Farrah Grace's beautiful homebirth

[Edensmomma]

I started having contractions on my Older child's birthday (12-13) and I got really nervous that they would share a birthday. I didn't want that. I wanted them to each have their own day. I meditated all evening and thankfully the contractions stopped.

On 12-15, my EDD, I was having more contractions. They weren't painful or uncomfortable at all so I just ignored them. At about 3 pm they started to get noticeable. Again, not painful at all. They started getting regular, about every 6 minutes lasting a minute. I could still talk and laugh through them so I knew I had a while to go. At about 8 pm I called my midwife and doula to let them know I was having contractions and just wanted to give them a heads-up that I might be calling them in the middle of the night
My parents-in-law were watching our 2 year old at the time so we just told them to keep her until we called.

At 8:30 pm my doula arrived. I thought she was nuts for coming so early, I was watching The Hangover with my husband and laughing and having a great time. I took a shower and it felt good to run the warm water on my back.

Pretty soon I had to start moaning through the contractions. They still weren't painful yet so I figured I had hours of this to go. My husband started filling up the birth pool and I just kept thinking everyone was crazy and getting way ahead of themselves. All of a sudden I got very serious and my mind shifted into concentration mode. I blocked out everything around me and just labored and rested in between.


At 10:00 pm the birth pool was full and ready to go and by that time the contractions were getting pretty painful. I felt like I was going to vomit. My doula got me a bowl in case I did.


I crawled my way from the couch to the birth pool and stripped off my clothes slowly. I slid into the tub and it felt AWESOME! The water just relaxed my body.



I started to get the ''I can't do this!'' and yelling very loudly during contractions. I am so glad my 2 year old wasn't there because I know it would have scared her. I did originally want her there for the birth but it just happened that she was at my parents-in-law at the time and I'm glad it worked out that way.
A deep fear came over me. I don't know what it was about or even why I was scared, I was just filled with fear.
DH was doing counter pressure which felt pretty good.




I heard my doula on the phone with my Midwife asking her how long until she would get there and hurry up because I was going quickly and she thought the baby would be here really soon. I still thought she was crazy I had a 25 hour HARD labor with my first child.

My midwife's apprentice arrived. (She lives closer to me than my midwife)
and she started setting up and told me I was probably crowning at that point. She put her hand in the water and just felt around, not internally and said ''Yep. Baby's head is right there'' and I couldn't believe it.


Then the burning feeling came. My midwife had arrived by then. I felt a pop and knew my water broke. She told me to put my hand down there and feel my baby. I was scared. I resisted. Finally I gave in and put my hand down there and felt her head right there! It was so surreal. Then I felt her tiny little hair floating around in the water and I yelled ''I FEEL HAIR!!'' and everyone giggled.


I really didn't want to push. I don't know why. But then my body started doing it for me.


My midwife was trying to find the baby's heartbeat with a doppler and tried for about 20 minutes. She couldn't find it so she started getting out the Neonatal Resuscitation equipment that we had pre-set up. My husband freaked out. She kept it really quiet so I never even noticed.
Then her head was out! The cord was wrapped 3 times tightly around her neck and it ran up her back. My midwife told me I had to push as hard as I could and fast and do it for my baby. I did. I used every ounce of strength in my body and she came out quickly.
At 10:43 pm she was born.



Thank the Universe she was fine. Not even a hint of blue. She pinked right up and was crying. It was music to my ears. I finally got to meet the little person I grew and felt moving inside me for 40 weeks. I dreamed of this moment.
We didn't cut the cord for 25 hours after birth.
My favorite picture



Daddy held her while I pushed out the placenta. I tend to hemorrhage and have very low blood pressure so my midwife was watching me like a hawk. I did end up needing an injection of Pitocin.



First time she latched on about 30 minutes after birth


In my herb bath about 2 hours after birth. You can see the 'placenta package' all wrapped up on the edge of the tub.


With daddy, again the placenta package



Getting weighted



Farrah Grace
12/15/09
10:43 pm
8 lbs 8 oz
21 inches

Thanks for reading

[irishmama2]

beautiful! I love all the photos. What a great gift for Farrah when she gets older.

[eragsdale]

wait it (placenta) took 25hrs to stop pulsating?



AMAZING birth story by the way.

[ashtonsmom]

great birth story and photos mama!!! congrats!!!!

[KaysieW003]

Wonderful story and great photos...they pull you right in and make me feel like I was there! Who was taking the photos?

[Edensmomma]

Thank you everyone! It was truly amazing.

Originally Posted by eragsdale wait it (placenta) took 25hrs to stop pulsating? AMAZING birth story by the way.

No it didn't. We did a lotus birth where you wait until the cord starts to dry up. It's physiological cord closure.

Originally Posted by KaysieW003 Wonderful story and great photos...they pull you right in and make me feel like I was there! Who was taking the photos?

My doula

[gotomakan]

Wow, awesome story!

[Revy]

Wow! Congratulations mama. Awesome birth story and nice pics

[lavender dragonfly]

What an amazing story.


Thank you so much for sharing. I am really craving a homebirth now

[BootyGold]

Beautiful

Its amazing what transition does to a woman's mind/body