"I almost stuck his face in one of his annoying poetically-dirty snowbanks, I was so sure such blasphemous optimism would cause my contractions to evaporate."
I haven't laughed this hard on a Sunday morning in a long time.
I'll second Pink here.
I think, too, of the commonality of how we can hate the things we love most about our partners-at just the right time.
And, man, I'm getting excited even though I already "know" how this story turns out. Such a gift you give us!
Oh - I so love the labor tub. I had a similar experience - membranes stripped twice with no luck, finally at 2 weeks past my due date I had my water broken by my mid-wife and had about 3 hours of strong, frequent contractions with very little progress. 45 minutes in the warm tub and I went from 4-9 cm and my Magpie was born a half hour later. There is something magic about that tub!
You've alluded to it not being quite that easy in the last stages, but at least you had some time to relax a bit and regain your focus while in that tub.
Can't wait for part 3.
Ah, castor oil. It's what my mother-in-law used 64 years ago when she needed my brother-in-law to be born before her husband had to go back to basic training.
Wood, I love reading what you write on here; your voice is so calm and measured with punctuations of wit that had me cracking up out loud, making my kid want to read what I was reading ("it's a birth story," I said. "Um, nevermind. We'll take your word for it that it's funny").
And, because it must be said, you are an amazing birth woman like whoa.
I did the Castor oil, too. Didn't do a damn thing except cause me to sit on the toilet and moan for 2 straight days. On the plus side, though, I was much too "flushed" to poop in the delivery room, even though I pushed for 3 hours.
So brilliantly written, and very emotional, can't wait to read part 3. By the way I was told to eat raw pineapple but that didn't work either!
lovely story. keep up the good work.
btw My first 2 kids, Izzy and Cedar, both took days to make an appearance and were both pretty traumatic. London Juniper fell out about 6 hours after first contraction in a more calm and 'pleasant' manner than i would ever have dreamed. Mum lead birth suites are just the BEST places to have a baby.
nickyx
Ooh, a crochet hook? I had to involuntarily hold on to my bits for a second when you said that. Ouch. It sounds....sharp.
glad I know it turns out ok.
"I was in the world of pain and between pain"
So, so true. Well said.
I can't wait to hear the rest! I know it all turns out okay but really, I'm on pins and needles over here.
SO GLAD you found relief in the tub.
As said; I know (hope??) everything works out for the best but this is still scary reading. Birth stories often are. I really have to stop reading them.
The new photo of Gram is so beautiful, and the one of you Wood is so very inspiring.
I don't understand why they say that the water might slow down labor. Twice for me it made is so pain-free, and it seemed like my body took that as a cue to just relax and let labor happen. I dilated really fast, too, and had that surprise, "Ohmygoodness! I gotta push NOW!" Definitely a nice way to have a baby. 
Loving this, cannot wait for part 3. Wood, you are such a strong woman.
I was convinced that with #2 I'd go early as well, but my kids, like my husband, just don't seem to like to be on time.
I guzzled castor oil trying to get my son out. I didn't get diarrhea, and it didn't make him come out. Thus, I'm not a big fan of the stuff. Sounds like you were a good, strong mama.
Wow. So surprised that people are feeling any sense of fear or nervousness while reading this. I get only strength, determination, anticipation. my labor was not long ago, just eight months, and I still marvel at that binary cycle of contraction/no contraction. I still haven't found a good word for the sensation, but pain has never felt like the right description. That urge to push overwhelmed me. I felt it in every cell.
Congratulations on little Gram! He is so adorable. I check in every once in a while to check out your blog...I love a lot of your photography and stories. I'm a stylist / photographer who moved from Brooklyn to a log cabin in Idaho. We got totally sick of the hipster scene in Brooklyn and decided to try something different...ANYWAY, I have one question for Wood that has nothing to do with kids...where did you get that u shaped necklace? I love it....(sorry it's the stylist in me)...and again congrats on the birth of your son! PS....my favorite site for boys clothing is called Fooey ...they have the best boys tees and awesome superstar cord pants....you must check it out.
Wood, you are incredible! I admire your strength and determination. I also completely agree with "I was in the world of pain and between pain. There was only that." Amen, sister.
was just telling my husband how a friend of ours had a different kind of birth experience- delivery so unenjoyable for her she has decided one is enough- and i said it is strange to me b/c i remember being so focused on what i had to do in those moments that even the pain was just a weird distraction from what needed to be done- you describe it all so much better than me.
i do remember at one point feeling as if i couldn't finish delivery (close to crowning)- the task was just bigger than i could manage and looking straight into his eyes and knowing that he believed that i could and i would and drawing that strength from him and doing it, finally. such sweet intimacy we get to share with men whom i imagine feel so far away from that moment.
i must say that i am a wee bit jealous of the idea of a tub and a queen sized bed and spooning...ah well, i think if a healthy son is the result i'll be ok in the long run. thanks for sharing your experience with us, glad to know in advance all is well.
Oh how I love birth stories!
I downed 11 oz of castor oil over 24 hours and it didn't work for me either. It took the crochet hook to get it going and I also dilated 5 cm in one hour. Crazy how birth connects folks.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
When I was laboring at home, my doula suggested I get into the tub to ease the pain. It was when I was in the tub that I started feeling the urge to push and the contractions sped up.
I wonder if the tub can make it go both ways?
Your story leaves me breathless...with memory and anticipation.
So glad to hear Wood's voice, too. Looking forward to part three: the reckoning.
Wow, what a story. I waited a week after my water broke.
Wow it's so great to hear the story. Can't wait to read the end. Glad all of you are doing well!
oh man just the idea of drinking castor oil makes me gag. i never even hit eight months pregnant with either of my pregnancies so i don't know how miserable you were but it sounds awful. gram is beautiful though and now you can give him trouble for the rest of his life for being late like my mom does to me (i was three weeks late).
Every time I read birthing stories my guts get all crawly-warm, and my heart, too (and I wish I were pregnant again). You two write so beautifully.
Can't wait for part 3.
wow - 5 cm in an hour! every birthing room should have a tub!
I can't believe you are writing so much so soon after Gram's arrival! Of course, you were also out hiking in the woods. You are clearly made of some strong stuff. Congrats again.
I'm with Yolanda: I see so much strength and power and wonder and joy in this story. Reading this is actually making me look forward to giving birth in a few weeks, though that could be also because I'm reaching the point of being tired of being pregnant...
Congratulations!
(And your expression is very Juniper-esque in the above photograph.)
Thank you for sharing...it's amazing how much clarity (and wit) you have about those intense hours. Your story brings back so many incredible memories of my son's birth...pain sucks AND it's the greatest experience in the world.
I'm loving this series of the birth of Gram, but wondering why you were told to get out of the pool & had ARM? Is it am American thing, or were you given the option to remain in the pool?
Also wondering why you had a VE when you felt pushy? Seems a bit interventionalist really...
Wow, I'm like really into this. I love it. It will be so nice to have such a well constructed account of your child's birth to share with him one day. Although I don't know how much of it he'll actually want to hear: " a new life hangs on the finger rolling around my wife's cervix."
Chili in a birthing tub, ahahaha.
It is really annoying that you are BOTH such good writers. Especially when my husband and I can barely string a sentence together. Glad you are all okay and can't wait for part 3. I find birthing stories scary (since mine all were), but yours is riveting.
If mine is a week late I'm pretty sure I'll explode. I am where you were in Jan, hoping all these freakin' Toni Braxtons are leading up to something more than sleep disturbances.
We are all signed up for the tub. I'm using this as a talisman that it'll All Work Out like it did for you. Gram is just gorgeous, and the Juniper-hugging-him picture. !.
dude. it is almost tuesday and there is no update. liar mcliar pants.
Yay for birth tubs....the water is miraculous eh????
loving the tag team story telling...
You and i were due on the same day, 1 year apart! And my son was a week late, too. i just wrote out my birth story last week. It feels really good to have it all out, you know? Anyway, i just found your blog, but i think you are a great couple and you in particular are a very brave woman.
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