Birth Stories
Birth Story: Shirin & Baby Landon
I started prodromal labor about a week and 2 days before I went into active labor. The day before the night I went into labor, I was having contractions that were not increasing in intensity, and 8 minutes apart the entire day. I had a glass of wine to calm them down, and I went to bed thinking Landon would come on Thanksgiving.
At about 12:30am, I kept waking up due to contractions and thought there was no way this baby was finally deciding to come. I gave it until 1:30 because I was afraid of waking people up for no reason after all the prodromal stuff! I decided I could call my doula Brooke then to see what she thought. I also woke up Daniel and told him I was calling Brooke; he said “oh shit” and went back to sleep (I told him to sleep, although he doesn't remember this). She said to try to relax, take a bath and get as much rest as I could.
I ended up showering because I hate baths; it was a lot of back labor and pressure on my tailbone every time I had a contraction. They were pretty strong already, but I still was in denial that Landon would come out. Between the time I called her and she was texting me information, they had gone from 7 minutes apart to 5 minutes. I laid back down and tried to make sure my 2-year old son Logan slept as long as possible. He wanted to nurse because he coughed a few times and that made my contractions crazy so I just kept trying to pat him. Even laying down they were pretty strong. At 4 am he had a coughing fit again and because of the contractions I couldn't focus to settle him, so he woke up and we all got up. I called Brooke again who got ready to head over. I called Tracy who didn't pick up her phone. And then I texted Amanda to find Tracy. At that point, before Logan got up, my contractions were consistently 5 minutes apart lasting almost 60 seconds. After he got up they got very irregular, going from 3 minutes apart to 8 minutes apart back to 2 minutes apart, etc.
Brooke got here and soon after settling in and watching me a bit she made me go on a walk (and rubbed some labor oil on my belly). I told her she was mean (at that point), and that I shouldn't have invited her. Logan and Daniel also came on the walk. I realized that I wouldn't be able to focus completely if Logan was always around and so did Brooke. When we got back to the house Tracy arrived and soon after Lora did too (who I forgot to call until Tracy reminded me to!). Brooke made me go sit on the toilet and labor. That lasted about 2 minutes because I got bored. So then I laid down because I was exhausted. She made me put a pillow between my legs. I kept telling everyone I was dying.
At one point, Daniel took Logan on a drive to put him to sleep since he was tired. He passed out in the car so I was no longer worried about him because he was asleep and with his daddy. Things started to get more regular again then and the pain was all in my back. Brooke, Tracy and Lora took turns pressing on my back during contractions (depending on who was available).
Around 8 am, I asked Brooke if I should go in the shower. She said if I wanted to. So I got in the shower and my contractions kept coming. I realized at some point I felt like this with Logan in the shower soon before I left the house for his birth (which he came soon after) and thought we should leave for the birth center soon. I hadn't talked to Christine, but Brooke had been speaking with her. I told Brooke and she told everyone to pack up the car and they called Daniel to let him know what was going on. He was still with Logan who was asleep.
Before we left the house, my contractions were 2-3 min apart. Eventually I got into the car and tried to focus on my contractions without yelling very loudly in the car. I closed my eyes and would go into a daze which was the only way to deal with the car ride. The contractions did slow down a little bit in the car but they were very intense. There was so much pressure still on my tailbone. Daniel asked me if I was okay at some point, and I yelled at him and said, “No, I'm not okay, I'm having a baby!”
We got to the birth center; there was no traffic so the drive was about 25 minutes. I ran out of the car and tried to run in before a contraction hit me. Christine met us at the door; one started to hit me on the way in, she asked if I needed to stop and I told her I just need to get somewhere. So we ran into the "green room". I knew if I stopped in the hallway that would be it. I wouldn't get back up.
In the green room, I had a contraction and Brooke asked if I wanted to sit on a ball. So I tried that. Logan came in at that point to see me and got a bit worried so I had Daniel take him back out. The contractions were really intense and eventually from the ball I just ended up on the floor. Everyone asked if I wanted to move, but I didn't because the floor was nice and cold. I wanted to yell for a while, but I kept thinking I couldn't be at the yelling point already.
They started to fill the birth pool, and I asked if Christine was going to check me. She was checking on another mom, and I asked a couple more times where she was. Apparently, I was wrong about how far along I was because when I finally did yell... Brooke and Christine knew I was going to push the baby out soon. Christine ran in and checked and said it was just the tiniest bit of a lip and if I got in the birth pool and leaned over the side that should be enough. At that point Tracy watched L in the lobby and sent Daniel in the room, which was really the part where I did need him there.
I got in the pool (which was only 1/3 way full and too hot), and they started to cool it a bit. I leaned over the side had one contraction and told her I can't keep him in. Christine said I didn't have to do that, but she would help guide me and to wait for the next contraction. The next contraction I started to push and his head was coming out; she said to slow down for a second after the contraction was over. In the next contraction his head and body came out. I looked down and there was a baby between my legs!
She handed him to me. He was so cute and perfect but the whole end went so fast I was in shock that he was already here. I just kept looking at him and trying to register the fact that I just had a baby. We had gotten to the birth center just 40 minutes before. Right away I asked them to get Logan. He came in and was in a great mood and said baby and was looking at the birth pool. We stayed in the pool a while as the placenta took a bit of time to detach and the cord was pulsing for a while. After the placenta came out, I moved to the bed with some help. Landon was still attached to me. She clamped the cord and D cut it. He was so calm and peaceful and quiet. He started to nurse and nursed a LONG time. Logan loved him and kept kissing him.
When she finally weighed him he was 7 lbs 1 oz and 20 3/4 inches. He didn't make a peep the whole time she was checking him out, he just looked around quietly and alert. Logan ate lunch at the birth center while we hung out and nursed and got him dressed, and Christine checked me out a few times. We were getting our stuff together to leave by noon which to me was perfect. Landon slept the whole drive home, and we were home by 12:30.
The birth center was great. Even though both Logan and Landon’s births were done naturally with no intervention, there was a big difference. This time I felt like it was centered around what I wanted to do and needed rather than what the hospital wanted to do or needed. I got to listen to my body the whole time. I have minimal soreness and no tears this time as well. Everyone that I wanted to be at my birth got to be there, Daniel was there for the parts I needed him, and I didn't have to worry about Logan. I wasn't at the birth center too long. As much as I would like to do a homebirth the next time, I didn’t regret this decision at all, as it all went like I had hoped it would.
And one day before Thanksgiving!
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Birth Story: Nicky & Greg
My story sounds similar to many others. This was my first child. My husband and I read everything we could about pregnancy, the birth process, and pain management. After much learning, I knew that I wanted a natural birth and planned on this in the hospital.
It was week 36, and so far I had the picture perfect pregnancy - no risk factors, exercising regularly, still working, and overall feeling quite good. At this appointment, my provider started mentioning things to me regarding inducing at 41 weeks, c-section, pain medicine, timelines, etc. Completely caught off guard, I didn’t understand why I was suddenly being bombarded with this information. These things were clearly not part of my birth plan. I started asking questions concerning my desire for a natural birth and learned that due to many hospital policies, I may or may not get what I wanted. Or at the very least, I would have to be prepared to fight the interventions that would surely be “offered” at the hospital. I also learned that the majority of hospital staff are not prepared to labor a natural birth due to the astonishing low number of women who actually desire this.
At the 39-week mark, I made the switch to the birth center, and I am happy to say it is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. It turns out that I did not go into labor until 10 days past my due date. I labored at home for 11 hours, then the birth center for another 15 hours, the whole time dealing with immense back pain. In the hospital, given these circumstances, it would have been almost impossible to have a non-interventional, natural birth. Despite all the pain and prolonged labor, I just kept thinking the end was near and kept trying every position the midwives suggested. Eventually we found some that allowed me to push and deal with the back pain, and our baby girl was born. As soon as I held my baby for the first time, I knew I made a great decision. After a 4-hour nap, the three of us were up, walking around, and back in our own house to recover.
I cannot say enough positive things about the midwives at the birth center. They are some of the most caring, supportive women you will ever meet. They truly love everything about birth!
My advice to other women who are considering natural birth: learn everything you can, ask questions of your provider, and follow your intuition!
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Birth Story: Camryn
On Friday September 17, 2010 at 4:15am, we welcomed our second daughter, Camryn, into the world. It was an exhausting and euphoric experience. We waited 271 days to finally meet her. She is perfect and healthy, and I feel empowered about the entire experience.
We decided in December 2009 that we’d like to become pregnant again and expand our family. I heard about a book and a technique that would favor the odds of conceiving a boy, so I decided light-heartedly to give it a try since we already had a girl. The book claimed an 85% success rate so I figured it was pretty much foolproof. The early part of the pregnancy was much different than it was with Claire. I had terrible morning sickness until 15 weeks, and I craved red meat all the time. I swore that it must be because I was carrying a boy. However, much to my surprise (and delight), we found out at 15 weeks that we were having another little girl. We all agreed that this was one tough little lady to beat out all the boys against the odds!
Claire was born at a hospital under the care of a nurse midwife. It was also a wonderful and empowering experience, but when we found out she was no longer practicing in our area, we started to look at all of our options. We seriously considered doing a home birth, but when we found out that a new freestanding birth center, run solely by midwives had just opened only 30 miles from our house, we knew that was where we wanted to have Camryn. We scheduled a tour and got to meet our midwife Christine. We loved her philosophy on birth and felt like we would be in good hands for the entire experience. We really loved the fact that choosing to have our baby at the birth center kept all of our options available. I would be able to eat, drink and have freedom of movement during labor. We were also excited at the prospect of having a water birth.
My guess date was September 13 based on a 28-day cycle, but I figured that since my cycle usually runs about 30 days, it would put me closer to September 16. Sure enough, on the morning of Thursday, September 16, I woke up around 5:00 am with some back pain and cramping. I had an appointment with Christine already scheduled for that afternoon, so I went about business as usual. Brian had been working from home so he came to my appointment with me. We got there and Jordan, a midwifery student, felt the baby’s position and measured her. She was in the perfect position for birth and measured 41 weeks. I was still having sporadic cramping and we all felt like it was sure to happen that day.
It was hot that afternoon, but I really wanted to get things moving so I decided to take a long walk. Brian came with me for about half of it but had to go inside. I ended up walking about 4 miles and my contractions were about 5-10 minutes apart but not very intense. Figuring it was going to be a long night, we decided to take a nap and rest as much as possible.
Later that evening, we called my mom and stepdad to let them know we were pretty sure Camryn was coming soon. We got our bags packed, baked some cookies and waited for the grandparents to arrive. We were so excited! We played music and danced with Claire. She couldn’t wait to meet her new baby sister. While I wasn’t uncomfortable, my contractions were getting closer together, and around 6 pm I called my midwife. She suggested waiting another hour, and if they kept coming, call her and start driving to the birth center. We got Claire’s bags packed and sent her off for a sleepover with Pop-pop and Uncle Ricky. She didn’t mind a bit and seemed to look forward to the extra attention. I listened to my “easy first stage” Hypnobabies CD, and the birthing day affirmations, but I wasn’t in any pain, nor was I scared.
My mom came with us, and we met Jordan at the door. We arrived at the birth center around 8 pm. I didn’t have any desire to be checked for dilation because I knew that I was in labor, and it was going to take some time for my body to prepare for birth. We decided to watch season 1 of Glee to keep our minds occupied and continued to time the contractions. My contractions were about 1-2 minutes apart and I welcomed the sensations bouncing on my birth ball and swaying back and forth.
About 2 hours later, I decided to have Jordan check me, and she said that I was fully dilated. I didn’t feel “pushy” but if I was fully dilated then why not try right? So we filled up the tub, and I got in. I pushed for about 20 minutes and really didn’t make any progress. My bag of waters was bulging. Jordan asked me if I wanted her to break it to get things moving, and I agreed. She tried to break it with her fingernail but it was no use. It was too strong. Perhaps it was all that fish oil I was taking. Anyway, Christine suggested I get out of the tub and let her check me. She felt that I had a small cervical lip and suggested I get up and walk around for a while. If I would’ve pushed her out at that point, I could go around telling everyone how easy it was the second time around and, wow transition was a breeze, but the real challenge lay just ahead.
I began to feel extremely antsy. How was I supposed to know if my body was ready to push? Everyone talks about it like it’ so obvious. What if I never get the feeling? I needed to try and calm myself down but I was losing confidence fast. I tried listening to some of my Hypnobabies CD, but it was very hard to stay in trance because the contractions I felt now were very different.
I felt crazed. No position or movement would relieve me. I kept going to the bathroom, clinging to the last shred of control that I had over my body. Maybe I needed to turn the lights down? Nope. Maybe if I took this godforsaken nightgown off I’d feel better? Nope. Maybe if I go to the bathroom again, or maybe a shower, or get back in the tub? Nope. Nope. Nope.
I kicked my mom out of the room when things were starting to get hairy. I looked over at Brian and saw reflected in his face pure exasperation. Okay now I really knew that I needed to pull myself together. I told him to go get Christine. I needed some reassurance. I apologized and asked my mom to come back in. Christine checked me again and said she still felt a lip, however the baby had dropped down significantly. She told me to wait for a contraction and she pushed it back. WOW! Now I needed to push. It was like magic.
So I was quickly ushered back into the tub, but this time with renewed confidence. The water level was high in the tub. I grabbed the handles and pushed, and pushed and pushed. I knew I was going to see my baby very soon, but physically I felt like throwing in the towel. It had been a very long day. I asked Brian to put on any Hypnobabies CD, anything to give me an extra edge. He must have felt that I need more support and decided to get in the tub with me fully clothed. He boosted me up and right at that very minute, we were so very close, I could feel her head, a booming voice announces “And now it’s time to push your baby out!” It was the CD player on the “Pushing Baby Out” track. Perfect timing! That’s it. I decided I wasn’t going to hear anymore of that track. I beared down gave it all my might and pushed. Coco reached down and grabbed Camryn and put her right up on my belly. I swear I have never felt so relieved in my life. I did it! I finally got her out. She had one eye open and looked as if we had woken her from a good nap.
It was 4:15 am after all, and everyone was exhausted. To be honest, I have no idea how I mustered up the strength to get myself out of that birthing tub. It was a long walk back to the bed. A half hour later, I delivered the placenta, and she was latched on and nursing like a champ. She was perfect and healthy. She weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and was 21 inches long.
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Pure Birth Midwifery | Christine Strothers, R.N., B.S., B.S.N., CD (DONA) | Charlotte, NC