so much hard work that it didn't feel fast.  

The baby came out, and the midwife unwrapped the cord from baby's neck/shoulder.  It felt so good to hold that small human after all of that work.  It was also nice to sit down in the tub, but my legs started to shake, so it wasn't as comfortable as I wanted yet again.  We sat outside for a few minutes before going back in the house.  It was hard to keep the baby warm while outside because of the breeze and the water.

I stood in the living room dripping water and blood while the midwife and her team dried me and the baby off.  I waiting for the placenta to come, and I knew that nursing often speeds up the process.  I started nursing my baby while standing in the living room.  I let the team know I was nursing, so that they could document it.  One of the assistants said something about it being impressive or amazing that I was standing and nursing already.  The placenta came quickly and easily after that.

I sat down and kept nursing.  We were waiting for the cord to whiten, giving the baby as much blood as possible. While we waited, the team worked on notes and paperwork.  My husband went and got our toddler.  When they got back, we introduced the kids.  The toddler was excited about the baby but hesitant after being away from us at night, which has never happened.  My husband took our toddler into our bedroom so help calm the toddler down.  While he was in there, I helped clamp and cut the cord.  (Throughout the time inside our baby pooped 3 or 4 times before being weighed and 1 or 2 times after.)  Next the midwife took the baby to be weighed and looked over.  I was shocked when she said that the baby weighed 9 lbs and 10 oz...almost a whole pound heavier than our 1st.  I think I was shocked because I wasn't expecting it to be so close to 10 lbs.  

We moved into the bedroom to check me over for tears.  We had been praying that I wouldn't tear because I didn't want stitches.  I did have a couple of minor tears, but the midwife did not say tear while assessing me.  She used words like "little gouge" and "nick" or something. God is so good and so funny. One of them could have used stitches, but we decided since it was holding together well, that I wouldn't get stitches, which made me happy.

I showered after that and got comfy before getting back in bed.  I was in our room with our toddler and baby while everyone else cleaned up.  It was about 3/3:30 am before we were all asleep once the birth team left.  I am so grateful and happy for the birth that God gave me.  It was everything I ever dreamed of and more.

Women talk about their "redemptive birth".  My 1st birth was good.  It was hard, but it was still good.  There are things I would potentially change about it, but it was still good.  So, I do not feel that this new baby's birth was redemptive, but it was an answer to prayer in a way.  God paid attention to the little details and the things that weren't necessary but nice to have.  Thinking back on this birth, I feel good and happy.  I had more of the elated feeling after this baby's birth - about the birth in general and nothing to do with the actual baby. I prayed for a happy, healthy, holy, and peaceful birth, and that is what I had.