Being pregnant and laboring with Taye is similar to life with him now that he's a little older: he brings both the greatest joys and the greatest pain, he often requires patience, and he loves his mommy more than anything else in this world. He lives up to his name too, encompassing many ideas: Tagd is gaelic for philosopher, Tadan is a Native American word for plentiful, and Don is my father's name.
We decided to have Tayedon at the Women's Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill - the only freestanding birth center in NC. Our previous hospital experience was okay, but felt unnecessary, and without maternity insurance, we wanted something that would be financially less wasteful as well.
This pregnancy was much more uncomfortable - heartburn, ligament pain, leg cramps, Braxton hicks, and even gestational diabetes. In hindsight I realize I probably had diabetes with Lex as well; the mental struggle with what to eat was often more difficult than anything and I wish I had learned about Chromium supplements earlier, but everything worked out all right. It was fun taking prenatal yoga classes at the studio right next to the birthing center.
Lex was very excited to have a baby brother and he was much more ready for it than most boys his age. Nana & Papa flew in from California to help take care of him while Taye was new, but Taye had other plans - we had fun shopping and going on the boat Sherief had just bought and refurbished. The weather was beautiful, but Tayedon wanted to stay inside and was 10 days past his due date.
Early Sunday morning it felt like I might be having regular contractions and I lost my mucous plug. I called the midwife and told her the status, and that we would keep checking in. We started to get excited, but then things slowed down and it was back to normal. We went to Sanford for the day and I was having regular contractions every 8 minutes around 3:30 pm. They weren't too strong and we headed to dinner. We were shopping at Big Lots when the contractions starting getting serious. We left Lex at Nana & Papa's and headed home. We made brownies to share with the midwifes since I had been sweet -deprived for so long. I took a shower and slept off and on at 9:30 pm with contractions every 45 minutes.
At 11:45pm the contractions were every six minutes and strong so we packed up the car, but they slowed down again around 1am. I took another nap from 2 to 3 am and then we headed to the birthing center. Each midwife had her own personality and I was thrilled that Maureen was there when we arrived. She said it was good that we came in because I was already at 8 cm and my cervix -1. She said we would try to get things going, but may end up breaking my water.
Then Sher came on duty. For the rest of that day, my contractions would go from regular and painful to not bad. I walked around outside, tried the breast pump, had blue and black cohosh, but I was still at 8cm and -1 cervix. They checked Taye's heartbeat often and said he was doing great, but just didn't want to drop down. A couple who had come in just before us were already heading home and when I heard another couple that I was told might take some time having their baby, I lost it. After a very busy weekend, It was just us left at the birthing center that night. I was so upset when I overheard an assistant talking on the phone to her family saying there was just one more. Ellen was very helpful all day with suggestions, and I was sad to see her leave at 8pm.
Jill came on and I liked her too. Sher decided to break my water at 8:10 pm and things went very quickly from there. I felt a little out of control with the pain and was shaking uncontrollably during transition. I tried to push lying on my right side, but my leg cramped. For the next contraction, I tried pushing while lying on my left side, but I wasn't comfortable. Sher couldn't believe it, but the umbilical cord was wrapped around Taye's head four times- one more than any of the three women there had seen before. I was worried about tearing, but everything was so intense that I couldn't help but push and thankfully only had three stitches. I sat up into a straddle for the next contraction and in that third push Taye was out at 8:59 pm. He was nursing wonderfully soon after and gained 3 oz by my home visit four days later. His Apgars were 8 (1min) and then 9 (5min) and in great shape considering the length of labor.
We were exhausted from the day and slept there that night. I was thrilled and Sherief was relieved when he gave me a silver pendant with Lexander and Tayedon written on it. Lex was so happy to see his baby brother when we came home the next morning. I was ready for pictures a few days later even though the family hinted that maybe it was too soon. I was thrilled his head was round after the long labor, but didn't even notice he was so black and blue and bruised until I saw the proofs a couple weeks later. It's funny too, that I was looking forward to having this birth on video since we weren't allowed to at the hospital. While I was calm and collected during the first, I went from frustrated to out of control for this one and don't know that I want to watch.
One thing is certain, all of the wondering and discomfort was worth it. Tayedon still tests my patience regularly, but his genuine nature brightens every day.
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