Birth Story - Part II

Well, I’ve waited long enough to finish this story. I want to get it written before I forget the details! If you haven’t yet read Part I, click HERE to do so. It explains why we decided to have a home birth.

So we left off where I came downstairs thinking my labor may have started. Sure enough, the contractions persisted, and we called the midwife, Jill, to let her know we wouldn’t be coming in to be induced this morning! The next phone call was to Kat, another midwife from whom we rented the birth tub. She came and set it up for us. The tub came with heaters to keep the temp at a little over body temperature. Kat checked dilation; I was at 4 cm. and 75% effaced. She also noticed that my bag of waters was still intact. The gush of water was simply the outer sack. We learned that there are 2 parts to the water sac: the fore-bag and the main-bag. I also learned that the water sac is usually retained when the mother has had a good diet.

Before Kat even got there, however, my mom and Grandma Vickie arrived! We told them not to rush over – it could be a long day – but they were not going to take any chances. Also, we called Jacque Owens, a friend from church. I found out she was interested in becoming a labor and delivery nurse and possibly a midwife. Thinking it would be a great opportunity for her to see a natural birth, I invited her to come to the birth. She was so excited, and I was thrilled to provide such an experience for someone who could one day help others wisely make decisions about their births.

Everyone who was coming to the birth had been notified. Now, I just had to sit back and let my body do its work. We turned on Dennis the Menace, one of our favorite movies. I slowly breathed and focused on relaxing during each contraction; I didn’t want to fight what my body was doing. The contractions began to get more uncomfortable, and I tried to keep in mind that each one was bringing me closer to meeting my baby – and finding out whether he was a boy or girl! I was getting very eager to know if I was carrying a Morgan or a Natalie!

Sheila was in charge of keeping the time on the contractions. Jill had told she’d come over when they were 5 min. apart and 60 sec. long or whenever I felt like I wanted her. Around noon, I made the call. I wanted her there. The contractions were over 60 sec. though not consistently 5 min. apart, but they were getting more intense. I was having back labor and Travis put counter-pressure on my lower back, which I remembered helped a lot in my labor with Malachi (I had back labor with him, too). It felt good, but wasn’t quite as effective as it was during my last labor. I was getting very eager to get in the birth tub, but I wanted to wait till Jill got there and checked dilation – somehow I knew once I got in I wouldn’t want to get out!

She arrived around 1:00 and introductions were made. She had only met my mom before, and she had brought her sister, Gina, along as an assistant. Once everyone had met, we went upstairs. She checked me and I was still at 4 cm., but 90% effaced. And I finally got to jump in the pool. It felt so good! The contractions were getting stronger and I really had to focus on relaxing. In the tub it was so easy to maneuver into a more comfortable position. During each contraction, I got on my knees and hung over the side of the tub with my head resting on my folded arms. Between them, I sat back and rested against the tub wall. I was continually reminded to drink water are eat some food to keep my energy up. Muncle Dylan was downstairs watching Malachi for us during all of this– what a huge help!

The tub felt SOOO good when contractions started getting more serious!

Eventually I felt like I needed a little support, so I asked Travis to get in. I continued to hang over the side while he did counter pressure, but I rested on him between contractions. I was getting nauseated during contractions. After a long time in the tub, Jill said I should get out to go to the bathroom and to maybe speed things up by moving around a bit. I told her that sounded like a terrible idea! But I knew she was right, so I got out. I sat on the exercise ball for a little while. She told me to let her know when I began to feel lots of pressure in the lower front of my abdomen, and I told her I was already feeling it there.

I remember hearing her telling someone around this time that we could have a baby anytime, or we could be here till midnight. I knew I couldn’t keep on like this till midnight! I was beginning to feel like I couldn’t do it, and that was a sure sign that the end was near. You can tell where you’re at in your labor by how you’re doing emotionally – at the beginning, you’re excited because the day has finally arrived; then you get really serious because it’s hard work; and then, when the end is almost there, you feel like you simply can’t do it anymore. And the good news at that point is, you won’t have to do it much longer!

I then lay down on the bed. She checked dilation again and said I was at 8 ½ cm. completely effaced except for a small lip of cervix. I stayed on the bed for a while until I realized if I lay there much longer, I might not make it into the tub for the birth! So back in we went. I asked her to rupture the bag of waters to speed things up, and the pushing stage began soon after. It lasted about 35 minutes. I was so tired, I didn’t want to push, but Jill was so encouraging. I felt the baby’s head with my hand as it descended. They told me he had hair!

I remember thinking I didn’t want to push too hard because I was afraid of tearing. Jill used olive oil to massage the perineum to keep the blood flowing and prevent tears. The warm water in the tub is also great for that. Finally, the head was out – what a huge relief! In the next contraction or two the rest of him was out. Travis announced we had another boy! “Hi, Morgan!” I cried. He was immediately put on my chest and covered with a warm wet blanket and he got a hat. She suctioned him out. I had to be careful to keep his face out of the water! He was so beautiful. I wanted them to go get Malachi to meet his brother. We had just experienced another miracle.

Morgan coming out of the water to take his 1st breath. My hard work finally paid off! What an amazing picture!

Holding Morgan Jackson for the first time.

Travis holding his new son for the first time.

The Grandmas get their chance to hold the baby while mom and dad go take a shower.

We held Morgan in the tub for a while. Jacque cut the cord after it had stopped pulsing. After I delivered the placenta, we handed him over to the grandmas so we could take a shower. After the shower I lay down for the night. Morgan nursed for about 45 minutes. I was having bad afterpains – the contractions that get the uterus back down to its normal size. First-time moms don’t have these pains because the uterus is more elastic and contracts more easily. These contractions were an unexpected, unpleasant surprise! It was then time to measure this little baby. Jill used a sling to weigh him (to see a picture, click HERE) – we were all surprised to find out he was 9 pounds! He was 21 in. long, with a 14 in. chest and head. After a glass of wine and some ibuprofen to help with the bad contractions, we said good-bye to everyone and settled in for some much-needed sleep with little Morgan right by my side! A great ending to an eventful day.

Many people have asked me how this labor compared to my last. It was definitely more difficult. This may have been partly due to the baby being so much bigger (Malachi was 7 lb. 4 oz., Morgan 9 lb. 1 oz.), but the main reason, I believe, is because I was in terrible shape. The last couple weeks were very difficult – I couldn’t even walk around the grocery store without pain in my legs and groin. I don’t remember being as sore or exhausted when I was pregnant with Malachi. The last 2 days of this pregnancy were miserable. Labor is a major physical challenge – so going into labor in such bad shape obviously was going to make things more difficult. At this point, I am almost completely recovered from the birth, but I’m still feeling the effects of the pregnancy!

I would definitely consider doing a home birth again. It would be very difficult to consider ever delivering in a hospital again!

As I look at our new son and at the amazing adventure of bringing him into this world, I can’t help but say with the psalmist David, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”