So This Is Heaven ~ Welcome Baby Liam!

It is with great joy that we introduce our son, Liam Xavier Bogart. Liam was born on April 25 2012, 8:12pm weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces. I carefully recollected my thoughts and memories of his birth so that I can remember his special birth day, but also so that I can share it with close friends and family... and then one day with him (although he'd probably be disinterested.. maybe his future wife will want to know!?)

For weeks, months, I had rehearsed what our first son's birth would be like in my head - partially because I learned and remembered so much from giving birth to Kirra, and partially because I had re-read my favorite Natural Birthing Books to get prepared. My experience was everything I had hoped and imagined, and more. I even re-hired the same doula that assisted us in Kirra's birth. The days prior to and following our due date were beautiful sunny-weather days, and Colin and I were hopeful that Liam would be born on a beach day. I remember how slippery and wet it was running down our stairs into the car when Kirra was born on a pouring November early morning. 

I did not go into labor early like I thought I would (Kirra was born 5 days early). For the 2 weeks prior to my due date I feel like Liam was waiting for me to be "ready" because I was already juggling two big preoccupying events: Kirra was sick with a fever, teething, diarrhea, restless sleep and no apetite. Secondly I had a big art project due to a client that was not finished. As each day passed and I still hadn't completed my illustrations, still I lacked any significant labor symptoms. I only had the usual braxton hicks contractions, and cervical ripening signs like losing mucous plug, being 80% effaced, 2 cm dilated. I just needed the cramps to get labor contractions to signal that labor was starting. I tried several natural labor triggering methods once I was 39.5 weeks: labor acupressure points, eating pineapple, going on 3-4 walks a day to move the pelvis and get baby to drop more, seeing a chiropractor to ensure my hips and pelvis were aligned, and finally, sex! It must have jump - started labor! Coincidentally or not, labor started on the DAY AFTER my art illustrations were done and submitted to the client. Baby was so patient to wait for me to be done. He came only three days past his due date. And to my surprise he still weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces- I thought perhaps he would be over 8 pounds.

I expected my labor to go much faster- that's what I heard from second-time moms and from my doula. My total labor time was about the same- lasting a total of 12 hours, but the active labor portion was cut in half this time around: to almost 4 hours. Early labor this time was a lot longer, and was triggered by cramping sensations that never went away with each braxton contraction I was having. So I started timing them. My contractions never had a consistency or pattern- and they never did in my previous labor either. They were 10, 3, 7, 5, 6 minutes apart, 30 to 70 seconds long. But the main indicator that I was in early labor was my emotional signpost: I was still smiling, able to carry on a conversation with Gillian, eat papaya and rice with dried shredded pork, drink tea, walk myself to the bathroom, check in on Kirra having her lunch etc. I did all this while practicing positions like child's pose over my bed, rocking my hips in circular motion on a birthing ball - and this all lasted 7 hours. I was glad to be in early labor when Kirra left with her grandparents for the Library and playground- so that I could give her a big hug and kiss before I wouldn't see her for a couple more days. We planned to call my parents to come home once we left for the hospital. 


Starting at about 2 hours into early labor, I already began using a TENS machine (usually used for physical therapy patients for pain management- the electrodes are stuck to your skin and sends tingly sensations that trigger your body to create more endorphins for pain relief when you have contractions. The longer you wear the TENS, the more endorphins your body will produce).  At my 6th hour of early labor I tried going into the warm kiddie pool of water that Colin had prepared for relaxation and pain relief. But it was clearly too early to go in because I got too hot in there, my contractions started slowing down, and also I preferred the TENS machine, which you cannot use in the water. However, right as I left the tub and headed for the bathroom I noticed my contractions were getting closer together and lasting longer. That was when Colin returned from Judahlicious (just a block away) with a wonderfully yummy smoothie. It was called 'So This Is Heaven' and is made of orange sorbet, strawberries, banana, coconut and pineapple. It was so delicious and I took big gulps in between contractions. I remember in Kirra's birth I would not have a single bite or drink to eat other than water!  But then I started vocalizing more through each contraction, and so at around 4:20pm (7.5 hours into labor), active labor began.

I was all eyes-closed during active labor. My breathing pattern I had used in early labor only deepened. Those cleansing 'HAAAA' breaths I practiced in yoga class, I put to good use. In one whole contraction I would do two deep breaths (each followed by a low deep long moan), and two more deep breaths (each followed by long cleansing HAAAAA's, which were usually after the peak of the contraction was over.) I was amazed that I allowed myself to go completely limp through all my contractions - whereas with Kirra I always tensed up through contractions in active labor (I squeezed my doulas hands so tight I ended up so sore for days after the birth). Well, for me, these deep breaths and cleansing breaths, the TENS machine and squatting in the warm kiddie pool were AMAZING at helping to not tense up. Additionally, I never let my doula or husband take their hands off my sacrum, hips or spine to apply counter pressure during a contraction. It was a huge relief and I demanded it when they did not do it soon enough. 

After another trip to the bathroom I decided to try the warm pool again. I only walked myself from room to room while in between contractions, so I was hurrying over to the pool. My water broke just as I was stepping one foot in the pool, and so I signaled to my doula and Colin that we should head to the hospital. Additionally I looked at the time (it was 6:15pm) and thought Kirra would be coming home with Engkong and Oma soon and I did not want her to have to hear my loud moaning contractions while she was trying to sleep or have a bath. Everyone agreed, and began quickly gathering belongings into the car. I jumped into the car, situated on my hands and knees as I had a few contractions during the 15 minute ride to the hospital.

With the TENS machine pulsating away on my back, I walked into the emergency entrance at CPMC, but then collapsed into yet another contraction between the sliding doors- and yes, people were watching me as I made low animal like moans through my contractions in my bath robe. At 6:50 pm I was wheeled straight up to a delivery room where they checked me out since I clearly looked like I was in active labor- even transitioning into pushing, and this was my 2nd birth, so they let me bypass triage. I was checked in my delivery room and was at 6 cm dilation. Because I looked as thought I was pushing involuntarily sometimes, the nurse Lauren suggested we try a modified Sims position (Texas Twist) where I lay on my front and twist my hips so that my belly is laying on its side and legs are slightly apart. She thought that I was having back labor due to a Posterior position baby. I tried that position but did not like it at all. So then she suggested the bath tub.

I spent the next hour in the bath tub in my delivery room where Colin, doula and Gillian helped brace me through my contractions, since I was now in transition and felt like I was at the end of the line. I was saying things that clearly indicated self doubt, like 'I can't do this,' or 'When is it going to be over?' or 'just get him out of me'....and then another wave of involuntary urges to push suddenly came. I had 3-4 pushing contractions in the water when the nurse offered to do a cervical exam on me. She was so considerate to be willing to check the fetal heart rate (this was the 2nd time since arriving at the hospital) via doppler device rather than having me move over to the bed to be checked by fetal monitor. Only a truly pro-natural nurse and mother herself would also find it appropriate and considerate also to conduct my cervical exam in the tub. She told me the baby's head is stationed at +3 and we are ready to push. After I moved myself to the bed, She was the one who also corrects me (I was laying on my back) and suggests that I try a squat, a semi squat, all fours or side lying. I was at a loss of judgement at that time and could not see through my discomfort to know what position that I wanted to be in to avoid any perineal tears. So, I chose side-lying position with one leg bent up toward my chest. My doula suggested I reach down to feel for his head crowning, which I did. I was amazed that he was crowning just by my leg being held up to my chest -- I hadn't even done any intentional pushes when on the bed, and yet his head was peeking out from my bottom! I pushed Liam out in 2 more contractions. The Dr and Nurse helped me to protect my perineum so I did not tear. At 8:12pm Colin's hands were right there under Liam's head while the Dr guided Liam's head out (turning it almost like a door knob) and then indicating to Colin to continue with the rest of the delivery.  I gave a slight push but mostly Liam eased his own way into his father's welcoming hands. Only seconds later, we heard his beautiful, soft cry; a brief little greeting to announce his arrival into this world!

We postponed cord clamping until the umbilical cord stopped pulsating (about 2-3 minutes). After cord cutting, the third stage of labor began: passing of the placenta. The Dr did not tug at the umbilical cord (thank God) but instead used a method that involved pressing on my belly while I took a deep breath in and out. I did a few of these and my placenta came out just fine. My nurse was happy to tell us how lucky we were that we had such an agreeable Dr who let us do whatever we wanted to achieve our natural birth. Colin did hand the nurse our birth plan when we arrived, but no one had a chance to review it. Dr let us avoid IVs, we only had 2 total fetal monitor sessions, I never had my blood pressure taken until after the pushing, I had a cervical exam in the bath tub, I got to push in the position I wanted, and no stitching necessary. I felt really happy about this, and really happy that I had a pro-natural childbirth nurse, Gillian, my doula and a wonderful nurturing husband who supported me as well.

The next moments, hours and days that followed - at the hospital and at home were cozy "slumber parties" with our new baby boy. We stared at him, wondered whose traits he got from whom (like, his nose is clearly his dad's because it's big), were surprised to see how much he nurses (almost every hour to hour and half sometimes, instead of 2-3 hours), and of course took tons of photos. I'm looking forward to taking many many mor pictures of mt growing boy, along with his loving big sister who is so eager to show him the way...

Welcome to the beautiful world, Little Liam!