Our Zen Family

Taio Om was born Monday, October 11th at 9:42pm, 12 days past his due date.

Clinton had joked for quite some time about having a 10-10-10 baby but I never really thought I would go that much over… despite the midwives telling me over and over and over again that it was common for first time moms to go an average of ten days past the estimated due date.

Over the course of the twelve days prior to Taio being born, I tried numerous induction suggestions- spicy foods, red raspberry leaf tea, EZ birth homeopathic, massage, acupuncture and more.

On day nine I took the lemon verbena but all it induced was extreme vomiting.

By day ten, I let it all go and decided the baby would come when ready. I had said it before then but wasn’t really being impeccable with my words and really just wanted the baby to come. So instead of just waiting, waiting, waiting Clint and I went for walks, got in two Thanksgiving dinners with friends and focused less on when baby would come.

The night of 10-10-10 after arriving ‘home’ from the second Thanksgiving dinner, we were just talking and relaxing when I felt my water break shortly past midnight.  I had been having some mild cramping earlier, but soon after the water released,  the contractions got closer together.  I called the on-call midwife around 2:30am explaining the situation.  We agreed to wait another hour to see how things progressed. An hour later the contractions were getting stronger, so we agreed to meet so that I could be checked. Unfortunately I was only 3cm dilated and was sent home to rest, as Taina felt the baby would arrive sometime that day or night, and I would need my energy.

It was not possible for me to sleep, so I just closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. Showers helped as well.  I could tell my body was gearing up for labour, but wasn’t quite there yet.

We met with Taina & Mimi midday and I was checked again. I was still only about 4cm dilated. A membrane sweep was done, and it was discovered that the forebag was resting between my cervix & baby’s head. I agreed to having the forebag ruptured. Fluid went gushing everywhere. And then the real contractions began. In hindsight, what I had experienced to that point was nothing compared to what I was about to endure for the next 8 hours. After leaving the clinic the contractions got stronger, longer, closer together and ultimately more intense over the course of the afternoon and early evening. Again I did my best to focus on my breathing and visualized what my labour would be like.

I had Clint apply counter pressure to my back which helped immensely. At around 6pm I called Taina and said I felt I was ready. On the way to the Birth Centre was when i felt my first slight urge to push. We met at the Centre around 7pm and I quickly hopped into the tub. The water was very soothing and even eased the force of the contractions, especially in my lower back. I was checked and found to be 6cm dilated. Finally we were getting somewhere! Within the hour I was at 9cm dilation and feeling strong urges to push. At this point i let my body take over. With every contraction i could feel the baby moving down. I pushed hard when instructed, small pushes at other times. I put my trust in the midwives and my body and in just 42minutes little Taio was brought into this world. Ok maybe not he wasn’t so little- he shocked us all at 9lbs2oz. But he’s still my little man and cute as can be.

Overall, it was a wonderful birthing experience. Taina, Christy & Mimi were fantastic and I feel so happy to have had the option to have midwives and natural, peaceful birth. Being a mom is the greatest feeling in the world. Taio has already brought us so much joy and love. He is such an awesome baby – we both feel incredibly blessed to have him in our lives.