Fear Dissipated
Preface about FEAR: A year and a half ago I began praying that God would take away my fear of giving birth. I’m not really sure where it stemmed from other than dramatic scenes in media and movies. The Lord completely answered my prayer!
I also believe learning about the birth process really helped me trust in the Lord and his design.I was able to change my perspective and trust my body after reading affirmations and verses.
Preparation
Our birth story really starts with the birth preparation. I say “our” because it truly was a team effort. My husband watched all the Mama Natural videos with me, took online Hypnobirthing class with me, & encouraged me every step of the way. He helped me do Spinning Babies exercises from 13 weeks pregnant, stretching my hips as I laid on our kitchen counter. During the third trimester, he held my hand as we walked around the neighborhood each day & I knew whatever our birth story was going to be, I wasn’t alone. He would be right there through it all.
Supplements
- Prenatal Vitamin–every day. If you are of child bearing age then taking a prenatal vitamin is a good idea.
- Vitamin C Powder– throughout pregnancy (mixed with Ultima Powder so it wasn’t so bitter). Approximately 5 grams of ascorbic acid per day in 1st trimester. 10 in 2nd and 15 in 3rd. Read about it here.
- 6 Medjool Dates–from approximately 37 weeks pregnant until the birth
- Red Raspberry Leaf Tea— approximately one cup per day beginning 2nd trimester and increasing throughout pregnancy
- Alfalfa capsules–during 3rd trimester
- (Chlorophyll drops– beginning in 3rd trimester because I had a low platelet count)
Going into Labor
Sunday the 18th, I woke up more exhausted than usual so we mostly laid low except for an unusually fast paced walk in the evening with my hiking boots on, which I was just in the mood to wear. I went to sleep and woke up at 2:19 am feeling light cramping. I lay awake for about two hours doing deep breathing and resting and then fell back asleep until 7:30 am.
The Day He Was Born
It was July 19th and I was exactly 41 weeks pregnant so we had another appointment. I called the midwife to ask if she still wanted me to come in since I was feeling cramping (which I didn’t register in my mind as actual contractions yet). She said definitely come in because it could still be a day or two until I go into labor. So we jumped in the car and arrived late for the ultrasound. We waited at least 40 minutes in the waiting room as I sweat and breathed through the cramping that was coming at random intervals.
The ultrasound went well and at the very last minute, we finally saw “practice breathing” in his lungs which added points to the Bishops score.
Then we headed to our appointment with the midwife. Contractions were 22 seconds long at intermittent intervals. The ultrasound results came back and baby was healthy & looking good but my amniotic fluid was very low despite me drinking 3 liters of water every day during the 40th week.
She checked me so we could determine options for moving forward. And she instantly started laughing in disbelief. She blurted out…”Wow, you are 5 cm, 80% effaced, and he is -1 station. I just touched your baby’s head. You are going to have this baby today or tomorrow.” My husband and I burst into laughter and shock too. I put my hand over my mouth and just kept saying, “What! That’s crazy! 5 cm! I can’t believe it!”
We still didn’t know how long labor would take so they did a non-stress test at 12:46 and pointed out on the graph when his heart rate was fluctuating and when I was contracting (which I could tell too).
Since my fluid was so low, they suggested I go home and take 2 tablespoons of caster oil mixed with peanut butter on toast to stimulate movement in the bowels & speed up labor. We made a pit stop to Chipotle and got lunch to go. The lady behind the counter must have known I needed a lot of calories cause she kept piling on the food in our chicken burrito bowl. Next, we ran into Aldi for a few more labor snacks. I remember leaning on a shelf in the grocery store, breathing through a contraction, and thinking they were picking up a little in intensity.
Active Labor
Little did I know that active labor to birth would only be about 4 1/2 or 5 hours.
At 2:30 we got home, devoured the Chipotle, & mixed up the caster oil with peanut butter and honey. It didn’t taste bad at all and within 10 minutes I was on the toilet emptying my bowels. Yippee! We wanted to get cleaned up for whatever was coming. So I took a shower. At one point I started seeing stars while I was showering and thought that was weird. I had a contraction and just wanted to get out of the shower and be with my husband so he could coach me through it. While my husband was running around the house, he suggested I lay on the couch but I did one contraction laying down & knew I could no longer rest through them. I needed to be upright.
At 5:00 I realized things were going faster than expected. By that time, I was on the birthing ball and holding onto a rebozo while Robby was whispering affirmations into my ear and lightly stroking my back for every wave that came. For me contractions felt like intense cramping that peaked at a certain point and then dissipated. I had my eyes closed & he was using the affirmation cards spread out on the floor as prompts, reminding him what to say to me. Contractions were about 1 minute long. We called our doula and asked about different positions. I put the phone down to breath through a contraction and she realized this labor was going fast.
Going to the Birth Center
At 5:28 we called the midwife. She asked if I felt any pressure and I said I did so she recommended we come right in. By that time I was starting to get uncontrollably shaky all over. My parents who had arrived a few minutes before helped us throw the rest of our things together in between contractions and jump in the car.
We turned on my worship in labor playlist and I sat on a pillow in the front seat, breathing through each contraction. My mom sat in the back seat, stroking my back lightly. I wanted Robby to take the curves slowly so I didn’t have to use more energy to brace my body on the turns.
Eli’s Entry
We made it to the birth center at 6:00 pm, just as our midwife was pulling into the parking lot too. I waddled in, did one contraction on a comfy chair in the waiting room and when it was done, headed around the corner to the calm teal colored birthing room I had requested. The midwife and two assistants were moving quickly to take my vitals, fill the tub with water and check me. I was 9 cm & 100% effaced with a bulging bag. She said, “Let’s have this baby.”
Within a few minutes I was halfway immersed in a tub filled with warm water & in the zone ready to keep relaxing through it all. The only thing my husband had time to grab out of our bag was Luci twinkle lights that he threw around the back of the tub. Our doula arrived and started taking photos.
I quickly transitioned to pushing & breathed through everything with my husband giving me pep talks and reassuring words. I felt a tiny pop while I was in the tub and knew my water broke. At one point I felt how far out our baby had to travel and realized his head was only one inch from entering the world. I had rehearsed this moment so many times when I visualized his birth —connecting the loop and touching his head. Within a few pushes he was out. At 6:59 they laid him on my chest, I caught my breathe, relaxed into the moment, stared at our little boy, and my husband kissed my forehead. We couldn’t believe our 7 pound 9 ounce bundle was here. Labor & birth was truly the most empowering, intense, & beautiful experience of my life.
A few minutes later, the midwife turned to me and asked, “So, what is his name?” My husband and I looked at each other and I said allowed the name I had in mind for weeks now. We had talked about it before but hadn’t officially decided on it until that moment. As he looked into our son’s eyes, he fully agreed that the name was perfect.