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The night of the November 12th I was up all night with painful contractions, but they would last anywhere from 30 seconds to 80 seconds, and there was no consistency in how far apart they were, so I didn’t think that the birth was coming anytime soon. I had also had a few contractions the night of the 11th and the day of the 12th.
The night of the 12th, I was wondering how I would get through true labor if these were just Braxton Hicks contractions! Little did I know that this would be the hardest part of my labor, and soon things would happen so fast I wouldn’t even be able to think about it. I wanted to lay down and rest- I had heard everyone say early labors take a long time, and you should just try to sleep when your contractions start- but every time I laid down the contractions felt more painful, and there was no way I was going to fall asleep. I tried everything I could think of to stop them that I had read about- taking a bath, eating something, etc. but nothing made them stop. So I just paced the house, and I focused on the rhythm that my steps created on the floor each time I had a contraction. I also pictured my body naturally opening up and doing what it was meant to do with each contraction.
I called the midwife around 7 a.m. on the 13th, not because of the contractions- because they were still so irregular I didn’t think I should call her yet- but I was having more blood than I thought was normal and wanted to make sure it was okay. When I called, she said she thought she should come and check on me. Kyle woke up shortly after I called her, and I told him what was going on, but I said he could go to school today if he wanted. Luckily he doesn’t. He had also woken up several times throughout the night, asking me how I was doing, and I told him I was fine and that he should go back to sleep.
As I have a contraction, I am having a whole lot of pain and pressure in my butt area, and I ask Kyle to pray for me for that pain. He does, and as he finishes praying I feel a gush of water- my water breaks. Five minute later, at 9:35 a.m., the midwife arrives. We also call our doula, and I tell her she can come but doesn’t need to hurry. Kyle begins setting up the pool (I wanted to labor in the water) and getting other things ready- since my water has broken we now think things are going to get started! Little do we know we are almost finished!
After my water breaks, the contractions feel more forceful but the pain in my butt has somewhat subsided. The contractions actually start to feel less painful than they did throughout the night- but stronger at the same time. The doula arrives and the midwife checks me around 10 a.m. I am basically completely dilated! And that pressure I am feeling in my butt is becoming more like the urge to push…
So around 10:30 I get on the birthing stool and begin pushing, abandoning the idea of laboring or giving birth in the pool (which is not full, but doesn’t even appeal to me at this point). I am grunting loudly with each push, but it just feels natural; I don’t feel self conscious at all. With Kyle behind me supporting me, and my doula on one side for extra support, my contractions/body takes over totally. I am completely mentally focused on the pushing and contractions, yet I really feel like my body has just taken over and is doing all the hard work for me. Looking back, I felt very powerful during the pushing and very much in awe of my body, and it was actually a lot less painful than all the contractions I had throughout the night. I am pushing for awhile (actually ends up being about 55 minutes- although it doesn’t seem that long), and the midwife tells me the baby is almost here. She says she can see that the baby has lots of hair. It is somewhat painful, but not too bad- I just feel a total adrenaline rush, and just know that my body is doing what it needs to do. I feel God say to me in between contractions “You’ll be holding your baby in your arms very, very soon”, and on the next contraction the rest of Rebekah’s head and her body come out in the same push! It is 11:21 a.m. We look to see if it is a boy or a girl- and it’s a girl! Kyle and I had felt all along (well, especially Kyle) that we would have a girl. We couldn't even decide on a name for a boy!
After Rebekah was born, I held her and she started nursing almost right away. The placenta came out quickly and easily. She had a huge head of dark hair, and was crying and looked bright pink (at least to me) as soon as she came out. I was really in shock that it had happened so quickly! Kyle was in tears. She was very beautiful- and also pretty good size- 8 lbs. 14 oz. I am so amazed by this gift from God, and by his grace that it was such a wonderful experience giving birth to her! The midwife, doula, and assistant were all amazed at my quick and (relatively) easy delivery and labor. I was amazed as well. I had asked my small group to pray that I would have an easy labor; I actually had felt God impress upon me to ask for that. I thought it was kind of a silly request to ask that of God, since in our culture it just seems that labor and birth are supposed to be really hard and painful... but God just poured out His blessing in this.
My midwife also told me that she had suspected from my call to her that I was actually farther along than I thought, and that’s why she decided to come when she did. She told me that if I would’ve had a less experienced midwife, Kyle probably would’ve been catching the baby. Next time, he might be…;)
Overall it was an incredible experience! The certified professional midwife and her assitant were wonderful. So caring, wise, and gentle. I felt completely confident in their care. I am so glad that we decided to do a home birth, and so thankful to have had the opportunity to do it with the midwife I had. I can only imagine how much different my experience would’ve been if I had been in a hospital. I know I would not have felt as relaxed, safe, or confidant in the quality of my care and my body’s ability to birth naturally. Allowing our child to be born peacefully in our own home, and allowed to adjust naturally to life outside of the womb- what a wonderful transition for her and us. Kyle was wonderful and so confidant in me and in all of this being a natural, normal process. I felt very much at peace about being a Mom and taking care of Rebekah afterwards, much more than I expected. I believe that also was partly due to the wonderful experience I had giving birth, and being allowed to trust my own instincts during labor, and after Rebekah w
as born.
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