Our fourth child was due on May 25th. We decided even before she was conceived that we wanted to attempt a natural, home birth. I'd never been interested in either option before. I credit my interest and education with watching the TV series "Call the Midwife" and the documentary "The Business of Being Born". I went on to read Ina May Gaskin's "Guide to Childbirth" and became even more confident in my choice. I sought out two midwives who run the only birth center in the town where we live. I immediately felt comfortable with them and continued to see them for my prenatal care.
On Tuesday, May 20th I woke up around 2AM with consistent contractions that were 7 minutes apart for an hour. I decided to go ahead and call the midwife on call as I didn't want to wait until things were imminent. My past birth experiences led me to believe that once things got going it would be a relatively quick process. I neglected to take into account the fact that as soon as I'd come to the hospital dilated 5cm, they had broken my water which sped the process along. The midwife and her assistant came to the house and we watched as my contractions stayed between 7 and 10 minutes apart for a few hours. Finally, we decided to sleep and awoke with the sun to check on my progress. I was 5cm dilated and 80% effaced. Definitely moving along. However, as the day progressed, we tried all sorts of tricks to get my contractions to be closer and stronger. They would increase for a little while then go back to their 7 to 10 minute intervals. Finally around 8pm that evening, my midwife offered me a last-ditch option of going ahead and breaking my water. I felt like we'd been pushing to make labor progress all day and didn't want to break my water only to have labor continue to be slow and then be put on a timetable with more possibility of being transferred to the hospital. So, we decided to call it a night. The midwife and her assistant went home and I got a gorgeous night of rest.
Wednesday and Thursday were much the same, but without the added audience of a midwife. My contractions stayed in that 7-10 minute time zone. Finally, Thursday afternoon at my midwife appointment, I was instructed to take calcium magnesium to try and stop my "unproductive" contractions until my due date so my uterus could get some rest. We then planned to start back up trying to kick start labor on that Sunday. Thursday night, I took my cal/mag and went to sleep. Throughout the night I woke up with much stronger contractions and in the morning was noticeably sore abdominally. I decided to just relax and not worry about when this thing was going to happen. We took advantage of my mom being in town and my husband and I headed out for a date. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast at a neighborhood coffee house and then went to see the new X-Men movie. Again, I was experiencing contractions every 7-10 minutes. After the movie, we came home and I decided to take a nice long nap. My sister came over to hang out for the evening and brought some movies. We hung out downstairs and watched "What To Expect When You're Expecting", ironically. After that movie, we started "Austenland". Not far into that movie I realized I was having contractions about 5 minutes apart. I felt the urge to use the bathroom and had my first real bloody show. As the contractions continued to get closer, I decided to call my midwife. She could tell this was a different scenario as I had to stop to breathe during contractions while speaking with her over the phone. She said she would be on her way and I decided to lay down in hopes of making sure we didn't speed anything up until she arrived. This was about 10:30pm on Friday, May 23rd.
After the midwife arrived, she checked me and I was dilated 7cm and 80% effaced. I started finding comfort in standing while hugging my husband, Rod, and swaying back and forth during contractions. Much more comfortable than laying down for them. We continued in this pattern for quite a while. I was only mildly uncomfortable and in need of focus during the contractions. I continued to listen to my body and what sounded "good" during contractions. As things progressed, I spent some time in the shower with the warm heat on my lower back. As the intensity increased, I decided to get out of the shower and continued with my swaying/hugging technique. All of a sudden, I noticed my pain had moved from being "up" and was localized more in my hips. I told the midwife and she checked me. I honestly don't remember what the verdict was as my contractions were closer, longer, and much more intense. I navigated them the same way I'd done all night: by listening to my body and doing what "sounded" good. Eventually I ended up with the urge to go to the bathroom and while there the midwife heard me making some involuntary pushes and told me to transition to the bed where I'd planned to actually deliver our baby girl. I laid on my side and let my body do it's thing with the comfort of my husband and the midwife and their encouragement. I kept feeling the urge to push and as I did, my water finally broke on it's own and my pushing became productive. It took a little longer to push my sweet girl out as she was full term size. Finally, I heard the glorious words that I'd completed my task and had my girl placed on my chest. The whole pushing stage and when she entered the world was to the soundtrack of "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. Seemed absolutely appropriate. Such a calming experience in the midst of, yes, some intense pain. We marveled at her beauty and at what we, my husband and I, had accomplished together as we waited for her cord to quit pulsing so it could be cut and I could finish my delivery. Rebel Joy weighed in at 8lb. 4oz., 21 inches long, and was born at 1:52am on May 24th. We spent the first three days in rest with Rod and my Mom to take care of us. As we had chosen to birth at home, that meant some tests were not able to be performed at her initial birth. So, four days postpartum we headed to our pediatrician for a more complete check up. As we'd thought, she was perfect. Then the next day we took our bundle to the hospital labor & delivery ward to have the newborn screenings done.
All in all, quite a different experience from any we've had before. The birth itself was much more peaceful and relaxed and my recovery much quicker. It was the perfect choice for us at this time. I do not for one second believe a woman who births at home or without drugs is any more amazing than a woman who chooses to birth any other way. I've done more than one way and believe now more than ever in a woman choosing what works for her and having the support whether it be in the hospital or elsewhere to allow her what she desires.
