It's so soon, I'm sure I'll forget something and the timeline might be jumpy, but I hope you enjoy it!
Last Monday morning around quarter after 4, I had a contraction that woke me up, it wasn't too intense but somehow I knew this was it, for real...finally! (I had been having prodomal labor for weeks prior to this.) So I got up, had a banana with some orange juice and woke my husband up. The contractions were spaced and irregular, they also weren't that strong. DH got up and stayed with me while I showered. I called my friend at 5:30 and talked with her for a little while dh was doing some stuff around the house, getting ready. I thought with the way the contractions were I'd be delivering around lunch time, so I took my time calling the midwife. Like I said, the contractions weren't overwhelming and were still pretty far apart. I called her around 6:30, she told me she'd be heading in my direction (she's about 45 minutes away) and to have something to snack on since you never know how long labor will be. Around 6:45 I went to the bathroom and on my way back to the bedroom I had the first contraction I had to stop and focus through, but even that wasn't too bad. I found that they were more uncomfortable laying or standing, so my position of choice was sitting in the rocker. The older kids were starting to wake up and gather in my bed with my dh and my 2 year old. The next contraction I had I threw my protein bar and the phone I was holding and stepped into the pool. Ahh, that felt sooo good!
Immediately, things got kind of crazy. I don't think that contraction ever ended, it seemed to be constant. I couldn't get comfortable, but it wasn't really painful. I felt like a caged lion or something, I was just pacing the pool on my hands and knees. I couldn't keep still. It also helped to bite the side of the pool, my dh asked me if I wanted him to get me a washcloth so I didn't have to chew on plastic! At one point, I had to go to the bathroom and tried to stand up to get out, but it felt awful. My dh had called the birth photographer I asked to come during labor and even still I said take your time. I don't know what I was thinking! For some reason, I just didn't believe I was as close as I was! I had conscience thoughts like "Oh, I feel nauseaus...omg! Is this transition?!?" and I even said to my husband "I don't know why I'm shaking and chattering...it's too soon to be transition." I heard what my body was telling me, I just wouldn't believe it! With the "peaks" of that constant contraction I felt pressure from the baby's head, I just thought "Oh, I wish I could get out of here so I could go to the bathroom!"
Things happened really fast, the photographer got there first (she lives around the corner) and as soon as she came upstairs I said to her, "I don't know what's going on...it's too fast! It's just too fast." Then I started getting these surges, not necessarily the urge to push, just intense pressure. I screamed through them because I didn't want to push with them, I wasn't ready. The pool was overflowing (the warm water from the hose being sprayed on my belly felt too good to turn it off!), the kids were downstairs, the midwife wasn't even close and I was just in shock. Mike was on the phone trying to see where the midwife's assistant was (she lives much closer), after he hung up I remember him saying "Amber will be here in one minute." I screamed "Well, so will the baby!" Then I started screaming again, the photographer (who is also a doula) asked me if I wanted to wait for Kate (the mw) or to call 911...I was like "um, no! I can't wait for Kate and I don't want to call 911...give me another option!" She told me if I didn't want to push, to put my head up and pant...I was like yea, right!
Then she gave me her hand and I grabbed the side of the pool to have something to be anchored to and I just let go of my body...it floated to the top...and screamed with each surge (I was afraid if pushed I'd rip open!), then I felt an explosion inside my body and realized my water broke! My dh got on the other side of the pool to hold my hand, but I couldn't get myself together enough to let go and find him. Marilyn (the doula/photographer) said to me "Your having a baby. You have everything you need, your husband is here, I'm here. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining." I can't express how helpful those words were to me. I was just lost in the sensations my body was experiencing, and so needed to be brought back. The next thing I knew, I saw the baby's head and Marilyn said "Here's the head, catch the baby!" So my dh put his hands there and caught the baby. She said "Now the shoulders will come, one at a time" It was amazing to me because as she was saying it, I FELT it happening! I watched the baby be born into my husbands hands! He put the baby on my chest and called the kids into the room. (We originally planned to have them there, but during one of those surges my little one was chatting and I said to get them out of the room, that's the only thing about this birth I wish I could change.)
My dd announced the sex...It's a BOY! I was so surprised! I just "knew" this baby was a girl! It was awesome to be surprised like that. My 7 y/o ds cut the cord, he was so proud!
When I tell people the story, they are most amazed at the fact the baby was born in spite of the midwife not being here, I feel sad for that to them, that's the miracle. They are really missing something! And I guess it would be considered "unassisted", but I don't think that word fits it. I feel I DID have assistance...by my husband, by Marilyn and by God.
I have to say, my only regret is not having my other babies at home, I wish I "found" this option earlier in my life. This birth was the most amazing experience of my life, amazing, fulfilling, healing and empowering. It was everything I hoped for...I just wanted it to happen how it was supposed to, the way God wanted it to. All of my other pregnancies were so controlled and the births were induced. It makes me sad that I can never go back and relive those, so I cherish this birth all the more
Dominic Xavier
7 pounds, 15 ounces
20 inches long
Born at home, on his Due Date - November 8th
around 7:30 am
Thanks for reading!
Last Monday morning around quarter after 4, I had a contraction that woke me up, it wasn't too intense but somehow I knew this was it, for real...finally! (I had been having prodomal labor for weeks prior to this.) So I got up, had a banana with some orange juice and woke my husband up. The contractions were spaced and irregular, they also weren't that strong. DH got up and stayed with me while I showered. I called my friend at 5:30 and talked with her for a little while dh was doing some stuff around the house, getting ready. I thought with the way the contractions were I'd be delivering around lunch time, so I took my time calling the midwife. Like I said, the contractions weren't overwhelming and were still pretty far apart. I called her around 6:30, she told me she'd be heading in my direction (she's about 45 minutes away) and to have something to snack on since you never know how long labor will be. Around 6:45 I went to the bathroom and on my way back to the bedroom I had the first contraction I had to stop and focus through, but even that wasn't too bad. I found that they were more uncomfortable laying or standing, so my position of choice was sitting in the rocker. The older kids were starting to wake up and gather in my bed with my dh and my 2 year old. The next contraction I had I threw my protein bar and the phone I was holding and stepped into the pool. Ahh, that felt sooo good!
Immediately, things got kind of crazy. I don't think that contraction ever ended, it seemed to be constant. I couldn't get comfortable, but it wasn't really painful. I felt like a caged lion or something, I was just pacing the pool on my hands and knees. I couldn't keep still. It also helped to bite the side of the pool, my dh asked me if I wanted him to get me a washcloth so I didn't have to chew on plastic! At one point, I had to go to the bathroom and tried to stand up to get out, but it felt awful. My dh had called the birth photographer I asked to come during labor and even still I said take your time. I don't know what I was thinking! For some reason, I just didn't believe I was as close as I was! I had conscience thoughts like "Oh, I feel nauseaus...omg! Is this transition?!?" and I even said to my husband "I don't know why I'm shaking and chattering...it's too soon to be transition." I heard what my body was telling me, I just wouldn't believe it! With the "peaks" of that constant contraction I felt pressure from the baby's head, I just thought "Oh, I wish I could get out of here so I could go to the bathroom!"
Things happened really fast, the photographer got there first (she lives around the corner) and as soon as she came upstairs I said to her, "I don't know what's going on...it's too fast! It's just too fast." Then I started getting these surges, not necessarily the urge to push, just intense pressure. I screamed through them because I didn't want to push with them, I wasn't ready. The pool was overflowing (the warm water from the hose being sprayed on my belly felt too good to turn it off!), the kids were downstairs, the midwife wasn't even close and I was just in shock. Mike was on the phone trying to see where the midwife's assistant was (she lives much closer), after he hung up I remember him saying "Amber will be here in one minute." I screamed "Well, so will the baby!" Then I started screaming again, the photographer (who is also a doula) asked me if I wanted to wait for Kate (the mw) or to call 911...I was like "um, no! I can't wait for Kate and I don't want to call 911...give me another option!" She told me if I didn't want to push, to put my head up and pant...I was like yea, right!
Then she gave me her hand and I grabbed the side of the pool to have something to be anchored to and I just let go of my body...it floated to the top...and screamed with each surge (I was afraid if pushed I'd rip open!), then I felt an explosion inside my body and realized my water broke! My dh got on the other side of the pool to hold my hand, but I couldn't get myself together enough to let go and find him. Marilyn (the doula/photographer) said to me "Your having a baby. You have everything you need, your husband is here, I'm here. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining." I can't express how helpful those words were to me. I was just lost in the sensations my body was experiencing, and so needed to be brought back. The next thing I knew, I saw the baby's head and Marilyn said "Here's the head, catch the baby!" So my dh put his hands there and caught the baby. She said "Now the shoulders will come, one at a time" It was amazing to me because as she was saying it, I FELT it happening! I watched the baby be born into my husbands hands! He put the baby on my chest and called the kids into the room. (We originally planned to have them there, but during one of those surges my little one was chatting and I said to get them out of the room, that's the only thing about this birth I wish I could change.)
My dd announced the sex...It's a BOY! I was so surprised! I just "knew" this baby was a girl! It was awesome to be surprised like that. My 7 y/o ds cut the cord, he was so proud!
When I tell people the story, they are most amazed at the fact the baby was born in spite of the midwife not being here, I feel sad for that to them, that's the miracle. They are really missing something! And I guess it would be considered "unassisted", but I don't think that word fits it. I feel I DID have assistance...by my husband, by Marilyn and by God.
I have to say, my only regret is not having my other babies at home, I wish I "found" this option earlier in my life. This birth was the most amazing experience of my life, amazing, fulfilling, healing and empowering. It was everything I hoped for...I just wanted it to happen how it was supposed to, the way God wanted it to. All of my other pregnancies were so controlled and the births were induced. It makes me sad that I can never go back and relive those, so I cherish this birth all the more
Dominic Xavier
7 pounds, 15 ounces
20 inches long
Born at home, on his Due Date - November 8th
around 7:30 am
Thanks for reading!
WOW! What an amazing birth experience for you! I am in awe at how well it seems you handled the entire labor. Reading your post, I could almost feel those contractionc! Welcome Dominic Xavier (great name!) Congrats!! You nd your family are very blessed!! 
