Just to preface--
My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. That experience (and the way it was handled by my caregivers) led me to realize just how little I new about birth. I read everything I could get my hands on about pregnancy and birth.
That led me to want a more natural setting for the birth of my first. I decided to have him at the only FSBC in our state, about 3 hrs away.
Our second, my daughter, was delivered by my husband en route on the side of I-10. I feel like these experiences were a journey that brought me to homebirth.
Immediately after having S in our truck, I began considering homebirth as a more viable option. The only problem was that I was not comfortable with the one midwife that I knew of in the area--nothing against her, we just didn't click. (Which was the reason we hadn't tried before.) But it wasn't until I was pregnant that I found the perfect midwife. She was an answer to many heartfelt prayers. I got pregnant and suddenly had three different people in one week give me her contact info, as well as met her daughter.
We met S and she agreed to travel the 2 hrs to us! We were thrilled.
This pregnancy was extremely different than my others, as I suddenly realized that even though homebirth was right for us, I still had many subconcious fears to work through. With the help of my husband, S, and the Lord, I was able to. When it came time, I was totally confident and calm. (After all, we'd delivered in a truck, right?!)
S was supposed to come down for my prenatal on the 24th of May (Thursday), but called Wednesday and said she felt that she should come then instead. I was fine with that and so she did. Around 7 pm that evening, I dropped by her daughter, A's house to pick something up and S was still there. She had been debating whether to go home or stick around as we both felt that I was close to labor. S came outside to say "hi" to the children. My oldest who is 4, called out as she walked away, "S, see you in the next morning!" S said that was when she decided to stay the night.
And, yes, I did go into labor at 2:30 am. I called S to let her know, but told her I was fine and didn't need her yet. She called B, another MW that assists to tell her to come on down as B was 2 hrs away.
I labored in my room quietly as D, my husband got out the birth pool and began filling it and getting the bed ready--taking a break whenever I needed him to apply counterpressure to my back. There was a very special feeling in the room as we quietly got everything in order. (Although, we couldn't find the fitted plastic sheet I'd bought for the bed and put away in an apparently, VERY SAFE place--since it is still missing, lol.) D took down the shower curtain and used that instead. At 4, I called S and she and A came down. By then things were pretty intense. They got here, along with B, around 4:30, so I called my mom to come down. I went thru a couple contractions in the living room, but felt conspicuous in front of everybody, so Daniel and I went back to our bedroom. S came in the check on me every now and then and I got in the water around 5 am. Things got pretty intense after that and I found that kneeling while leaning over the (thankfully) thick edge of the pool was the best position for me, especially with the back labor. During contractions, I would sort of lift up my belly with one hand and grasp the edge of the pool with the other for support. Afterwards, I would relax my head on the edge and rest for the very short time between contractions. By then, DH was in the pool with me so he could reach my lower back easier. Ironically, the one thing I was really worried about was that I would get grouchy and be rude to those who were helping me, but gratefully, I didn't. My midwife, S said I labored with grace and ease. (I don't know about the ease part, tho, lol)
At one point, S leaned next to me and said, "Nicole, you're doing so well that I can't tell what stage of labor you're in, so when you feel like pushing, you're gonna have to tell me." I thought, "I'm doing well?" unbelievingly in my head.
S left the room for awhile and my 2 children woke up around 6 am. They were both happy and unconcerned and even tho I didn't realize it at the time, I was in transition and am very grateful that I was able to be calm and happy for them. I told them they were going to grandma's and when they got back they could see the baby and we'd have icecream to celebrate her birthday. (Ironically, we didn't find out the sex this time, but I KNEW I was having a girl and what her name would be...)
A little after they left, I felt a bit pushy so reached down and checked and I could feel her head about an inch inside. And I thought, "she still that far away?" in dismay, but didn't tell anyone. Afew minutes later after some very intense contractions, I called out (DH says very loudly) "I feel like PUSHING!"
and everyone came quickly to the room
. Usually, when it comes time to push it is a relief for me, but not so this time. It was so intense. I'd heard the phrase "ring of fire" and know I understand! After one intense push, she crowned and my water broke, which helped take away some of the pressure I had felt. With the next push her head was out and there was a pause. I rested and said, "It hurts so much" softly. B encouraged me, and with the 3rd push, she was out!!!!! (I had pushed in the same position I labored in, kneeling/leaning against the side of the pool. So I didn't see her born. DH caught her, felt for the cord, and I turned over. DH turned her over, still under water, and she opened her eyes and looked around. It was so amazing.
Then he turned her back over (face down) and handed her to me. She was big and blue and took a few minutes to pink up. S actually held some oxygen near her face to help out. I birthed to placenta and then DH cut the cord after. I got out and almost passed out. They sat me onthe floor, head between knees and gave me a few tinctures--sheperd's purse,, maybe?
I got into bed and nursed my daughter. We named her Esther Nicole. She was born at 6:5o am on May 24th,(39 wks, 6d) a 4 1/2 hr labor! She weighed 9 pounds even, 20 1/2 inches long. Light brown/auborn hair.
I had a tiny tear, not enough to stitch, tho. I ended up staying in bed for a week, since I tend to shock after birth--big baby, lots of amniotic fluid, and light hemorraging. (except when I delivered dd in the truck--there are compensations, lol)
Afterwards, I think because it was so short? I felt somewhat traumatized
by the intensity I'd felt, especially during the pushing. But she and I are doing great and we are so excited to tell everyone that she was BORN AT HOME!!! And it was amazingly perfect!
My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. That experience (and the way it was handled by my caregivers) led me to realize just how little I new about birth. I read everything I could get my hands on about pregnancy and birth.
That led me to want a more natural setting for the birth of my first. I decided to have him at the only FSBC in our state, about 3 hrs away.
Our second, my daughter, was delivered by my husband en route on the side of I-10. I feel like these experiences were a journey that brought me to homebirth.
Immediately after having S in our truck, I began considering homebirth as a more viable option. The only problem was that I was not comfortable with the one midwife that I knew of in the area--nothing against her, we just didn't click. (Which was the reason we hadn't tried before.) But it wasn't until I was pregnant that I found the perfect midwife. She was an answer to many heartfelt prayers. I got pregnant and suddenly had three different people in one week give me her contact info, as well as met her daughter.
We met S and she agreed to travel the 2 hrs to us! We were thrilled.
This pregnancy was extremely different than my others, as I suddenly realized that even though homebirth was right for us, I still had many subconcious fears to work through. With the help of my husband, S, and the Lord, I was able to. When it came time, I was totally confident and calm. (After all, we'd delivered in a truck, right?!)
S was supposed to come down for my prenatal on the 24th of May (Thursday), but called Wednesday and said she felt that she should come then instead. I was fine with that and so she did. Around 7 pm that evening, I dropped by her daughter, A's house to pick something up and S was still there. She had been debating whether to go home or stick around as we both felt that I was close to labor. S came outside to say "hi" to the children. My oldest who is 4, called out as she walked away, "S, see you in the next morning!" S said that was when she decided to stay the night.
And, yes, I did go into labor at 2:30 am. I called S to let her know, but told her I was fine and didn't need her yet. She called B, another MW that assists to tell her to come on down as B was 2 hrs away.
I labored in my room quietly as D, my husband got out the birth pool and began filling it and getting the bed ready--taking a break whenever I needed him to apply counterpressure to my back. There was a very special feeling in the room as we quietly got everything in order. (Although, we couldn't find the fitted plastic sheet I'd bought for the bed and put away in an apparently, VERY SAFE place--since it is still missing, lol.) D took down the shower curtain and used that instead. At 4, I called S and she and A came down. By then things were pretty intense. They got here, along with B, around 4:30, so I called my mom to come down. I went thru a couple contractions in the living room, but felt conspicuous in front of everybody, so Daniel and I went back to our bedroom. S came in the check on me every now and then and I got in the water around 5 am. Things got pretty intense after that and I found that kneeling while leaning over the (thankfully) thick edge of the pool was the best position for me, especially with the back labor. During contractions, I would sort of lift up my belly with one hand and grasp the edge of the pool with the other for support. Afterwards, I would relax my head on the edge and rest for the very short time between contractions. By then, DH was in the pool with me so he could reach my lower back easier. Ironically, the one thing I was really worried about was that I would get grouchy and be rude to those who were helping me, but gratefully, I didn't. My midwife, S said I labored with grace and ease. (I don't know about the ease part, tho, lol)
At one point, S leaned next to me and said, "Nicole, you're doing so well that I can't tell what stage of labor you're in, so when you feel like pushing, you're gonna have to tell me." I thought, "I'm doing well?" unbelievingly in my head.
S left the room for awhile and my 2 children woke up around 6 am. They were both happy and unconcerned and even tho I didn't realize it at the time, I was in transition and am very grateful that I was able to be calm and happy for them. I told them they were going to grandma's and when they got back they could see the baby and we'd have icecream to celebrate her birthday. (Ironically, we didn't find out the sex this time, but I KNEW I was having a girl and what her name would be...)
A little after they left, I felt a bit pushy so reached down and checked and I could feel her head about an inch inside. And I thought, "she still that far away?" in dismay, but didn't tell anyone. Afew minutes later after some very intense contractions, I called out (DH says very loudly) "I feel like PUSHING!"
and everyone came quickly to the room
. Usually, when it comes time to push it is a relief for me, but not so this time. It was so intense. I'd heard the phrase "ring of fire" and know I understand! After one intense push, she crowned and my water broke, which helped take away some of the pressure I had felt. With the next push her head was out and there was a pause. I rested and said, "It hurts so much" softly. B encouraged me, and with the 3rd push, she was out!!!!! (I had pushed in the same position I labored in, kneeling/leaning against the side of the pool. So I didn't see her born. DH caught her, felt for the cord, and I turned over. DH turned her over, still under water, and she opened her eyes and looked around. It was so amazing.Then he turned her back over (face down) and handed her to me. She was big and blue and took a few minutes to pink up. S actually held some oxygen near her face to help out. I birthed to placenta and then DH cut the cord after. I got out and almost passed out. They sat me onthe floor, head between knees and gave me a few tinctures--sheperd's purse,, maybe?
I got into bed and nursed my daughter. We named her Esther Nicole. She was born at 6:5o am on May 24th,(39 wks, 6d) a 4 1/2 hr labor! She weighed 9 pounds even, 20 1/2 inches long. Light brown/auborn hair.
I had a tiny tear, not enough to stitch, tho. I ended up staying in bed for a week, since I tend to shock after birth--big baby, lots of amniotic fluid, and light hemorraging. (except when I delivered dd in the truck--there are compensations, lol)
Afterwards, I think because it was so short? I felt somewhat traumatized
by the intensity I'd felt, especially during the pushing. But she and I are doing great and we are so excited to tell everyone that she was BORN AT HOME!!! And it was amazingly perfect!
.
