Birth Stories: Katrina's Third Home Birth

A lovely home birth story from Katrina:

Just before 6 am Thursday morning, I woke famished and was feeling a bit of “something.” I couldn’t wait for everyone to wake and decided to make myself breakfast: a three egg omelet, orange juice, and toast. My mom has been up since late Monday night, helping me prepare for this little one’s arrival. I was really hoping that he would come while she was here. As I finished cooking, she woke and I apologized for waking her so early. I explained that I was feeling things, but they felt like the previous 4 false alarms, so I didn’t want to get excited.  Though, it was my “due date” according to Richelle, our midwife, and how many false alarms can you have anyways? :) 

 

I asked my husband for a blessing. This labor was different and I wasn’t sure what to do next. One of the things he told me during the blessing was that Jesus was pleased with my choice to have this baby and that it was a necessary part of His Atonement. He blessed me with the power to overcome the pain. Thinking about Christ’s Atonement made a big difference for me, I now had the vision that I needed to complete this mission. Knowing that even though the pain was surprisingly different, the power to overcome it was available, I knew that it was His Atonement that would help me.

When Richelle had come for our 36 week visit, we had gone over a more detailed plan for Garrett’s birth. We had discussed preferences and special wishes. Really, my only special request that I’d suggested was having salmon. My husband had fed me salmon towards the end of my daughter’s birth and I’d really enjoyed that. We have a running joke that I thought we’d have lunch together after she was born. Well I bought the salmon last week with hopes of #3’s soon arrival. So after Richelle had checked me I looked at my husband between contractions and asked him if he thought we could have salmon for lunch. He smiled, laughed, and asked me if I knew what time it was. It was 11:30. We decided a very late lunch might be an option though.

After laboring for a bit on the bed, I went back into the tub (I think this was “transition”). I hung over the tub, Richelle would press on pressure points in my lower back, and my husband was supporting my chin so that I could make “low, deep sounds.” I was relieved that Richelle was there. I needed a bit more help, and she knew just what I needed. Once again, I was feeling new things. In fact, I was actually feeling him drop down inside of me as I tried to open up for him. “Yield to your baby” and “relax,” Richelle would say.

I knew we were nearing the end. Almost hearing my thoughts, Richelle asked if I wanted to change positions. Delivering hanging over the tub, squatting, didn’t sound so great. I’d really liked delivering my eldest on my side, so I laid on my side in the tub. A few moments later I felt a great contraction, reached down and there was his hairy head. I tried even harder to relax and let him come through. It was difficult to relax and not push, so I asked Richelle if I could push. She said to hold off as long as possible to allow stretching. I held out as long as I could and soon felt his head coming through. Just thinking of relaxing made all of the difference. (no tearing to report :)).

Out came his head and his right hand along his cheek. Another push and there he was: born 12:20 pm.  He was so peaceful, just looking at us all. Though he didn’t breathe for a while, and didn’t seem to want to either. He was making these distinctive “old man” grimaces as we tried to coax him to take a breath. Just like his older brother and his father, he was holding his breath at this new experience/trauma. My husband blew into his face and it seemed to do the trick (something we do when our eldest is holding his breath).

We all feel so thankful and blessed to welcome our littlest son safely into the world and to this overly excited little family. And if you’re still wondering…yes, we did get to eat salmon for lunch!