Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Ocean's Homebirth Story


At 41 weeks and 3 days pregnant, I started having contractions. My contractions were 5-20 minutes apart that whole day. I texted my doula, Jaymie, and she told be that I was in labor but not active yet, so I went on with my day and then went to sleep. That night, I woke up around 2:30 am. My contractions woke me up. They were a lot closer together. I waited about an hour, then woke my husband. He asked if he should call the midwife and I told him not to call yet. I wanted to make sure this was the real thing. I timed the contractions out on an app on my iphone. After two hours of contractions 2-3 minutes apart, I had him call the midwife and doula. She asked how I was doing, and I said I could still manage. She said she would be on her way in about an hour.

As the night went on, or should I say morning, the contractions got stronger. I told my husband he should probably fill up the birthing tub. I thought it was interesting how after each contraction, I would have a minute or two of painless peace. That's the awesome thing about labor. It's just a temporary uncomfortable sensation, not really the same feeling as pain. He filled it up with really hot water, and then he covered it with a shower curtain to keep it warm. The midwife arrived and checked to see how much I was dilated. She said 5-7 centimeters, it was hard to tell. She left the room for a little bit and so did my husband. I was kind of in my own zone. With each contraction, I alternated between sitting on my ball, kneeling against the bed on the floor, standing against the wall, and pacing.  Dr Lori, my midwife, said it was really good I was upright instead of lying in bed and that it would help make the labor progress quicker.

Right when I was getting pretty uncomfortable, my husband walked in and said I was allowed to get in the tub now. YES! So I stepped into the tub and it was still hot! I was fine with it, but called my doula over to make sure the temperature was safe for the baby. She felt it and gave me the green light. As I sunk into the water, it was an amazing feeling. It was so relaxing and relieved so much pressure. Jaymie checked the babies heart rate, and it was perfect. I relaxed in a sitting position with my back against the side in the warm water. It was so nice. After a while, I started to feel really warm so my husband turned our fan on and Jaymie got a cold wash cloth for my head. Jaymie was so helpful, and I feel so blessed to have had her there.

Once I was in transition, my midwife came in the room. She checked the babies heart rate, and everything was still great. At this point, I asked my husband to get in the pool with me. I did not know beforehand if I would want him in the the tub with me, but at that moment, I knew I wanted him in there. He sat behind me in the tub and I leaned my back against him. I told him where to massage when I had contractions. Dr Lori told me to start pushing whenever I felt the urge. At first, I felt no urges to push. Just contraction, contraction, contraction...and then I felt it. It was like my body just started pushing on its own. What it feels like basically, for those who haven't given birth yet, is like you reaaaaally need to poop plus cramping like period cramps. It's really not that bad.
 

My body pushed on its own for a few contractions, and then I started helping my body. That's when I started making progress. I was chanting Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, in a low tone with every contraction. That is what they told me to do. They said they could see the head, but it was still pretty far in there. This is when it got more uncomfortable. I pushed in the same sitting position for a while, and then changed to a kneeling position facing my husband. With every contraction I would grab on to him, chant, and push. I remember asking at one point, "Is her head out yet??" And they said no, but it's getting closer with every push! I didn't talk a whole lot during my labor. The only thing I really said was "Water", when I needed water. They asked if I wanted to change positions and I said no. My husband told me, "Babe, her head is stuck." Dr Lori and Jaymie immediately said, "No, no. It's not stuck, but maybe you could try a different position?" I guess in the position I was in, my baby was hitting my tailbone basically, which was making it harder for her to descend.

So I changed positions, back to a sort of sitting position against my husband, but this time I had my legs up on the edges of the tub so that there was more space for her to come out. They told me that her head was really close now. With the next few pushes, my Aaaaaaaaa's were more like AAAAAAAAAHHHH's! With my next push I felt a strong burning sensation, they said, "It's her head! Do you want to see it?" I told them no and just kept pushing hard because I just wanted her to be out! With one more hard push, I felt her body jello its way out. She was here, and she was perfect. Ocean Siren Maluhia Fajardo was born at 10:15 am on March 21st.
 

They handed her to me, and I just held her close. She wanted to breast feed right away. My husband reached around me and she grabbed his finger. I could hear him crying in back of me. Her eyes were wide open, looking around and she didn't cry until later. I was so happy to be able to give her a peaceful birth. We waited a few minutes for the cord to stop pulsing, and then my husband cut the cord. We stayed in the pool to deliver my placenta, while I breast fed Ocean. Once the placenta was out, it was such a relieving feeling. I didn't want anyone else to hold Ocean yet, but I had to give her up so I could get out of the tub. My husband finally got to hold her. Jaymie and Lori had to help me get out of the tub and walk over to the bed because I was so weak.

 



They lay me in bed and handed Ocean back to me and covered us with lots of blankets. Ocean pooped right away, so that was good. She was measured and weighed at 22 inches and 7.12 lb. Jaymie brought me some cinnamon tea. The showed me the healthy placenta, and also that I had a pretty large blood clot in it, so I had to stay in bed for three days and not do anything. I had them put my placenta in the refrigerator. Lori said that I needed a few stitches, so she stitched me up right there. It was a wonderful experience with wonderful people. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Thank you Dr Lori, Jaymie and babe so much for everything. I love all you guys, and I love you my Ocean girl. You are the queen of my heart now.

20 comments:

  1. wow, amazing story!! I wish I had the chance to experience a home birth...both of my children were born at a hospital and neither was a good birth story!! I wish I would have known then the things I know now!

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  2. I love birth stories. Thank you for sharing. Makes me super excited for my #3 to come. Just wish we could have him at home, too. I loved having my first son at home. Such an awesome experience!! Way to go you and congrats!

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  3. Amazing. Absolutely amazing! I am so proud of you! I love reading your post because it brings me back to my birth experience with many similarities. How long was the hot water in the tub before you got in? That's a great idea covering it with a shower curtain; I'll have to do that next time! I'm so glad you got breastfeed her right away! Next time I hope to do that (since I'll actually know what I'm doing next time!).
    Blessings on your new wonderful family!!

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  4. Aw, Congratulations! She's adorable!

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  5. Wow, that's an amazing story - and I'm sure you and Ocean are so happy that part of the ordeal is now over... And wow - they really DO have an app for everything... =)

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  6. This is definitely a fascinating post for those of us who have never had kids (nor plan to). Definitely looks like the way to go if one plans to give birth. How does the blood clot in the placenta relate to having to stay in bed for three days after?

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  7. it sounds like you had such a great, calm (well as calm as labor can be!) experience with your home birth. glad everything went well for you and little ocean! she is adorable.

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  8. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter Ocean. I was so delighted to read your post and its the first time i have read a Birthing post. Warmest of wishes to you and yours x

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  9. What a beautiful experience. I'm glad it went so well, and calmly. Thanks for telling us about it; I found it very moving.

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  10. Wow, that is beautiful and very touching! I'm so happy for you that you have your beautiful baby girl and wonderful husband and that everything went wonderfully!

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  11. Congratulations on your beautiful baby. I'm so glad you had such a positive experience with the birth and the doula. Great job!

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  12. Oh what a journey and adventure you've had. Congratulations to both of you on your new baby girl finally being in your arms.

    God Bless your days ahead with His gifts of many joys and wonders.

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  13. Thanks for sharing. What an amazing birth story. Blessings on you and your family...
    xoxoxo

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  14. Gorgeous photos! I especially love the one with you and your husband in the birth tub together and when you are holding your baby and she is looking up at you. Made me feel warm and happy from head to toe! You are so amazing! Enjoy every moment! Motherhood is such a beautiful gift!
    Love
    Debbie

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  15. Thanks everyone for all the love :)
    To answer your questions, the water was put in hot about An hour before I got in and stayed hot the whole labor!
    Shen- I guess the big clot meant that I lost a lot of blood, so I should stay in bed so I wouldn't lose more, plus I was weak.
    Love you all :)

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  16. Congratulations Carissa! You are amazing and I know that your little one will soon discover this for herself ;)

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  17. Thank you for sharing your birth story! Congratulations :)

    I am also planning a home water birth and this is my first baby. I'm due in ten weeks!

    Oh, and I'm also vegan ;)

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  18. what a sweet story! you had me crying there! congratulations on your beautiful birth and baby.xoxoxo

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  19. Aw thanks Cassie;)

    Paulina, that's awesome! I'm planning on starting to update my blog more often again, so please keep stopping by :)

    Kelli, aww glad you liked it! It was truly amazing!

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  20. I already read this long ago, but I guess I didn't comment. Thanks for sharing; I found it very interesting!

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