The Normalizing Homebirth Project Inc

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Birth Story:
My contractions started at 9:45pm on Thursday March 8th. 2 days after the guess date. It was a full moon. :) I had contractions the night before that were about 7-10 minutes apart, around the same time and my midwife's recommendation was to try and sleep. If they went away, fine, if I wasn't able to sleep then call her. I laid down at about 10:45 and they tapered off and stopped. So this night (the 8th) I was going to do the same thing, I was going to try and lay down and go to sleep. But as soon as I laid down, I had to pop right back up when a contraction came because hands and knees was the only position I was going to be able to work through them. They were intense from the get go, and I knew things were going to happen quickly.

I told my husband to call the midwife right away because they were lasting 1 minute + and 5 minutes apart right from the beginning. She said to labor for an hour and call back if they stayed consistent. We called our friend to come be at our house with our older daughter (21 months) in case she woke up. I was swaying back and forth leaning over the kitchen counter while counting the contractions on the internet contraction counter. The birth pool had been set up for a while since our first daughter came a week early, we were prepared at 38 weeks. I told my husband to start filling the pool. He was trying to get the hose hooked up to the sink, call back the midwife, and help me through contractions all at the same time. He did well multi-tasking!

Our friend showed up around 10:30, and helped Josh get things ready for the pool. Our Midwife came at 11:15, along with our other friend and midwife assistant. I vomited just a few minutes after she arrived. I was already in transition. I was laboring on the exercise ball, like I did with our first daughter. I got up once to use the restroom, and it was so intense I told myself I wasn't going to do that again. But alas around 12:40 I couldn't hold my bladder any longer, and I just really wanted to be done, and go to sleep. I told Katy that I needed to go to the bathroom, she said it was probably best that I got up and do that. I told her my legs were tired and cold, although my upper half was sweating profusely. She suggested maybe laying down on the bed when I came back from the restroom. I knew that wasn't something I wanted to do because I remember trying to lay down in my first labor and it was near impossible. She said at this point she didn't feel the need to check me to see my progress unless I wanted her to. I hated being checked the one time during my first daughters labor. I'm so thankful to have confident midwives, she knew I was quite far progressed by all the other signs.

After a slow walk to the bathroom, which is just outside our bedroom, as soon as I sat down on the toilet, my water broke. Good timing! Katy checked heart tones, sounds great! Things were intense sitting on the toilet. I finally decided to get up(after only a few minutes and head back to the room. I asked if the pool was ready because I really wanted to get in. Almost! It wasn't quite up to temperature.

I stood in front of the pool while they added some more boiling water to bring up the temperature. I started feeling my body pushing a bit. But it didn't feel like the pushing I had with my first daughter(I pushed for 3 hours with her), they were very intense. Katy urged me to get in the pool. I felt like I couldn't move, the intensity was so much. They helped me in and I got on my knees and reached down, I announced "I feel the babies head!" It felt so good to be in the warm water. It gave me a bit of a break. Katy just said, go with the pushed when you feel them!

I asked what time it was, someone replied 12:50am. I couldn't believe how fast it was going. My mind hadn't quite caught up with everything. I felt the babies head again, and I could feel alot of hair. Another intense feeling to push, at this point I was being VERY loud! I was surprised our first daughter hadn't woken up. Katy said to try and pant while baby was crowning, I tried but my body was just pushing! Katy announced okay babies head is out! I got a moments reprieve when my body pushed again, and out slid baby, forward and I caught the baby. Cradling baby in my arms, I quickly checked to see, "It's a girl!" She cried right away, Katy suctioned her a bit, because she had noticed some meconium in my water when it broke on the toilet. She wiped her face as well. We waited for her cord to stop pulsing and after I had birthed the placenta, clamped and cut it. Katy asked what we were going to name her. I looked to Josh because we hadn't completely agreed on a girls name. He said "Elise Faith" right, that's what you wanted?" I said, "Yes!"

I got out of the pool and straight to the bed. Midwives wrapped up baby and handed her to Josh while I got situated in the bed. This part is a bit fuzzy to me as far as series of events. I do remember starting to shake uncontrollably. Katy gave me some tincture under my tongue that tasted awful! And she came to me and said, try centering yourself, and focus on trying to calm down. The adrenaline was surging through me and I couldn't stop shaking! I was also FREEZING! They got some socks on my feet and a tank top to wear, and wrapped me up in a blanket. A few minutes later I stopped shaking and was warm again. I think at this point they gave Elise back to me to see if she wanted to nurse. She latched right away! Which Eliana never did! She nursed for a little bit, and we let her drink for a while. Then after getting a little in her belly, they did her exam. She weighed 8lb 12oz 21 inches long! 9 oz bigger than Eliana!

Eliana woke up about 1:30. She was very sleepy, and unsure what was going on. She was cuddling with daddy, when I showed her Elise. It took her several minutes to realize I was holding a baby. Josh brought her onto the bed, she looked at her, touched her. And then said "baby, all done". We aren't sure what she meant by that but she has done wonderfully adjusting to a new baby, and just adores her baby sister.

So labor started at 9:45 pm, water broke at 12:47am, Elise arrived at 12:57am after just a few pushes!

Thank you so much for the support. I can't imagine birthing anywhere but the comfort and security of my own home. And the support of a competent, encouraging midwife. Thank you so so so much! It means so much to us!!

TURNING TO HOMEBIRTH DURING COVID: https://www.thedailybeast.com/pregnant-people-turning-to-home-births-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pregnant-people-turning-to-home-births-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/11/homebirth-unveiled-the-voice-and-heart-of-homebirth-mothers-150photos/

What do you love about nursing?

What do you love about nursing?
Aimee, an ex-governess, nursing her son, Etienne, in post-World War II France. LIFE magazine Apr 15, 1946.

[Image: Black and white photo of a mother nursing her son while sitting on a kitchen counter. Text: Breastfeeding is timeless.]