Birth #0013

This story has been written with the permission and consent of the birthing momma.


At 7:00am on a Saturday morning, I got a phone call from this momma saying that her water had broken with a "POP!" I reminded her that she could consider laboring at home for a little bit if she felt comfortable with that, and I could join them at home until she wanted to go to the hospital. She decided to call the hospital to check in with them, and her and her husband decided that they felt most comfortable going to the hospital and laboring there.

Once at the hospital, the nurse confirmed that this momma's water had indeed broken. They decided to rest during this time and prepare for the work ahead, since they had woken up so early. I affirmed their decision to rest and told them to call when they were ready for me and that I could come anytime.

Later that afternoon, I spoke with the father, and he said that I could come and join them if I wanted. I decided to head over to the hospital. When I arrived, the birthing momma's mother and sister in law were there in quiet and reassuring support of this process. Meanwhile, the momma was laboring in the tub, in a quiet, dark room with her partner right by her side, rinsing her belly with warm water to help her to relax. The momma was resting in between and closing her eyes. I came in and quietly said hello, and added some lavendar to the tub to help enhance this beautiful atmosphere they had already created. This mother was birthing her baby so quietly and courageously. Though her contractions were very intense at this time, she was a rock-- firm and unwavering in her strength. All those around her trusted this process as it happened. It was a beautiful environment to be a part of.

About an hour later, the momma got out of the tub. Her contractions had slowed some, and she decided to try some Pitocin to help get labor going. She asked for the Pitocin to be on the lowest level possible, so that she could continue to labor naturally as she had been. She then decided to get into bed, and rest for a bit, continuing to relax and breathe calmly and deeply during each contraction. Her husband was right by her side for all of this time, encouraging her with his continual presence and reassuring touch.

I would like to mention that this mother had a wonderful and supportive nurse (who I found out later used to do doula work). She came into the room always quietly and respecting the birthing space, and made lots of suggestions to enhance this momma's desires for having the most natural birth possible. She honored all of her wishes throughout the process.

After laboring a little longer, the birthing momma had now progressed to 3-4cm! She was happy to hear of this progress. Now, she decided to get onto the birthing ball next to the bed, resting with her head on a huge stack of pillows. I encouraged her to let her baby move down, that she was relaxing beautifully and doing such an excellent job of letting her baby come. I encouraged her to listen to her body. At this time, her husband was right by her side, all the lights were dimmed, and all are quiet in awe of this mother and her strength.

The momma said that she felt tired, as she continued to rest on the ball, and also that she felt like pushing. The nurse came in and said that she wanted to check her cervix again. Now, the momma was dilated to 5-6cm. There was a bulging bag of waters, and the nurse said that she wanted to rupture the bulge to see if it may help to speed the labor. I asked the momma if she had any questions for the nurse about this, and she talked it over and decided to try it. After the nurse popped the bulge, contractions became even more intense, but the momma made them seem so easy. She continued to breathe easily, and relax through each of them. She continued to be a pillar of strength.

Around this time, as the momma was resting quietly, the husband turned and looked at his mother, sister, and I and said, as if to give up, "Well, it doesn't seem like much is happening, so I guess you can all go home and we can call you back when we need you." I smiled, and said, "Don't worry, things are definitely happening! She is more than half way. That was the hardest part. She is just doing SUCH a good job of relaxing and it may be different than you envisioned she would labor. She is doing such a good job. The baby will probably be here soon." The husband nodded, though I don't know if he really believed me that she had made as much progress as I said she had.

Within the hour, she would start pushing. The nurse came in again to check her cervix, which was now dilated to 9.5 cm, and the momma is still coping beautifully, relaxed, and strong. The nurse said that they baby was very low at this point, and does not think it will take many pushes before the baby will be born. About twenty minutes later, the momma was ready to start pushing. The nurse applied warm compresses to her perineum to help prevent tearing. Just a half an hour later, after only a few pushes, many deep breaths, and support from family, a beautiful baby was born. He was laid on his mother's chest briefly, and everyone looked on in awe. Because he didn't cry right away, and there was concern that there may be meconium blocking his airway, he was whisked away to the warmer to have his airway suctioned. Very soon, he was breathing on his own just fine, and was brought right back to be laid skin to skin with his mother.

This mother had no tearing, and was very internal and relaxed throughout the process. Later, when we were talking, I asked her what she was thinking about during her contractions. She told me that she was just counting through them. Just another rhythmic way to cope; and it came naturally and worked wonderfully for her. This birth story was one of the most beautiful that I have experienced yet!