I love this confident, calm story of a mama of two, gently bringing her third into the world at home. Thanks for sharing, Morgan!
When I was pregnant with my third baby, after two natural childbirths
before (one in a hospital and one in a birth center) it became apparent
that a homebirth was going to be the experience we were wanting. So, we
interviewed six midwives and finally found our match! She was
supportive and hands-off, both important components in a care provider.
I was due in early April, and had many many nights of
prodromal labor. Every night for a week, I'd get excited thinking,
"Maybe tonight!" only to wake up to find the contractions had
disappeared. The night it finally became reality, I knew it in my
bones. Tonight was the night. I had my husband assemble the birth tub
and we went to sleep. At 1am I was awakened to a strange sensation. The
contractions had returned but they did not hurt at all. I had a few
very intense, pain-free contractions and decided I must be in labor.
The midwife was called and came on over. My sister, three hours away,
was called and started her journey to come tend the kids for me. As
soon as I called the midwife, the contractions shifted from intense but
pain-free to intense and very painful. I felt suddenly so out of
control. Why? Why did they hurt so much all of a sudden? I tried to be
patient waiting for the birth tub to fill. I used vocalization and my
birth ball as my life line while I waited. My midwife and husband were
spectacular, holding my hand, and speaking comforting words.
FINALLY! The tub was full of hot water. Bliss! I
felt so much more relaxed during and in between contractions. I was
able to actually focus on what was happening and realized almost
immediately that I needed to push! So, push I did. I listened to my
body, and eased my baby onward and outward. My husband and midwife sat
on the sides of the tub and each held a hand to steady me. I went
slow...slow...slow. It was hard, intensely difficult work, but it was
good work. I would push, then wait while my body rested, then push,
then wait. Finally, a HEAD! Then slowly a baby. He emerged in a fully
intact bag of waters (called being born "in the caul") and under the
water. I reached down, broke the bag with my hands and pulled up my
baby. He was here!
He was asleep. Apparently, the poor little man got tired from being born and promptly took a nap. Born into peace, he was snoring instead of screaming. I held him close and we both rested. My husband snapped a few pictures of our new little man, and the midwife checked everyone over to assure a safe arrival. All was well. i had gone from "maybe labor" to "Baby" in four hours. And in that time I had never once had an internal cervical exam. Yay! My little sister had arrived 15 minutes before the birth and came in to meet her nephew then. I showered, and nursed while everyone else cleaned up and looked after us. My two older boys woke up soon after and came in to find that "the midwife had brought the baby!" No amount of us telling them that the midwife did NOT bring the baby could get them to believe us. All in all, it was a beautiful morning. We named our littlest one Oliver. 8lb 12oz and 19inches long.
