Quentin"s Birth: The Rest of the Story

I always shower as fast as I can after getting out of the water so that I can hurry back to my baby. Of course I want Daddy to have some time holding him, but I need that little guy in my arms! I'm so happy that Daddy and I get to pass our babies back and forth for a long time before anyone else even holds them.

Here is my birth team (minus Elliot because he's taking the picture). Alison is my midwife and I love her, Catelyn is her apprentice (and the one who inspired me to have a homebirth), and Kat is also her apprentice (also, like 18-years-old). She was also present at Malcolm's birth 19 months ago. I love them all. They were exactly what I needed on my team. They stay out of my business until I need them and then they help my little ones come into the world! I trust them completely.

I had to paint that shirt on myself because I forgot to prepare after birth clothes and didn't feel like directing anyone to where they might find some.

I thought it was a joke when they weighed Malcolm like this, but this is how they do it! We had a whopping 9 pound 5 ounce baby! That's almost 2 pounds heavier than my other 2 babies! He was 21 inches long and was born at exactly 2:00 a.m. on Good Friday, March 29, 2013. He's perfect.

So last time they gave us about 2 hours with each other and our new little sweet baby before they came back to do the newborn check. They were usually cleaning up during that time. I made a bad choice in decided to have everything set up in our room. We should have done it somewhere else so that the the clean up could have happened while we were cuddling our new baby. Instead, they left us alone and then came in just an hour after he was born and said that they got another call from another mother in labor that they needed to go to. I told them that they could do the newborn check later, but they insisted on checking everything before they left. However, they did leave the rest of the gross clean up to Elliot. They emptied the pool because they needed to take it with them, but they left everything else to my poor husband.

Honestly, I didn't even notice he was cleaning stuff up for however long he was cleaning up because I was cuddling and feeding and loving my little guy. After Elliot was done cleaning up, we put our sweet little baby between us on the bed and we all fell asleep. It had to have been at least 4 or 5 in the morning. We were exhausted and knew that our other 2 children would be coming to meet their new little brother in just a few short hours, so we needed to get some sleep!

We also needed to name our baby. Of course, we were having another hard time deciding agreeing on a name for him. So Elliot said, "What's his name? We need to call some people." So, as per usual, I got my way and named him Quentin McAllister Dibble. :)

Thankfully Grandma let us sleep in and Quentin slept for several hours before she brought Stella and Malcolm home. They are in love.

Quentin's Birth: Part 2

The beginning of this birth experience was much like Malcolm's. Uneventful.

Elliot and I put on a television show after my midwife broke my water and she and her assistants left for dinner (obviously close to the house so that if things progressed quickly, they could be back quickly). We were watching Sherlock on Netflix when they got back from dinner, but still no progress besides the regular contractions I had been having for months. I was leaning over my exercise ball and swinging my hips from side-to-side to wiggle this little guy out. No progress for 3 hours, just like Malcolm"s birth. So it was 10:00 p.m. Alison and the girls were upstairs in the loft doing paperwork and would come down every once in a while to check The Baby's heartbeat and take my blood pressure. I don't even think we were keeping track of contractions because it bugged me last time. It was such a beautiful night that Alison told us to go for a walk.

I was already in my birth dress, but oh well, it was 10:00, right? So we headed out into our cute little neighborhood for a walk on a most beautiful night. We only ran into one couple from our Ward who were coming home from their date and had no idea that I was moments away from starting active labor. Walking is awesome. Note to self: Next time, walk. By the time we got to the end of the beginning of the other cul-de-sacs on the other side of the neighborhood, I had to pee and I had started having some real contractions. None that I had to stop for, but I think I also wanted to get home to pee so I wouldn't have to pee on the lawn in our new neighborhood. Welcome to the neighborhood Dibbles!

When we got home, I did my business and then we put our show back on. It was the end of the Season, so exciting things were happening, but I honestly can't remember any of it. It was the last episode at the very end when I got to the point in active labor and contracting regularly where I needed silence so I could focus completely. However, it was an exciting and confusing ending to the show and Elliot had questions and wanted to discuss. I can't remember what happened besides he was just talking and I wasn't willing to answer. T.V. off. I believe it was midnight by then.

Alison came downstairs to check on me and said that the water in the pool was ready upstairs if I wanted to get in. I was worried that I would be getting into the water too soon and it wouldn't help with relief, but I really wanted to be in a different position and water sounded awesome. We headed upstairs and I changed to get into the pool. There is just a transition (I think it's actually called transition) when the contractions go from intense to SUPER intense and as I was getting into the pool, that happened. It was awesome. Perfect timing.

The water was cold. I didn't want to birth in cold water. They grabbed buckets to empty some of the water to have room to put warm water in and in a matter of minutes, the water was warm again. I tried a different position than I did in Malcolm's birth (I was sitting down with him), so I was on my hands and knees and I just didn't feel right, so I got back in the sitting position. If there's a next time, I'll try something else because sitting can compress the pelvis. I didn't notice that the place I chose to sit was in an awkward place for everyone else, but if they cared, they didn't do anything about it!

I was acutely more aware of the noises I was making this time. Not only because Elliot and I kind of laugh about it from last time because I was LOUD and I have a deep voice, but because I was pretty sure our windows were open and it was the middle of the night and our neighbors were probably freaking out about their new neighbors. So I did my best to suppress the noises, but still not hold my breath. Next time I'm just letting it go. Seriously, who cares? I breathe my babies out!

I wasn't aware of time, but it did seem like it was taking longer than I wanted. My body finally started to push, but I'm not sure how long that took either. It was different than last time and because of the amazing natural pushes my body did last time, I had decided not to interfere with what my body was already doing on it's own and just let it push. I had discussed this decision with Elliot and Alison before we started anything, so I knew they were both aware of my wishes. So I'm not sure how long my body was pushing when I heard Elliot say, "Whitney, you need to push!"

Did I hear him correctly? Silly guy, we had already discussed this. I'm not pushing.

Then I heard Alison say, "Whitney! You need to push!"

WAIT. WHAT? I had to bring myself back to the room and figure out why they were telling me to push. Apparently The Baby was a big one and his shoulders were a little bit stuck and he needed help getting out. So Elliot told me to push again and I gave it a super lame non-helpful push. Elliot said that I was falling asleep between the pushes, but really I was just in my zone. I finally gave it a good push and The BIG Baby came out!

That is the best feeling in the entire world. I tried to pull him up onto my chest by my face, but he wouldn't go that far. Apparently his placenta was at the top of my uterus and so the cord was stretched to capacity and that is as far as he'd go. That was alright though because I could see him better. What a sweet big baby I just had!

He had so much hair and was already so chubby! He gave us all a good cry and pinked up really fast as I cuddled him in the water. Elliot cut his umbilical cord after it was done pulsing (it took about 15 minutes) and I handed Elliot his new baby boy!

Quentin's Birth: Part 1

We had a busy month of March. We bought a house and planned our moving day to be March 19th, which also happened to be my "official" due date. We weren't worried about him coming on that day though, so we went ahead with the moving plans. As an interesting side note, I did feel around 6 months pregnant that I needed to be ready for his birth super early . . . not that I thought he'd come early, but just that I needed to be ready. I'm so happy I listened to those feelings because it relieved what could have been a super stressful time around the move and birth.

March 19th came and went and the only excitement was the actual move into our beautiful new home. I love it, but that's a different post. Of course, THIS time I wasn't going to be induced because I just wanted to go into labor on my own (Stella was induced at the hospital with Pitocin, Malcolm at home by breaking my bag of waters).

The Baby was stubborn. Toward the end of all pregnancies, you like to see that your baby is being compliant and in the right position with the head down and facing your back. Well this guy decided that BREECH was best. My midwife referred me to a chiropractor that knows the Webster Method of adjustment to get this guy to go into the right position. My visit to the chiropractor confirmed that my hips were a little off and it was making it difficult for him to want to go into the right position. So I scheduled my appointments.

My chiropractor is weird. I call it voo-doo, he calls it KST. He checked me out and then at the end of the appointment he stood behind me and tapped my shoulders, rubbed his fingers together, tapped my shoulders, rubbed his fingers together . . . several times. Then he had me repeat some phrases after him, like, "I have no problem with this baby going head down" "My body knows how to give birth" . . . all positive affirmations which I was telling myself anyway, but he was feeling my "energy" and telling me to repeat things that he said I needed myself to hear. Interesting. Also, entertaining.

This pregnancy was not like Stella's or Malcolm's. I can't complain too much, but I will say that I just wasn't as comfortable or energetic. I felt my healthiest when I was pregnant with the other 2 kids, but this one was just different. I never sleep because of my restless legs while I'm pregnant, but this time it bothered me. I also gained more weight and had some hip pain. I think it was because I was chasing and hefting around a 32 pound 1 1/2 year old. I obviously didn't lose the weight from my last pregnancy, so that could have been a contributing factor as well. When I was pregnant with Malcolm I said that I could be pregnant for a year, but with this guy I was hoping he'd come sooner than later . . . still totally willing to let him come when he was supposed to, but hoping for sooner.

Every time I saw my midwife I had to sign a refusal of referral to an OB/GYN because the baby wasn't in the right position. I knew what an OB would say that I needed an immediate c-section, but I trusted my body and my baby to get into the correct position. The chiropractor helped. The baby moved into an oblique position (sideways) by my next appointment, so he was on the move. My midwife and the chiropractor in her office even got him to move a little more by pushing the crap out of my stomach. It was a little uncomfortable, but even more fascinating to know that you don't have to give up on a breech baby! Also, my midwife was confident that I could deliver him in the breech position anyway and I was completely willing to do that as well. P.S. So glad he got in the right position though.

Then one week he was suddenly in the right position. He wasn't low or anything, but he was head down and we were all excited. Then he moved again. I could tell. At my previous appointments, I couldn't tell the difference between a kick from a foot or a punch from a fist, so I never knew what position he was in. I just knew he wasn't in the right position anymore. I was reading everything I could, soaking in the tub, visiting the chiropractor, not sitting in chairs, and talking to him to try to get him to move into the correct position again.

My midwife is awesome. She never made me feel nervous about this little guy being in the breech position and said that if I was comfortable giving birth breech, she was comfortable being there to help because she's seen me and knows that I'm a great birther. I am. I really am.

So since I was approaching 42 weeks overdue, Alison (midwife) legally has to refer me to get an ultrasound for a biophysical profile and stress test. Note to self: sign refusal form next time.

It's always fun to see the baby in an ultrasound, even though I was really hoping each day to actually be able to hold him in my arms, so I made my appointment for the BPP and stress test. The morning of March 28, I was 9 days past my official due date and headed all the way into Phoenix for my appointment. I did the stress test first, which was nice because I just got to relax and push a button every time I felt him move, which was quite often during the test. Then this crazy little guy fell asleep as I walked across the office to the ultrasound. He wasn't moving. He was sleeping. The ultrasound technician kept jiggling my belly to try to get him to wake up which was a little disturbing to everyone involved except the baby . . . he was sleepy. I got up, moved around some more, ate some candy that they gave me, got into different positions and even jumped up and down to try to get him to wake up. Nope. He was sleeping. They needed to get fetal movement and practice breaths from him in order to pass the test. He eventually moved his leg and since he passed the stress test with flying colors, they decided to let him pass the ultrasound as well.

However, the doctor who reviewed the ultrasound came in to discuss his findings with me. He was the only doctor there and he was also a premie-doctor (I can't think of the official name), so he was probably used to finding things wrong. So he told me that I had very little amniotic fluid around the baby and that he saw some meconium (baby poo). He suggested that I be induced as soon as possible and had called my midwife to tell her so. She asked that I call her.

So I don't think there is a mom anywhere that likes to hear that the baby has already pooped. Some serious things can happen, including brain damage. So naturally I was a little upset by this news and yet still I knew everything was just fine. My whole pregnancy I had been practicing positive thinking and affirmations and relaxation and this news was creeping its way in, but I was doing my best to not let it upset me. I called Alison and she wanted me to come see her. So from Phoenix to Queen Creek I went.

I let her check my dilation/effacing progress (something I never do) and she said the baby was in the correct position (good boy) and I can't remember how far I was dilated because I know it doesn't even really matter. She said that induction was up to me, but that she wasn't doing anything later that day. :) I had an inner battle with myself. A short one, but still a battle. I hate to admit that I was really done being pregnant this time and that I really wanted to induce this birth. We decided to induce at 5:00 p.m. I headed to Target to return some items and before I got out of the car, I decided that I should probably call Elliot and let him know we were going to have a baby. I was obviously near the edge of completely emotional because when Elliot suggested that we wait until morning instead of inducing that night, I started bawling! I couldn't stop crying. This is Elliot's favorite thing that I do. He loves it when I cry and can't stop. It's fantastic.

I was a snotty mess, so I didn't go into Target. I called my reflexologist and made an appointment for her to meet me at my house to I could relax again . . . because I was indeed going to be induced that night no matter what Elliot said (he also loves that). She was amazing. It's always good to have a random cry, but goodness sakes, that foot rub saved me. Stella came home from school just as we were finishing and I was talking so softly to her that she didn't know what was happening. Grandma Dibble showed up with Malcolm and took Stella with her back to her house.

The house was clean, supplies were ready, children were taken care of, I was totally relaxed, . . . we were ready to have a baby. Alison and Kat (also present at Malcolm's birth) and Catelyn showed up a bit late . . . like 2 hours late. I was fine because I was in relaxation mode, but it bugged Elliot. We started right in with the process and she broke my water at 7:00 . . . oh, you mean the water that was supposedly non-existent during the ultrasound? Yes, that water. There was plenty of it. Also, no meconium. Note to self: refuse BPP next time. No need to worry, but thanks anyway Doc.

Quentin's Pre-Birth Story

Funny story. At least I think it is. So you know how it took us almost 5 years to have Stella? Yeah, and then it took us another 7 years to have Malcolm. Well, one Sunday while I was sitting in Relief Society holding my 9-month-old baby, I had this overwhelming feeling that Elliot and I needed to do whatever it took to have another baby (i.e. fertility, blah, blah). Elliot was still the bishop of our Ward at that time and so when I approached him right after church (his busiest time) and said, "Elliot, we need to have another baby," his response was, "Well, I'm kind of busy right now." I wonder what would have happened if he wasn't so busy after church. Hum. Is that sacrilegious?

Fast-forward another month on a rather warm July Saturday morning (the day before Elliot was released as bishop of our Ward) as I was doing my weekly chores in the bathroom when I found a leftover pregnancy test from before Malcolm was discovered. I decided to take it even though I was 2-3 days early. The faintest of faint lines appeared in the right places. I was so excited. I was also a little bit in shock. Only a little bit because I remembered that feeling I had in RS, but also a lot shocked because I didn't think I would get pregnant so quickly. And nervous because of our previous experiences with miscarriage so early on. This was the first pregnancy that I kept absolutely no record of when it may have happened. It's weird how very frustrating that was because I've always been so good about that. I had no idea when I might be due. Weird, but it was frustrating.

Elliot was on his man-date with Uncle Barry (lasting a little longer than usual because he was being called as bishop of our Ward the next day . . . hahaha), so I called and left a message for Elliot to see when he was coming home. When he did finally make it home, I tried several approaches to get him to go into the bathroom to check out our news. After he finally caught on, he said, "No way. Does this mean we have to use condoms?" And that's why I think it's funny.

So Dibble Baby #3 was due to join our family in March 2013 (pick a date, any date . . . because there were lots of different due dates, 10th, 13th, 15th . . . I chose the 26th).

(End of August Lindsay was about 28 weeks and I was about 10 weeks)

P.S. Our babies come when they are supposed to. We've learned that we have absolutely no control over when that may happen, but we are sure grateful for our sweet babies and their perfect timing in our lives.