The Story of Helaina's Birth

Helaina was "due" to arrive sometime between April 29th and May 8th 2006.

Mom's labor began at 8am on May 9th with contractions every 1/2 hour or so. Mom didn't want to tell Grandma and Granddad Ritchey because they were only visiting for a few days, so they all went hiking at Mt. Charleston for the day. They stopped and did a little shopping at Target on the way home. That is when Mom really started to feel the contractions.

By 6:00 pm, the contractions were stronger and more regular. Dad called Dixie Story (the midwife) and she said to call when they were 30 seconds long and 5 minutes apart.

Hannah and Grandma came in to check on Mom, and Grandma made some potato soup for Mom to eat.

Dad called Dixie back around 10:00 pm to let her know the contractions were lasting for 30 seconds and about 5 minutes apart. Mom tried to rest, but couldn't, so Dad helped her walk and squat.

Mom rested again around 3:00 am, just before Dixie arrived. Mom was dilated to 6cm when Dixie got there—that meant it was close! First they had to go through transition, this meant lots of walking and squatting, and Mom not feeling very good, but it was ok, Dixie reminded Mom that it was transition when she said she didn't know if she could do it.

Around 8:00 am Mom measured at 9-10 cm and Dixie said Mom could push when she was ready. Mom went to the bathroom first and the mucus plug fell out and her water broke.

Mom got in the tub with Dad and Dixie there to help, and started pushing. Dad did everything he could, from holding Mom a million ways, to bringing food and water and encouraging Mom; lots and lots of encouraging. Mom pushed and pushed. Then Dixie said she could feel Helaina's head. Mom and Dad both got to feel it too. They were excited, but it still felt a long way away to Mom.

Dixie kept giving Mom some really nasty tasting drops and then Dad would give Mom a bunch of juice to drink to wash the taste away. Dixie said it would help the contractions but at that point Mom wanted the contractions to go away so she could rest for awhile and then try again.

After about 2 1/2 hours of pushing, Dixie said the head had started to go back up the birth canal, and they had to do something different. They decided to get out of the warm, relaxing bath tub, because Mom was so tired, she kept nodding off and wasn't pushing very well. Mom got on the bed with Dad sitting behind Mom holding her legs to provide more resistance for her while she pushed.

Just a few minutes later (about 15) Helaina's head was ready to be pushed out. Dad could see it and he was really excited. Dixie told Mom to breath for a minute. While she did, Dad was yelling, "Oh, Camilla, good job, it's right there!" again and again.

Then Dixie told Mom to push slowly and—there she was!

Dixie handed Helaina right to Mom. Dad was sobbing, they stared in amazement at the new life—Helaina's life in their arms. Mom tore pretty bad, so Dixie said she needed someone to hold a flashlight to stitch Mom up. Dad hates needles so he went and told everyone the news and got Grandma Ritchey and Hannah Moore (who lived with Mom and Dad) to come help Dixie.

Mom was already trying to feed Helaina, but when Mom delivered the placenta (20 minutes after Helaina was born) Dixie gave Helaina to Dad to get her dressed and warm. Dad got to dress her for the first time (Hannah helped) while Mom ate strawberries to distract from the stitches Dixie was putting in (Grandma supported Mom). There was no medicine to numb the pain, so the stitches hurt, but Mom was so happy to have Helaina, and so happy to not have to push that she didn't mind the pain so much.

After the stitches were done, Helaina went back to Mom and started eating. She ate and ate and ate while Mom and Dad held her and stared at her.

Granddad and Scott went to the store to buy chlorophyll for Mom to drink. Dixie said the "plant blood" would help Mom since she lost so much "people" blood. After an hour or so Granddad got to come and hold Helaina, his first granddaughter. Grandma was so busy taking care of Mom that she didn't hold Helaina very much, even though she really wanted to (Mom will remember that when Helaina is older and having babies of her own).

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