Maggie's Birth Story: My Second Marathon

I've written a lot of birth stories, but this one is my own. It's my account of my experience of the marathon of a labor and birth of my baby girl, Margaret Eva.

Saturday, December 5th

The contractions, which had previously been just Braxton Hicks, seemed to be coming more regularly and getting more and more consistent. I got excited. Don and I were at a beautiful Puja ceremony which seemed like a perfect way to start my labor journey. But later that evening, things slowed down. That night, I snuggled up with Don and slept a solid 6 hours. Since I hadn't been sleeping well in the week leading up to this point, this solid stretch of sleep ended up being a life saver later on.

Sunday, December 6th

When I woke up Sunday morning, contractions started almost immediately. They were 3 minutes apart and I noticed quickly they felt different, stronger and they happened in more of a consistent pattern. I felt this was finally the real thing! Don and I ran a few errands, took Piney to the park, made birthday cupcakes for baby, and enjoyed early labor. We stayed in touch with our doula and midwife all day. We agreed to meet the midwife at 7pm at the hospital to check in and see what was happening. As we were leaving for the hospital, I felt I was leaving too soon, but didn't listen to my instincts. I let my curiosity get the best of me and off to the hospital we went.

I was 3 cm and 80% effaced when we arrived. Even though I knew this was probably our fate, I was disappointed. We thought we would just go home but unfortunately I had a high blood pressure reading and was medically advised to stay. We set up shop in the labor room. My mom came to join us. My best friend and her husband came to bring us some dinner and their love & encouragement which lifted our spirits up. Labor continued as we walked the hallways, used the birth ball for different positions and I continued to try to relax.

Monday, December 7th

Our doula came around 2am. We were happy to see her, knowing she could help support our efforts of getting things moving. Side note: My doula was someone who I took my doula training with in 2008. I ran into her a couple of years ago and after a brief chat, I told her that when I get pregnant, I'd love to have her as my doula. And here we were.

As we continued to labor through the night, the cx were getting stronger. At around 6:30am, the midwife checked me and announced I was still 3cm. After laboring for 24 hours, I was only 3cm. I thought HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?! I completely lost it. I sobbed like a baby in Don's arms. So many self-doubting thoughts raced through my head: "My labor isn't progressing?!?!" "Why is this happening to me?" "Yes of course, this WOULD happen to me!" "Just give me a C-section because that's how these type of labors end!!" "Okay, just get a C-section and be fine with it"

After my necessary meltdown and much encouragement from my birth team, I was ready to just keep trucking on, to try to keep the labor going. But, by 3pm things seemed to be slowing down, and almost completely stopped. At this point, my doula and midwife pulled out all their tricks: nipple stimulation with the breast pump, acupuncture, even an enema which I completely resisted (it wasn't that bad). When the midwife checked me again at around 5pm, I was 5cm. Yay! It's working! She offered to break my water at that point too, which I was open to. When she broke my water, I felt SUCH relief from the constant feeling of extreme tightness I felt in my belly for the past month. Turns out I had a LOT of amniotic fluid in there.

After that, the contractions got way more intense and when the midwife checked me a few hours later, I was still 5cm! My body was messing with me. Come on! How?? I thought. The midwife suggested I labor in a specific position for a while, because there was something stopping my cervix from opening. So I labored in a modified hands and knees position for about an hour. Things were really picking up. She checked me at 9:30pm and low and behold, I was 6-7 cm! TUB TIME! Finally!! This came at the perfect time, I was starting to feel that soon I would be unable to cope if I couldn't get in the tub because the cx were so intense and I was utterly exhausted and sick of hearing discouraging cervical progress reports.

The team packed our bags and moved over to the birthing center. I couldn't get in that tub quick enough. When I got in, I immediately felt a sense of relief and relaxation although I am sure it didn't sound that way. I was moaning so loudly, like an animal in the wild. It was the only way I could cope and everyone in the room kept saying "good.." "that's it".

I started to push around 11:30pm, and I remember everyone saying "this baby is going to be born right on her due date!" which was the next day, December 8th.

Tuesday, December 8th

Pushing felt great. It felt right and gave me relief. I pushed for an hour before I was told that baby had too many heart rate decels, and that I needed to get out of the tub. At that point, I didn't care, I just wanted to meet my baby! I got in the bed right next to the tub and spent the next hour pushing her out with lots of encouragement (and NO COUNTING!) from my team. Her head was born with her little hand right next to it. The rest of her was born at 1:26am and she was placed directly on my chest. Sweet, sweet relief. The best. Everything I pictured - a perfect little baby at the end of the marathon. She was placed face down, so we couldn't see if she was a boy or girl. Frankly, neither Don nor I cared. We didn't even look at first. Finally after a few minutes, they flipped her over so Don could take a look. It took him a few seconds to announce it because he was in shock at what he didn't find (he was sure it was a boy the whole pregnancy). It was a girl! A beautiful, perfect daughter.

My mom sobbed happy tears, and Don and I just looked at each other in disbelief. Margaret Eva was here, we were elated. It was the most joyful moment of my life.

Maggie's birth taught me many things. Going in, I thought I had a great plan: trust my body, and it will all work out. Turns out that wasn't that far from the truth. But actually trusting my body was the hard part. Luckily I had the most amazing, supportive team at my side, to help me get through the hard parts when self doubt and fear crept in.

The lessons I learned from Maggie's birth continue to arise as I process different moments from the entire labor. It was truly an eye-opening experience in so many ways. I had witnessed 40 childbirths before my own. Each one helped me prepare but nothing could have prepared me fully. Birth is a unique experience each woman goes through each time she bears a child. My journey was what I needed and nothing more. It was perfectly imperfect and has made me appreciate the process of pregnancy and birth as a right of passage into motherhood more than I already had.

A birth story by B.R.C.

An old friend and high school volleyball teammate graciously shared her birth story with her blog followers. It's a truly amazing recount of her perspective of the birth of her first baby. Check it out! http://bushbabycolvin.blogspot.com/2012/04/birth-story-2-weeks-post-delivery.html

Healing from a Traumatic 1st Birth

This morning I woke up with a text from a past client who gave birth to her 2nd baby boy early this morning. She gave me the stats of the baby and wrote "Great birth!" I was so happy to hear this as her first birth was quite rough and left her feeling unsure about what she wanted for her 2nd birth. This time around, she ended up achieving what she wanted the first time: an all natural birth. This is the 2nd time in the last couple of months that I've had a past client contact me to tell me similar stories. It got me thinking about birth trauma and how subsequent births can truly HEAL some of the scars from traumatic births.

If you have experienced a traumatic birth, you may be frightened the next time around, as was the case with this client of mine. We met early in her pregnancy to discuss her birthing options. She expressed to me that she really wanted to try again for a natural delivery but was afraid because of what happened the first time around. When we met, she had been seeing her primary OB/GYN and wasn't sure if she should switch because he was very C-Section happy. I encouraged her to explore other options and she did end up switching to a very well-known midwife in the area. She signed up for hypnobirthing classes. She prepared for this 2nd birth and worked through her fears.

So when I recieved the text from her this morning that said "Great birth!" I was immediately curious as to how it went! She had a perfectly natural, uncomplicated birth. Here are some good resources about preventing traumatic birth as well: http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2-2/traumatic-birth-prevention-resource-guide/

a lovely homebirth story

http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/08/15/josie-maran-blog-homebirth-backyard/

Check out the link above for a beautiful homebirth story. My favorite part is when she tells how she was wearing her necklace that was made for her by the ladies in her life at her shower. A necklace with blessings for her birth. This is my favorite part of a baby shower :)

Here is how I do it:

-Include a little note in the invitation for each lady to bring a bead of her choice along with a story, prayer or blessing about pregnancy, birth or mothering (or you can specify birth wishes only, its up to you)

-At the shower, gather all the ladies together and go around the room to have each lady present her bead with her story/prayer/blessing to the mother-to-be

-Have someone designated to create the necklace as you go

Voila! A beautiful momento for the mother to take home

"Pain is good...it lets you know your alive"

I am currently taking anatomy and physiology 2 at a local community college and have "fallen into" a couple of conversations with women in my class that somehow turn into talking about childbirth. Of course I always run with it and ask the women as many questions as I can. One of my classmates, Sue, went into detail about her pregnancy and birthing experience with her 1 and only child. She told me some crazy stories: riding motorcycles, going off roading and just living the way she normally would. When she described her birthing experience, she told me she didn't take any drugs. She said she enjoyed being in control of the situation and participating in the labor. When we talked about the pain, she said "Pain is good....it lets you know your alive." Needless to say, I thought she was a pretty cool chick and appreciated her honesty about her birth experience. She said she wouldn't have had it any other way.

The Night You Were Born

The Night You Were Born

Dear Oliver,

I met your Mommy pretty late in her pregnancy with you. From the moment we met, she expressed how ready she was to meet you. We all thought you would be born very soon, however, you stayed nice and comfortable inside Mommy through the end of August, and then through Hurricane Irene which I thought I would have to go out in to get to your birth. But you had other plans.
Your Mommy, Daddy and big Brother Henry had been anxiously waiting your arrival for a few weeks before you decided it would be a good time to come. Then on September 4th you were ready. And I mean ready! Your mommy called me at 5:30pm to say she thought that it would be the night! About an hour later, she called again and said the contractions were 10 minutes apart. An hour later, they were 4 minutes apart! So we all left for the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital around 8:30pm, your mom was in very active labor. The contractions were about 2 minutes apart and strong. Your mommy was amazing through each one, moving around and coping beautifully. Not long after I arrived, Mommy said she needed to push. Daddy and Henry walked in just in time and after about 5 minutes of strong pushing, you were born - perfect in every way. The look of love and joy on Mommy and Daddy’s faces was priceless. When you were first born, you gave out a nice cry but then settled peacefully on your mommy’s chest and nursed for the next hour. It was a beautiful moment of bliss.

Happy Birthday Oliver!

A VBAC story !

Dear Stephen,

When I met your mom and dad, the first thing I noticed was how much they loved each other and their 2 little ones, you and your brother. So when your mommy and I talked about her wanting to VBAC and their hopes for your birth, I knew everything would work out okay. A few days before your due date, contractions started and, they wouldn’t stop all day and night! Your mommy was exhausted but couldn’t sleep from all the excitement and energy knowing she’d soon meet you.

I went to your house that night, September 30th around 11pm. Since mommy had been contracting all day, we thought it might be a good idea to head to the hospital. When we arrived, mommy was coping very nicely with each contraction and so was disappointed to hear she was only 3 cm. But we all believed in her and most importantly, she believed in herself and you. Your strong mommy labored all night and again all day the next day. It was now October 1st and things were slowly but surely coming along. Mommy was pooped but kept on, using her body, breathe and voice to get through each surge. Your daddy stayed close by, holding her hand and reminding your mommy how beautiful and strong she was.

Finally around 3pm the midwife said you might be ready and that mommy could start pushing! I’ve never seen anyone so thrilled to start pushing! It was an emotional moment for your mommy. After all, she had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Mom had been concerned through that she might not be able to push because of how long and tiring the labor was but wow, could she push! She was very efficient and with all her strength and love, birthed you gently and beautifully, with your daddy whispering words of love and encouragement in her ear. What a magical moment. To see the looks on your mom and dad’s face was a true gift. The day you were born was a special day for your mom and dad. I was lucky enough to be there to witness all the joy and love in the room. Welcome to the world! You are loved.



And I have to share this awesome video of their cat meeting the baby:

Jackie and Matt are one of the warmest couples I have ever met. I imagine they are just one of those couples that everyone just loves because they're love for each other and for their children is so apparent and contagious! So when I was invited to the birth of their second child, I was thrilled.

The story of their birth of daughter Claudia was positive and they seemed very happy with how it all unfolded. Jackie's plans were pretty simple for this delivery. She wanted a natural, unmedicated, supported birth. We met a few times to discuss the "logistics" and practiced some imagery exercises for the pregnancy and upcoming birth. It was quite nice to see how confident Jackie was feeling about her body and her inner strength to get through another birth completely naturally.

March 22nd was the day I got the call from Jackie. She had been contracting quite a bit but wasn't feeling the intensity yet. She happened to have an appointment with the midwives that day and they determined she was 4-5 cms dilated. So they midwife sent her to the hospital being that this was her 2nd baby - it could be quick! So I met Jackie and Matt a few hours later at the hospital. We did some visualizations, some hula-dancing, some of this, some of that. But, contractions seemed to peter out and not much was happening - baby wasn't ready! Jackie and Matt were disappointed but decided it would be good to go home and rest while they had the chance. We all went home and got some sleep (I slept, I'm not so sure about the excited parents!)

The next morning, I heard from Jackie around 6am. Sure enough the contractions had intensified and she knew "this was it." so I met the soon-to-be parents of 2 at the hospital. Jackie was visibly in real active labor at this point. She was managing the contractions incredibly -- breathing through each one with her eyes closed, very focused. Matt and I applied a lot of counter pressure and hip-press action along with some massage. Jackie was so strong. Any nurse who walked in couldn't believe she was in active labor because she was so calm and collected. By 10am, she was ready to have her baby. We all "geared up" and helped Jackie into a comfortable pushing position. She pushed only a couple of times before she and Matt met their beautiful, healthy 9 pound baby boy -- Matthew Jr. How perfect it was. Jackie and Matt were overjoyed as they stared into the eyes of their boy and one another. It was a truly blissful experience.

Ellie’s Birth

Ellie’s Birth
November 18, 2010

Ellie decided she wanted to make her big appearance on her due date – how punctual. She had been teasing her mommy for weeks with all sorts of Braxton hicks and contractions so I was quite excited to get the call that mommy thought this was the real thing!

Although we had planned to labor at home and only go to the hospital when things were really heating up, Mary thought it would be best to head to the hospital to labor so that we didn’t have to worry about making the trip when things were really close. So, I met the lovely Mary and Todd at the hospital around 3:30pm. Mary was doing a fabulous job managing her contractions – breathing through each one and relaxing in between. She and Todd were stunned, but very excited, to hear that Mary was 7cm dilated. Naturally, they kept comparing this labor to their first experience, but it was far from similar.

When we finally got into a labor & delivery room, we were able to set up. Todd and I tried everything we could think of to keep Mary comfortable. We talked her through contractions, helped her into different positions, reminded her to breathe and believed in her. Mary did a wonderful job during each contraction which were short, but visibly increasing in strength. Mary used her voice to get through some of the contractions. The first time the nurses heard what I consider a beautiful labor noise, they all rushed in to see what was going on. After all, it’s not every day that they see a mom give birth without any drugs. When they left, we all giggled at their reaction, and at how quiet the L&D floor is. But they were all very supportive of Mary’s decision to birth her baby naturally.

By 6:30pm, only 3 hours after we arrived, Mary’s doctor checked her and said she was progressing nicely and that soon she would push her baby into the world. So around 7:00, Mary did just that. She birthed her beautiful, healthy baby girl. Ellie went almost immediately to the breast where she nursed peacefully. Mom and Dad were thrilled to meet their new daughter while the doctor, nurses and doula were lucky enough to witness this miracle. Joy filled the room as Mary and Todd looked into each other eyes and then at their baby girl, back and forth.

Born at the Right Time

Dear Edward:

You were right on time – born on your due date! But the road was not an easy one for your Mom and Dad. From the back and forth’s during the pregnancy to the extended labor process, you had your own plans for how you wanted to enter this world.
When your mom went into labor on November 3rd, she and your daddy labored at home for a good 10 hours before I even arrived. When I got there, your mom was doing a lovely job managing the contractions. She felt a lot of pressure in her back so your daddy and I spent most of our time with our fists in her back! This provided some relief for her during the contractions. I kept urging your mommy to drink her Thyme tea – which she did like a trooper! At 2am, about 17 hours after her labor began, we made the trip to the hospital. When we arrived, we found out not only was your mommy 3 cms, but her water had broken also! We were proud of her hard work but knew we had a long way to go.

Your mom remained calm and maintained a beautiful breathing pattern throughout the entire process. The position you were in wasn’t making it easy for you to come down or for your mom to stay comfortable. Mommy and daddy were hanging in there but were very anxious to meet you and see your cute little face. Not to mention your 4 anxious grandparents waiting for you in the lobby since 5am!

Finally around 6pm on your due date – November 4th, we got the good news that you’d be making your appearance soon! As we geared up for the Second Stage of labor, your mom and dad were clearly excited about the idea of meeting their little one. The mystery of your sex would be revealed, and they could soon revel in the joy and love for their new child.

During this stage, Dad had a few moments of queasiness but he hung in there! Your strong mommy pushed you out very efficiently! After all, she was very ready to meet you. Before we knew it, you were being plopped on your mommy’s chest. A beautiful, healthy boy you were. Your parents rejoiced, smiled and showered you with love and kisses. Your grandparents rushed in to meet you and fell in love right away. You are a special boy, Edward Jacob, and I feel honored to have been a part of your birth.

“I can handle anything that comes my way”

I have been eager to attend a homebirth since even before I was a doula. The idea of birthing your baby in your own home seemed somehow magical to me because all I had ever hear about was hospital births. But two years into being a doula I still hadn’t attended a homebirth! I knew I would eventually but I never knew it would be as amazing as I pictured it.

I met Lily and Robert through the local doula network. After meeting them once, they graciously invited me to attend their upcoming homebirth. When we met, I could tell Lily really knew what she wanted. She was excited to birth this baby! She was confident and instinctively believed in her natural abilities to give birth. I felt excited and lucky to be working with Lily and Robert.

The day Lily went into labor was the one day Robert absolutely had to be at work. He had asked the baby to wait until this day was over to be born. So I went to their home that morning and hung out with Lily while Robert finished his project at work. She was in early labor, and was managing the contractions very well. We talked, walked, ate, and relaxed. She showed me her daily affirmation which read: “I can handle anything that comes my way.”

When Robert arrived home around 1pm, Lily’s labor progressed into active and she was on her way! The midwife arrived at about 4:30pm to assess the situation. She determined that Lily was 4-5 centimeters and definitely going to have the baby sooner than later. I was proud of her, she had worked hard all day so it was nice to hear that it was paying off. She and Robert went into the shower and did some good work. She was breathing and making beautiful labor sounds. The midwife and I let them do their thing. After the shower, Lily walked a bit more and then decided it was time to get into the tub.

Her contractions were picking up. She was powerful – taking each contraction as it came – talking to her baby, asking him gently to come down so that she could meet him. Robert anticipated the arrival of his son. We all comforted Lily, letting her know she was doing exactly what she needed to. A few times I reminded her of her affirmation: “I can handle anything that comes my way.” That seemed to help her get back into her body and focus on what she was doing.

At 8:20pm, Charles Timothy was born in the bath tub. He seemed so content right away, relaxing in his mommy’s arms – staring into her eyes. Mommy and daddy inspected their son and were in awe of the miracle that just took place in their very own home. It was truly an honor to be a part of something so natural yet so extraordinary.

James’ Birth - September 7, 2010

“the secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
-buddha

James’ Birth ~ September 7, 2010

Dear James:

On the day you were born, your mommy and daddy’s world was changed forever.
That morning when your labor began, it was happening much quicker than expected. Your mommy and daddy didn’t know what to think! Was this what they had been planning? Not exactly, but they did exactly what they needed to do. They stayed calm, and found comfort in each other. When they called me, they said your mommy’s contractions were getting increasingly stronger, longer and closer together. Active labor didn’t last a very long time – only about 6 hours. Your mommy was overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. The “birth plan” was not exactly in effect. When your mommy and daddy arrived at the hospital, the staff was amazed! Your strong mommy was already in transition! She allowed herself to work with you to get your ready for the world.

But then, when you were ready, something bigger than any of us stepped in and decided you needed to be born in your own way. All of your mommy’s hard work prepared you for your entrance into this world. And though it was not exactly how we’d had it planned, you were here and safe. Your mommy recovered quickly, while your daddy gazed into your eyes with joy. Shortly after delivery, you landed in your mommy’s arms, right where wanted to be.

We learned a great lesson from you that day: birth, just like life, is unpredictable. But you are here and we are grateful for that. Welcome to the world!

Monday, September 6, 2010 - LABOR DAY!

Monday, September 6, 2010 ~ LABOR DAY!

Dearest Ben:

I had the pleasure of meeting your mommy at a yoga studio where she had been practicing yoga throughout her pregnancy with you. She and your daddy invited me to your birth and of course, I agreed. We met, talked, and planned. But nothing could prepare mommy and daddy for the special day on which you made your grand entrance into this world.

On September 4, 2010 (the Saturday before you were born), your mommy called me to tell me that her/your amniotic fluid level was too high and that the midwife and doctor wanted to start an induction that evening. She had hoped she wouldn’t need to be induced because she really wanted to labor at home for a while to help keep herself, you and daddy comfortable for early labor. But she was also very excited to meet you, so she agreed to go in. That night she and your daddy went in to the hospital and started the induction. Very quickly we learned that you can’t plan everything. That night you all tried to rest but it was a rough night.

I arrived the next day (Sunday, September 5th) around 1:30 p.m. to find you and your mommy laboring quite well, with daddy right beside. They updated me on everything and it seemed to be going as good as it could be. You were strong; your heartbeat was perfect – even the nurses were impressed! Early labor came and went as your mom and dad ate, walked the labor and delivery floor and rested when they were tired. Your daddy supported mommy through each contraction. I could tell that they both hoped you would make your entrance sooner than later! Your mommy managed her contractions nicely, breathing in and out, deep and gently.

Finally it was time for mom to get some relief, by getting into the birthing tub where she hoped you would be born. But when her water broke, there was some meconium that alerted the midwife that something about this labor may be stressful for you. That changed the water birth plan very fast. Your mommy stayed cool and calm, making the most of each contraction. She was strong – and so were you and daddy! The 3 of you on a team and doing a great job together.

Active labor went on and on and mommy needed a little relief and rest so she opted for an epidural. But the epidural didn’t seem to bring her what she needed – all she needed you, in her arms! Still, mom and dad stayed really strong. And you did too, continuing on with that steady heartbeat. It was 28 hours or so since your induction began, and boy were you just taking your time. After a few more hours, you were ready to start your entrance. Mommy started by easing you down. She worked very hard at pushing you down and out for a few hours. This was another tough stage. Little did we know it was because of your size, presentation, and position!

Finally, after many hours of labor and pushing, you arrived! You came with your arm right next to your head, as to say “Hooray, I’m here!” Mom and Dad were sure glad you made it into their loving arms safe and sound. All ten of us in the delivery room were stunned at how big you looked! Mommy, Daddy looked at each other in amazement while your Aunt Sarah stood by and smiled, obviously proud of all of the hard work.
You were handsome right from the start! Dad went with you to the warmer while Mom got cleaned up. After about 15 minutes, you landed right where you wanted to be – on your mommy, with your daddy right over her shoulder, watching and protecting the two of you. What a beautiful labor day!

you are super woman!

When I met Nicole for the first time at our doula talk at Full Circle Family Care, I got feeling that her ideas and visualizations for her birth were strong and real. When we discussed positions for birth, she explained how she couldn’t wrap her head around birthing in the flat-on-your-back position. After all, she is a veterinarian and sees animals giving birth in only positions and environments that feel natural and most comfortable. So I wasn’t surprised when during our pre-natal chat she expressed her desire to have her baby in the most natural way possible.

When Nicole began contracting at 36 weeks, her midwife told her to rest and try to take it easy. Nicole explained to me in an email “I believe my body was just letting me know I needed to slow the pace and take a break, as I feel so much better now.” So wonderful that she was able to listen to her body and relax. Her contractions subsided and baby stayed comfortable inside her mommy.

At 38 weeks, Nicole called me at 1:30am on Sunday night to let me know her water had broken but she was not yet contracting. Her plan was to chill out and try to get some sleep before things picked up. But her baby was on a mission! At 3:30am Nicole called me again and explained that her contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and getting much stronger. It was a quick conversation because she was going to the hospital so we just agreed to meet there. When I arrived at the hospital at 4:15am, I entered the peaceful room where Nicole was laboring quietly and calmly, with her husband and midwife by her side. She was 7cm dilated and moving very quickly. She was doing a beautiful job managing her strong, frequent contractions. About a half hour later, Nicole got into the Jacuzzi tub. Her urge to push came fast and soon enough, she was 10cm and ready to start. The midwife told her that she might want to reach down and feel baby’s head and when she did, tears of joy and love came to her. It was a beautiful, emotional moment to witness. She was moving her baby down in a very nice, calm, natural way. It seemed as though she knew exactly what she was doing. It was very clear that she was in touch with her body and baby, and that they were all working together. With each contraction, she pushed a little bit more, resting and relaxing during contractions with a supportive team by her side.

In just over an hour, she birthed her baby. Watching Nicole reach down and grab her baby and exclaim “mi amore!” so passionately was truly incredible. Anna Victoria was born, weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces, into the loving arms of her mommy and midwife with daddy by their side. The love that filled the room was moving. She and her husband embraced one another and rejoiced in happiness and awe. I had the chance to snap a few photos of their first few moments as a new family – what precious moments they are.

Baby nursed very nicely and was content as she was just where needed to be - cuddling skin-to-skin with her mommy, falling in love. As the room was cleaned up and cleared out, the air was filled with such energy and peace at the same time. There is something about birth that just changes you...and changes the energy of the world. It is a true gift to experience it time after time.

One of my favorite parts of the birth was at the end when the midwife told mom "you are super woman!" and all mom said was..."I know."

"NATURAL was the theme of the pregnancy"

By Julia M.

I always knew I would be a mother. Thinking back, I notice that I have spent much of my life following my mama around, wanting to be just like her. When my mom had her fifth, and last child, I was 14 years old. You might say that the new addition to the family was good birth control for a teenage girl. But her presence was also incredibly inspiring to me. I didn't know I could love someone so much, and dreamed of someday having a baby of my own.
About five years later, I fell in love with a wonderful man, who would soon become my husband. We shared a love of natural living and organic food that became even more important to us when we learned I was pregnant. NATURAL was the theme of the pregnancy - we were sure we did not want to proceed in any other way. We found the perfect group of midwives at a hospital in Cambridge, MA, and did not look back. We sought advice from the amazing yoginis, doulas and conscious mothers in our lives. I was sure that we had been blessed with a boy, but we decided not to learn the sex of the baby before his/her birth. The pregnancy was normal and healthy, but of course, often overwhelming. All in all, I felt like my body was a sacred temple for a beautiful new life. We could not wait to meet the soul which had chosen to be our baby.

I was due on November 28th. By the end of October, I felt that I was carrying the baby very low. My appetite slowed, and my energy soared. I felt joyful anticipation each day. I was nesting. On November 8th, I was feeling a unique and powerful energy surging through my body. We had a busy Sunday, and I was a bit more talkative than usual. Then, at around 8:30 PM, I felt a small gush of fluid. We were home, and I walked into the bathroom, thinking that maybe it was my mucous plug. Within a minute, I was experiencing bigger and bigger gushes of fluid leave my body - my water broke. I grabbed a towel, and yelled for my husband. Our hearts raced as we called the midwives. We heard from a midwife named Julia that I had tested positive for Group B strep, and would need to come to the hospital to receive IV antibiotics. We were too excited to be bothered by the news, however we had planned to labor at home for as long as possible, and felt somewhat rushed. My husband packed the car while I sat on a towel, on our bed, and continued to feel my waters leaving my body. I was nervous, but ready to go.

Ten minutes after my water broke, my contractions began. As this was my first child, we were prepared for a lengthy labor, but my body had a different plan. After nine months of being told not to expect a "Hollywood movie labor," we got exactly that. By the time we reached the hospital, my contractions were 2 minutes apart, and quite intense. The hospital was full, and we were put in an overflow room to labor until a delivery room became available. I was already 4 cm dilated, and my contractions were coming fast and strong. I barely had a break between each, and the pain was almost unbearable. I labored mostly leaning forward in a standing position, and on all fours. I was incredibly sensitive, refusing any kind of touch or sound offered (too bad for my husband who was prepared to support me through each contraction - I wouldn't let him near me). There in the overflow room, midwife Julia checked my cervix to find that I was almost fully dilated. I had made it through transition, and was preparing to push. I was sort of squatting when the pushing began, but the baby's head was not coming down. I did not want to deliver on my back, but after midwife Julia noticed that the baby's head was not able to pass my pubic bone in a squatting position, I laid back and was able to push the baby down. It was just after 1:00AM and I was struggling to push at all. Between each push, I felt I needed to fall asleep. But soon I was told to reach down and feel my baby's head. I could feel a hairy little crown, and got a boost of energy to finish the job. With a few more pushes, my boy was out. He was immediately placed on my body. I couldn't believe how beautiful he was. It was completely surreal. John weighed 7lb 11oz. He nursed well right away. I loved my birth experience with a midwife, and will absolutely seek the same care in the future.
The only unfortunate issue I had physically, was that I had been given 2 stitches which came apart. The day after the birth, I received many more stitches to repair the damage, and I was not entirely numbed for the procedure. Ouch! After having John, I experienced intense "baby blues." The weeks following his birth were manageable otherwise, but extremely difficult emotionally. As my stitches healed, and I was able to get outside to walk, my mood lifted. I began to enjoy my new baby and our love grew exponentially.

Taking Charge of Giving Birth

Taking Charge of Giving Birth is a story written by a Hypnobirthing instructor I know. It's her amazing birth story. Click here to go to her website, which gives a link to the story. It's a MUST READ for ALL women!

"Nothing else in the world..."

By Danielle H.

My son was 21 Months old (Natural Hospital birth) and we were planning on a Home birth from day one of pregnancy #2 and so excited for the experience. I had everything ready for the birth for weeks since I had Braxton hicks so bad that I was convinced I would have my daughter early (Never count on having a baby early or on time even when your other children were early). 5 days over due On September 4th 2008 at 10:30 pm, my little Noah was sound asleep and My husband and I were watching television and just winding down for the night when I felt at cramp. I got so excited and I just knew it was time but not more excited then Adam, He was ready to call everyone! After telling him to relax and that I was not sure another one came. My contractions STARTED 4 Minutes apart. As Adam called my midwife and Mother (who has had 4 home births) I went onto my bed to wait for everyone to arrive.

My Mother, Father and sister came first at 11:00. My Mom asked me questions and was wondering how far apart my contractions were and she could tell without my answer that they were close enough where there would be no communicating on my part. My Dad got settled in my living room thinking he would spend the night and wake up to a granddaughter as my sister rubbed my feet to try to get my mind off the pain. My midwife arrived at 11:20 very surprised at my progress. The nurse started my tub with warm water and by 11:30 I had made my way only by the grace of God into that warm tub. Many of my contraction wound together never giving me a break at that ripping pain. My midwife not once checked to see how far I was dilated but knew somehow in her experience by watching my expressions that it would not be long. As I came up from taking a refreshing sip from a Gatorade (very recommended during labor) I asked how much longer because I knew I couldn't keep this up for long. My midwife's response was "You are very close to seeing your daughter". In hearing that I got a second wind and felt the pressure as my water broke. A different type of pain started and it was all pressure and I knew then that I was almost done. I started wanting to push at 11:45 and knowing that it is very crucial to pay attention your body during the pushing stage so you don't tear I slowly pushed out the head. It was so wonderful to see her and know that I was that much closer to meeting our new edition. I finally gave one last push as my daughter slid out and Adam caught her only to lie her on my chest feeling as if it were an Olympic trophy I had Won. Grace Lanee' was born at 11:57 and we finally got to meet our little girl. I walked to bed after 5 minutes and got settled in as comfortable as I could. She weighed in at 8 Lbs 8 Oz and 19 Inches long. Grace nursed after 10 minutes acting like it was what she was born to do. As the midwife and nurses did laundry, cleaned my tub, picked up their stuff and did paper work Noah had woke from his slumber to join in on greeting his new sister. After pictures and kisses everyone seemed to make there way to the door and into their own beds. Adam, Noah, Grace and I had just our family and nothing else in the world to worry about at that moment. It was the sweetest moment to fall asleep in my own bed next to my husband and know that I just birthed my healthy happy daughter and had a lifetime to cherish with her. My Birth ended up being an hour and a half and that included the 13 minute pushing stage.

Happy Birthday Gloria!

My most recent birth was an interesting one. I met Charice when she was 37 weeks pregnant after her doctor suggested that she might be interested in having a doula at her birth. Myself and a fellow doula went to her house to meet with her. We met her and her lovely husband and had a wonderful talk about what it means to have a doula and how we might be able to help her get the birth she wanted. Problem was, she didn't really know what type of birth she wanted. Together we gave her a mini childbirth education lesson and by the end of the visit, she seemed more confident in her birth plans, and excited about the thought of giving birth with a doula by her side. My doula partner and I agreed to work with her and went on our way.

A couple of weeks later, Charice started having contractions. My partner, Silvie, went to her house to help her through the early labor contractions. Silvie said Charice managed them very well which was very good news considering one of her biggest concerns was that she would have an anxiety attack during labor because she was very prone to anxiety. Her contractions started and stopped and ended up being a case of a false alarm. When her due date came and went, the doctor said he would have to induce Charice a week after her estimated due date. That day came and I was on-call. So I met Charice and her husband at the hospital 16 hours after they started her induction.

At this point, Charice had been induced with cervidil (a synthetic prostaglandin tampon inserted to help soften and hopefully dilate the cervix), a folly catheter, and pitocin. Her contractions were about 4 minutes apart and she was handling them beautifully, breathing deep and staying calm. I encouraged her to continue doing this as it seemed to be working for her. She was 1 cm dilated, a slow start to a long labor. I stayed by her side, helping her to remember what she was doing and that she would soon get to meet her baby. Every single person who walked in the room said "have you gotten your epidural yet?" and she just shook her head and kept breathing. At one point, one of the doctors tried so hard to convince her to get an epidural, he said "You know, these contractions are NOTHING, you just wait and you will see how painful it is. I don't know why you're doing this without pain medication." Charice just told him that she was doing fine and kept trucking. I was so proud of her for sticking up for herself! Charice's husband supported her decision to try to go as long as she could without an epidural and held her hand through the intense contractions.

15 hours later, Charice was only 4 cm and not feeling great. She hadn't slept since the induction began and was just exhausted from managing the tough pitocin contractions. The doctors were being patient but things weren't looking like they were going to change. They finally convinced her to get an epidural, hoping that she would get some rest. 30 minutes after the epidural was placed, she had an exam which helped the doctors determine that Charice's baby was presenting ear first, which meant C-section.

A half hour later, Charice's baby girl was born, weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce. Charice was overjoyed to finally meet her daughter. The new family fell in love right away and are doing great. Charice said she was a bit disappointed that her birth ended in C-section but happy to have a healthy baby. Doctors promised her that a VBAC for her next baby would be a possibility, and I think that put Charice at ease.

Always a learning experience...

A Birth Story

By K.F.

As I am writing the memories of that special day come back to me when my first born was finally handed to me. After having lost my first child due to a miscarriage I was extremely excited but also nervous about this delivery. I will say that I was unprepared for what was to come that day. My Mom, being very old-fashioned, did not exactly explain what was or could happen to me. I was only twenty two years old at the time and my husband was a policeman in the Bronx. He was at work when I went into labor and unfortunately in Court when we tried to contact him. My parents ended up having to take me to the hospital. I must also say that I was, by this time, a little more than two weeks overdue and very big. After getting to the hospital and being examined by my doctor he said he was giving me something to relax me but in actuality it was something to slow down my contractions so that he would be able to go to his office for his office hours.

Well it backfired on me, making me very ill. I began throwing up and feeling miserable. My poor husband arrived and I ended up getting sick all over him. He was a trooper even though neither of us knew what to do or really what was happening. When my doctor finally returned to the hospital he examined me and now wanted to speed things up. Well, my baby had other plans; he was lying sideways and therefore not ready to be delivered. While in the delivery room, the staff hooked me up to the vacuum, not a very nice feeling. I remember sitting at the edge of the delivery table, in excruciating pain, with no pain medication, and trying to help push him out. The doctor also had to use forceps which were extremely painful. I truthfully thought I was going to die. One of the people, and there were many since it was a teaching hospital, was lying across my stomach trying to help. I later found out she also was a doctor, a little more compassionate than my own doctor.

By the time I finally delivered, I had been in labor for a total of about 35 hours. I was all torn up needing many stitches. Our son, William, was born weighing in at 9 lbs. 8 oz. and was pretty marked up. I was initially very concerned since they did not bring him to me for 1 1/2 days but later found out they were very concerned about me. I was not able to get out of bed for the first two days because of the terrible tear and the many stitches. I really do not think I could have stood up on my own anyway. Billy, as we called him, came out of it miraculously well except for some bruising and the marks from the forceps. We were all grateful for the outcome. As I healed I decided not to return to the same doctor since he put me through such hell. He actually did not even step inside my room after Billy was born. I was seen by my roommate’s doctor who was very concerned about me having heard from other doctors what had gone on. I felt it was like a big “show” when I was delivering. There were so many interns and other doctors watching on and I guess learning.

After I healed and time passed I decided I wanted another baby only to find out I was going to have problems. When the delivery doctor stitched me he sewed me all wrong which resulted in a couple of surgeries. Well seven and a half years later I finally had another baby, a girl, with absolutely no problems. I feel my doctors who delivered and saw me all through my ordeal, after Billy and throughout my pregnancy, understood me and helped me to have a smooth delivery. It lasted only twenty minutes, start to finish. I feel with the right care anyone should be able to have a beautiful pregnancy and delivery.

Birthing Fans

Sean’s Birth
June 3, 2009
4:13pm
7 pounds, 14 ounces

From the day Stephanie and I met, I felt we had a great connection. She and I chatted for over an hour and a half about everything from her pregnancy to my doula background to her boyfriends’ life in the US Army. It was a great conversation and when she told me that she wanted me to be her doula, I was excited. We met a few more times over the next three months. Her biggest concern about the birth was that was she very nervous about the pain. I assured her that things would be okay, and that she would never have to be alone during her labor. I promised her emotional support along with some secret doula pain relief strategies.

So when she called me the night she went into labor, I was happy to hear she was at home, contracting steadily and ready for me to come over. When I arrived, Stephanie seemed to be handling the contractions very well. She was calm, relaxed and quiet. During contractions she took deep breaths and I tried to remind her of what her body was doing. She asked me if we should go to the hospital yet or not and I told her that it was ultimately up to her but that we could try to stay at home a little longer as I had just gotten there. We broke up the time into 30 minute intervals. I kept saying, okay, lets just see if we can stay for another 30. That only lasted about 90 minutes. Stephanie said “Okay, I think I’m ready to go.” Since her contractions were every 2 minutes, I knew she was really getting there, making progress.

When Stephanie, her mother, grandmother, and I arrived at the hospital, Stephanie went right into triage. Her mother, grandmother and I waited in the waiting area for over an hour before we found out what was going on back there! They allowed me into triage after the doctor announced that Stephanie was already dilated 7cm. We were all very happy but when I saw Stephanie, she seemed to be in different kind of pain than before. This is when I had to tell her after each contraction that she was almost there and that she was doing beautifully! She didn’t believe me and just asked for some relief. I gave her some ice and tried to relax her with a light massage during contractions. When we finally got into the L&D room 6, she asked for an epidural. When the anesthesiologist came, Stephanie looked relieved. By this time it was 11am and although she was 8 centimeters and was nearing the end of her labor, she felt an epidural would allow her to relax so she could rest before the pushing. It took a while for the anesthesiologist to place the epidural correctly and Stephanie was a real trooper through the whole thing. I was able to stay in the room while this was going on, my first time seeing an epidural placed, and I was so impressed by how calm she was, even during contractions!

By 2:30, she was ready to start pushing. The birthing team, or I guess I should say the birthing fans were geared up and ready to cheer Stephanie on. Between me, the female resident, Stephanie’s mom and grandma, we made a rather strong sound during the final stages of Stephanie’s pushing. Perhaps it was because we felt such energy and excitement from watching a miracle happen before our eyes, or maybe it was the way we instinctively felt Stephanie needed to be supported. Whatever it was, it felt like a true womanhood moment. The two male doctors in the room kept looking at one another like as if to say “yikes”, but managed to keep smiling. When it got a a little too loud the head doctor to give us a “shh.” At 4:13pm on June 3, 2009, Stephanie gave birth to her beautiful baby boy, Sean. He was absolutely stunning. Mom looked shocked and in awe when she laid eyes on her son. To witness the birth of a 4th generation was an amazing thing. Stephanie did a fabulous job and seemed to be feeling good a couple of hours after delivery. I gave them all hugs and well wishes and was on my way.