To watch our Birth Story check out this video from Always Dad on Youtube.
On January 9, 2021 at 6:12 pm my we welcomed our beautiful little girl into the world.
She waited 41 weeks and 3 days to come out. She was just relaxing in the womb and growing to a healthy 9lbs 1oz and 21 1/2 inches long.
Even before I got pregnant I decided that I wanted a home birth. Listen to our podcast episode The Choices of Childbirth to hear more about how we came to that decision. After watching three of my family members give birth in the hospital I knew it was something I did not want to experience. The environment was stressful with hospital staff coming in and out and asking you so many questions and constantly touching you. The mom had limited mobility because she was hooked up to all the monitors which never stop beeping. The mom wasn’t allowed to eat. (I was in labor for 22 hours; I definitely needed to eat something.) The doctors were rushing at times and decided for you when it’s time to push.
Overall, when I saw the hospital experience I thought: if me and my baby are healthy, being in the hospital is totally unnecessary and if I could avoid those stresses I would.
Luckily, my baby and I were very healthy throughout the entire pregnancy, labor and delivery.
We decided to have a water birth at home. At 41 weeks pregnant my midwife and I chose to start natural induction methods: membranes sweep, herbs, and breast pumping. This did get things moving. After we did these things I went into labor the next day, Friday January 8, 2021.
Once my contractions got about 5 minutes apart and were getting a bit stronger my doula, Beth, with The Good Rose Doula came by to help progress my labor and give me massages to help me be comfortable. She stayed up with me so Austin could get rest since I could not sleep with consistent contractions. Later that evening my midwife Mary Surprenant with Blessing in Abundance Midwifery, and her assistant Mary P, came by to check me I was only a few cm dilated so they left and encouraged me to try and rest. Which unfortunately I could not do.
The next morning the ladies returned and we spent the whole morning laboring. The contractions were getting stronger but they didn’t get too bad until the afternoon.
I think I went at least 3-4 hours of just intense contractions, I tried getting in the shower, walking, bouncing on the pregnancy ball, laying with the peanut ball, massages and nothing really eased the pain. The number one thing that did help was Austin and Beth reminding me to relax and breathe through each contraction rather than tense up. At about 3 or 4 o’clock the pain had got so bad and I was so tired and my midwife could really tell I was wanting a break.
My water still hadn’t broken. They were unable to break it because I had group b strep, a bacteria in the vagina that is normal for women to have but could be dangerous for the baby so it requires antibiotics. I was unable to take the antibiotics because I was having an allergic reaction to it. My midwife was honest with me and told me this could go on for 2 more hours or 5 more hours or more or less and there was really no way to know. She encouraged me to think about how long I could handle this or to decide if I wanted to go to the hospital or not. She suggested Austin and I take a drive to talk it over and see if the labor would progress more.
We decided to take the drive and on the drive I said if I can get in the birthing pool I can probably keep laboring at home and that is what we did.
When we got back I got into the birthing pool. Austin and Beth sat beside me encouraging me, rubbing my back and Beth was telling me different positions to try in order to speed the labor process up. We tried getting on hands and knees, squatting and laboring on one side.
Although being in the pool did not by any means take the pain away it did make it more bearable.
Labor at times seemed unbearable I kept breathing through them as long as I could (which mind you this really does help!) but often I was crying, moaning and screaming. I wanted her out! However, the other part of me really did not think I could make it through. The pain was steadily increasing.
After an hour or so I got out of the pool to be checked and Mary S was basically asking again how much longer can you do this and as she was speaking my water finally broke!
Now, this felt really cool actually. It was warm and it was a quick gush of water and I could feel how close August was. What came next was definitely not cool! Intense contractions came back to back and it was time to deliver the baby on the bed. We pushed laying on my back, on my side and while I was on hands and knees. I ended up getting her out being on my back. Pushing was definitely the worse pain I have ever experienced in my entire life. I really wanted to stop. I even asked if they could just pull her out of course the answer was no.
“Can you just pull her out?!” -Laboring Momma in Pain
When she was crowning they asked if I wanted to see or touch her and I said absolutely NOT! I really don’t know why I didn’t want to. I felt kind of afraid to I guess and I just wanted to get this over with. Finally, when her head came out there was a feeling of instant relief. When they put her on my chest Austin and I both cried and just held her and kissed her. I felt so happy to be done and to finally see my baby girl.
A few minutes later, I had to deliver the placenta which actually felt relaxing and warm. Then I had to get stitched up immediately because I was bleeding so Austin held the baby while she was still attached to the placenta for almost an hour. Stitching was definitely uncomfortable but not too bad.
Overall, I look back and I realize my pregnancy was beautiful. I often felt like I had a parasite inside of me and I was emotionally unstable. But we had no issues and Austin and I grew way closer together during this time. I got to experience life growing inside of me. It was such a blessing.
For Austin, being the dad in this experience was at times overwhelming but then beautiful and rewarding all in the same. He got to see me and love me in my worst pain and it helped grow us on an emotional and spiritual level. It was hard for him to see me like this but he desperately wanted to do what he could to be there and help and in the end every moment was worth it to see our baby girl.
When we got to see her for the first time it was so amazing. We named her August Marie Darrow. She was born Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 6:12 pm at 9lbs 1oz with a head full of hair. She was and is beautiful. We have been blessed to be parents.
After this birthing experience, many ask “would you do it at home again?” My answer right now is I don’t know. Probably. I know that I can do it but man was it hard! I definitely want more children but I’m not sure I’m ready to go through that pain for a while. I think the home birth experience was peaceful and I loved being able to move at my own pace in the comforts of my home.
Now our baby is just over 3 months old and is beautiful and healthy and I love having her here. She’s already a daddy’s girl and has so much personality. She sassy, talkative and confident. She loves when her dad comes home and she gets so happy to see and talk to him. Pregnancy is beautiful, natural birth is empowering and having a child births a new love you have never felt before.
To watch our Birth Story check out this video from Always Dad on Youtube.
We hope our birth story inspires you. Comment below your favorite part of your birth experience.
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