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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up to a strong contraction at 4:07 AM on Thursday, February 21st and was 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I had three close and strong contractions and decided to get into the shower. I thought about calling my birth team but my first born child, my son’s labor was 44 hours long so I didn’t want to cry wolf thinking I was in for the long haul. After just a few minutes in the shower and several back to back strong contractions, I knew I was in active labor and yelled for my husband and told him to call our birth team. My labor was moving FAST! This was my double rainbow baby (a baby after two losses) and the emotions hit me hard. She was *really* coming and would be safe in my arms soon. I wept with excitement, gratitude, and love, then I took a moment to collect myself before clearing my head and preparing my mind, body, and spirit for her labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
For me, the most challenging thing about going natural was my daughter attempted to come out with a nuchal hand. I felt as if something wasn't right and told my midwife during the pushing phase. Upon examination she let me know about the ducal hand. For the next contraction, she told me not to push and she gently slid her little hand back down to allow her to be born. I only pushed for a total of 7 minutes and had she not have had the nuchal hand I believe it would have been even faster!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
For me, I honestly believe a combination of things really helped me prepare for childbirth. I remained active throughout my pregnancy and taught yoga and yoga sculpt until the week before my daughter was born. I walked and swam regularly, ate 6 dates a day starting at 34 weeks, I have acupuncture throughout my entire pregnancy starting at 3.5 weeks pregnant (literarily the day I found I was pregnant), I received amazing chiropractic care from a Webster Certified chiropractor, I researched, read, and visualized by birth. As a birth profession myself I already had a lot of knowledge but I dove in even deeper to the emotional aspect. I created a beautiful affirmations wall with images and letters from loved ones and family surrounded by twinkle lights in my bedroom where I planned to birth my daughter. I also had a mothers blessing way necklace made of charms, stones, and pieces were sent from all over the globe from loved ones with a story of love, hope, and encouragement for my birth which I wore throughout the first half of my labor. Most importantly though, I built the most AMAZING, knowledgable, loving, and supportive birth team. I had an incredible midwife, doula and birth photographer who is also a doula, my loving husband, and my oh so excited 3-year-old son.
My daughters birth was absolutely incredible and so healing for me! However, things took a quick turn about 13 minutes after my daughter was born. My midwife quickly realized I was bleeding more than I should be. We tried to get the placenta out and it literally started falling apart in pieces. My midwife attempted to manually remove it and was able to get some but not all of it out. Then the emergency struck. 911 was called and I had a severe postpartum hemorrhage which only happens in 2-3% of deliveries. My team was incredible throughout it all. My midwife calmly and quickly had to apply internal and external pressure in order to prevent me from bleeding out. The ambulance ride was excruciating and the second attempt at a manual extraction from the doctor at the hospital was intense. After a 30 hour stay at the hospital, I was released and had to return 4 days later for D&C surgery to remove the remaining placenta. The day after surgery I felt so much better!
As I look back and reflect on my experience I am still absolutely over the mood at how my daughters birth unfolded. To say it was beautifully perfect is an understatement. It was EXACTLY what I hoped for. The unexpected afterbirth does not even faze how incredible my birth experience I had and is simply a side note. I would have the exact same birth and outcome 500 times over again without hesitation.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I cannot believe how FAST and how INTENSE my labor was. From the first contraction to her birth were only 3 hours and 37 minutes. This was a huge difference from the birth of my son. I had so many tools (CUB, Elle Tens, Rebozo, Aerial Hammock, Yoga Ball, massage tools, comfort tools, a handpicked playlist and so much more ready but we didn't use anything except the Elle Ten's unit). I felt so confident and blessed for not only my experience but so incredibly grateful for my team, the team that healed, loved, supported and ultimately saved me!
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We particularly loved how many stories and experiences were shared, but that we were constantly told to do what worked best for us and our family and that there was no one way to birth.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The Elle Ten's with contraction boost was such a great tool. I used the Ten's unit prior to getting into the birthing pool. Once in the birthing pool, the water really helped ease my body and mind. My labor was so fast that we didn't have time to actually fill the pool the whole way so my husband got in to help raise the water level. Having him there to rub my back, apply counter pressure and to lean on in between contractions was phenomenal. He was my rock and I felt so close to him as we brought our baby earth-side.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Holding my daughter for the first time was so incredibly emotional! With my prior losses and a difficult pregnancy with a subchorionic hematoma, I couldn't wait for her to be here where I would hold and protect her. There was such an incredible sense of relief knowing I did it, we did it, and she was finally here. The amount of love in my bedroom was indescribable.
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What did you name your baby, and why?
We named our Daughter Ember Rae. Ember means to rise out of the ashes, to smolder but to never burn out and Rae like ray of sunshine, and happiness that she brings to our entire family. We named her Ember Rae to honor not only our previous babies we lost, but also for the amount of strength, love, and light she holds.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
Mama Natural Birth Course helped me to include my husband with every aspect of our labor and birth. It was incredible to sit down together each week to watch the videos and really discuss what we wanted, and why we wanted it for our birth. It helped my husband to feel more educated and empowered and to understand the way of things we were choosing to do. We particularly loved how many stories and experiences were shared, but that we were constantly told to do what worked best for us and our family and that there was no one way to birth.
