A Birth to Remember

Labor Doula Services and Products to Support Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Evelyn- Home waterbirth

This is the birth story of one of my clients who has graciously given me permission to share with everyone. These are some of the most beautiful birth photos I've ever seen.  I only wish I had gotten photos like this of my twins' birth!  I had a hard time deciding which pictures to add because there were so many wonderful pictures of this entire labor and birth.

 

My client was unsure of her birth plans when we met and she was considering driving to a birth center a few hours away. She later decided to see the midwives at a local hospital. It wasn’t until a couple of days before her due date that she made the decision to have a homebirth. We were sitting at the table during her final prenatal when her husband said "Why aren’t we just having this baby at home?" That was it, we discussed it, and she said she wanted to see if she could do it. I called my friend who was my midwife for most of my pregnancy with my twins and I asked her if she would like to meet with a client. She laughed when I told her that the client was due in less than one week!

 

On Wednesday, July 19, my client, Jen, and her husband, Ben, met with the midwives. They got a list of items needed for the birth and came home to get ready. The plan was for all of us who were going to be at the birth to meet for a prenatal visit on Thursday, Jen’s due date.

 

On Thursday I received a call from Jen saying that her water had broken. She was thinking she would probably go past her due date since it was her first baby. We laughed and joked about how she was in the 5% of moms who actually go into labor on their due date. It was just after 7 am. Since she wasn’t having contractions yet I stayed at home waiting for things to pick up and for her to call me again.

 

 

 Jen & Ben timing contractions

 

 

Later that day Jen and her mom, Michelle, went to have their nails done. Everyone tried to relax as we waited but it was hard not be excited because we knew that the baby would be coming soon now.

 

 Jen & Michelle relaxing between contractions

 

 

By 4pm one of the midwives stopped by to see how things were going. She listened to the baby and thought everything was looking good. Jen’s contractions were coming every 4.5-5 minutes but she was still chatting in between them. The midwife called me after she left and said that it would probably be sometime the next afternoon before we’d see a baby.

 

At 6pm my phone rang. It was Ben calling to say he thought now might be a good time for me to come over. I grabbed my bag and headed out the door expecting to be gone until the next evening. Jen and Ben live just down the street from me so I was at their house in less than 5 minutes.

 

When I arrived your Jen was walking and talking between contractions while snacking on grapes and cherries. She looked absolutely radiant! Her face was glowing and her belly was so pretty and ripe. She looked ready to have a baby!

 

Jen and I right before things started picking up

 

 

I sat and chatted with her and Ben for a little while. Jen’s contractions were still about 4 minutes apart so I suggested walking around if she thought she could. She called to update the midwife and let her know how she was feeling. It was thundering outside by this time and it looked as though it might storm. There was a light rain falling so going outside to walk was out of the question for now. We decided to move around inside and see if the contractions would pick up at all.

 

Jen moved into the dining room where she drank some Emergen-C to give her some energy. She snacked on some cheese while leaning over on the counter. The change in positions really got things moving and now the contractions were coming much closer together. I was watching the clock on the microwave but not actually timing the contractions. I don’t like timing contractions... I’d rather watch the mom instead. It was close to 8pm when I noticed that Jen wasn’t really getting much of break between the contractions.

 

Ben had been trying to get some rest and at this time he came downstairs. The grandparents arrived and decided to make a pizza at their house across the street so that everyone could eat a little bit. By the time the pizza was ready Jen’s contractions were very intense. She was making some nice moaning sounds as she leaned over the counter and I put a hot compress on her back. She nibbled a few bites of pizza but she never did get a chance to finish it…

 

Swaying to the contractions 

 

 

Such an amazing couple working together to birth their baby 

 

 

Things really started to happen quickly now! It was almost 9pm and Jen was now leaning on Ben with her arms draped around his neck. She swayed through every contraction as she did her "labor dance." Ben was such a great support and we could all tell how excited he was that his daughter was finally coming! He began to fill up the birth pool with warm water as it became clear that everything was moving along pretty rapidly.

 

At 9pm I whispered to Michelle that it might be a good idea to call the midwife. I was almost afraid to say it because I didn’t want Jen to get excited and think it was almost over just in case the labor stalled a little later on. I was pretty sure that Jen was in transition so the midwife hurried on her way!

 

Jen got up to go to the bathroom and soon ended up on her knees with her arms draped over the bed. She says she is feeling pressure now. The midwife comes in just as we decide to move into the birth pool. She listens to the baby and everything sounds perfect. I think at this point Jen still didn’t realize just how fast things were going.

 

Michelle making sure Jen stays hydrated as she labors briefly in the bedroom 

 

 

Jen finally in the pool while I pour warm water over her back and Ben puts a cold cloth on her head 

 

 

 

Between contractions

 

Jen climbed into the pool and leaned over the edge with her legs and belly submerged in the warm water. Ben sat on the birth ball up by her head and I sat to her side. It was around 9:30pm by now and the contractions were very, very intense and were coming one right after the other. Suddenly Jen tenses up and says "I’m pushing!" She looks surprised! The midwife tells her to reach down and see what she can feel. As she does this, she turns to the midwife and says "I can feel her head!"

 

 

Jen feeling the baby's head as she lets her body bring it down

 

 

At this time the grandfather took the task of recording information for the midwives. Every time that they listened to the baby’s heart, he recorded it. Michelle took lots of beautiful pictures. She soon took Ben’s place up by Jen’s head and he moved to the back of the pool. After checking herself again, Jen said she felt something "squishy" in front of the baby’s head. The midwife checked and determined that it was amniotic sac… only the chorion had broken earlier! Around this time the second midwife arrived.

 

Beautiful, even in labor

 

 

Ben is busying supporting Jen’s perineum as she pushes. Jen says she can feel the baby moving farther and farther down and soon Ben can see the top of her head through the water. The room is filled with excitement and anticipation. Jen was so strong and powerful as she finally pushed the baby’s head out completely. Everyone leaned over to watch the head emerge.

 

Evelyn is born! 

 

 

The midwife reached down as Jen gives a final push. The baby slides out completely and the midwife passes her between Jen’s legs and up into her arms. Jen sits back into Ben’s arms as they both stare in amazement. What an incredible moment! At 11:03pm Evelyn Ann is born!

 

Jen pulls Evelyn up out of the water 

 

 

 

 

She's here!

 

 

Proud mama and grandma 

 

 

 

Soon after the birth we all helped Jen and Baby Evelyn get settled into bed so that she could nurse. Evelyn was weighed and she was a healthy 8 lbs, 11 oz. She was absolutely beautiful... Shiny blonde hair and long, slender fingers. Her head was barely molded at all and her cheeks were nice and plump! It was an awesome birth. Jen and Ben worked so well together and the whole family was just a wonderful source of comfort as Jen labored. As the midwife said, this birth was like "butter." Just perfect!