unmedicated water birth in birthing center :)

A little background: this is my third pregnancy. With my first, I delivered in a hospital and got an epidural. With my second, I had her in the hospital with no epidural. This time, I had my third at a birthing center with no epidural or pain medication.

I woke up at 7am on December 18th with mildish-moderate contractions. They were 5-9 minutes apart lasting 50-60 seconds. After an hour, they were 5-6 minutes apart and lasting 60-70 seconds and were much stronger. 

I texted my midwife to give her an update at 10am and told her that I wanted to labor longer at home because she said I couldn't get in the tub until I was 7cm and I didn't want to go to the birthing center too early. I didn't feel comfortable laboring for hours at the birthing center, so might as well do it at home lol. At this point; I could barely talk thru the contractions. It was difficult to answer simple questions that my fiancé was asking. 

I lasted another hour and 15 minutes at home before telling her I was going to get ready to come in. I let her know I was going to shower and head over. (My birthing center is 30-40 minutes away from my house.) My contractions were lasting 70-80 seconds long and they were 3 minutes apart. I don't know why I didn't get in the shower earlier -___-. I tried to plan it so right after a contraction, I was gonna hop in and hop out. It didn't work out that way lol. I got in after a contraction, had two in the shower, one when I got out and another when I was changing. But hey, I was clean and the warm water felt really good. As I was having contractions, I couldn't talk at all. I was focusing on my breathing and I was already moaning in low tones. I was doing most if not all my labor on the birthing ball. That was the most comfortable for me. 

We left for the center around 12pm and the contractions in the car were terrible. We arrived at the birthing center at 12:30pm. She checked me and I was 7-8cm. -2 station. 90% effaced. She started to fill the tub and I got in shortly thereafter.

I Facetimed my mom and sister in between contractions while in the tub for about 10-15 minutes and I had to hang up because the strength of the contractions were intensifying. During the contractions, my body felt the urge to push. While breathing thru the contractions, I envisioned myself breathing her down and pushing her down in short gentle pushes.

At 1:45pm, I continued to breathe her down. I pushed and my water broke in the tub. Right after I felt like I needed to push some more because I felt her moving down. I put my hand to see if I could feel her crowning and I felt her hair and her head!! She was right there. 

At 1:48pm, I pushed her head out and at 1:50pm I pushed & baby was born. She was out in two pushes. I didn't tear. She weighs 9lb 5.5oz. 

She was immediately put on my chest to bond while we waited for the cord to stop pulsating. I was able to touch the cord and feel it pulsating. After 15 minutes, daddy cut the cord and she was given to him to do skin to skin so I can deliver the placenta and send it to get encapsulated. Placenta was huge and intact at the time of delivery and looked really healthy. I was in and out in 5 hours lol.