Home birth after “routine” hospital birth: Blaine’s story
Our next story is one from a mother who had a routine hospital birth with her first baby: induction, epidural, coached pushing, the works… but for baby #2, she planned a home birth.
Here’s her story:
“The week before baby arrived, I saw my midwife, Toni Hill, on Monday or Tuesday – can’t remember – and she said my baby was turned sunny side up. Her face was pointed at my belly button when it should have been pointed towards my back. I did Spinning Babies to try and get her to turn all week.
I saw my midwife that Friday afternoon. She and Christa measured my belly and both said I didn’t look quite like an almost 42 week pregnant woman. (It was 1/12/19 and I was almost two weeks past my “due date”… now I know I should have just assumed she would come within the entire month 🙂 ) I felt okay, just kind of tired, and really ready to meet our sweet baby. Didn’t know the gender this time either! But- good news… the baby had turned slightly so she was in position and ready to come any second.
I had a few mild contractions on and off but nothing consistent on Saturday, January 12. We stayed home all day, and I rested but started to get discouraged. I went to bed that night knowing that I was still pregnant. Still exhausted. Because I was almost 2 weeks past my “guess date” and I felt as if my body had failed. That I was a failure for not going into labor yet. That I was foolish for choosing home birth. That I should have been induced weeks ago (because that’s the norm in the birth world in our area currently). But that’s not my story and it’s not what God had set in our hearts over a year ago (before we ever even thought about baby #2).
Contractions woke me – suddenly and intensely – at 2am out of a deep sleep. I got out of bed, walked to the hallway bathroom right outside of our door – my husband was still asleep – then started timing contractions. They were tough immediately. I couldn’t even start the timer for the next contraction due to seeming to be right on top of each other. I gripped the bathroom sink to try and catch my breath when I realized, “God, this is it. Be near.” I timed them for about 20 minutes. I walked to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of cranberry juice because THIRSTY. I was able to drink one sip. That’s all I could do. I knew something big was coming!
I called my midwife at 2:30am in the midst of all this – not really able to talk well or breathe deeply due to contractions – which woke my husband up. Andrew started prepping the birth space in our bedroom. I kept walking around trying to get contractions to ease up but they only got more intense. There wasn’t time to start my labor playlist or the diffuser or anything else I had planned. I couldn’t talk or move during contractions and attempted to get into the bathtub to relax. The tub seemed to make my contractions more intense and I wasn’t even able to sit down.
The surges seemed to continue on top of each other without time to gather my thoughts or relax and let labor progress. Around 45 minutes into laboring, I felt like this baby would come before Toni got to our house. I was about to deliver this kid by MYSELF. My body had urges to push involuntarily —I kept repeating: Baby, you have to wait on Toni. Please wait. This pain will bring my baby. I can do anything for a minute. It’s almost over. This won’t last forever. My body isn’t broken.
I also remember thinking “I need to get to the hospital now. I need an epidural now. I cannot do this for the next ten hours. This is pain but I know it has a purpose.” I realized later that this meant I was in transition but had no clue just how quickly it was all about to be over. Toni was almost there, the pool was almost ready, it was almost time!
As soon as my midwife walked in the door, I had one big, long contraction as she checked to make sure I was okay. She and Andrew helped me get into the birth pool between surges. Miraculously, there was enough water in the pool for my comfort but I remember it being too hot. (I’m so needy in labor. Ha!) My husband quickly got the temp under control. Honestly, I have no idea what else was going on in the room. I just needed this kid OUT. I was able to kneel down in the water while Toni checked fetal heart tones. I remember I calmly breathed deep in and out a few times and here SHE was!
She was finally here. SO FAST! 1 hour and 22 minutes after I started having real contractions she came into this world. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Praise Jesus for His timing and His plans. Not my own. I still can’t believe I birthed my daughter at home, with no induction, no epidural, nothing except an amazing midwife, a calm husband, and a sleeping toddler in the next room. (And I slept in my own bed that night!)”
