SM - Birth Stories

A natural birth in a hospital with a Midwife.
By: Mom

     It was the early morning of Labor Day, Monday, September 3^rd, when I woke up feeling a little crampy. I went to the bathroom twice then came back to bed and thought “Huh, I wonder if I am actually in labor?” The cramping continued and I eventually woke up your Dad and said “I think we’re in the beginning stages here.” He said “Really? That’s great!” We were so excited to meet you and this was going to be the day…or so we thought!

     I couldn’t get comfortable in the bed so Dad and I set up some pillows on the couch and we both continued to rest. We slept off and on until your sister woke up. Daddy went upstairs to get her and as they were coming downstairs and said “We’re going to meet the baby today.” And she said “Noooooooo!” Fortunately as you will later learn she really does love you and treats you quite well.

     We hung out at the house for the longest time, just going through the motions of the day. The surges were coming and I was just pretending to surf through them. In the beginning I was visualizing a scene from “Finding Nemo” with the sea turtles that I was riding along with them through the ocean. I was having so much fun reading books with Lauren, playing with Lauren and Daddy, watching TV, and just looking forward to meeting you.

     Lauren went to take her nap and while she was sleeping your Aunt Brittany arrived from college. She was so excited to be here and hang out with all of us. It was later in the afternoon, after Lauren woke up when Eileen, our friend and doula, came over. I was so thankful that she was here with us, her presence is so calming and it means so much to me to have her at your birth especially now since she is a good friend of mine.

     The surges continued to come just about 4 minutes apart. It was pretty amusing because I would be talking or doing something and almost exactly at the 4 minute mark I would have a surge. Still at this point I was surfing through them quietly, so quietly in fact that I could have been on one of the hypnobirthing videos. I wasn’t keeping track of the time or even how often the surges were coming, but Eileen was doing so ever so casually. Your dad left to go get lunch for himself. When he returned he said “So when are we going to the hospital?” I still wanted to wait and Eileen agreed with me. We didn’t want to get to the hospital with too much time to spare as I was trying to avoid getting a heparin/saline lock. I was told that essentially if I arrived “late in the game” that it wouldn’t be an issue, thus why we were at home.

     We continued to hang out at home and started to collect everything to eventually go to the hospital. I wasn’t looking forward to leaving your sister to go to the hospital so I didn’t want to make a big deal about packing up. Before I knew it the surges were really increasing in intensity and my visualizations now involved me sitting on the beach shore….sometimes the waves would lap at my legs and feet and yet other times it would almost cover my whole body.

     It was about a 40 minute drive to the hospital. When I would make the drive for all of my prenatal appointments I often thought of how long it might feel when we would make the drive when I was in labor. In actuality it didn’t feel like it took that long at all. Upon arriving at the hospital we went in and hung out in the lobby. We wanted to wait as long as humanly possible before going up to get checked in.

     The surges continued to get more intense. I took turns slow dancing with both your Dad and Eileen when I felt I needed some support. Other times I would just bend over and relax by some plants. Eventually we made the decision to go upstairs. We immediately got put into a room, I was hooked up to the maternal and fetal heart monitors, and then a short time later my dilation was checked. I remember quite well that when I was in labor with your sister the first time I was checked I was disappointed by how far I was dilated. Eileen told me then not to focus on the number, but to pay attention to what my body was telling me. This time around I wasn’t concerned with the number, because I knew from experience that I was pretty far into the labor. When I was checked I was 4cm. I immediately said that was okay because I knew that my body was further along. So I just kept riding the surges out and focused on meeting my baby.

     The nurse asked me if my midwives had explained that I needed the Hep Lock. I said that they did and that I didn’t want one! She said that she would have to call my midwife (who still hadn’t shown up yet) and see what she said. Concerns started to arise from Eileen that perhaps Sue would be offended if I refused the Hep Lock. So we prayed to God for direction and Eileen told Him how much I didn’t want the Hep Lock. And it turned out that it never even became an issue. I was Hep Lock free! Woo Hoo! It was a huge burden that God took off my shoulders.

     I continued to labor in the room, dancing with both your Dad and Eileen, finding new stances and positions that made me comfortable. Eileen suggested that I get into the shower. Ooooh that was such a good choice! I don’t know how long I was in the shower, but it was probably one of the longest showers I have ever had in my life. Surges kept coming very regularly and they continued to be intense. Eventually I got to be too hot and got out of the shower. I believe that it was around this time that my midwife, Sue, arrived.

     I labored some more in the room. The “Hemi-sync” music was playing in the background. It was a nice soothing sound. Everything was going really smoothly. Occasionally I would glance up at the clock and begin to wonder if you were ever going to come!

     The bag of water was still intact. With your sister it didn’t break until 9cm so I wasn’t that surprised that it hadn’t ruptured yet with your labor. We all knew that once the bag of water broke that this show would be on the road! After spending more time laboring in the room, I got back into the shower. This is when things became even more intense. Surges were coming one after another. It felt like the ocean would temporarily cover my whole body and then slowly surrender me again. Eileen and your Dad were amazing in how much they were supporting and taking care of me. Frequently I would ask for them to talk to me or just to say something. Sometimes I really needed encouragement and other times I just wanted to hear someone speak. I remember that at one point I even asked your Dad what was going on in the world today (Earlier in the day he had spent some time on the internet going to news and celebrity sites). He said that he didn’t remember too much and when I asked him about celebrity news he said that he didn’t know any. Perhaps he was embarrassed in front of all of the ladies to admit that he follows that kind of stuff. Haha!

     I got back into the shower. Your Dad and Eileen would take turns spraying my back with water. The surges were so powerful that it was really challenging for me to hold the sprayer. The water felt great. Eileen explained to me that the baby was trying to turn, which helped to explain why I was feeling the way I was. It felt like you were just right *there*. I knew that all that needed to happen was for the bag of water to break and then you would be right there. Eileen really helped me by saying that each surge brought me closer to meeting you. It was all so intense! To stay relaxed I would run my fingers gently up and down the wall during a major surge, which really helped.

     Eileen and I kept talking to you, encouraging you to break the bag of water. Unfortunately you didn’t listen, so the bag stayed intact.

     Sue came into the shower to check my progress. I was now 10cm!!! I began to think of how cool it would be if you were born in your caul (your bag of water). As I went through the next few surges I started to feel “pushy”. Involuntarily I began to push! Everyone then said that we should make our way to the bed. I gladly complied!

     When I got into the bed I leaned over the back of it and was sitting on my knees. At this point it was just a little after midnight. I know because I looked at the clock and thought that after laboring pretty much all of Labor Day, I wasn’t going to have an official Labor Day baby! Anyhow, a few minutes passed and so did more surges. The next thing I know I gave a slight push and out flew the bag of water! It was seriously like a water balloon had broken inside of me and was flying out all at the same time. I was covered in water, kind of confused by what had happened. I asked “What was that?!” in a shocked and amazed kind of way. Everyone laughed and said it was the bag of water. The next thing I knew my body just took over. I was pushing with great strength. Sue asked me if I wanted to feel the head. I said “Not now” thinking that I was going to have to push for a very long time like I did with your sister. Another few pushes and out you came! It was such a powerful moment. You came out with such speed and landed right where I could see you. In fact when I looked down there you were, perfect and serene. Eileen encouraged me to announce what you were so I moved the cord and said “It’s a boy!” As I looked over to your Dad his eyes were filled with tears as he gave me a kiss and told me that I was right all along, as I had thought you were a boy.

     And that my son is the story of your birth. It was an unforgettable experience in my life, one that shows me just how strong and powerful I can be. Childbirth is something to be revered and cherished. I hope that when your time comes to become a Father that you and your wife will choose to have an unmedicated birth. Your labor and birth brought me closer to you. I loved having you inside me swimming, punching, and kicking all around, but I love you even more now that you are here. You have completed our family and we love you so much!