Finding the ideal care provider was a challenge this pregnancy. I started out going to a great midwife group that I thought would be perfect--they attended births in a wonderful birth center with a reputation for really low intervention. Unfortunately, their office staff and OB partner were very dishonest and I couldn't continue going to them because it bothered me so much. I switched to the OB group at D's hospital (free prenatal/birth care for us) to see if I could make it work. They were very caring and kind, but they were also bound to their history. I talked to them about my birth preferences during every visit--I felt uncomfortable every time. They said things like, "Birth is a crisis waiting to happen. Yes, we'll insist that you have an IV. Yes, we're going to break your water. Yes, you have to have continuous fetal monitoring..." They were very honest with me and said, "I don't think we can provide the kind of birth you're looking for." So at 37 weeks I switched to another midwife group. I'm so grateful I made that decision!
CNM Lorie attended our birth
The last few weeks of pregnancy I was trying to fit it all in, as always, hoping my baby wouldn't show up early. Since all of our kids have come late, I was expecting to have a late baby. So when labor started the day before Peep's due date, I was kind of in denial. I kept busy all day cleaning, doing laundry, running errands, and crossing things off my list. I told D not to come home from work. I really tried not to focus on labor--this was great because it kept my labor slow and allowed me to get some things done. I still had stuff to do in the evening hours--a visit to a friend, painting the kids' nails, the neighbors over for a visit... Our kids went to bed pretty late.
It was fun for me to spend all that time socializing--I always feel so energized when I'm around other people. I was very relaxed all day and didn't feel too anxious, but I didn't want to push it. Our friends recently welcomed their baby to the world in their car en route to the hospital, and I didn't want to join that club. I told D we should wrap things up and go to the hospital. Things got a little complicated when Squeak started complaining of belly pain around 11 p.m. and D suspected possible appendicitis. I thought, "Can I really stop my labor long enough to take her to the pediatric ER and get her checked out?" We agonized and prayed about what to do and ultimately decided to give her some tylenol and wait it out.
It was fun for me to spend all that time socializing--I always feel so energized when I'm around other people. I was very relaxed all day and didn't feel too anxious, but I didn't want to push it. Our friends recently welcomed their baby to the world in their car en route to the hospital, and I didn't want to join that club. I told D we should wrap things up and go to the hospital. Things got a little complicated when Squeak started complaining of belly pain around 11 p.m. and D suspected possible appendicitis. I thought, "Can I really stop my labor long enough to take her to the pediatric ER and get her checked out?" We agonized and prayed about what to do and ultimately decided to give her some tylenol and wait it out.
I packed up all my stuff for the hospital (I had just pulled things out of boxes since our move two years ago earlier that day!). D put together my labor and birth music. Our dear friend Liz came over to take care of the munchkins so we could head to the hospital (we told her to let us know immediately if Squeak woke up crying or throwing up, etc.). We rolled in around 1 a.m. and they checked me--I was only open 4 cm--so they told us to walk around for an hour. I was a little bit annoyed at first because my heart's desire was to get in the jetted tub so D could take me to the beach and really help me focus on labor (I'd been trying NOT to focus on labor to that point). Then we found the atrium inside the hospital. It was such a beautiful and peaceful place and completely deserted in the middle of the night, so I enjoyed an excursion to the beach while we were there.
Then it was time to head back so my midwife could check me again (she'd said she wanted to make sure I was really progressing before admitting me--probably a good move considering my history of lengthy labors). I was at 5 cm so they admitted me at 2:30 and took us to room 9 (that's my lucky number!). First, though, CNM Lorie said they could monitor me on the EFM (that would be my best friend, the Electronic Fetal Monitor). "No thanks!" I said. "No problem! We'll just use the dopler," she said. Things were looking good! I mentioned my desire to not have a bunch of vag exams. "All right, then, we'll just forgo those," she said. Things were looking GREAT! "How about some aromatherapy--lemon or lavender?" Lorie asked me when we got to room 9, "And some candlelight? Oh, and here's the roomy jetted tub..." D filled the tub. I got in, turned on the jets, smelled the energizing lemon and gazed at my sweetie pie in the flickering light. Things were looking SPECTACULAR!! Lorie and Annie (the nurse) set things up, asked if we needed anything (we said no) and then left us alone to do our thing.
So Dave turned on my labor music and took me to the beach. The gorgeous sunshine, the warm sand, the gentle and salty breeze, the soothing waves, and the tiny lizards scurrying across the coconuts. I was really feeling in my groove. Calm. Confident. Energized. Just relaxing as I breathed and letting my body do the wondrous work of birth. I did think to ask Lorie to check the baby's position, to see if (s)he was sideways or posterior. Baby was sideways (just like Chiquitita). I got into a better position and visualized my baby turning. There was no pain. There was no fear. Just trust--trust in my body, trust in my husband, trust in my Heavenly Father, and trust in the birth process. I looked at the clock. 3:41. "Another few hours and I'll be holding this baby!" I thought. Then I heard myself breathing and thought, "Hmm, that sounds like the baby's moving down." (I breathe a certain way when the baby is moving down; in past labors, I made a conscious decision to switch to "birth breathing"--this time, my body made the decision for me.) D later told me he was also thinking, "Huh... Sounds like birth breathing."
Suddenly I felt a little pop as the amniotic sac burst. I told D and he went to get Lorie. When he returned, the baby was crowning. "Do you want to move over to the bed?" D asked. The hospital has tubs for labor but moms aren't supposed to birth in them. "No way," I said, "Baby's coming," Seconds later when Lorie came in, the head was coming out. She hopped up on the tub, straddling it--I love how midwives are so versatile! Lorie was right there to help if necessary, but D caught the baby. Lorie unwrapped the cord, and then the rest of our baby came out. It was 3:48. WOW, what a rush! I felt so much energy and thrill at the amazing miracle of natural birth. We had done it once again! I couldn't believe how fast it had happened. Then I looked down and noticed...we had a little boy! Pip's little brother! I said I could walk over to the bed, so I did, cord still attached. I sat there enjoying my gooey baby. I love the primal part of birth! We took our time getting to know our "little" boy. We talked and laughed, did some skin to skin bonding and breastfeeding. I wasn't tired at all, even though I hadn't slept for 23 hours. I always feel extra energetic after giving birth. Eventually D cut the cord and our baby was weighed and measured. Nine pounds nine ounces! No wonder I felt like he was my yoga baby--it was getting crowded in there!
I feel so grateful to have a husband who is the perfect teammate, who can and will work to give me the birth of my dreams. I'm also grateful for a healthy body and the circumstances that have enabled me to experience birth this way. What a blessing!
After several hours, the fatigue caught up to me and we all took a little nap. I was really looking forward to seeing my other babies when I woke up, so wonderful Liz brought them over. They didn't know the baby's gender yet, so they gathered round to watch as I opened the diaper. I loved watching Pip's face as he realized that he now has a baby brother! As I sat there surrounded by my favorite people, I truly felt like I was in heaven. I looked at each of my babies and recalled the details of each glorious birth. A feeling of complete peace filled my soul. Life doesn't get better than this!
My other babies arrived to meet my littlest baby
Here we are in front of the tub where Peep was born!
I love this! "We are a HypnoBirthing Family. Thank you for honoring our requests and being a part of our birthing." And I didn't even ask the staff to put that sign on our door.
It may take me three more months to post some updated photos!
