Birth Stories

Crystal’s Birth Story

I knew prior to getting pregnant that I wanted to have a natural childbirth. I purposely found a holistic practice that supported the idea that women and their bodies know how to give birth without routine interventions. I got a lot of "you just wait" and "you'll see" from women who had already had children. Most women are simply not supportive of this choice. But I was determined to do it the way I wanted. Throughout my pregnancy and labor I held fast to this thought - "We have a secret in our culture, it's not that birth is so painful, it's that women are so strong" - Laura Stavoe Harm

Although I knew I wanted a natural childbirth I thought it would be a good idea to find a doula. Since I didn’t really know what I was in for, or how I would react, I thought it would be beneficial to have a doula assist me and my husband. I met Wendy for the first time at one of her pre-natal classes. I loved her immediately. There were couples everywhere and some of then had brought their children. It was crazy but Wendy remained her normal self. I thought to myself, “THIS is the kind of person I want to have in case I go crazy!” My husband, Justin, was very hesitant at first. However, after reading information about a doula’s role and meeting Wendy he was sold.

I was due on June 27^th. I started to dilate and efface in my 34^th week of pregnancy. I’m a teacher and am constantly moving and my doctor suggested that I stop working. So I quit working at 35 weeks and rested at home.

On Saturday, June 9^th (37 weeks) after planting my flowers, buying a new car and finishing up the last of the shopping at Babies R' Us, Justin and I headed to Costco. I felt a little sick and sweaty. It was close to 90 degrees so I didn’t really pay too close attention to it. Justin wanted to look at the TV’s while I checked in the bathroom but I made him go with me! Sure enough...it did. I was mortified!! I ran out as fast as I could! Talk about having social anxiety!

 
In the car on the ride home I freaked out realizing this was really going to happen. I also knew I was now on a 24 hour time window and that my contractions needed to start if I didn't want to be induced. I started getting contractions soon after and immediately started to breathe through them. They were very easy but I felt like I needed to get a handle on the situation, to calm myself down. I got home and called Wendy. We agreed to wait and call the doctor and birth center when things started to pick up.

 
My contractions started around 4:30p.m. I laid around at home and went for a walk around the block. I even asked my husband to get me a whopper meal from Burger King (and I NEVER EVER eat fast food). The contractions started to get more intense around 10:30p.m. and I was finding it harder to concentrate through them. Justin called the birth center to let them know we were coming. It was so sweet- he asked for the room that had the tub with the jets! We called Wendy and left for the hospital at 11:00 p.m. When we got there I was disappointed to find I was still only at 3-4 cm (which I had already been at for a week). I knew the waiting game had begun!

 
I labored in the shower and on a yoga ball until about 4:00 a.m. My contractions were all over the place and not consistent. I was out of it and had no idea some were as far as 10 minutes apart and others 3 min. apart. I was just relaxing between each one trying to concentrate. Wendy gave me some special herbs to try and regulate. I remember she gave me the choice of cranberry or apple. I thought to myself, “Seriously? That’s what I have to choose from? Why can’t chocolate be a choice????” I chose cranberry because I figured it was a good preventive for a possible UTI (hee heee). Around 4:00 a.m. the contractions became more consistent and I got into the tub.

I thought I would be really excited to get into the tub. However, looking back I was just happy to have a change of position. I can’t say that the water was the ultimate pain reducer I had read about. It was just nice to float aroundJ.

 
Things went quite fast after that. I progressed from 4-9 centimeters in about an hour. It was hard work ...no lie. I went from belly breathing to moaning. You know…the attractive low “OOooooooo” sound. It was very painful and it felt good to make more noise than the pain. It was like rising through it. But I knew I could do it. I just needed to concentrate and let my body do its thing. Not one time during the entire process did I doubt my decision or my ability to handle the situation. I knew I could do it. I started to feel the urge to push and got out of the tub. I was at an 8 so they called my midwife and I got back in the tub. My midwife arrived at 5:00 a.m. and checked me shortly after. I was fully dilated and ready to push! I was so relieved to get started. The pushing was a lot of hard work but I never felt any pain. Like most women remark it felt painful to NOT push. I felt nothing when I was pushing. In fact I kept saying, “There’s so much pressure…should I push now?” Interestingly, when I was done pushing I mistakenly believed that I didn’t tear! I didn’t feel anything. After an hour of pushing our baby was born (3 weeks early). Scarlett Caroline made her entrance on Sunday, June 10^th at 6:09 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 ½ inches long.

 
It was a truly wonderful experience. And I cannot say enough good things about Wendy or the Alternative Birth Center. I was laughing and joking throughout labor/pushing. I even tell people it was fun:). I greatly encourage other women to pursue a natural childbirth. Don't be afraid to stand up for what you want despite what people might think or say! 

Having fun with Wendy and my shower toga 

Working hard while pushing

Meeting Scarlett for the first time

Scarlett Caroline

Nicole's vaginal birth after 2 cesareans

It was the night of the eclipse and a full moon, Feb 20, 2008.  Earlier in the afternoon, I told Craig to be ready for "something" to happen after my chiropractor appointment.  I knew that something was going to get moving down there. 

After I came back from my Chiropractor, I was too exhausted to make dinner.  I asked Craig to take us out for Pizza.  I thought it was strange that I kept having to go to the bathroom during dinner.  Even more strange was that I was having contractions that were seven minutes apart.  We came back home at 8 pm. At that time, Craig asked if he could go to Meijer and buy some stuff on our list for the homebirth prep.  I asked him not to be too long so he could help me get the boys to bed. 

It seemed like an eternity while he was gone.  I took a shower with the boys while contracting hard.  As I keeled over in the shower while contracting, the boys were playing London Bridges under my legs.  They were actually quite distracting from the pain. 

I knew that I wanted the boys there with me while in early labor, but when Nicholas decided to hide in the corner and tear into all the diaper supplies for the baby and throw each and everyone of the diapers in the air, I realized they not only outnumbered me, but they were ready to do what any unsupervised kid would do and tear up the house.  So I called my friend Jaimee to help me get the boys to bed.  She arrived here about 930pm and got the kids ready for bed just before Craig got back from the store.

I then called my sisters Christa and Noelle and told them I was contracting regularly every 2 minutes.  I told Craig that I didn't want the kids there any longer.  I wouldn't admit to myself that I was in full blown labor.  I kept telling myself that this was going to be a marathon.  After all, I labored for 3 days (with false labor contractions) prior to having Nicholas. 

Craig called my sister, and my mother to come and get the kids to which they both said they couldn't come and pick up the kids.  I don't think either of them believed I was in actual labor.  I decided to take a bath while Craig figured out what to do with the boys.

Craig called Christa, his sister who was also my midwife apprentice to tell her that my contractions were 1-2 minutes apart.  And it wasn't long in the bath before I felt a big WHOOOOSH, when my water broke.  I knew then that the baby was coming and it was time for all the midwives to come:  Christa, Wendy and Stacia.

Time is so irrelevent when you are in labor.   But they all got here as planned, including my sister Noelle.  I was having contractions constantly and consistently which is what I prayed for. I was also having that crappy back labor.  To get me through the pain, I just kept thinking about what position change I was going to do next.  The pain was the least amount painful when I was on all fours (b/c of the back labor I'm sure).  When I needed to rest, I layed on my own bed with Craig lying next to me.  I told him I wanted to look into his green eyes.  I think it took him everything NOT to puke from my bad  puke breath.  That makes me laugh thinking about it now.  Remember, we went out for pizza earlier. 

Anyway, Christa, Wendy and Stacia all took turns being supportive by my side.  At one poing, Wendy checked me for dilation.  I told her NOT to tell me.  With both, Isaiah and Nicholas, I had "Failure to progress" diagnosis from the drs. and I didn't want to hear anything like that.  She reassured me that I would be pleased and that it wasn't much longer.     And it wasn't...

In my tiny little bedroom, along with me there were 4 adult women and my husband while I pushed.  I pushed on all fours on the edge of my bed.  I could feel my pelvis opening up and it was such an incredible feeling.  Stacia reassured me that my body knew what to do.  Noelle kept telling me I was a "Rock Star". 

I was free from lying on my back.  I was free to "feel" everything naturally and know that my body was made to birth a baby.  I had my husband there holding my hand looking at me straight in the eyes instead of next to me flat on a table (like last time) while the drs cut my abdomen.  This is what how I envisioned a homebirth to be.  Free. There was noone there telling me that I can't do this or that.  If I wanted to birth upsidedown, my midwives would help me achieve a healthy birth that way.

Christa could feel the baby's head now, but his shoulders were rotated sideways so he was stuck.  Stacia and Wendy told me how to move so they could rotate the baby.  Yes this was the most painful part, mostly b/c it felt like Stacia had put her large hands in the wrong hole.  And at that point, you could imagine I may have said the most comical graphic question with some cursewords asking why she was in the wrong hole.  But whatever she did worked and Voila, at 3:30 am out came the most beautiful and largest newborn I have seen (or birthed). 

Immediately I layed the baby on my chest.  This would have never happened if I had another Csection.  Stacia playfullly guessed that he was 10 lbs or so.  Christa measured him at 9 lbs 8 oz.  Isaiah was 7 lbs 1 oz and Nicholas was 7 lbs 15 oz.  And yes I delievered a baby boy 2 lbs heavier naturally, and at home.

I wish the story ended here, but it didn't.  I did have a tear that was beyond my midwive's comfort to suture.  So I had to go in the hospital to get stitches.  Christa stayed with me the whole time.  And the adventure didn't stop there after either.  When we got back, the baby was breathing too fast and wasn't eating.  So we, Craig and I and Christa and Wendy, took the baby to the NICU where he was there for 4 more days. 

I was so thankful that my midwives not only helped me to have a healthy homebirth, but that they stayed with me the whole time this other stuff happened.  They knew what to do and when they needed to get dr/medical help.