My fourth birth and first homebirth was long awaited! I'd had 2 babies a week early and one on her due date, so as the due date came and went, I was pretty frustrated. Boy was I glad, when on the morning of my 41 week checkup I got to call my midwife and tell her I wouldn't be coming in! Early Monday morning, October 18th, I had a small gush of fluid that woke me up. I couldn't get back to sleep cause of a backache so I got on the computer for awhile and when I went back to bed, my pajama pants were quite damp. The rest of the day I had no leaking and only a few contractions. I cut out my kids' Halloween costumes and went to bed and actually slept pretty well. I had a mild contraction as I lay in bed contemplating whether or not to get up. I got up and ate and noticed a few more contractions. I sent dh to work with a warning that he might get called right back home. I was helping my kids get their chores done when I had a real contraction. My 2yo dd came over and comforted me and gave me kisses. I hurried upstairs when it was over, hoping dh hadn't pulled out yet, but he had. I called his work and left a message for him to come home. I had a contraction while on the phone and noticed it was pretty hard to keep my composure. I called my midwife and gave her a heads up. I also called my friends who were going to watch my other kids and take pictures. By the time dh got back, I was no longer doing things in between contractions. I was having bad intestinal cramps in addition to contractions so I was very uncomfortable. I asked dh to call the midwife and ask her to come. I got into a relaxation position on my bed and it helped a lot. When S. (my midwife) got there, dh had just gotten the birth pool all set up and ready and it looked really inviting. I wanted her to check me first so I wouldn't get in too soon and slow things down. She was pretty shocked when I asked for an enema. I knew I needed to get rid of the intestinal cramps, though, and it felt so good. I'm glad I asked for it cause I felt a little weird that I actually wanted that. When she checked me, I was at an 8!!! I was so excited, I had dh call the babysitter and she came right over so my mom could come in and be with me during labor. AHhhhh, I got in the pool and it felt so nice. I tried a few positions and found myself on my knees, leaning over the edge just breathing through the contractions and talking in my head with my baby. I'd begun to think it was probably a girl and I could picture her little head of dark hair. I told her it was okay to come through, and I'd do everything I could to make it easy for her. After awhile in the tub, I began to feel really hot, so my mom, dh, S., and her assistants K. and A. took turns wiping my brow with cool water and blowing a little fan on my face. I felt very pampered and supported. I needed to stand up, so I did. I needed back down, so I got back down. I was really feeling hot and tired and my legs were tired of kneeling. I began to want my bed, so they quickly prepared it for me and helped me get comfortable. I lay on my side for a few contractions. I knew I'd be pushing soon, and I was scared. I told dh and he and my mom and A. reassured me that I could do it. Suzanne checked me and said I was 10 but had a little rim, so she told me to listen to my body and push when I needed to. My body and baby were listening to me, though, and I needed a break so I got one. I even fell asleep enough to have a little dream. I woke up feeling so amazed and happy that I could do that during transition! I asked dh to give me a blessing and he did. Soon after, I was ready to push, so I gave a big push and my water broke and flew across the room, soaking my midwife! Whoa, time for another break. This is so cool, I thought! Nobody's yelling at me to push. I'm just sitting here waiting for it. I told dh that it was a girl, but he didn't believe me. I KNEW it, though. We were really communicating at that point. I was ready for her to come out, so I did a few big pushes sitting up holding onto my legs and it just wasn't working for me. I said, "I need up, but I don't know how." Soon there were arms all around me helping me up. I got down on my knees and chest and really started wailing this baby out. I was making some crazy sounds, but it was helping, so I didn't care. I wondered if my babysitter and kids could hear, but they said later that they didn't hear anything. I was still getting pretty nice breaks between pushes so it wasn't too intense. Soon, the head came out and it was such a relief! I made sure nobody was going to tell me what the baby was and told them I was sad I was going to miss watching her come out. They said, you can watch! They helped me back into a sitting position. It was a pretty amazing feat with my baby's little face sticking out. I felt the head as I moved back and was just in awe. I gave another little push as dh guided her out and up into my arms. I saw right away that she was a girl. "I knew you were a girl!" I said. She came out so gently and beautifully, it was just amazing. We helped her clear some mucous and the kids came in. It was so fun to have them right there on the bed with me. They watched the placenta be delivered and we looked at it a little and my oldest ds cut the cord when it had stopped pulsing. She was nursing like a champ. After I nursed her for awhile it was time to repair my little tear and check out the baby. She weighed 9lbs, 7oz and was 21 1/2". She went to Daddy while I took a shower. I'm so grateful for my little Daisy. Her birth was really such a dream come true. I have never been so in touch with my body and I have never felt so supported in my life. I remember looking up after a contraction and seeing dh, my mom, Suzanne, A. and K., just watching and supporting me, waiting for me to tell them what I needed. They dressed me and made my bed so nice and cozy. My friends who were there with the kids came in and I was so happy to share the experience with them. MIL showed up just as I was pushing the head out, so that worked out perfectly too because I had worried about her being there during the labor, but I really wanted her to watch the birth. Dh and I are both so thankful that this worked out and we LOVE homebirth! My cup runneth over.
Mothering › Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Birth Stories › Daisy's beautiful homebirth
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Daisy's beautiful homebirth
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Mothering › Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Birth Stories › Daisy's beautiful homebirth
