Our birthing story

Dec.29th beginning of labor.

So happy, Nov.27th

We had a visit with the midwife, she suggested going to the edge of the continent. So we did. It was pouring rain that day, but I had a good feeling it would be ok, and it was the sun came out just in time to take some beautiful photos.  Minor contractions started on the way home. I remember saying "If this is the beginning, I can do this no problem." By 9:30pm I was in the thick of it, there was no timing the contractions, I could not even think. 

 The midwife was present about an hour or two later and made the decision that the baby was posterior, because I was having severe back pain. 
  I remember thinking to myself, I'm glad were at home, riding in the car would have been unthinkable and looking back, a hospital would have tried to interrupt the process with some sort of over the top explanation, or scared me into thinking something was wrong and more than likely some mumbo jumbo regarding  painkillers.
 I never once asked for painkillers, the bodies job is to feel the pain so it knows how much oxytocin to release.

  The toilet was my best friend. It think it's almost instinctual because typically that is where one goes to release.

My love Eric was constantly rubbing or applying hot rags to my lower back, speaking words of encouragement and feeling the pain with me, he really helped.

 Soft danceable music was playing for a little while and during that time, I was actually laughing and having fun, squatting and swaying with Eric and the doula.
 All the lights were low, almost dark, clocks cellphones and anything that would disturb the natural process were
turned off or covered up. At one point I wanted to know the time, it was 6 am, that was so good to hear, for some reason I thought it was only 2 am.

  The midwife, her assistant and our doula were the only ones present. I planned it that way because they are all experienced,
trained in the art of birth, know when to speak and help almost intuitively.
 Family seems to feel the pain or feel sorry and that never helps when trying to open up larger than a woman ever will.
 I say that giving birth is as intimate as having sex. Thats why I felt so strongly about home birth. Privacy.

 After 16 hrs of labor and well into the next day, I knew the threat of being transported to the hospital was hovering in the air. I would be able to keep birthing at home as long as my heart and the babys remained strong.
Then the midwife told me I needed to lay down for a while and rest, my uterus was tired and she could tell.   She gave me an option to have sterile water injected in my lower back, it was to help relieve the lower back pain for a small amount of time.
 The decision was mine, but it was not an easy one to make. The drawback was that it may or may not work, I would need 4 shots, and each one stings like a wasp bite. I made the decision to get the shots. The sting was significantly stronger than a wasp bite, luckily it turned out to be a wise choice.
 I was able to rest for approximately an hour. I woke from that brief slumber with contractions, however they were not as strong and further apart. This is when my midwife had the first uncertain look in her eye, but as it turns out, she had a few tricks up her sleeve and the doula kept urging them on.

 I was so impressed with all the tricks the midwife knew.
Truth be told they don't really teach this kind of birthing brilliance in conventional medical school.

A few examples: The rebozo is a shawl that is wrapped around the hips,when down on hand and knees, two midwifes aggressively rock the hips from side to side this is a traditional mexican midwife technique to turn the baby, it was a nice feeling.

Herbs, such as blue cohosh to help speed up contractions when they had slowed.

Curb walking outside, I put one foot on the curb and lift the other leg off the ground as I step. The ground was a little icy, so being aware of every step was important. Being so focused on my step took the attention away from my contractions, that was a nice break. The sun was out, a couple with a baby stroller walked on by and smiled. The doula said "Their happy because they already had their baby"I grumbled a little. She took my feelings and turned then into words.

Then the miracle technique, thats what I'm calling it. Our midwife released my cervix from 4cm to 6cm in less than a minute by going internally and applying her fingers on a certain pressure points.

Other things that really helped me:

Lemon with salt and coconut water for hydration.

Honey mixed with brown rice for nourishment. I only had a spoonful every hour or so.

    After that Eric and I were left alone to kiss and relax together. That is when everything started to irritate me, I was swearing, I was saying no and stop. I was being really pessimistic. At this point the midwife woke up from her short nap, the assistant put her book down and the doula came gently out of her meditation, looked at one another and one said "Did you hear that,  sounds like she's pushing".

 In that short time, I had opened the rest of the way, I was found in the bathroom with Eric, trying to soothe me, but in that moment  nothing could be done to help....I was in transition.
 I remember saying "I feel like punching something" Eric held up his palms and said go ahead, I didn't  punch anything, however, something needed to happen.
 Someone suggested we move to the living room. The assistant gave me some much needed advice, she said"Take all that powerful energy you are expelling through your words, direct it down to your core and use that to push".

 I was only able to position myself on hand and knees, after a few observations, the midwife suggested I lunge, turned out the baby was also asynclitic. My body was then leaning face first into the doulas neck. The doula was sitting on a birthing stool. A crystal that hangs from the curtain rod in the room, caught the sun and filled the room with rainbows.

Pushing for one hour, using all my strength. The midwife finally said she could see the head, with another push her head was out and with another her body. Nobody was yelling push like they do in the movies, I was grateful for that.
19 hours into labor....I heard the sweetest cry. Eric held out his hands to catch her, he passed her to me, from underneath. I leaned back into his arms and put her on my chest looked down and said "She is so beautiful", she started nursing instantly. I then delivered the placenta which was placed in a bowl.

  Then I got off the living room floor and went into the bedroom to lay down. I was rushing with pure love, I felt no pain. My body knew exactly what to do.
 I was so happy, the midwife educated us on the importance of not washing her, due to the antibacterial properties of the vernix. Also how nursing triggers chemicals in my body that keep producing oxytocin and helps to retract the uterus.
 I had Eric call my mother to come over at this time. I told my mother of the experience and she was a glad not to have witnessed me in pain. She is very empathetic.

 The midwife was very thorough in the gentle newborn procedure of checking the baby over. Enala Hazel Myers weighed in at 8 lbs. 16 oz. and she was 22 in long and very healthy.
 Later the midwife told me that the birth was one of the most intense she has attended in her many years of assisting births to be proud of my strength and my pelvis.
 The midwife and her assistant had given me 7 stitches. I tore a little, but I did not feel it. After a while they both went to the other room, cleaned up everything, while the doula made food. By 9 pm we were all ready to sleep. They all said their sweet goodbyes. The midwife came by everyday for a week and every three days for three weeks , then once a week until out last at 6 weeks. She is so thorough and full of great advice.

 The doula later told us that during her meditation angels had entered the home and she could feel her own pelvic area release when I was in transition. The doula also came to us for weeks after. She is still there for us whenever we want to talk about anything.

 Giving birth is the most ethereal and empowering thing I've ever voluntarily gone through. Sincerely, well worth the effort and temporary pain. I hope this story inspires women to know their body is meant to give birth.

Enala Hazel Myers born Dec.30th 3:54 pm 8lbs. 6oz.
This is her at 7days 

Our midwife and baby
at the, in home, 6 week checkup