Birth Stories

 

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Amanda and Tom's home birth of Nova

By Amanda

Nothing could have quite prepared me for the arrival of our little girl. Tom was sure the baby was going to come on our due date and low and behold she began her journey into our arms the very next day.  We had been enjoying a wonderful weekend together, just the two of us and were sitting down to lunch. I was on the big easy chair and felt a sudden adrenaline rush, just a subtle tingling in my toes. I told Tom I was feeling anxious about her birth and what the experience would be like.  I stood up from the chair and we both watched in awe as my water broke in a gush on the floor. Tom looked at me in amazement and we both knew that the moment we had been anticipating now for 9 months was not too far off.

We tried to lay down for a nap, but were too excited. I had very mild cramping that was on and off. I called Blue to let her know what was happening and she was excited as it definitely sounded like I was in early labor. Her advice was to get some rest, eat a little and call when things became more intense. Tom and I snuggled for a few hours and then walked to the store for a video, something to distract us maybe enough to sleep.  Around 6 pm the cramping became more regular and slightly more intense.  I was able to drift and doze a little bit through the movie. Around 10 pm Tom fell asleep just as I was becoming more restless. I moved from the bed to the couch and back again. Around 11 we began timing my contractions which were still not extremely painful, but growing in intensity.

At 1 am I woke Tom up as I now understood what the word intense meant. I was hesitant to call Blue as I didn’t want her to come too early and just end up having to wait. At around 3 am I was on the couch kneeling with every contraction and it was becoming more than I could deal with on my own. Tom called Blue and she arrived shortly after at around 4 am. By the time she arrived, I was on the bed unable to move. She checked my dilatation and I wept with joy when she told me I was at 7 centimeters. I had heard so many birth stories where women were disappointed to find out that they were not very far along so I was amazed that I was already at that point. Tom and Blue hurried around setting the tub up in our living room. I was so eager to get into the warm water and found that once I did nothing could have been more soothing. The birth assistants, Eve and Kelly arrived, but I was unable to greet them, lost in my own process.

By this point in my labor, I was dreading each contraction. Tom was by my side every step of the way. Blue and Kelly and Eve were all looking into my eyes telling me that this is what it took to birth my baby, that I could do this, that I was so very strong. I didn’t feel strong though!! I felt like running out of the room and out of my body and on to the next adventure!! There really came a moment though when I knew that there was no escape from the intensity and the pain and that I really needed to embrace it in any way possible. My meditation CD had been playing over and over again and it led me to make deep “oooooooohhhh” sounds, and then “ooooohhhhhmmmmmm” sounds. I know they became high pitched at times and the women were able to remind me to lower them, making them more grounding and soothing, sinking my body into the earth.

At almost 7 am Blue checked me and I was ready to push. I did not have the urge but once I began pushing it felt kind of good (if anything could have felt good then!!) I pushed in the tub for an hour. Chin curled down to my chest, wrapping around my baby still in my belly. I could feel the baby kicking me as it moved lower and lower. At 8 am they moved me to the bathroom, though I am amazed I had the strength to move. I was so exhausted. It felt like all I could do to mentally prepare for each contraction. I endured one push in the kitchen before we made it to the toilet.

It felt like we were in the bathroom for an eternity. Through my haze I recall the joy of seeing Blue set up the birth supplies and her telling me that it wouldn’t be long now. Tom sat behind me on the toilet for a while, and then I was on all fours, pushing literally with all my might through every contraction. I was able to get three pushes for each contraction before I couldn’t push any more. Blue was my cheerleader and I will never forget her enthusiastic “Push, push, push, push, push!!!!!!!!!!!” and then the relief at hearing some progress had been made. Blue told me afterwards just how long the crowning took, and it took longer than usual, I guess thanks to Nova’s good solid head!! Soon I was able to reach down and feel that head, an unbelievable soft mass coming out of me.

Her heartbeat became hard to find and I think in those few moments I came face to face with my deepest fears that she would not be okay. What a relief to hear the faint hoof beat sound and Blue’s reassurance that she was doing fine. With Tom behind me, bracing my body for every painful contraction all I could think about was pushing, finding the urge, knowing that I was the only one who could move her into this world. Blue was trying to work her head out with her hands, clearing the way. Tom could see her emerging and I felt his joy at knowing we were almost there. I had no idea of where she was at. Ring of fire, for sure!!! A massive weight between my legs, with what felt like the very last drop of energy in my body I PUSHED with all my might and in a flood of energy she came, her body like a purple streak being both pushed and pulled from my body. Her silence and then her cries as she was placed in my arms, all three of us weeping for the most amazing relief that I have ever felt in my life.

I have never felt more love than at that very moment. Love for my amazing partner and love for this little being that we had created. Tom was the first to notice that she was a girl and that she was our Nova Blue.  All those months of speculation! And it was the last thing I thought about! A total of almost 16 hours and there she was, completely whole, utterly beautiful and perfect in every way. She was alert and aware from the very start and ready and able to nurse! She looked up at both of us. The cord pulsed for a few moments more while I held her. I was in such a state of shock and awe and I wish now I had felt the cord that had connected us for all those months.  Blue clamped us off and Tom cut the cord freeing our daughter (what a wonderful word!!) and thus beginning her life outside the womb.

 

 

Willow Gray's birth at the Wenatchee Birth Center
May 22, 2006 6:22 pm

by Lyndsay

You were born to us on this day and this is what I remember:

The night before I was very restless as my uterus began to contract mildly, keeping me awake and uncomfortable.  Because of my lack of sleep, I slept in until 8:30 am and decided it would be best to do some dishes and then go for a walk.  I had two thank-you notes to write:  one for Auntie Linda, Uncle Sidney, Brian and Holly, another for Susan Steppe, a friend from church who gave you a baby blanket and a wrist rattle.  I wanted to mail them off and check our mail at the post office so I decided to take a walk and see if my contractions would get stronger.  They seemed to stop me in my tracks, but I kept on walking.  I called Linda, Tina, Wendy, Lisa and Dyson.  I only was able to speak to Tina and Wendy about my contractions at that time and they were pretty sure you were going to arrive soon.  I was slightly nervous about that.  Grandma Judy called and I told her I was having some contractions and she asked if I was at the hospital so I had to remind her again that we were not going to the hospital and that I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew for sure that this was the day.  She let me talk to Auntie Kellie and she said, “Hey, I am going shopping for that baby, how am I supposed to know what to get if I don’t know the sex?”  I told her not to worry about that right now. 

I was anxious to keep the contractions going so I walked down to the Methow River by a neighbor’s house who has a small bench near the river.  The neighbor had never been home during my previous visits to that spot, but today he was and he was listening to some good music, waved to me as I began to do squats by the river, holding onto his bench for support.  That really opened me up and felt great.  I walked back up the small hill to our house deciding that labor might begin today and I should lay down for a nap.  When I did, my contractions started up again and 3 of them were 6 minutes apart, the next 2 were 10 minutes apart.  The intensity varied.  I wanted to call the midwife here in Twisp and did not know her name or phone number.  I was hoping she would be able to come over and check my dilation before I called Charles to come home and take me to Wenatchee. 

Laurie, the Wenatchee midwife, called me soon after I sat outside with the dogs and she gave me the midwife’s name:  Shira.  I gave her a call.  She called back when I was having more intense contractions, around 2 pm.  I was telling her about my day and how I felt when I had the strongest contraction ever, and I felt a popping sensation in my pubic bone area.  I had to put the phone down and breathe heavy through it.  When I got back on the phone she told me that it sounded like my body was doing some really good work.  She asked me if the popping sensation caused a gush of water, and I told her it did not.  She then advised me to call Charles to have him come home and said that she would be on her way.  I went through some strong contractions that were close together and I stayed on my hands and knees in the living room, sometimes leaning my upper body on the red couch.  I really wanted someone to be there soon.  I put the dogs outside in between the contractions and called Charles, he answered and I asked, “can you come home now?”  he replied, “yes, we are just leaving Wells Dam and are on our way”  I told him that I was having close, strong contractions, and he sounded very calm and soothing.  I couldn’t wait for him to get here!  I remember saying out loud as my uterus continued to contract intensely, “someone please get here!” 

That is when I called Auntie Linda and when she answered I said, “Linda, please pray for me and baby because I am having really strong contractions and they are very painful and close together” She said, “I am praying for you Lyndsay so much, I know you can do it, you’re going to have the baby today, the same day as Susan” I stayed on my hands and knees and while propped up on the red couch I kept looking out the window for someone to arrive.

When Shira arrived I told her how relieved I was to have her there.  She was beautiful, and she began breathing with me right away (the gum in her mouth smelled wonderful and minty fresh!)  Her breathing was similar to a great big sigh and reminded me to relax.  She sat on the floor next to me and asked if I would like her to examine my cervix.  I definitely wanted that.  I was only at 2-3 cm, but very soft and she said your head was pressing hard down there.  I was a little discouraged, but she said that we were working very well together.  I asked her to bring me a bowl because I felt sick to my stomach.  She brought it just in time.  I hadn’t done that in years!  Wow! 

We talked about how I had just moved here and she knew my midwife, Lisa Lehrer from Corvallis and she told me that we moved to a great little town.  Her voice was soothing and her words were distracting and kind. I thought about staying at home and having her deliver you, and she did too, but she said that we would be able to make it to Wenatchee and that Laurie and Dzhan were looking forward to being with us for your birth. (she also had another mama having contractions today). 

When Charles arrived I heard him speaking to another person telling him to wait at the door for a minute as he saw me half naked and moaning on the floor.  He said, “hey babe, how are you doin’?”  Shira answered for me saying that I was doing very well and my body was working hard.  She said, “today is your baby’s birthday” and Charles kept moving around the foyer and the bedroom packing up things and loading the truck, never really coming to me to touch or comfort, but just being there felt like a million bucks to me.  I think we were all relieved to have Papa there.  There is just something about him being “there” that feels so wonderful and comforting.  We love you Papa! 

Papa scrambled around the house gathering items for your big arrival:  pillows, food, clothes, toothbrush/paste, diapers, your first outfit, towels, water bottle, blankets for the back seat…when Shira and Charles walked me out to the truck I looked in the back seat and it was a “pillow haven” as Shira called it.  I climbed in, moaning through another contraction, laid down and realized that I may end up peeing all over back there very soon. So they helped me climb out again to go to the bathroom one more time before we left.  I was convinced the drive was going to suck really bad, but I knew that we had to go.  You were pressing on me very hard down there and I knew then that you would be born soon.  I tried to lie down for the most part, but felt better to go through each contraction on my hands and knees.  I would only lay down on my side to rest my arms and even then I would sometimes put one hand on Papa’s shoulder and he would put his hand on mine.  If the contraction was strong enough to nearly make me scream, I couldn’t help but nearly kick the window out!  If I did scream, Papa would remind me to keep my moaning low and to breath and he would say, “you’re doing great baby”.  I heard him whistling at one point and thought, “I am glad that he is so relaxed through this drive”  Then I heard him talking to someone and asked who it was and he said “Randy just called”  I thought, well, now Randy knows that I am in labor. 

We couldn’t get there fast enough, but Papa would say, “we’re gettin’ there”.  I noticed heavy rain as we got close to Wenatchee and I remember saying, “uh oh”.  Papa was cold because I had the window down with my face catching the refreshing, cool, moist air so he turned the heat on.  When I noticed the heat from the front, I said, “Baby, I am too hot for the heat” and he replied, “I’m freezing!”  I don’t remember how we settled that one, but I just kept my face near the open window.  I started to tell Papa that he should take the south bridge over to Wenatchee, but I couldn’t remember the directions after that (I had only been there once before).  He called Laurie when we were closer and we made it there just in time for me to have a really strong, wet contraction.  

When we pulled into the parking lot, I remember feeling so relieved, still on my hands and knees and seeing Dzhan and Laurie and one other young lady waiting for me.  Charles came around and helped me slowly step out of the truck and Dzhan was standing right there and I had another strong one and had to hold Charles right there in the rain and let it pass.  Dzhan said to me as the contraction began to cease a bit, “Do you wanna get out of the rain?”  “okay” I said. I remember feeling so disabled when we walked into the room.  I immediately took off my clothes and got on the bed, on my hands and knees of course.  My CooKoo for Cocoa Puffs shirt was wet from sweating, and my beige/pink pajama pants were wet and bloody. Wow!   

Dzhan said, “Lyndsay, I am going to examine your cervix okay?”  I agreed that would be great because I was certain that I should be fully dilated.  After checking she said something quiet to Laurie, I couldn’t hear but then to me she said, “Lyndsay, you are fully dilated to a 10”  ( I cry now just remembering the joy I felt)  I was so proud of myself, Willow!  We worked so hard on that drive, together, you and me, and now you were going to be born real soon.  Papa was in the bathroom at that time and I was very excited for him to come out and I remember asking where he was a couple of times.  It seemed like he was in there forever!  I wanted him to know that I was fully dilated! 

I gave my first push on my hands and knees and it almost happened involuntary.  I grunted like I was dry heaving, it was an incredible sensation mostly because it was very uncontrollable.  I felt a lot of fluids gushing on that push, but it wasn’t my bag of waters.  I think I stayed in that position for a couple of pushes when both Laurie and Dzhan decided that I should try another position.  The birthing stool.  This was a bit awkward for me and Papa because I was to lean on him while he sat on the edge of the bed and I was on the stool.  Contractions did not feel good in this position.  So Laurie suggested I lay back on a lot of pillows with my legs spread open (as you would expect for childbirth)  I did this and my first push went very well so they thought I should stay put.  I was so very hot and I remember Papa putting a cool washcloth on my forehead and serving me water through a straw.  It was so wonderful to have him do that for me.  The speed of my contractions were controlling how fast I was going to birth you sweet Willow and they were certainly coming along very fast.  I pushed with all my might during each one and Laurie helped out tremendously by asking me to hold my pushes longer with a quick breath in the middle.  So when I pushed, she would count, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, “quick breath” 1,2,3,4,5… as far as I could go.  That second count would wear me out pretty fast, but I knew you were moving down fast because Papa would look me in the eyes and say, “good job, honey, you’re doin’ it”  I kept saying I didn’t think I could do it, but everyone would say, “honey, you’re doin’ it”  Wow! It felt great to hear those words.  Thanks guys! 

I could feel your head moving farther and farther and it felt like it was crowning and Papa would look at me with tears in his eyes and say, “it’s coming out baby, I can see the head.”  I could tell that he felt a lot of pain in his heart for what I was going through, but we both knew that it would be over soon.  You and I were working so well together and the folds of your head were moving through my vagina with each push.  It was amazing!  One lady was holding my right leg in place and Papa was holding my left leg.  Laurie gave me her hand to squeeze, she was on my left and they all kept telling me to spread my legs and when I pushed to keep my chin down toward my chest.  Papa would tell me this again and again.  He really wanted it to be over with soon.  When I did as they told me, your head seemed to move down the birth canal even faster.  The advice was working!  Great! 

Soon your head was out and everyone including me was very excited.  Dzhan had to work the cord around head because it had wrapped itself during the birth.  I was breathing faster now while they suctioned your nose and mouth.  I remember feeling a huge relief when they told me to give it a couple more pushes so the rest of your body would come out.  I did and before I knew it you were on my chest looking up at me with big eyes and you whimpered a little bit, but you were pretty happy to see me.  I was thrilled!  My whole body was shaking and continued to do so for quite some time.  Papa cut your umbilical cord as soon as it stopped pulsing and you were free of the placenta.  I delivered the placenta shortly after and Dzhan and Laurie both were amazed at how healthy it looked!  You were so beautiful; I couldn’t take my eyes off of you and didn’t really notice what was going on around me.  Papa was so proud of us, Willow.  We did it!  You were finally here! 

 

 

The Birth of Olive Mae at the Wenatchee Birth Center

by Lyndsay

Little Miss Olive Mae, you joined God’s great world December 9th 2007.  Let me tell you about that special day.

I awoke, restless of course, after a night of wondering if I would start labor in the night.  Papa and I were concerned about the drive because your sister Willow labored very quickly from the time we left until we arrived at the Wenatchee Birthing Center.  I decided I needed to get out of the house and take Willow with so she could have some play time with other “kiddos”.

Our first stop was Kim and Tim Odell’s house just a few blocks up Twisp River.  Kim had called to see if I was doing okay (being 4 days “overdue”).  I told her I was going to go to church to give Willow playtime and she suggested I come over to play with her 3 kids for a bit.  Tim made me a second breakfast of eggs, bacon (yum!) and half an English muffin.  We sat and talked for a while and I had not a single contraction.  Darnit!  After a couple of hours I headed to church where the contractions began.  I remember 4 in one hour and I was telling Shia about them and she was excited for me.  Willow played around for a while and then we headed home for “naptime”.  I decided to eat and nap and then take LeRoy on a walk to start up the contractions again.  That did it!  I called Laurie and told her how my day was going and she wasn’t 100% sure I was in labor, but I was pretty certain because of one good strong contraction that made me stop walking.

We packed up and left and drove your sister Willow to Heidi and Chris Carter’s house, in town where she stayed for the night.  The contractions were still coming along when we arrived there and Heidi and Shia both prayed with me, hugging me while Charles and Chris unloaded Willow and her things.  The drive was great because papa and I were able to laugh and talk in between contractions.  They were about 5 minutes apart the whole drive, and totally manageable!  Perfect!  I called Robin and told her that I was coming and in labor.  She was planning on meeting us there.  This is a friend of mama’s that I worked with and is going to school for nursing in Wenatchee.  She helped me out a lot during trips to Wenatchee with Willow for my midwife appointments.  We usually picked up a burger at Red Robin every visit!  She is lots of fun!  She is like a sister to me. 

We arrived at about 6:30 pm and the midwife, Laurie Braunstein was there to greet us.  The birthing assistant she had was named Anna.  The upstairs room was set up so nicely.  I was excited to be there.  Robin arrived shortly after with some Taco Bell for papa.  (funny, I know)  Laurie checked to see how far I was dilated and she said I was at  4 cm.  hmmmm not much progress considering the week prior I was all ready at a 2-3?  Oh well. 
After walking around to and fro for two hours in my sports bra, underwear and wool socks, Laurie said I was dialated to a 7!!  Whoo Hoo!!  Awesome!  Through many contractions I remember saying things like “open open open”  “come baby come, I want to see you baby” 

Mama much preferred handling each contraction on my hands and knees.  And since everyone noticed me getting tired of this position, they offered to warm up the Jacuzzi tub for me, to try something different.  I had always wanted to try a water birth.  I was totally okay with this except I had heard that getting in the water can slow down the contractions and I did not want that to happen.  I felt as though it was taking forever as it was!  I was probably worried about that a little too much.  It is good, very good and beneficial to the birthing process to relax your body and mind throughout labor.  Laurie said I was thinking too much and needed to turn off my brain.  (ha ha ha)  Okay, so I got in the candle lit tub and everyone came in to watch.  I felt like a spectacle at times, but everyone was so supportive that I really didn’t mind being watched.  Birth is an amazing process!  These women had been through it and were honored to be present at your birth Olive Mae. 

The contractions continued and were feeling stronger, though not fast enough for me.  I still had good breaks in between and I wanted them to be closer together.  I couldn’t help it!!  Around 10:30 pm I asked everyone if they thought the baby would come before midnight and they all said yes.  I on the other hand did not think so.  Things weren’t happening fast enough for me.  Laurie could sense this and she suggested I get out of the tub. 

She checked me again and I was still at a 7.  Talk about being frustrated!  That hurt.  “Well, shoot” I thought/said.  She immediately suggested breaking my water to get things moving faster.  I was nervous about that, but agreed.  She broke my water at 11:00 pm and sent my body in to a whole other dimension.  Papa said that they all nearly pinned me down.  I couldn’t believe the pain that rushed through my body at that moment.  It was hard to breath, so I probably stopped because the next thing I remember was everyone in my face telling me to breath when I really could not.  But I tried as hard as I could.

We tried the birthing ball off the side of the bed and that hurt, so I kept standing and leaning over (on my hands, of course) on to the bed during the quick and intense contractions.  I knew I could push at any moment, so I did.  I yelled, “I’m pushing!! Ring of fire!”  Everyone let me push through that contraction and then helped me onto the bed for some more pushing.  I wanted to lay on my back again the same way I pushed Willow out.  And sweetie, in three more quick pushes, you were on my chest looking up to me, slightly upset, but beautiful as ever!  I love that part!!  And I love you.  You are amazing to me.    

 

 

Here are some websites with more stories:

Water birth stories

Home birth stories