Max

My first birth! I was so fortunate to have a relatively easy pregnancy. I am blessed with an incredible, supportive husband, a wonderful midwifery practice, and an AMAZING Doula! Although my pregnancy was relatively easy and I loved being pregnant, I did have a complication late in my pregnancy that disqualified me from my ideal birth location and required me to have a hospital birth. This was difficult to come to terms with, but I mourned and moved on. My Doula was able to help me achieve my ideal birth, in my ideal birth space regardless of my birth location. On the night we went to the hospital, my Doula set up twinkle lights and battery candles, an oil diffuser, she hung my affirmations on the walls for me, and I played a playlist I created on a bluetooth speaker. My husband and I had our Doula go home to rest, as I was dilated 3cm, about 80% effaced, and it was 11PM.

My water broke around 3:30AM, and from there things progressed very quickly. I woke my husband from a deep sleep for support, asked to speak with someone about pain management (LOL!), and we called our Doula to come back to the hospital. My husband and Doula were great physical and emotional support—holding my hand, lightly rubbing my lower back through contractions, filling my water jug countless times, and tolerating my yelling (contractions are no joke!). I utilized Nitrous Oxide as my form of pain management. At 6:30AM, I was dilated to a 10, 100% effaced and very pushy. My Doula and husband continued their endless support with words of encouragement and my Doula gently rubbed my leg while my husband held my hand through contractions and pushing. At 7:09AM, our son was here! 7 lbs 12.9 oz and 20.5 inches of perfection! I had what is called a precipitous labor, which was definitely difficult. I like to say I could not have gotten through it without my husband, our Doula, and the Nitrous!

Huxley

My second son, my second birth. Pregnancy flew by with this one! This pregnancy was complication free, and for that I am SO grateful. It was 6:30 in the evening when I felt a little crampy. I had felt this before, so I didn’t think this could really be it, but I texted my husband just in case. Around 7:30PM, the cramping was still present and was coming in waves. I put my kiddo to bed and got in the shower. Previously with the cramping, after a shower, it went away, but that did not happen this time. When I got out of the shower, I started the Miles circuit, and that’s when things switched over. I was in the second position of the circuit when my husband called at 8:30PM, and said he was coming home. We talked his entire drive, and realized that I was having to take pause to breathe through contractions, and they were pretty consistently 5/6 minutes apart. I was in active labor. Things were getting more intense and I was finding myself asking him how much longer until he would be here. He got home at about 9PM, called my mom to come stay with Max, and took a quick shower. I continued with the second position in the Miles circuit, as that is what felt good to me. I started getting uncomfortable and moving around at 10:00PM. We let my doula know what was going on, and she suggested it was time I get into the tub. Something super common with active labor is DENIAL! I was so worried that the bath would slow things down, but with contractions now only 3 minutes apart, I should have known better. The water felt so good, the tub is my happy place. My mom arrived and my husband continued to time my contractions. Things did not slow down, but I was still worried it was too early to head to Our Birthing Center. I was so sure contractions would have to get more difficult or closer together. We called up my Doula and Midwife who reassured me, it was time. The drive to OBC was out of body for me. I focused on my breathing, and the ride really wasn’t bad. We arrived at OBC at 12:30AM, my dream birthing space. Nurse Grace and Doula Jen greeted us, and I instantly felt at “home”. I’ve served as a Doula at OBC many times, but was not able to be there with my first. The birth of my dreams was about to come true! They were already filling the tub just for me. My wonderful, gentle Midwife Chrisann (Avalon Midwives/OneCare Midwifery) made sure I was comfortable before checking me. I was so relieved to hear I was 7CM and 100% effaced with a bulging bag of waters. I knew things were going to go quickly. Into the tub I went, feeling nothing but support and love all around me, as every laboring mama should feel! I used my breath and low sounds through contractions, and tapped my forehead to keep a relaxed face. As The Naked Doula would say, “floppy face, floppy cervix!” At 1:00AM, I was struggling to stay relaxed nearing the end, and I requested Nitrous Oxide. It was brought to me instantly and helps me SO much during my births. Since this helped me relax, I believe that my water broke right around 1:06AM, as I felt my son drop down. 1:07AM, I told everyone “he’s coming”. Chrisann said “I see!” and encouraged me to take things nice and slow, and reminded me to breathe. I went slowly as I could, but at 1:09AM, baby boy was here! 9 lbs 10 oz and 21 inches of chunky perfection. We all could not believe his size, more so when he was put on the scale! Despite how big he was, this birth was relatively pain free for me and I did not have any tearing. I felt like I could do that labor and birth 100 times over again. Unlike my first, I had no fear, and I was in the location of my choosing. I felt like I was in control and that made things so much more comfortable for me. My incredible husband, my rock—it would not have been manageable without his endless support and loving touch. My team—Chrisann, Jen, and Grace. So supportive, gentle, and caring. How fortunate I am to have such an incredible story to share! This labor, birth, and support is all I could wish for all of my mamas, and I do and will continue to do everything in my power as a Birth Doula, to make this so. Love and light mamas.

Xx,

Emily