A Birth Story: Damian Diego

Fun fact: I ordered our cabinet pulls and knobs while in labor with Damian. Ha!

Damian Diego is now 13-months-old and I have yet to share his birth story. Looking back over a year now I don’t have all the specific details (you can find my VERY DETAILED first birth here), but it was just as much of a gift.

Damian was due March 16th, 2019, but I had a feeling he was going to be late for two reasons: 1) At my first ultrasound I was told “you’re not as far along as your last period would suggest but we will keep your due date the same anyway because it’s within one week of a difference.” And 2) Isaiah was five days late.

Not long before our due date our doula (whom we had with us during Isaiah’s birth as well) called to let me know that she broke her wrist while volunteer cheerleading (she’s the coolest). She asked if we would still like to have her at the birth since she couldn’t do the hands-on work like massage. Jeff and I decided that the most valuable part of having a doula for us was having an expert coach to help us achieve a natural birth—so we decided we definitely wanted her there.

My “due date” came and went. The doctors brought up induction several times but each time I avoided the question and wouldn’t allow them to schedule a date. My ultrasounds were looking great: baby healthy, plenty of fluid, and placenta looked good. My non-stress tests also were fine as well, so I was adamant that I didn’t want an induction unless the health of baby was at stake.

By the time I was one week “late” I had to go into the clinic for daily non-stress tests and several ultrasounds. Things continued to look good, and I just prayed that this baby would come before I was two weeks “late,” which was the latest our doctors would allow us to go. I had my membranes stripped and was doing all the natural things to help induce labor, but baby boy was just not ready!

On the ninth day “overdue” (March 25th) we went out to eat at Durbar, our favorite Indian restaurant near our previous home. The day before Isaiah was born Jeff and I ate spicy Indian food and joked that it was the reason Isaiah came. In more of a “tradition” sense I felt like the ninth day was a good day for Indian food. I had felt pretty “crampy” all day and experienced a few contractions while out to eat, but the contractions weren’t becoming consistent yet.

On the 26th, I had another daily appointment in the morning. I had my membranes stripped for a second time, and by the time we were on our way home from the appointment, my contractions were becoming more consistent.

Jeff and I were quite productive during my beginning stages of labor. Since we were in the process of making final decisions on the updates on our new home, we ordered cabinet hardware (around noon). Jeff also had a work conversation with someone in Austria to finalize plans for the FOCUS European summer training.

Isaiah practicing being a big brother on the day Damian was born.

At 2:20 P.M. our friend Katie Cionci came home from work to watch Isaiah, and Jeff and I left for Swedish Hospital. Katie watched Zay until our friends Liz Korus and Jon Brakenhoff took over. And they watched him until my parents made it from Nebraska.

We got checked in, and were met by our doula, Sarah. When they checked my status I was 4 cm dilated—same as when I arrived at the hospital with Isaiah. I was disappointed that yet again there was not a room with a birthing tub available. Since I had issues with getting my IV in with my last birth (it took five tries and three people), my doula requested that a special machine be used to place my IV. The machine worked, but I was annoyed the IV was placed in my hand.

My assigned nurse was visibly irritated with my birth plan and that I was planning to go natural, and made several rude comments to me. A couple of hours after check-in she checked my status again: I was at a 6. I was happy with this, but then the nurse said, “Well this is going too slow, so either we can break your water and we can have a party and have your baby today, or we can send you home.”

My anxiety shot through the roof and when the nurse left the room I immediately started to tear up, second-guessing my body and my plans. Jeff was extremely angry with how insensitive and unsupportive this nurse was. Sarah reassured me that the nurse was merely annoyed with my birth plan and was making empty threats.

While laboring and walking around the hospital floor, Jeff and I noticed that our nurse from Isaiah’s birth was working. We really loved her, and let her know how much we appreciated her support in our last birth. She had heard that I wanted a tub, and made arrangements so that I could move into a room with a birthing tub.

After moving rooms, my doctor asked that before I use the tub I be on the monitor to track baby’s heart rate for at least 20 minutes since, for some reason, Damian’s heart rate was dropping with every contraction (it turns out that the umbilical was wrapped around his neck which was causing the drop). In order to be on the monitor I had to lay down on the bed, and for me, when I lay down and relax, my body opens up very quickly.

With my last birth I coped with contractions by matching Jeff’s “low hum.” While we were doing this again, my doula left the room for a few minutes, and my body began transitioning.

With transferring rooms and the stressful nurse, I had a harder time entering into a meditative state like I was able to with Isaiah’s birth. I was much more aware of the pain as my body began involuntarily pushing, but I recognized that my body was laboring the same way it had with Isaiah’s birth so I knew I just needed to trust myself.

My nurse went off shift and a new nurse was assigned to me. She was so sweet and kind, and I was relieved to have a new nurse. Since my body was pushing, the nurse checked my status and I was complete. Dr. Bauer came in, and I pushed just a few times before Damian Diego entered the world. As he made his entrance Dr. Bauer broke my water with her finger and unwrapped the cord around his head. He was born at 8:10 P.M., and placed on my chest.

Damian’s face was a bit purple, but his APGAR was good.

Holding Daddy’s Finger

Immediately upon his birth I knew I had torn. I delivered the placenta (the nurse put it on ice for “The Fruit of the Womb” to pick up to encapsulate), and Dr. Bauer sewed my tear. My bleeding was a bit concerning so I was given pitocin. We allowed the umbilical cord to pulsate, then Jeff cut the cord. The breastfeeding latch happened well and Jeff and I enjoyed the golden hour together with Damian on my chest.

Around 10:00 P.M. my parents and my brother let me know they were on their way to the hospital with Isaiah. I was shocked Isaiah was still awake and a bit surprised by the visit, but said “yes” anyway. At 10:32 P.M. as we were being transferred to the postpartum unit my parents met us in the hallway. Isaiah excitedly ran down the hall to greet us and meet his new brother.