As most of you know, my due date came and passed, much like those with my other two children. And even with contractions on and off on Monday and Tuesday evening, I still found myself in a place, like many "past due" preggos often do, where you know the baby must come out, but you're not quite sure if you're totally ready to swallow what that means.
On Wednesday night, after a midwife visit and a long night struggling with the prospect of everything that had happened over these last nine months colliding, I had a "standing with fists in the air in the pouring rain" moment -- which for a large pregnant woman on a dry Atlanta evening meant a solid 30-minutes of crying to Coldplay on repeat sprawled out on the sofa.
It was the release of all the worry, anxiety, and stress about what truly adding another life (perhaps a more complicated life than I was prepared to handle) to our family. It was saying to the universe that no matter what happened and no matter how many signs I saw that were pointing me in a direction I did not want to go, I was ready.
And thus, a couple of hours later, I popped up, jumped off the couch (I am married to Mr. Clean, remember?), and my water broke.
That's about as poetic as this whole labor thing ever got for me.
I found myself in an odd predicament, mind you, as I wasn't really having contractions at that point. And so, I called my doula, called my midwife, and called the huz, who, in good form, spent the next 30 minutes cleaning up my trail of amniotic fluid (most of which I contained to the kitchen floor instead of GASP! THE CARPET!).
And waited - on one hand hoping things would soon kick into gear - and on the other hoping that they would decide to kick in AFTER the dreaded Atlanta rush hour.
The contractions did in fact arrive, but shifted from every 6 minutes to every 12 minutes to some weird numeric pattern (Fibonacci maybe?) that basically meant that I was not going to have this baby as quickly as I had hoped. The kids woke up, the babysitter arrived, and I finally decided (at around 9am), that I needed to walk and really get things moving.
As things started to pick up, my midwife called wondering where the hell I was since "hello, it's your third baby, dear," and we all hopped into our cars for the long ride to the hospital. Managing the contractions and a severe back cramp that would be a thorn in my side (almost literally) for the rest of my labor during the car ride was made a bit easier by the spark of sun shining through the clouds on what had been a series of rainy and overcast days.
Okay, so I lied. That is about as poetic as my labor ever got.
Upon my arrival at around 11:30am, I was plugged into the 4000 machines, poked and prodded with all sorts of needles and gloved hands, and was left to labor at 4cm dilated.
The hours passed slowly, with irregular, but strong contractions, and an incredibly odd back pain that finally resolved itself after much movement and heat. The labor began to remind me of my daughter's, which due to her posterior positioning, was almost inhumanly painful thanks to severe rectal pressure that could not be resolved by pushing because of a posterior and not yet fully dilated cervix.
At one point, near 2pm, my contractions slowed to a point where I fell asleep at least twice that I remember, and upon waking, my midwife suggested I get in the shower. The hot water on my back and the deep weeping sobs (yes, I'm a crier) did little to comfort me and when I hit a point where I just could not physically endure it anymore, the huz looked at the midwife and said "she's there."
And so I was.
The midwife had to hold my cervix forward since it had not yet moved anterior, and with one long push that included me screaming the following in this exact order "Get her out now, now out now out out get her out now out please out now get her out now" she was in my arms.
It is an odd moment when you've had this being in you for so long, to see her sliding down your stomach, staring up at you like it's just another day in your lives.
And it's even better seeing the culmination of the last five years of your life together in one very happy place and breathing one collective sigh of relief...
You were pregnant? Just kidding! Congratulations!!! I'm just now catching up on your blog and am thrilled to see photos of your sweet family. So awesome!!
Posted by: Kiersten | November 06, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Ruth Dynamite | October 26, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Margot is beautiful!
Congratulations!
But, curse you for making me want another baby. Damn! Damn! Damn! No! No! No!
Posted by: michellw_ | October 25, 2008 at 10:44 AM
What a beautiful baby and family you have! I love the name Margot.
Posted by: Lady M | October 19, 2008 at 11:09 AM
How lovely -- your beautiful Margot and your story. (Margot Lane sounds like the name of a silent film star, I think.) Brings back so many wonderful memories from my two births. Wishing you rest and care.
Posted by: Asha {Parent Hacks} | October 18, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Congratulations!! I can't wait to meet her!
Posted by: Oh, The Joys | October 17, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Now that's one of the best birth stories I've ever heard... She is absolutely beautiful! Congrats!
Posted by: MommyBrainReports | October 17, 2008 at 01:43 AM
CONGRATULATIONS, KRISTEN! Gorgeous baby!
Posted by: Verona | October 17, 2008 at 12:21 AM
Congrats Kristen!! Margot Laine- what a beautiful name!
Posted by: Lindsay Lebresco | October 16, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Beautiful photo! And gorgeous, gorgeous baby!
I'm sorry the labor was long and painful. Back spasms during labor suck big donkey balls.
Posted by: the weirdgirl | October 16, 2008 at 02:18 PM
She is so beautiful! That photo of your children all together? Is making me all misty-eyed. Congrats to you all!
Posted by: motherofbun | October 16, 2008 at 01:23 PM
BEAUTIFUL birth story! As uncomfortable and long it might have been, she's beautiful!
Posted by: Bitchy Mom | October 16, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Oh.my.gosh. ADORABLE! congratulations!!!
Posted by: Rusti | October 15, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Congratulations, Kristen and family...Margot is BEAUTIFUL - and I love her name.
Posted by: mamatulip | October 15, 2008 at 05:39 PM
So I read this post and I'm all weepy and all, "WHY did I get an IUD?" and then I read your next post and I'm all, "Oh yeah, that's why I got an IUD!"
This proves you are a Great Blogger: able to provoke a range of emotions in just two posts and five minutes' time.
Posted by: Suburban Turmoil | October 15, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Congrats!!!!
So..your midwife had to HOLD your cervix? Eek.
Posted by: Robin @ Party of Five | October 15, 2008 at 11:20 AM
A million congratulations to you and your family!
Posted by: Caroline | October 15, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Congrats again! I can't get over the birth order. Girl, boy, girl. With Drew in the middle, it almost assures that each of your babies will be well adjusted. No one will be left out. I can't explain it, but I rarely hear of this birth order. Okay, I will stop rambling.
Posted by: Red Cup Mom | October 15, 2008 at 01:37 AM
Yay! Congratulations sweetheart! xo
Posted by: Karen Sugarpants | October 14, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Congrats to you all...she is beautiful!
Posted by: Tara-Lynn | October 14, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Oh, gorgeous photo. And thanks for posting your story - I love to read them, since I won't experience them ever again, and for that, I am so glad.
Congratulations again, Kristen. Margot is beautiful.
Posted by: FishyGirl | October 14, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Fuck. You made me cry. I know I'm suppose to be all "I LOVE YOUR BABY!" but I'm a big mess over here. Please stop making me cry.
PS. I really do love your baby.
Posted by: Jenny, Bloggess | October 14, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Why no epidural? I dont want to remember my labor being in tears...I remember it watching GalaxyQuest and then the Doc saying 'Ok, time to push'. Me no likey pain....
Posted by: Jax | October 14, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Congratulations!! Such a gorgeous photo too!!
Posted by: twolittleducks | October 14, 2008 at 03:53 PM
aw congratulations! what a great pic of your kids :)
Posted by: katelin | October 14, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Many wonderful congratulations!!!
Posted by: Heidi | October 14, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Congratulations - Margot is beautiful and I loved reading the birth story! At the encouragement of a fellow blogger I posted mine a while ago and in doing so, bought back so many memories and feelings!
Hope it's all going well
Posted by: thatgirl | October 14, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Oh man, you made me tear up a little.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Erica | October 14, 2008 at 12:25 PM
ohmigosh, adorable baby! adoring siblings (that won't last)
and here I am, in the midst of wishing it wasn't so unreasonable to want to be mom, again, again. (#3 is 16 months old and my oldest is getting married in the spring!! Yet, I look at new babies and pine for them. What am I thinking?!
(and yes, Margot Laine is a good name: my oldest is Margaret Elaine)
Posted by: mom, again | October 14, 2008 at 07:49 AM
congratulations to you and your precious family Kristen
Posted by: urban | October 14, 2008 at 07:24 AM
The most striking thing for me was that you had the presence of mind to get off the couch before your water broke.
You definitely deserve some kind of medal or financial compensation, because you know you guys never would have been able to clean that out.
This medal/award would of course come in addition to the standard award for enduring all this. And no, I don't mean "a beautiful baby, blah-blah-blah". I mean like a car or jewelry or something.
Posted by: LiteralDan | October 14, 2008 at 04:04 AM
Girl, I've had a posterior cervix with all three of mine, so I know your pain. You are amazing! Congrats on the gorgeous Margot. :)
`Arianne (ToThink on Twitter)
Posted by: To Think Is To Create | October 14, 2008 at 03:46 AM
OH SO BEAUTIFUL! Baby FEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Char | October 14, 2008 at 01:02 AM
i'm cryin' . . .
(they are all beautiful!)
Posted by: Angie in Texas | October 14, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Congratulations!!
All of your children are very beautiful!!!
Hugs!!
Posted by: Traceytreasure | October 14, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Congratulations. What a beautiful baby.
and I have immense respect for you--I had my first baby two weeks ago, and I couldn't do it without an epidural. The pain was unendurable. (Ended up having a C-section anyway as I wasn't progressing and the baby's head wasn't moving into place.)
Posted by: Pencils | October 13, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Oh, yes, that is one beautiful girl child right there! Who needs sleep, who needs food, who needs a shower or clothes that haven't been worn for 3 days straight when you have Her? Only some lame-butt ;)
At least you aren't know known in a tiny hospital as the crazy woman having daughter #2 who scowled like a demon from Hades at the nurse who responded to my request/demand for my stadol (sp?) by saying "aw, you don't want that druggy stuff." Um, did too, like I did 2 years previously. After this 22 year old b**ch azz was replaced by an older nurse who had children, I and Mrs. Stadol happily enjoyed one another's company until it was time for Mr. Epidural (it takes a Mr. to stab a woman in the back in that manner).
I was rewarded with Blessing Squared, so making up for 18 stitches and a flaming UTI.
I will NEVER fully disclose the details of my daughters' births to them (especially to #1, because no one needs to hear about an epidural that fails before an emergency c-section)because I want to be a grandmother some day.
Posted by: ame i. | October 13, 2008 at 10:32 PM
What a beautiful baby!!
Congratulations to you and your family.
Posted by: Kelsey | October 13, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I am so deeply happy for you all. Two to three was the hardest and best thing I have ever done. Wishing you the same and more...less of the hard, more of the best.
Hugs.
Posted by: Amanda | October 13, 2008 at 09:59 PM
She's perfect. I miss birthing stories. I wish I had five instead of two.....wish you well.
Posted by: Jamie E | October 13, 2008 at 09:55 PM
Here I go again...
The looks on the kids' faces are KILLING ME.
Can't. wait. to see you all.
Posted by: Weepy McWeeperson | October 13, 2008 at 09:42 PM
I had that posterior position with my son (#1) and it was AWFUL so I feel for you. Great story. Thanks for sharing it. I'm so glad things went well for you. Oh....we featured you over at http://www.babybunching.com this week in our Baby Bunching Bests!!!
Posted by: Linda | October 13, 2008 at 09:26 PM
You're a much better blogger than I am! I still haven't posted my birth story.
Those back pains are a b*tch, I had those with my first.
Posted by: Multi-Tasking Mommy | October 13, 2008 at 08:53 PM
Thank you for sharing that with us.
Posted by: SuZ | October 13, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Trying to hold back tears! That was very special to read. It's all worth it for that precious little miracle of life.
Posted by: niktricks | October 13, 2008 at 06:08 PM
And yet, to me this was a very poetic post. Yay for you and your family. She's beautiful and again, I adore the name. And hey, I even know how to say it.
ps. your screaming at the end had no curses in it, so you win.
Posted by: Issa | October 13, 2008 at 04:59 PM
That was a great story and that pictures is so adorable.
Posted by: Zandor | October 13, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Beautiful story, beautiful baby, beautiful children, beautiful name. I had my Mae at Piedmont - you weren't there, by chance? Margot is a sweet angel!
Posted by: Mandy | October 13, 2008 at 03:22 PM
thanks for sharing your story. she's breathtaking.
Posted by: jenni | October 13, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Congratulations! What an amazing and no doubt unforgettable experience. Sunny looks terrific.
Posted by: ken | October 13, 2008 at 03:05 PM
That was 2 more poetic moments in one birth that I had in my two combined! Congrats to you and the whole family!
Posted by: Jerri Ann | October 13, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Congratulations!! Finally you're all together. :)
Posted by: Marylin | October 13, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Margot Laine is a beautiful name. I love the classiness of it.
Hope you're getting some rest Mama!
Posted by: rabidparadise | October 13, 2008 at 12:43 PM
She already looks so aware of her surroundings! Suspicious, even...
Posted by: naomi | October 13, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Congratulations. God bless you and your family. Beautiful children!
Posted by: TheYoungMother | October 13, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your wonderful birth story!
Posted by: Hippy Habibi | October 13, 2008 at 11:53 AM
So beautiful. She is gorgeous. You are making me want to head down the road leading to number 2...
Congratulations to you & your family! Kids look very happy & excited.
Posted by: bessie.viola | October 13, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Your story makes me consider having a third. Of course, that means my wife. Great pic and story. Enjoy.
Posted by: Kevin Burke | October 13, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Oh she looks like she was so totally worth it all!! Congratulations on your family being together and all lovey dovey stuff that goes along with it (Can't you tell I am jealous that you have already given birth?)
Here is something for you: http://mommysescape.blogspot.com/2008/10/another-bloggy-award.html
Posted by: Krystal | October 13, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Nice story. So happy that everything went well and you have a healthy girl.
Posted by: AmyH | October 13, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Ahh the wonders of bringing life into the world. I dont think any birth would be complete with out the rambling screams of a exhausted woman telling another person to reach inside of her crotch and pull a fully developed human being out lol. I am so glad all is well with you and your family. I hope you are able to get some rest and thanks for sharing with us!
Posted by: Courtney | October 13, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Do you indeed recommend the use of a doula? This is a conversation my husband and I are in angst about...
I already said congrats, but let me say it again. She's a lucky girl to be born into your sweet family.
Posted by: Barbara | October 13, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Thanks so much for sharing, Kristen. The picure of your children is beautiful - the look of love is in their eyes!
Posted by: Beth | October 13, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Good work, Kristen. Hope you are getting some time with everyone behaving & not being all whiny for a while. 1 push? While that thorn sounds pretty god awful, 1 push ain't shabby.
Which Coldplay? I can't do "Fix You". It makes me weepy, too.
Posted by: hoppytoddle | October 13, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Chills.
Great birth story!
Posted by: Julia | October 13, 2008 at 10:23 AM
That was beautiful - thank you for sharing your story. I'm happy that you are both doing well!
Posted by: Tabitha (From Single to Married) | October 13, 2008 at 10:16 AM
You lied again - it's that photo that's the poetry of the moment.
Posted by: mom101 | October 13, 2008 at 10:07 AM
She is absolutely beautiful! Fantastic birth story!
Posted by: psumommy | October 13, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Beautiful birth story, Congrats.
Posted by: Must be Motherhood | October 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Amazing. I'm glad all is well. Your babies are just beautiful hon.
Posted by: NotAMeanGirl | October 13, 2008 at 09:47 AM
great post. i'm totally crying.
Posted by: April | October 13, 2008 at 09:43 AM
What a beautiful narration of your daughter's arrival. Congratulations again!! She's gorgeous!!
Posted by: susieshomemade | October 13, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Ohhhh...congratulations...I cried. I'm at 34 weeks and am anxious to hold a sweet baby.
She is beautiful.
Posted by: Angie | October 13, 2008 at 09:08 AM
ADORABLE!!!! Congrats!
Posted by: Jennifer Suarez | October 13, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Love the exact words in the exact order. I remember dropping an f-bomb or twelve. Along with many a 'please'.
Beautiful picture. Big brother Drew - can you stand it?
Posted by: Manic Mommy | October 13, 2008 at 08:43 AM
An amazing story, Kristen. Many congratulations to your beautiful baby.
(Although both my labors ended in c-sections, even with midwifery care, I remember distinctly that first labor, back and abdominal contractions, and that rectal pressure you so aptly described. Torture, pure and simple. If an ass could explode, mine was perpetually on the verge.)
Posted by: Kelly | October 13, 2008 at 08:33 AM
Congrats. You have a beautiful family.
Posted by: Vicky (Secret Mom Thoughts) | October 13, 2008 at 08:31 AM
Wow- how exciting! Thanks for the pic- beautiful! COngrats!
Posted by: starrlife | October 13, 2008 at 08:22 AM
What a beautiful portrait... congratulations on a job well done. Thanks for a wonderful blog, you are gifted.
Posted by: Karen M. | October 13, 2008 at 08:10 AM
Congratulations! What a beautiful baby!
Posted by: Queen of Shake Shake | October 13, 2008 at 08:07 AM
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Angela | October 13, 2008 at 07:27 AM
I think calling it an 'odd moment' is perfect. It IS odd to have a person appear from inside us and, in an instant, they are the biggest presence imaginable. You did it momma. Congrats.
Posted by: Fairly Odd Mother | October 13, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Beautiful children. Congratulations!~
Posted by: Melissa | October 13, 2008 at 07:15 AM
Beautiful picture of the 3 kids. And when they complain that nothing is their own, and they have to share EVERYTHING, they all each have their own birth story whether they want to hear it or not.
Posted by: Amanda | October 13, 2008 at 06:42 AM
That really got to me, we women are amazing. The picture of your 3 is just lovely. Hope your feeling happy and well.
Posted by: J from Ireland | October 13, 2008 at 05:49 AM
I'm glad it went well and you're all together now.
Lovely picture of the three together.
Posted by: ewe_are_here | October 13, 2008 at 05:34 AM