In her own words, the home birth story of a First Time Mother
My Homebirth Story by, Cristina Monterroso
History
I had always wanted to give birth at home. I think the interest was peaked when I was studying abroad in college and was engaged in a conversation with a girl who’s mother was a midwife. She was describing some of her mother’s experiences and I thought to myself “That is the most natural way to give birth – I want that!”. It wouldn’t be 8 years later though until I would be giving birth myself. So, when I found out I was pregnant in January 2007, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted a homebirth. I started researching home birthing midwives and never explored the idea of OB/GYNs. Homebirth was for me.
6am-9:30pm( Day Before Birth 9/3/07)
I was awoken by what I thought were constipation cramps. I really felt like I had to go and sat on the toilet trying to get something out. I really didn’t think these pains or cramps had anything to do with labor because I wasn’t due until the 11th. Plus, nobody mentioned anything that might feel like constipation. I was quite oblivious to the idea that these could be pre-labor pains. Anyway, so as not to unnecessarily alarm my midwife (Sakina O’Uhuru), I ventured down 2 flights of stairs in my house to the basement where my computer was to send her a calm email (no need to wake her up at 6am). As I wrote, the pain that still felt like constipation was coming and going and eventually I had to write that I was uncomfortable and I’ll call her later. I did just that. I called Sakina a couple hours later and she told me to time the “pains” and told me to let her know if they got more intense and frequent. She also told me to expect to give birth soon. These were contractions! My “contractions” were few and far between, but painful. This, I later learned, was considered “pre labor”. I was functional, but contracting. My husband and I went for a walk in the park, as advised. Each time a contraction came on, I either hugged a nearby tree and dealt with the pain, on kneeled down to handle the pain and not make too much of a scene. We went home and relaxed a little bit. Then later on in the evening, we went on another walk in a different park. This time, on the way home, I was curled up in the backseat in pain, while my husband drove home. So, in between these contractions, we were walking in the park, food shopping, eating lunch, and just doing normal things. It was Labor Day.
9:30pm-9:30am (Birth Day 9/4/07)
The frequency & intensity of the contractions increased at 9:30pm. I called my midwife and she asked me to stay on the phone with her and tell her I was having a contraction. When the next one came on, I told her. She asked me questions and I answered them. After that, she told me I still had more time before I was going to deliver and she needed to come over. When I asked her how she knew that, she said “because you answered my questions about how painful they were. You wouldn’t be able to talk regularly when you are having a contraction and birth is very close.” So, wow, they are going to be much more painful that this? I was in for it. Since it was our first pregnancy and homebirth, my husband was a bit nervous. We communicated regularly with both our parents about my progress. It got to a point where THEY were making US more nervous. So, we decided to tell all of them that we will call them when the baby is born, and we unplugged our phone. That was a big relief. Now, it was just my husband and I. We prayed, we talked, we sang, and we waited…waited for the next contraction and waited for Sakina to arrive. We stayed in our bedroom most of the time. I sat on the birthing ball, though it didn’t really ease the pain, I found. Sakina showed up at my house at 1am. I was in the bed either relaxing or contracting (mutually exclusive!). Her assistant, the doula, arrived shortly after. Sakina set up shop on my dresser and got right to work. She asked me about the frequency and intensity of my contractions. She examined me internally, and just encouraged me. When a contraction came on, Venus (Nature) the doula massaged my lower back. It felt like hands from Heaven. They were just the perfect touch. And Sakina was so professional, gentle and encouraging in her dealing with me. So from about 1am to 8am, our night was a combination of all of the following, not necessarily in order: relaxing on the bed, waiting for an excruciating contraction to pass, drinking homeopathic calming drinks, vomiting, laughing, talking, napping, internal checking, snacking, groaning, and most of all anxiously and hopefully waiting for the arrival of our new baby. I think Sakina checked me a total of 3 times to see how far along I was dilated. I will never forget after a particularly long stretch without being checked, as I was getting ready to be checked I told myself, if I am only 4 or 5, I’ll be so disappointed. I was ready to almost give up. When she told me I was 7cm dilated, I was ecstatic and encouraged! This laboring was not in vain! Somehow, I fell asleep for a nap. Then, at around 8:30am, Sakina woke me up and said these words “Are you ready to birth this baby”? Those were the best words I could have heard. I said “YES”! I tried a couple positions to push. The one that was most comfortable for me was to squat on the floor, holding myself up with my hands on the edge of the bed. This is the position I pushed my baby boy out at 9:30am! When Sakina told me she saw his head, it was a rush for me! I couldn’t believe this was happening! First his head slipped out, then one more push and his whole little body slithered out – it was unreal. I saw my husband run around the side to see him, in tears, and he took his new baby boy in his arms. I was immediately led to sit back down on the bed. They handed my baby to me and he was able to nurse from his mother’s milk within 5 minutes of being born. He loved it from the start and I nursed him for 18 months.
It was the most unbelievable, beautiful, surreal experience I have ever had, and I won’t hesitate to do it again. Yes, the pain was intense, but wholly forgettable. One of the most enjoyable experiences was sitting in my bed with my husband and new baby, chatting it up with my midwife and doula, and having my parents show up in my bedroom to see their first grandchild. I was home. Baby was home. My dog was home. Everybody was home. And we were eating Godiva chocolate. It doesn’t get better than that.
History
I had always wanted to give birth at home. I think the interest was peaked when I was studying abroad in college and was engaged in a conversation with a girl who’s mother was a midwife. She was describing some of her mother’s experiences and I thought to myself “That is the most natural way to give birth – I want that!”. It wouldn’t be 8 years later though until I would be giving birth myself. So, when I found out I was pregnant in January 2007, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted a homebirth. I started researching home birthing midwives and never explored the idea of OB/GYNs. Homebirth was for me.
6am-9:30pm( Day Before Birth 9/3/07)
I was awoken by what I thought were constipation cramps. I really felt like I had to go and sat on the toilet trying to get something out. I really didn’t think these pains or cramps had anything to do with labor because I wasn’t due until the 11th. Plus, nobody mentioned anything that might feel like constipation. I was quite oblivious to the idea that these could be pre-labor pains. Anyway, so as not to unnecessarily alarm my midwife (Sakina O’Uhuru), I ventured down 2 flights of stairs in my house to the basement where my computer was to send her a calm email (no need to wake her up at 6am). As I wrote, the pain that still felt like constipation was coming and going and eventually I had to write that I was uncomfortable and I’ll call her later. I did just that. I called Sakina a couple hours later and she told me to time the “pains” and told me to let her know if they got more intense and frequent. She also told me to expect to give birth soon. These were contractions! My “contractions” were few and far between, but painful. This, I later learned, was considered “pre labor”. I was functional, but contracting. My husband and I went for a walk in the park, as advised. Each time a contraction came on, I either hugged a nearby tree and dealt with the pain, on kneeled down to handle the pain and not make too much of a scene. We went home and relaxed a little bit. Then later on in the evening, we went on another walk in a different park. This time, on the way home, I was curled up in the backseat in pain, while my husband drove home. So, in between these contractions, we were walking in the park, food shopping, eating lunch, and just doing normal things. It was Labor Day.
9:30pm-9:30am (Birth Day 9/4/07)
The frequency & intensity of the contractions increased at 9:30pm. I called my midwife and she asked me to stay on the phone with her and tell her I was having a contraction. When the next one came on, I told her. She asked me questions and I answered them. After that, she told me I still had more time before I was going to deliver and she needed to come over. When I asked her how she knew that, she said “because you answered my questions about how painful they were. You wouldn’t be able to talk regularly when you are having a contraction and birth is very close.” So, wow, they are going to be much more painful that this? I was in for it. Since it was our first pregnancy and homebirth, my husband was a bit nervous. We communicated regularly with both our parents about my progress. It got to a point where THEY were making US more nervous. So, we decided to tell all of them that we will call them when the baby is born, and we unplugged our phone. That was a big relief. Now, it was just my husband and I. We prayed, we talked, we sang, and we waited…waited for the next contraction and waited for Sakina to arrive. We stayed in our bedroom most of the time. I sat on the birthing ball, though it didn’t really ease the pain, I found. Sakina showed up at my house at 1am. I was in the bed either relaxing or contracting (mutually exclusive!). Her assistant, the doula, arrived shortly after. Sakina set up shop on my dresser and got right to work. She asked me about the frequency and intensity of my contractions. She examined me internally, and just encouraged me. When a contraction came on, Venus (Nature) the doula massaged my lower back. It felt like hands from Heaven. They were just the perfect touch. And Sakina was so professional, gentle and encouraging in her dealing with me. So from about 1am to 8am, our night was a combination of all of the following, not necessarily in order: relaxing on the bed, waiting for an excruciating contraction to pass, drinking homeopathic calming drinks, vomiting, laughing, talking, napping, internal checking, snacking, groaning, and most of all anxiously and hopefully waiting for the arrival of our new baby. I think Sakina checked me a total of 3 times to see how far along I was dilated. I will never forget after a particularly long stretch without being checked, as I was getting ready to be checked I told myself, if I am only 4 or 5, I’ll be so disappointed. I was ready to almost give up. When she told me I was 7cm dilated, I was ecstatic and encouraged! This laboring was not in vain! Somehow, I fell asleep for a nap. Then, at around 8:30am, Sakina woke me up and said these words “Are you ready to birth this baby”? Those were the best words I could have heard. I said “YES”! I tried a couple positions to push. The one that was most comfortable for me was to squat on the floor, holding myself up with my hands on the edge of the bed. This is the position I pushed my baby boy out at 9:30am! When Sakina told me she saw his head, it was a rush for me! I couldn’t believe this was happening! First his head slipped out, then one more push and his whole little body slithered out – it was unreal. I saw my husband run around the side to see him, in tears, and he took his new baby boy in his arms. I was immediately led to sit back down on the bed. They handed my baby to me and he was able to nurse from his mother’s milk within 5 minutes of being born. He loved it from the start and I nursed him for 18 months.
It was the most unbelievable, beautiful, surreal experience I have ever had, and I won’t hesitate to do it again. Yes, the pain was intense, but wholly forgettable. One of the most enjoyable experiences was sitting in my bed with my husband and new baby, chatting it up with my midwife and doula, and having my parents show up in my bedroom to see their first grandchild. I was home. Baby was home. My dog was home. Everybody was home. And we were eating Godiva chocolate. It doesn’t get better than that.
A Poem and Prose by Sarah Dudzic Iyer (from the United States)
Only Everything
they want only everything
these souls washed naked onto my shore
only all of me
of my arms and breasts
of my hours and silences.
and how can i deny them?
how can i explain
that the songs i sing
though sad
have always been for them
that every tear and shudder
and folly and flutter
of my girlish heart
predicted, if only vaguely
their inevitable arrival
and i have,
in the most secret of places,
hoped for nothing more
than the opportunity to offer to
gaping mouths and eyes
my entire self for a drink.
Both of my boys were born here in our home, just steps from where they were conceived. People often tell me I'm "brave" to give birth at home, without the dulling influence of drugs, and I just reply that they are "brave" to go to a hospital, which is the last place I'd want to be while at my most vulnerable and giving my children their first moments. I had healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies and I knew that my risks of complications or bad outcomes in a midwife-attended homebirth were actually lower than in the hospital, but my decision to give birth at home had as much to do with my heart as it did with the statistics that eased my head. At home, no one came between my husband and myself as we locked eyes and hands through contractions. At home I could relax completely and open up to the demands of my body. I moved unhindered in both body and spirit. I lost all sense of time and lived fully in the moment.
Giving birth is not easy. Even during my second son's birth, whose total labor was about four and a half hours (including only three minutes of pushing) I definitely felt what could be described as pain, pressure, and exhaustion. But at no moment did I want to be elsewhere, never did I feel the urge to get away from what I was feeling or what my body was doing. And when my husband and I spent those first sacred hours of the night, curled in the low golden light of my room and gazing in amazement at our beautiful sons, I could not imagine a more perfect process by which to enter this world.
they want only everything
these souls washed naked onto my shore
only all of me
of my arms and breasts
of my hours and silences.
and how can i deny them?
how can i explain
that the songs i sing
though sad
have always been for them
that every tear and shudder
and folly and flutter
of my girlish heart
predicted, if only vaguely
their inevitable arrival
and i have,
in the most secret of places,
hoped for nothing more
than the opportunity to offer to
gaping mouths and eyes
my entire self for a drink.
Both of my boys were born here in our home, just steps from where they were conceived. People often tell me I'm "brave" to give birth at home, without the dulling influence of drugs, and I just reply that they are "brave" to go to a hospital, which is the last place I'd want to be while at my most vulnerable and giving my children their first moments. I had healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies and I knew that my risks of complications or bad outcomes in a midwife-attended homebirth were actually lower than in the hospital, but my decision to give birth at home had as much to do with my heart as it did with the statistics that eased my head. At home, no one came between my husband and myself as we locked eyes and hands through contractions. At home I could relax completely and open up to the demands of my body. I moved unhindered in both body and spirit. I lost all sense of time and lived fully in the moment.
Giving birth is not easy. Even during my second son's birth, whose total labor was about four and a half hours (including only three minutes of pushing) I definitely felt what could be described as pain, pressure, and exhaustion. But at no moment did I want to be elsewhere, never did I feel the urge to get away from what I was feeling or what my body was doing. And when my husband and I spent those first sacred hours of the night, curled in the low golden light of my room and gazing in amazement at our beautiful sons, I could not imagine a more perfect process by which to enter this world.
Vibes on Breastfeeding and Birthing by Ola Skopowska (from Poland, Europe {in patois} )
blessed heart of love sister. here are some of my thoughts about natural birth an breast feedin.
MY NAME IS OLA , I LIVE INA POLAND - EUROPE.I HAVE 3 BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY VEGAN CHILDREN - 2 LIONS AN 1 SWEET ALBINO LIONESS. WHERE I LIVE PEOPLE REPRESENT VERY TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW ABOUT GIVIN BIRTH N FEEDIN A BABY. SOME WOMEN EVEN GO 2 SPECIAL SCHOOL 2 LEARN ABOUT BIRTH. DE PROBLEM IS DEM NOT SAYIN 2 WOMEN = GO ,SIT WID YOURSELF , FEEL YOUR BABY , IMAGIN HOW U GIVIN A BIRTH. DEM ONLY TEACH TECHNICAL WAYS, AN OF COURSE TELL TO WOMEN DAT IF IT WILL BE HURTIN U CAN TAKE SOME INJECTION TO STOP DE PAIN. NO ONE SAY DAT NARCOTIC ALSO GOES 2 UR BABY BODY. DO U REALLY WANT 2 GIVE IT 2 UR SMALL CHILD ? INA HOSPITAL WHEN U HAVE UR BABY IN UR ARMS N U DUNNO HOW 2 FEED HIM , DEM WILL BRING U A BOKKLE. I HAVE SEEN DAT SITUATIONS.
AS FOR ME IT IS ALL ONE BIG MODERN WORLD MADNESS. I WANT 2 DO DE WAY IT WAS IN DE BEGGININ OF LIFE. JAH CREATED OUR BODIES DE WAY DEM ABLE 2 GIVE BIRTH DEM SELVES WITHOUT CHEMISTRY N SCALPELS.IF I CAN CHOOSE I WILL CHOOSE DE PAIN I FEEL WHILE GIVIN BIRTH - DE BABY FEELS PAIN TOO, BUT HE ALSO FEEL HIS MUMMA COURAGE AN HE IS NOT AFRAID TOO. NATURAL BIRTH TELLS YOUR BABY - GO BABY DONT BE AFRAID ,U ARE STRONGER DEN DAT PAIN U FEEL . I DON WANT 2 TEACH MY CHILDREN DAT IF IT HURTS , U TAKE SOME PILL. I TEACH DEM IF IT HURTS THINK ABOUT IT AN TRY TO CONQUER IT. DE BIRTH IS DE FIRST OUTSIDE BELLY LESSON. AS IT COMES 2 FEEDIN - I KNOW WHY JAH GAVE ME BREASTS - TO FEED MY BABY.HE DIDNT GIVE ME NO BOKKLES ! INA NATURE EVERY MAMMAL MUMMA FEED HER BABIES WID HER OWN MILK . WHY TO GIVE OUR BABIES SOME COW OR GOAT OR ANY OTHER MILK DEN OURSELF? DE FIRST THING BABY WANNA DO AFTER BIRTH IS SUCKIN A MOMMY BREAST. DAT IS A MIRACLE OF CREATION. I WILL NEVER GIVE IT AWAY, DE IDEA IS PERFECT , THERE IS NOTHIN BETTER DEN NATURAL SIMPLE WAY. WHY COMPLICATE IT ? IN MY WHOLE 30 YEARS OF LIVIN THERE WAS NO EXPIRIENCE MORE RICH AN FULLFILLING DEN NATURAL BIRTH N BREASTFEEDIN.
dat is it sis. i hope dat will help de i 2 make a tru n uplifting film for women who feel insecure these days. blessings itinually. ras tafari
MY NAME IS OLA , I LIVE INA POLAND - EUROPE.I HAVE 3 BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY VEGAN CHILDREN - 2 LIONS AN 1 SWEET ALBINO LIONESS. WHERE I LIVE PEOPLE REPRESENT VERY TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW ABOUT GIVIN BIRTH N FEEDIN A BABY. SOME WOMEN EVEN GO 2 SPECIAL SCHOOL 2 LEARN ABOUT BIRTH. DE PROBLEM IS DEM NOT SAYIN 2 WOMEN = GO ,SIT WID YOURSELF , FEEL YOUR BABY , IMAGIN HOW U GIVIN A BIRTH. DEM ONLY TEACH TECHNICAL WAYS, AN OF COURSE TELL TO WOMEN DAT IF IT WILL BE HURTIN U CAN TAKE SOME INJECTION TO STOP DE PAIN. NO ONE SAY DAT NARCOTIC ALSO GOES 2 UR BABY BODY. DO U REALLY WANT 2 GIVE IT 2 UR SMALL CHILD ? INA HOSPITAL WHEN U HAVE UR BABY IN UR ARMS N U DUNNO HOW 2 FEED HIM , DEM WILL BRING U A BOKKLE. I HAVE SEEN DAT SITUATIONS.
AS FOR ME IT IS ALL ONE BIG MODERN WORLD MADNESS. I WANT 2 DO DE WAY IT WAS IN DE BEGGININ OF LIFE. JAH CREATED OUR BODIES DE WAY DEM ABLE 2 GIVE BIRTH DEM SELVES WITHOUT CHEMISTRY N SCALPELS.IF I CAN CHOOSE I WILL CHOOSE DE PAIN I FEEL WHILE GIVIN BIRTH - DE BABY FEELS PAIN TOO, BUT HE ALSO FEEL HIS MUMMA COURAGE AN HE IS NOT AFRAID TOO. NATURAL BIRTH TELLS YOUR BABY - GO BABY DONT BE AFRAID ,U ARE STRONGER DEN DAT PAIN U FEEL . I DON WANT 2 TEACH MY CHILDREN DAT IF IT HURTS , U TAKE SOME PILL. I TEACH DEM IF IT HURTS THINK ABOUT IT AN TRY TO CONQUER IT. DE BIRTH IS DE FIRST OUTSIDE BELLY LESSON. AS IT COMES 2 FEEDIN - I KNOW WHY JAH GAVE ME BREASTS - TO FEED MY BABY.HE DIDNT GIVE ME NO BOKKLES ! INA NATURE EVERY MAMMAL MUMMA FEED HER BABIES WID HER OWN MILK . WHY TO GIVE OUR BABIES SOME COW OR GOAT OR ANY OTHER MILK DEN OURSELF? DE FIRST THING BABY WANNA DO AFTER BIRTH IS SUCKIN A MOMMY BREAST. DAT IS A MIRACLE OF CREATION. I WILL NEVER GIVE IT AWAY, DE IDEA IS PERFECT , THERE IS NOTHIN BETTER DEN NATURAL SIMPLE WAY. WHY COMPLICATE IT ? IN MY WHOLE 30 YEARS OF LIVIN THERE WAS NO EXPIRIENCE MORE RICH AN FULLFILLING DEN NATURAL BIRTH N BREASTFEEDIN.
dat is it sis. i hope dat will help de i 2 make a tru n uplifting film for women who feel insecure these days. blessings itinually. ras tafari
A Birth Story by Tara Sommerfield (from the United States)
Eleanor Irene’s Birth Story
Eleanor was born on February 7, 2010 at 8:31am after 41 weeks and 5 days. The previous evening, a Saturday night, I was lying on the couch watching some television and generally trying to rest. I felt a slight twinge of period-like cramps in my abdomen, unlike anything I had felt so far in the pregnancy. I immediately thought it might be a contraction and looked at the clock: 8:55pm. I didn’t want to get too excited because I knew some people felt these for days before labor begins, so I settled back into tv. Exactly 30 min later, at 9:25, I felt another twinge. About 20 minutes after that, another! Hooray!
I decided the best thing to do was to take a relaxing shower and head to bed and get some sleep in case this was the real thing. Matt came home from doing some errands as I was getting out of the shower and I told him the big news. We’ve been ready for this for a while, so he gave me an excited reply and I went to get some sleep.
Needless to say, I couldn’t sleep. My mind wouldn’t settle down to relax. Baby was coming! After tossing and turning for about an hour, I got up and poured a short glass of wine. I’ve seen that recommended so thought it would help. Nope, didn’t help me! (Though it did taste quite good!)
Matt was rushing around the house preparing last minute things before the birth of our baby while I tried resting. When he came to bed I went into our living room to try to sleep because I was tossing and turning so much and didn’t want to bother him. At this point my guess is that contractions were coming randomly every 10-15 minutes. As it was getting later into the night I was finally able to get some sleep between them, but certainly woke to manage them as they came, rocking on my hands and knees on the living room floor.
I was getting intensely hot at the peak of the contraction and shivering cold while resting. The living room wasn’t cutting it any longer. Around 3am I got it in my head our heated tile bathroom floor seemed like the perfect place to relax between contractions, so that’s exactly what I did. I slept on the warm floor between contractions and then managed the contractions themselves while hanging over the cool porcelain tub. This carried on until 4:30 in the morning when I decided I needed Matt’s help – plus I really wanted him to keep track of how fast these contractions were coming and lasting as I still had no real idea.
I woke Matt up, he offered to help and did what I asked, but then he wanted to go back to bed! I don’t think he realized how far along I really was. I had waited as long as possible to wake him as I knew he needed some rest to do his job! I wouldn’t let him go back to bed and he soon realized how much he was needed.
We logged contractions on a website and realized they were coming pretty fast. Matt called the midwife and she suggested she wait to head out until they were lasting at least a minute long (I think they were about 45-50 sec at the time). Within 15-30 minutes, they were plenty long and Matt called her back. I think she doubted how fast they were coming, but she said she’d begin her hours’ drive to our home.
At some point I remember feeling a bit nauseated – was I in transition? I couldn’t be, could I? And then not long after that I felt “pushy”. My body was starting to push my baby out. Wow – how far along am I? Could I really be that far along already? I doubted myself because though the whole process was intense, I felt fairly well in control and was able to manage what I was feeling (despite being quite vocal!). I think it helped that my contractions were so short lived even though they were coming often. The peak was the only part where I felt a little out of my mind.
Matt was great through it all. He stroked my back and calmed me during the contractions and got me liquids, filled the tub, and did last minute preparations in between. He was so supportive and helpful – I really couldn’t have done it without him. I had _really_ wanted to get into the warm water tub but the midwife advised against doing so until she arrived. If I wasn’t ready the water can be too soothing and slow down the process.
Sometime around now I had moved to laboring on the toilet facing the back. It felt good to be vertical and have gravity help move the baby. I had felt a light pop and instinctively knew my water had just broken. But I don’t recall feeling any sort of gush… I suppose the baby’s head plugged up the hole.
Matt would check in with the midwife a few times during her route and I remember thinking that she couldn’t possibly get here soon enough. I kept asking where she was, when she would get here, etc. I needed to know how far dilated I was and how much further I needed to go. Finally, the midwife and her assistant arrived! (7:00ish? – I had completely lost track of the passing of time by now). After a brief minute or two of getting their supplies in the door and set up, she checked me for dilation and surprise – I was fully dilated with the baby at +2 station. I could push!
I ran over to the water tub (as much as a fully dilated woman in labor can really run) but paused long enough to take off my socks and shirt. I remember someone commenting that most women get in with their clothes on. Let me tell you – that tub was HEAVEN. A difference of night in day. Once in the tub I almost lost track of whether I was even having a contraction. Seriously! I would have taken a nap…
After being reminded to push (I was enjoying the relaxation), I had to truly focus inward to feel when a contraction was coming. I took my time and slowly pushed the baby down with each contraction while hanging my chest over the wall of the tub. I would feel the progress with my hand at every break – my baby was coming! I can truly say it didn’t hurt to push except for tiny tear that occurred at the widest part of her head emerging. After perhaps 5-7 contractions and 3 or so pushes per contraction her head was out! (I later learned I took 41 minutes to push her out, so it must have been a few more contractions).
I rested a bit and then pushed the rest of her out. I rested back onto the side of the tub again and heard lots of movement behind me as the baby was brought to the surface by Daddy. I heard him announce, “It’s a girl!” I turned over to sit against the back of the tub and they handed my new little girl to me for some bonding time. I had been imaging the moment for so long it was so surreal for it to be actually happening.
Eventually the cord stopped pulsing, so they clamped and Daddy cut the cord. Initial attempts to breastfeed weren’t successful but we figured it out in the days to come. After a bit, I was asked to try to push out the placenta and it easily slipped out with minimal effort. Apparently it was a very unique placenta with a rather large lobe and a marginal cord insertion (it was on the side rather than centered).
Daddy got to spend some precious bonding time with Eleanor as I showered and got looked over for tearing. Once I was given the ok the midwife gave the full newborn check on Eleanor and was happy to report a very healthy 7lbs 2oz of cuteness!
Welcome to the world, Eleanor “Nora” Irene!
Some other interesting details that may have helped me have a beautiful birth:
1. Hypnobabies wasn’t nearly as prominent in the birth as I had imagined it would be. We never got around to playing any scripts until it came time to pushing. I did try to use my lightswitch, Matt reminded me to breathe my anesthesia, etc., but I think the main help of the program was to remain relaxed as much as possible.
2. I had drunk Red Raspberry Leaf Tea regularly up until 1.5 months before the birth. At that point I had gotten quite tired of the flavor and started taking a capsule form. I went back to drinking it about 2 weeks before the birth. I drank a large pot of it the day of, before I realized I would be in labor later that night.
3. I went to the chiropractor monthly, then weekly near the end of my pregnancy, to make sure everything was in perfect alignment for this baby to come out.
4. I’m a bellydancer and danced weekly up until the last month of my pregnancy.
5. I enjoyed a prenatal yoga DVD 3-4 times a week up until the last month of my pregnancy.
6. The baby’s older brother is an English Cocker Spaniel whom I walked 30 min – 1 hour 5-6 times a week throughout my pregnancy.
Eleanor was born on February 7, 2010 at 8:31am after 41 weeks and 5 days. The previous evening, a Saturday night, I was lying on the couch watching some television and generally trying to rest. I felt a slight twinge of period-like cramps in my abdomen, unlike anything I had felt so far in the pregnancy. I immediately thought it might be a contraction and looked at the clock: 8:55pm. I didn’t want to get too excited because I knew some people felt these for days before labor begins, so I settled back into tv. Exactly 30 min later, at 9:25, I felt another twinge. About 20 minutes after that, another! Hooray!
I decided the best thing to do was to take a relaxing shower and head to bed and get some sleep in case this was the real thing. Matt came home from doing some errands as I was getting out of the shower and I told him the big news. We’ve been ready for this for a while, so he gave me an excited reply and I went to get some sleep.
Needless to say, I couldn’t sleep. My mind wouldn’t settle down to relax. Baby was coming! After tossing and turning for about an hour, I got up and poured a short glass of wine. I’ve seen that recommended so thought it would help. Nope, didn’t help me! (Though it did taste quite good!)
Matt was rushing around the house preparing last minute things before the birth of our baby while I tried resting. When he came to bed I went into our living room to try to sleep because I was tossing and turning so much and didn’t want to bother him. At this point my guess is that contractions were coming randomly every 10-15 minutes. As it was getting later into the night I was finally able to get some sleep between them, but certainly woke to manage them as they came, rocking on my hands and knees on the living room floor.
I was getting intensely hot at the peak of the contraction and shivering cold while resting. The living room wasn’t cutting it any longer. Around 3am I got it in my head our heated tile bathroom floor seemed like the perfect place to relax between contractions, so that’s exactly what I did. I slept on the warm floor between contractions and then managed the contractions themselves while hanging over the cool porcelain tub. This carried on until 4:30 in the morning when I decided I needed Matt’s help – plus I really wanted him to keep track of how fast these contractions were coming and lasting as I still had no real idea.
I woke Matt up, he offered to help and did what I asked, but then he wanted to go back to bed! I don’t think he realized how far along I really was. I had waited as long as possible to wake him as I knew he needed some rest to do his job! I wouldn’t let him go back to bed and he soon realized how much he was needed.
We logged contractions on a website and realized they were coming pretty fast. Matt called the midwife and she suggested she wait to head out until they were lasting at least a minute long (I think they were about 45-50 sec at the time). Within 15-30 minutes, they were plenty long and Matt called her back. I think she doubted how fast they were coming, but she said she’d begin her hours’ drive to our home.
At some point I remember feeling a bit nauseated – was I in transition? I couldn’t be, could I? And then not long after that I felt “pushy”. My body was starting to push my baby out. Wow – how far along am I? Could I really be that far along already? I doubted myself because though the whole process was intense, I felt fairly well in control and was able to manage what I was feeling (despite being quite vocal!). I think it helped that my contractions were so short lived even though they were coming often. The peak was the only part where I felt a little out of my mind.
Matt was great through it all. He stroked my back and calmed me during the contractions and got me liquids, filled the tub, and did last minute preparations in between. He was so supportive and helpful – I really couldn’t have done it without him. I had _really_ wanted to get into the warm water tub but the midwife advised against doing so until she arrived. If I wasn’t ready the water can be too soothing and slow down the process.
Sometime around now I had moved to laboring on the toilet facing the back. It felt good to be vertical and have gravity help move the baby. I had felt a light pop and instinctively knew my water had just broken. But I don’t recall feeling any sort of gush… I suppose the baby’s head plugged up the hole.
Matt would check in with the midwife a few times during her route and I remember thinking that she couldn’t possibly get here soon enough. I kept asking where she was, when she would get here, etc. I needed to know how far dilated I was and how much further I needed to go. Finally, the midwife and her assistant arrived! (7:00ish? – I had completely lost track of the passing of time by now). After a brief minute or two of getting their supplies in the door and set up, she checked me for dilation and surprise – I was fully dilated with the baby at +2 station. I could push!
I ran over to the water tub (as much as a fully dilated woman in labor can really run) but paused long enough to take off my socks and shirt. I remember someone commenting that most women get in with their clothes on. Let me tell you – that tub was HEAVEN. A difference of night in day. Once in the tub I almost lost track of whether I was even having a contraction. Seriously! I would have taken a nap…
After being reminded to push (I was enjoying the relaxation), I had to truly focus inward to feel when a contraction was coming. I took my time and slowly pushed the baby down with each contraction while hanging my chest over the wall of the tub. I would feel the progress with my hand at every break – my baby was coming! I can truly say it didn’t hurt to push except for tiny tear that occurred at the widest part of her head emerging. After perhaps 5-7 contractions and 3 or so pushes per contraction her head was out! (I later learned I took 41 minutes to push her out, so it must have been a few more contractions).
I rested a bit and then pushed the rest of her out. I rested back onto the side of the tub again and heard lots of movement behind me as the baby was brought to the surface by Daddy. I heard him announce, “It’s a girl!” I turned over to sit against the back of the tub and they handed my new little girl to me for some bonding time. I had been imaging the moment for so long it was so surreal for it to be actually happening.
Eventually the cord stopped pulsing, so they clamped and Daddy cut the cord. Initial attempts to breastfeed weren’t successful but we figured it out in the days to come. After a bit, I was asked to try to push out the placenta and it easily slipped out with minimal effort. Apparently it was a very unique placenta with a rather large lobe and a marginal cord insertion (it was on the side rather than centered).
Daddy got to spend some precious bonding time with Eleanor as I showered and got looked over for tearing. Once I was given the ok the midwife gave the full newborn check on Eleanor and was happy to report a very healthy 7lbs 2oz of cuteness!
Welcome to the world, Eleanor “Nora” Irene!
Some other interesting details that may have helped me have a beautiful birth:
1. Hypnobabies wasn’t nearly as prominent in the birth as I had imagined it would be. We never got around to playing any scripts until it came time to pushing. I did try to use my lightswitch, Matt reminded me to breathe my anesthesia, etc., but I think the main help of the program was to remain relaxed as much as possible.
2. I had drunk Red Raspberry Leaf Tea regularly up until 1.5 months before the birth. At that point I had gotten quite tired of the flavor and started taking a capsule form. I went back to drinking it about 2 weeks before the birth. I drank a large pot of it the day of, before I realized I would be in labor later that night.
3. I went to the chiropractor monthly, then weekly near the end of my pregnancy, to make sure everything was in perfect alignment for this baby to come out.
4. I’m a bellydancer and danced weekly up until the last month of my pregnancy.
5. I enjoyed a prenatal yoga DVD 3-4 times a week up until the last month of my pregnancy.
6. The baby’s older brother is an English Cocker Spaniel whom I walked 30 min – 1 hour 5-6 times a week throughout my pregnancy.
