Birth Stories

 

The Birth of Fisher John at home

 

September 26th 2010, 6:40 pm

By Eve

 

My Birth Story Reflections…

After my prenatal visit with Blue on Saturday at noon, I decided to start cottonwood bark tincture and homeopathic blue and black cohosh, as we were at 40 weeks plus a few days. I didn’t want to rush the pregnancy but was feeling ready to take the next step. I took the tincture and homeopathics mid day and developed a menstrual-like cramp for the afternoon and evening.  I went to Twisp for the Arts Walk event, visited with lots of excited Methow folks, so full of blessings and love for the coming baby, and the birth of new parents. By bedtime the cramping had subsided.

Sunday morning I repeated the tincture and homeopathics and about noon time decided to experiment with the breast pump, which I had never used before.  I was surprised at the deep yellow colostrum, which came from my breasts in small drops. Having never seen anything produced from my breasts before, I was excited and amazed. Following Blue’s instruction I pumped for fifteen minutes. I made lunch thinking I’d get back to the pump after eating. I sat down to eat and the cramping began. This was stronger than a menstrual cramp and lasted only a short time. I wasn’t certain immediately that these were really contractions, but after ten minutes I asked Dan to come and help me time the contractions.
           

“Starting”, “stopping”, I would say to him. Sure enough every two minutes lasting 60 seconds, then every minute lasting 45-60 seconds.  I called Blue and left a message that “things were happening”. I called Nimmi, my doula, and told her what I was feeling. I had to pause our conversation when each contraction would come. I paced across the living room. I told Nimmi we were timing, and we’d call back in an hour, at 4 o’clock, to check in on our status, and whether or not it was time for her to come down.
           

My contractions continued, steadily becoming more intense. I walked, focusing on using deep breathes, blowing horsey lips, moaning, changing positions. Blue called back with questions, and thinking we had plenty of time, told her we’d call back in half an hour. Only a few minutes later with the contractions clipping away, I called Nimmi back to say, “no holding off until 4 o’clock, come now”.
           

By four Nimmi had arrived and we had moved downstairs where it was cooler. I felt very hot and unable to find any position of comfort. Dan continued to time contractions, helped me to the bathroom, and provided encouraging words. Several contractions after Nimmi’s arrival, I began to shake with each contraction. I moved to hands and knees position with my upper body supported at the foot of our bed. I felt the contractions coming quickly, only 30 seconds between. It was difficult to rest with so little time. I closed my eyes, put my head in my hands, and buried them into the bed comforter.
           

Dan was at my side talking words of encouragement into my ear and rubbing my neck. Nimmi held pressure against my low back, encouraging me to breathe and take the breaks when they came.   I asked for cool cloths. I kept my eyes closed needing to focus inward. I heard Blue arrive and begin setting up her things.  The plastic covers went under my knees, Blue used the Doppler trying to hear the heart tones. She had difficulty finding them and asked me to reposition side lying. This was very uncomfortable and thankfully short lived. I returned to hands and knees.
           

I felt the contraction pattern change. I felt a lot of pressure in my butt and the sensation to bear down. Blue invited me to feel for the head between my legs. It felt firm and wrinkly. I knew we were close.  Heart tones were heard at 150 beats per minute, which reassured everyone.  The urge to push was intense. Then I felt the burning of crowning. The pain here was most extreme. I needed the counter pressure on my perineum with each push. I pushed and moaned through this pain, feeling the force of resistance that kept me intact. Dan left my ear side to be with Blue to catch the baby. I lifted my left leg and flexed my pelvis. I pushed out the head. Blue unhooked the cord from around the baby’s neck, then she and Dan rotated the head. On my next contraction I pushed out the body. Instant relief!  Amazing! I turned over from hands and knees to sit down and meet my baby. I took him wrapped in a towel and put him to my chest and breast.
           

I told the room, “He’s a boy”.  The moment was incredible. He was perfect, alert, suckling, and making sounds. I felt so in love with Dan. We had made this perfect, alive, little human being. I felt euphoric, shocked, and blessed out.
           

The next hour or two we spent skin to skin with our baby. Vitals were reassessed, weights and measures taken. I showered and received several stitches. I was very nervous about the suturing, but once the lidocaine injections were completed, I felt no discomfort. During my shower I began shaking uncontrollably. I wasn’t hot or cold or in any pain. I think my body was simply processing a flood of hormones, adrenaline, endorphins, and oxytocin that would have served me well in a long labor, but after only 4 hours now had no were to go. Becky & Nimmi held my legs steady during the suturing and distracted me with story telling. I eventually talked myself down with a simple mantra and my body stopped its shaking. Dan, baby, and I snuggled into bed, while the crew cleaned up and packed up. Nimmi put together food for us and settled us in for our first night.
           

My birth story is everything I hoped it would be.  I felt completely guided in the process of birth by a body that seemed to know just what to do. Because of the loving support of my husband, doula, midwife & her birth assistants, I was able to surrender to the power of labor without fear. I feel incredibly blessed and enriched by my experience.
Thanks for reading this.

 

 

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