Her sister arrived 12 days early. Labor was a short 8 hours. An epidural happened only after realizing I was 9cm dilated and baby girl was positioned sideways. Palmer was born in March 2015 -- almost 2 weeks early and at 8 lbs, 1 oz.
As Marlowe’s due date approached in spring of 2018, I prepped almost everything in March with the asterisk of **I might not actually be there**. Work events, Palmer’s 3rd birthday party... Everyone told me that each baby writes her/his own story and I was fully prepared to go until April 2nd (her due date) and after if that’s what this baby decided to do. However, I felt hugely unprepared with Palmer’s early arrival and I didn’t want to end up in that same boat -- with a full plate at work and a toddler at home. I did have a “special” picked for M’s birth; a midwife that I picked to be by my side as my daughter was born. I picked someone that was tough, no nonsense, and that I knew would be brutally honest with me (and not sugarcoat things during my labor). I was so excited to have her as part of my birth team.
I started having intermittent contractions on Sunday, March 25th. They weren’t at all regular and one of my midwifes, and dear friend Beth, said to drink plenty of water and try to relax as much as I could. They continued to progress until I finally called my mom on Monday (the 26th) saying-- THIS COULD BE IT! She came up to be on hand to help with Palmer and support us only to have the damn things pitter out over the next 24 hours. False alarm indeed. Mom headed home. The next day (the 27th) at my appointment, my midwife discovered that Marlowe was OP (occupant posterior) or sunny side up and that the contractions were likely baby + my body trying to get her flipped into optimal positioning for delivery. She said to lay off the high heeled shoes and take it easy. We determined that my last day at the office would be that Thursday (March 29th) after an Easter Egg hunt. Wednesday afternoon I treated myself to an intense pedicure and charged the nail tech with getting me into labor. There was also another gal at the salon that was due the same day I was-- 4/2.
The next morning I woke up and felt some dripping. I chalked it up to any number of things that can happen during pregnancy (we don’t need to actually go there) and went on with my morning. Finally I got to the center (where I work) only to have the leaking continue. “Something isn’t quite right here.” I told one of the midwives, Angela. She insisted it was worth a check though it was unlikely anything was happening. After a check and the FERN test, we concluded that my water was leaking. HOLY COW- IT’S TIME!!!
After a reassuring NST to check baby’s vitals, I called my midwife (who also, fortunately, happened to be on call that day) and along with Angela we made a precise game plan for that day (I was only 2-3cm dilated at that point). Because my water was ruptured, I had about 18 hours to get active labor kicked into gear or they would have to induce me with pitocin/ something similar at the hospital. My goal for this birth was medication free so being hooked up to a drip was the last thing I wanted. I called Blake to tell him it was go time + alert him to head to the center. He also was instructed to pick up castor oil before he got there. I then called mom + Blake’s mom to inform them of what was going on and to ask for help with P. She had an Easter Egg Hunt at school that afternoon and I was brokenhearted thinking she wouldn’t have her parents there. I then dissolved into tears thinking that I hadn’t dropped her off at school that morning thinking it would be the last time I saw her as an only child. Hormones, y’all.
I waddled around the birth center for the next couple of hours. Blake arrived around lunchtime with castor oil + a chocolate milkshake. He dosed me with 3 ozs (the recommended dose is 2 ozs) because if 2 was good, 3 was better. I drank that greasy shake and paced around the parking lot. All I wanted to do was keep moving. Eventually we headed to a local park to walk around the pond until -- er... the castor oil kicked in. We then called Mandesa, my midwife, to meet us back at the center to have me checked. I was really feeling contractions and wanted to be sure I was close to hospital/ center given how quickly I progressed with Palmer Jane.
We arrived at the center around 3:00 and waited for Mandesa to do an exam. After a membrane sweep and a check, I was about 4 cm dilated and progressing to active labor. We decided to head to the hospital. We got checked in and had to briefly wait for our room. I finally got back to my room shortly after 4, got changed, and was hooked up for 30 minutes of monitoring before I was allowed to move around the room. Mandesa also had to give me one dose of Zofran because I was so sick and she wanted to try and keep some food/ fluid in my stomach to avoid having to get an IV. Being hooked up for monitoring and having to lay on the bed during contractions was MISERABLE.
As soon as I was allowed, I moved into the water of the tub. The warmth felt wonderful and I labored there for about 45-50 minutes. They brought dinner in for me and I managed to choke down a roll or two and a chocolate chip cookie. And about 34 cups of freezing cold apple juice. I was having what seemed to be constant contractions due to Marlowe being OP. 45 seconds of intense contractions-- 10 seconds of a break -- and then 45 seconds of intense contractions. Eventually I got too hot in the tub and decided to move onto the birth ball.
I remember the next hour or so as a blur. At one point they hooked me up again to monitor Marlowe and I briefly considered ripping the nodes off of my stomach because it was so uncomfortable. But the last thing I wanted was to end up back in that damn bed on my back. Eventually I looked at Mandesa and said “I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I might have 2 hours left in me.” Mandesa said then she knew I was in transition. I asked to get in the bed and try to close my eyes. She agreed but insisted I lay on my side and prop my knees opened with the peanut birth ball. Fine. I didn’t have the energy to argue.
I was in that position literally for 10 minutes when I looked at Mandesa and said “I either have to push this baby out or I’m going to poop.” She laughed and asked if she could check me. Baby girl was coming! I remember her looking at me and saying “I need you to really push your hardest. She’s almost here and you’re doing so well!” That’s all I needed to hear- challenge accepted. Let’s get this baby girl earth side!
I pushed for 5 minutes before Marlowe made her appearance into the world at 6:47 on Thursday, March 29th. On my daddy’s 70th birthday. 7 lbs, 4 ozs and 20 inches long. She came out wearing her cord as an accessory. She needed a little coaxing before her first cry- who can blame her?! That was one hell of an arrival! She latched almost immediately and has been our little love ever since. And just like that my heart doubled in size.
How we picked her name? Woodford is a family name -- my name before marriage was Elizabeth Woodford, my aunt is Alice Woodford, and my grandfather’s aunt was also Alice Woodford. We both loved the name Marlowe though we had a MUCH harder time picking names for this sweet babe than we did with Palmer Jane. Just like PJH, we heard this name from someone and after narrowing down the list from 135 options to 10, to 5, to 2-- this just felt like the best option. I will say I think it fits her quite nicely.
photo taken the morning of 3/29 before I knew I was in the early stages of labor
Meet Marlowe Woodford / March, 29th 2018
