Levi's home water birth story (or the best that I can remember 3 months later)
My second pregnancy was much easier than my first. DD’s pregnancy was a hospital birth with an OB. I was induced at 39 weeks because she was too big (she was 7# 4oz). It was a vaginal birth with Pit, an epidural and episiotomy. I had no nausea or vomiting this time around like I did with Aubrey’s pregnancy. The only problem was a night of contractions after work one night when I was 29 weeks pregnant. I was checked and found to be 2cm and 80%. The contractions stopped and I took it easy and really upped my water intake for the next few weeks. This was my second baby and I was sure it was going to come early. I just prayed I’d make it to 37 weeks so we could go ahead with my planned home birth.
37 weeks came and went. On Sunday April 25th I was 40w 6d. I was surprisingly very calm and not anxious about labor. I had this surreal feeling that I was going to be pregnant forever. It was like I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact I could actually go into labor at any time and I happily accepted being pregnant for a few more weeks. I was following a pretty healthy diet for this pregnancy but that night I sent DH (Joe) out for Taco Bell. After Aubrey was in bed we sat down to eat and watch a movie (about 8:30pm).
At exactly 9pm it felt like something flicked me in the stomach just to the right of my belly button. I casually told Joe, “I bet that’s what it feels like when your water breaks”. Then about 20-30 seconds later, “OMG I’m peeing my pants and it won’t stop!” and it was another 30 seconds before I made the connection and realized my water broke. We jumped up and started running around all giddy. I almost slipped in the amniotic fluid when I walked into the kitchen and had to brace myself on the wall. I called my mom, midwife, and birth photographer to give them a heads up. My midwife said she was going to get some rest and to call her when the contractions got 5 minutes apart.
I went upstairs to take a shower then I posted an update on my local AP board. I tried to get some sleep but I was too excited. I had my first contraction at 10, exactly one hour after my water broke. Between 10-10:30 I had maybe 4 contractions. At 10:30 they started coming every 5 minutes but I didn’t call anyone because they were only lasting 30 seconds. They were very regular. I sat on my birth ball and leaned on my bed while swaying during the contractions. My mom and sisters arrived during this time. My mom, 2 of my sisters (17 and 19), Joe, my midwife and photographer would be in the room for the birth. My dad and other sister (20) would be downstairs with Aubrey (25 months). Joe started filling the birth pool and I got in the shower.
I got in the pool just before midnight? I had planned on using different positions to help me cope but once I got in I stayed in the same position. I did not want to move, only to sit and focus on deep breathing and letting my hands float freely in the water. I know I entered ‘laborland’ around now when I screamed, “water! Biiiiitch!” at poor Joe. I feel bad now but at the time I could not comprehend how he couldn't read my mind and just KNOW that I need water NOW. My contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and lasting 1 to 1 and a half minutes. At this point I tuned everyone else out. Joe must have called Goldie (midwife) and Toni (photographer) because they were there when I opened my eyes between contractions. I started feeling sick and threw up the Taco Bell into a bowl. Of all the things to throw up it had to be Taco Bell, so gross.
The rest of labor is a blur. The contractions were very close together with double peaks. I remember saying, “I’d transfer to the hospital but I’m stuck in this damn pool”. And at one point Goldie told me I could try to moan in a deeper tone so my throat won’t hurt the next day. I tried that for one contraction but by the next one I was back to what I was doing (and I did have a sore throat later that day). I also remember asking for Tylenol and Goldie laughing and saying, “oh sweetie, that won’t help you” and I had to get through another contraction before I could speak again to tell them I wasn’t joking and I really needed Tylenol. I never did get it though. The worst pain was down in my legs and in my lower abdomen. The leg pain threw me off because I was not expecting that.
I know it was just before 3am when I started feeling pushy because that is when Joe turned on the video camera. I never did any conscious pushing. My body completely took over during the surges and pushed without my control. This phase was less than an hour but it felt like it was never ending. I remember thinking that I’ve watched hundreds of birth videos on YouTube and pushing never takes that long. So I asked Goldie if she could use a vacuum and she said, “no but you can push”. The head finally crowned and then the relief was amazing. Before the body delivered I asked if the shoulders were worse of better. I don’t know why I asked that, I KNOW the answer lol. Looking back now, I'm glad the head came out slowly because it gave the tissue time to stretch.
The body slipped out and onto my chest at 3:50am. Someone turned on the light and I looked for the sex. I screamed, "OMG! It's a BOY!
" and I probably repeated that phrase 200 times that night. I was so shocked and thrilled we had a baby boy. He cried right away and had great color. Right after he was born my dad and other sister came in with my daughter. We stayed in the pool for awhile before cutting the cord and handing him off to Joe. Then the placenta was out. Goldie helped me out of the tub and into an herbal bath with Levi. After the bath I got into bed and he was weighed and measured at 9# 6oz and 21.5 inches long with a 14.25 head. And I didn't have a single tear! But yes Mr. OB, the early induction and episiotomy were really necessary with my "huge" 7# 4oz daughter 
.
Goldie got us all situated in bed and I breastfed Levi. Then she was called away to another birth- the 4th home birth in 2 or 3 days! My family and Toni left between 6-7 am and then we all slept until about 10 am. The birth was so amazing and so drastically different than my daughter's birth. I would absolutely do it 100 more times if I could. So stats:
Levi Richard
April 26, 2010
3:50 am
9# 6oz
21.5 inches
and link to video montage:
http://vimeo.com/13633373
My second pregnancy was much easier than my first. DD’s pregnancy was a hospital birth with an OB. I was induced at 39 weeks because she was too big (she was 7# 4oz). It was a vaginal birth with Pit, an epidural and episiotomy. I had no nausea or vomiting this time around like I did with Aubrey’s pregnancy. The only problem was a night of contractions after work one night when I was 29 weeks pregnant. I was checked and found to be 2cm and 80%. The contractions stopped and I took it easy and really upped my water intake for the next few weeks. This was my second baby and I was sure it was going to come early. I just prayed I’d make it to 37 weeks so we could go ahead with my planned home birth.
37 weeks came and went. On Sunday April 25th I was 40w 6d. I was surprisingly very calm and not anxious about labor. I had this surreal feeling that I was going to be pregnant forever. It was like I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact I could actually go into labor at any time and I happily accepted being pregnant for a few more weeks. I was following a pretty healthy diet for this pregnancy but that night I sent DH (Joe) out for Taco Bell. After Aubrey was in bed we sat down to eat and watch a movie (about 8:30pm).
At exactly 9pm it felt like something flicked me in the stomach just to the right of my belly button. I casually told Joe, “I bet that’s what it feels like when your water breaks”. Then about 20-30 seconds later, “OMG I’m peeing my pants and it won’t stop!” and it was another 30 seconds before I made the connection and realized my water broke. We jumped up and started running around all giddy. I almost slipped in the amniotic fluid when I walked into the kitchen and had to brace myself on the wall. I called my mom, midwife, and birth photographer to give them a heads up. My midwife said she was going to get some rest and to call her when the contractions got 5 minutes apart.
I went upstairs to take a shower then I posted an update on my local AP board. I tried to get some sleep but I was too excited. I had my first contraction at 10, exactly one hour after my water broke. Between 10-10:30 I had maybe 4 contractions. At 10:30 they started coming every 5 minutes but I didn’t call anyone because they were only lasting 30 seconds. They were very regular. I sat on my birth ball and leaned on my bed while swaying during the contractions. My mom and sisters arrived during this time. My mom, 2 of my sisters (17 and 19), Joe, my midwife and photographer would be in the room for the birth. My dad and other sister (20) would be downstairs with Aubrey (25 months). Joe started filling the birth pool and I got in the shower.
I got in the pool just before midnight? I had planned on using different positions to help me cope but once I got in I stayed in the same position. I did not want to move, only to sit and focus on deep breathing and letting my hands float freely in the water. I know I entered ‘laborland’ around now when I screamed, “water! Biiiiitch!” at poor Joe. I feel bad now but at the time I could not comprehend how he couldn't read my mind and just KNOW that I need water NOW. My contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and lasting 1 to 1 and a half minutes. At this point I tuned everyone else out. Joe must have called Goldie (midwife) and Toni (photographer) because they were there when I opened my eyes between contractions. I started feeling sick and threw up the Taco Bell into a bowl. Of all the things to throw up it had to be Taco Bell, so gross.
The rest of labor is a blur. The contractions were very close together with double peaks. I remember saying, “I’d transfer to the hospital but I’m stuck in this damn pool”. And at one point Goldie told me I could try to moan in a deeper tone so my throat won’t hurt the next day. I tried that for one contraction but by the next one I was back to what I was doing (and I did have a sore throat later that day). I also remember asking for Tylenol and Goldie laughing and saying, “oh sweetie, that won’t help you” and I had to get through another contraction before I could speak again to tell them I wasn’t joking and I really needed Tylenol. I never did get it though. The worst pain was down in my legs and in my lower abdomen. The leg pain threw me off because I was not expecting that.
I know it was just before 3am when I started feeling pushy because that is when Joe turned on the video camera. I never did any conscious pushing. My body completely took over during the surges and pushed without my control. This phase was less than an hour but it felt like it was never ending. I remember thinking that I’ve watched hundreds of birth videos on YouTube and pushing never takes that long. So I asked Goldie if she could use a vacuum and she said, “no but you can push”. The head finally crowned and then the relief was amazing. Before the body delivered I asked if the shoulders were worse of better. I don’t know why I asked that, I KNOW the answer lol. Looking back now, I'm glad the head came out slowly because it gave the tissue time to stretch.
The body slipped out and onto my chest at 3:50am. Someone turned on the light and I looked for the sex. I screamed, "OMG! It's a BOY!
" and I probably repeated that phrase 200 times that night. I was so shocked and thrilled we had a baby boy. He cried right away and had great color. Right after he was born my dad and other sister came in with my daughter. We stayed in the pool for awhile before cutting the cord and handing him off to Joe. Then the placenta was out. Goldie helped me out of the tub and into an herbal bath with Levi. After the bath I got into bed and he was weighed and measured at 9# 6oz and 21.5 inches long with a 14.25 head. And I didn't have a single tear! But yes Mr. OB, the early induction and episiotomy were really necessary with my "huge" 7# 4oz daughter .Goldie got us all situated in bed and I breastfed Levi. Then she was called away to another birth- the 4th home birth in 2 or 3 days! My family and Toni left between 6-7 am and then we all slept until about 10 am. The birth was so amazing and so drastically different than my daughter's birth. I would absolutely do it 100 more times if I could. So stats:
Levi Richard
April 26, 2010
3:50 am
9# 6oz
21.5 inches
and link to video montage:
http://vimeo.com/13633373
Great pictures, mama. Congratulations!
