The Birth Story of Naomi Lynn Olszewski
God blessed us with another pregnancy in February 2009. It was such a shock and surprise because we conceived without the use of fertility drugs. So, I began to hunt for a new midwife as the practice that I had Rachel with had sort of disbanned. I found Henry Ford West Bloomfield, a beautiful hospital and a great midwife. But, something still wasn’t right. Deep down, in my heart, I really knew you were meant to be born at home.
I had several ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy and the 20 week ultrasound detected choroid plexus cysts. While these can sometimes be a sign of something much more serious, a genetic ultrasound revealed that we had nothing to worry about. It was at this time that I began to investigate a homebirth. We met with a homebirth midwife who did a lot to quell our fears and answer our questions. But, we didn’t switch. Something kept holding me back. However, at the start of my last month of pregnancy we decided. We would have you at home. We chose Stacia, a fellow MDC mama, as our midwife and proceeded to collect our birth supplies. I was so excited and Daddy was slowly joining the excitement as well.
You were due on November 4 and everyone kept telling me that they thought I would have you early. Honestly though, I was still rather comfortable and I knew you would come when you were ready and not a moment before. At 3:30 in the morning on November 4, I woke up feeling wet. My water had broken although, I had no contractions. I told Daddy to shut off his alarm and stay home from work, today would be baby day. Stacia was set to come over for my normal appointment around noon. When she arrived, we confirmed that yes, my water had broken. She told us that the good news was 80% of women would start labor in the next 24 hours. I was a bit nervous but still felt a great sense of peacefulness. David and Rachel went to spend the day with friends and Daddy and I hung out at home, went to Target, and had lunch at Subway. I also had a terrible headcold so I took a nice long nap at home.
Around dinner time, the kids came home and we sat at the table. At 5:30pm, I had a very mild contraction. After dinner, I returned to bed. By 6:30, I knew that you were on your way. Grandma came and picked up David and Rachel for the night and I returned to bed. Labor really got going around 7:30. I asked Daddy to blow up the birth pool in the family room and then I spent the next hour with contractions 15-20 minutes apart. At 9:30, contractions were about 6 minutes apart. At 10:30, I called Stacia to let her know that this was it. Immediately after the phone call, contractions were coming at 3 minutes apart. She said she would be on her way. I moved downstairs to the couch and we started filling the birth pool with water. I was really concentrating on the contractions and was listening to my hypnobirth contraction lessons on my iPod.
At 11:00, I realized that the camera was in the diaper bag at Grandma’s house. I started crying and Daddy said he would run and get it, 20 minutes away. I told him not to wait for Stacia that I would be okay and to hurry.
At 11:10, Stacia walked in the front door and saw me on the couch. She asked where Dave was and I told her in Livonia. The look on her face is one I will never forget. She said, “you let him leave, Kelly, your contractions are like 2 minutes apart!” I was not really aware of what this meant at the time. Stacia listened to your heart tones and everything sounded great. Stacia asked if I wanted to get into the pool and I did. I can’t say I felt much relief but the change of position at least provided a diversion. The assistant Christa arrived about this time. The midwives set about organizing their supplies, providing me comfort and, I think, secretly wondering when Dave would get home.
At 11:35, Dave got back. He met Christa and hung up his coat and keys. Then, I remember Stacia asking if I pushed with that last contraction. I told her yes and asked if it that was okay. She said to just listen to my body. Well, then pushing really got going. I was on my knees leaning over the side of the pool. They said I could probably touch your head. I did and it was so encouraging to know that you were really almost here. Daddy also got to touch your head. I soon flipped over on my side and asked Daddy for a drink of water. He got up to get it and Christa and Stacia both yelled at him to forget the water it was time for him to catch you! He raced back to the pool and soon, your head was born. One of your shoulders was a bit stuck but a bit of rotation, and you shot right out into Daddy’s hands. He was the first person to hold you. He pulled you up out of the water and laid you on my chest. I was shocked and amazed at you. It was such a fun moment. You were born at around 11:50pm on your due date, November 4, 2009.
We stayed in the pool for a little while. Soon, Daddy cut your cord and held you while I got out of the water. I stood by the side of the pool and delivered the placenta then I laid back on the couch feeling quite satisfied and very happy. I don’t think I ever stopped smiling. The midwives checked me out and reported no tears, just a few scrapes that would heal just fine. I had a banana, some juice, and tried to nurse you a bit.
Soon, I was all cleaned up and we headed up the stairs to get comfortable in bed. Around 1:40am, I was settled in bed and it was time for your newborn exam. You weighed in at 9 pounds 8 ounces and just 20 inches long with a 14.5 inch head. A big, squishy baby with beautiful little cheeks. It was so great to laying in bed while all of this happened. By about 2:30 or so, the midwives were all done with us. They left us while they returned downstairs to clean everything up. By about 3am, they left. Daddy went downstairs to get us a snack and said that he was amazed we just gave birth in our living room. Other than you, there was no sign that anything at all had happened just a few short hours ago.
This is the story. What the words can not convey, so I will likely fail in doing so, is the emotion of your birth. The anticipation of knowing that my water had broken. The excitement when contractions began. The peace and meeting you for the first time in our home. The pure joy of knowing that you arrived when and where God wanted you to arrive. Today, you are 4 days old. You have never left my sight and the sight of you is too beautiful for words. Babies have been born for thousands of years, but, each one is a unique miracle granted to us from God. You are truly a miracle and a blessed gift to our family.
Kelly, proud mama.
God blessed us with another pregnancy in February 2009. It was such a shock and surprise because we conceived without the use of fertility drugs. So, I began to hunt for a new midwife as the practice that I had Rachel with had sort of disbanned. I found Henry Ford West Bloomfield, a beautiful hospital and a great midwife. But, something still wasn’t right. Deep down, in my heart, I really knew you were meant to be born at home.
I had several ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy and the 20 week ultrasound detected choroid plexus cysts. While these can sometimes be a sign of something much more serious, a genetic ultrasound revealed that we had nothing to worry about. It was at this time that I began to investigate a homebirth. We met with a homebirth midwife who did a lot to quell our fears and answer our questions. But, we didn’t switch. Something kept holding me back. However, at the start of my last month of pregnancy we decided. We would have you at home. We chose Stacia, a fellow MDC mama, as our midwife and proceeded to collect our birth supplies. I was so excited and Daddy was slowly joining the excitement as well.
You were due on November 4 and everyone kept telling me that they thought I would have you early. Honestly though, I was still rather comfortable and I knew you would come when you were ready and not a moment before. At 3:30 in the morning on November 4, I woke up feeling wet. My water had broken although, I had no contractions. I told Daddy to shut off his alarm and stay home from work, today would be baby day. Stacia was set to come over for my normal appointment around noon. When she arrived, we confirmed that yes, my water had broken. She told us that the good news was 80% of women would start labor in the next 24 hours. I was a bit nervous but still felt a great sense of peacefulness. David and Rachel went to spend the day with friends and Daddy and I hung out at home, went to Target, and had lunch at Subway. I also had a terrible headcold so I took a nice long nap at home.
Around dinner time, the kids came home and we sat at the table. At 5:30pm, I had a very mild contraction. After dinner, I returned to bed. By 6:30, I knew that you were on your way. Grandma came and picked up David and Rachel for the night and I returned to bed. Labor really got going around 7:30. I asked Daddy to blow up the birth pool in the family room and then I spent the next hour with contractions 15-20 minutes apart. At 9:30, contractions were about 6 minutes apart. At 10:30, I called Stacia to let her know that this was it. Immediately after the phone call, contractions were coming at 3 minutes apart. She said she would be on her way. I moved downstairs to the couch and we started filling the birth pool with water. I was really concentrating on the contractions and was listening to my hypnobirth contraction lessons on my iPod.
At 11:00, I realized that the camera was in the diaper bag at Grandma’s house. I started crying and Daddy said he would run and get it, 20 minutes away. I told him not to wait for Stacia that I would be okay and to hurry.
At 11:10, Stacia walked in the front door and saw me on the couch. She asked where Dave was and I told her in Livonia. The look on her face is one I will never forget. She said, “you let him leave, Kelly, your contractions are like 2 minutes apart!” I was not really aware of what this meant at the time. Stacia listened to your heart tones and everything sounded great. Stacia asked if I wanted to get into the pool and I did. I can’t say I felt much relief but the change of position at least provided a diversion. The assistant Christa arrived about this time. The midwives set about organizing their supplies, providing me comfort and, I think, secretly wondering when Dave would get home.
At 11:35, Dave got back. He met Christa and hung up his coat and keys. Then, I remember Stacia asking if I pushed with that last contraction. I told her yes and asked if it that was okay. She said to just listen to my body. Well, then pushing really got going. I was on my knees leaning over the side of the pool. They said I could probably touch your head. I did and it was so encouraging to know that you were really almost here. Daddy also got to touch your head. I soon flipped over on my side and asked Daddy for a drink of water. He got up to get it and Christa and Stacia both yelled at him to forget the water it was time for him to catch you! He raced back to the pool and soon, your head was born. One of your shoulders was a bit stuck but a bit of rotation, and you shot right out into Daddy’s hands. He was the first person to hold you. He pulled you up out of the water and laid you on my chest. I was shocked and amazed at you. It was such a fun moment. You were born at around 11:50pm on your due date, November 4, 2009.
We stayed in the pool for a little while. Soon, Daddy cut your cord and held you while I got out of the water. I stood by the side of the pool and delivered the placenta then I laid back on the couch feeling quite satisfied and very happy. I don’t think I ever stopped smiling. The midwives checked me out and reported no tears, just a few scrapes that would heal just fine. I had a banana, some juice, and tried to nurse you a bit.
Soon, I was all cleaned up and we headed up the stairs to get comfortable in bed. Around 1:40am, I was settled in bed and it was time for your newborn exam. You weighed in at 9 pounds 8 ounces and just 20 inches long with a 14.5 inch head. A big, squishy baby with beautiful little cheeks. It was so great to laying in bed while all of this happened. By about 2:30 or so, the midwives were all done with us. They left us while they returned downstairs to clean everything up. By about 3am, they left. Daddy went downstairs to get us a snack and said that he was amazed we just gave birth in our living room. Other than you, there was no sign that anything at all had happened just a few short hours ago.
This is the story. What the words can not convey, so I will likely fail in doing so, is the emotion of your birth. The anticipation of knowing that my water had broken. The excitement when contractions began. The peace and meeting you for the first time in our home. The pure joy of knowing that you arrived when and where God wanted you to arrive. Today, you are 4 days old. You have never left my sight and the sight of you is too beautiful for words. Babies have been born for thousands of years, but, each one is a unique miracle granted to us from God. You are truly a miracle and a blessed gift to our family.
Kelly, proud mama.
Congrats to your family, as well! 
