Home Birth Home School

Anabel is three days old and I am just now getting a chance to share some thoughts on her birth. The morning of New Year’s Day I knew it would be the day. I just had a feeling, and by noon I was having very slight cramps. Super light contractions started around 2 pm, I laid down to rest and they were about five minutes apart and not noticeable enough to catch my attention. Later in the afternoon contractions had not changed, I knew it was the start of labor, but was unsure how long it would be before real labor started. This was different from my last two labors in that the onset of the two previous labors was the breaking of water.

Feeling Ready

By 6 pm the contractions were about 3 minutes apart and still not too noticeable, I went about the house doing the usual and getting dinner etc. The contractions felt like a tightening with some mild cramping, not dissimilar to the beginning of a period. I went to the bathroom and felt the cervix, I was around 3cm dilated. I remember thinking that things were going a little slow for me.

From 6-8pm, I stayed on my feet, hoping that walking around would move things along. This seemed to help strengthen the contractions and I found some light breathing was all that was needed to relax. From 8-10pm contractions strengthened, and I figured they were only about 1 1/2 minutes apart, contractions were still not too strong, from what I remembered during my previous labors. I figured I was a long way from delivery by the way I was feeling, I was not at all tired and the contractions were so easy to breath through I thought I was many hours from delivery. Around 8:30pm Andy let me know he would like the baby to be born before midnight, so it would be born on the First of the year. I remember saying something like “Is that so?”, I found it annoying and amusing at the same time, that he would comment on when he wanted the baby to be born. I said it was up to the baby.

Working

Breather

By 10pm, the contractions were taking more of my attention and I asked Andy to get the tub up to temperature. I got into the tub shortly thereafter and labor started progressing very quickly from that point, although I still had the feeling I was not very close.

My previous labors were stronger than with this baby. With the first two births I found much more of my focus was needed to breath through and concentrate on getting through the contractions and I needed to work harder to stay relaxed. I think I was waiting for that feeling to hit me this time, but it never came.

Anticipation

I went straight through to transition without that full focus feeling, and contractions remained fairly easy to manage. So I was very surprised when I found the urge to push around 11:10pm, only about an hour after getting into the tub. That first natural urge to push happened and I knew then it was very close. I felt inside and found the water sac slightly bulging at the opening of the cervix, I would guess that I was not fully dilated at that time, maybe 7 or 8cm. The babies head was right behind the bulging sac. I was anxious for the water to break, I knew it would relieve some pressure and help the head descend more rapidly.

Finally the water breaks

Within a couple of pushes the water broke. I looked down to see the color of the amniotic fluid was stained with meconium. I felt a tinge of uneasiness creep in, I know that can be a sign of stress for the baby, I was anxious to deliver quickly. Another couple of pushes and the head crowned.

Crowning Glory

There was a burning sensation when the head crowned, perhaps I would have gone slower than I did if the fluid had been clear, but I was less concerned with tearing now and more concerned with getting the baby delivered). I did my best to focus on not letting the head pop out in one huge push though, I let out lots of tiny pushes to allow the head to pass slower. Still, my thoughts were all about delivering as quick as possible, and once the head was out more stained amniotic fluid emerged. I felt the head and around the neck, no cord issues. So I concentrated on pushing the rest of the body out, I waited a second for the feeling of a contraction to help me push but it didn’t come. I went ahead and pushed without one to get the body out. The body is so easy to deliver compared to the head, there is no discomfort, only relief.

Healthy Baby

I am a great baby haver, but not a good baby catcher. I have watched so many videos, with amazement, as the mother reaches down and catches her own baby. I was glad to have Andy catch the baby, he did a great job, just the right amount of encouragement and communication. He quickly put the baby on my chest. Unassisted childbirth has a very different feel at this time in the birth process. I was never concerned with my previous babies upon delivery, I knew someone else had it covered. This time it was up to Andy and I. That ecstatic, amazing feeling would have to wait a moment this time, until I heard some noise from this baby.

I rubbed the babies back and head a bit, the baby was not as responsive and I would have liked to see or expect. Color was a light purple, which is okay, and muscle tone was there as was some slight movement of hands. But I felt very impatient to hear a little cry and the face was very still.

Wrap it up!

Success

I looked down and moved the umbilical cord to the side to check the sex, and was so surprised to see it was a girl. At this moment, seconds seemed to really drag out. Looking back, I am sure she was fine and I know that getting a baby started up is not unusual or dangerous, and is pretty easy to do, and her color was not alarming in any way. I looked to Andy for some guidance here, I was ready to see her let out some noise. He told me to cover her nose and mouth with mine and give a little suction pull. I did what he said and right away she let out a little cough. Another suck and she coughed a little more.

I then gave her some small puffs and she was all set and let out some good cries. I think this had the same effect a bulb syringe would have when suctioning out the mouth after delivery. Just a little stimulation to get things going and clear the airway. She pinked up real nice and we all breathed easy and started to truly enjoy the moment. That’s when I let the boys know it was girl, she was really with us now.

Joy!

This being my third baby, it was really pretty easy for me. My first was much more of a challenge mentally and physically. Owen, although larger that Anabel, was the easiest of the three during the actual delivery stage, I don’t recall the burning I felt with Anabel, but I was also not in any hurry to deliver him, I took my time, delivered him without any tearing or damage. I felt a little urgency with Anabel, and I follow my instincts, so getting her out was my priority. I did get a tiny cut this time, but it is already mostly healed, and no stitches were necessary.

We are all so thrilled to have a little girl join our family. She is just so beautiful, and so easy going and calm. She is already very alert, looking all around and lifting her head right off my shoulder to get a better look at things. She is shining so bright right now, we are all feeling her new glow.

The whole family present for the birth was special for us. The boys watching was a little bit of a distraction for me, as I knew it might be, but it was worth it. They were able to take part in the experience and witness the babies arrival and very first moments. This would not have been possible in the hospital. I realize unassisted childbirth is certainly not a choice to be made lightly and not a choice that fits for most women, but it was right for us.