I typed this out about two days after giving birth. I wanted to do it while it was fresh in my mind. This was our first Homebirth.
It’s long, but I wanted to include every detail. I’m so excited to finally share it with everyone.
My Estimated Date of Delivery(EDD) was May 7th.
I had been having contractions off and on for weeks. Finally on the 25th they developed somewhat of a pattern 10-15 mins and were getting stronger.
I called my Midwife(MW) and doula to give them a heads up.
On the morning of the 26th I called my doula back and she came over at 5am to sit with me for a bit.
I got in the shower while she was on her way.
I alternated between the couch and the birth ball.
I had contractions that were 10 mins apart while she was here, and would lay across my ball while she would put counter pressure on my lower back.
She would also do light touch to my back and down my arms….it felt heavenly and took my mind off the contractions.
She had called me earlier in the week to tell me she had made plans a while a go to see her kids that weekend.
She told me not to worry, she had a replacement and I could do this, it was ok to have my baby.
So we both knew it was a possibility she wouldn’t be able to attend my birth.
She felt bad, but she had made the plans 6 months ago, plus we didn’t think I would go so far over my edd.
She left around 9am for her trip since my contractions had slowed and we both concluded it was early labor.
Charles was on standby at work, and one of my friends from our birthworks class told me she could come over if I needed her to.
Around noon my contractions picked up again, every 15 mins on the dot and I couldn’t sleep anymore.
I was so glad I had told Charles to take Nakiah to my parents that morning.
There is no way I would’ve been able to handle her the way I was feeling.
I called my friend to come sit with me, and then called Charles to let him know they had picked up again.
Now they were coming every 10 mins.
My friend arrived about an hour later with food and movies. That was so sweet of her.
I remember my doula telling me that sometimes you just need people around to take your mind off labor and things will pick up.
She was right as usual, my contractions started coming every 5-7 mins shortly after she arrived.
We sat on the couch talking and laughing, and I would just let her know when a contraction was coming because I needed it to be silent.
After Charles got home, they picked up again.
This was shortly before 4pm….they were now coming every 3-5 mins and lasting anywhere from 60-90 seconds.
We LOVED Contraction Master
At 4pm I felt a contraction coming on…they always started in my back and would wrap around to my lower abdomen, peak and then go away.
This was felt a bit different…I was waiting for the peak, but instead I felt this pressure and my water broke. I was so excited!
I sat there laughing and screaming my water broke!
Charles asked if I wanted him to get the bed ready, and I had already written out for him the way the bed should be made.
My friend brought me another pair of pants and I used Nakiah’s diapers to help soak up the rest of the fluid that kept leaking during and between contractions.
I went to sit on the toilet and it made my contractions more intense and closer together, which was what we wanted so it would help bring the baby down.
I had 3 very close together while sitting on the toilet and I knew things were about to pick up.
I walked around for a while and I need a break from the contractions, so I sat on the couch and they slowed a bit.
Charles sat right beside me and would put counter pressure on my back or do the light touch to my back with each contraction.
I called my MW to let her know my water had broke and the contractions were picking up.
I also called the replacement doula to let her know I needed her asap.
She said she would be over in 30 mins.
I had my parents bring Nakiah over. I missed her and just wanted to see her for an hour or so.
I got in the shower, my parents and Nakiah arrived and they ordered pizza and wings.
The doula arrived and my friend left to go have dinner with her family.
My friend was amazing, I’m so glad she was able to sit with me and be such a great support for us..
After I got out of the shower my contractions were becoming closer together and more intense.
Our replacement doula was a massage therapist too…how lucky can a girl get? lol
She asked me what scents I liked and used them to rub my back during contractions. Lavender is such a calming scent.
We moved to the bedroom because it was quiet, and dark in there.
Charles had lit the candles for me. He was so sweet.
Nakiah came in and out a few times and would hug and kiss me, it was usually towards the end of a contraction….kids have great timing 🙂
I would hug and kiss her and tell her that mommy was tired and the baby would be here soon.
My parents left and took Nakiah with them and that’s when things really got intense.
I think it was around 9pm when my MW arrived.
My contractions were 1 min apart and I felt like I wasn’t getting a break between them at all.
I needed to use the restroom, but as soon as I got up I had another contraction.
I swear that was the longest walk to the toilet for a little trickle.
More contractions in the bathroom and I would hold on to dh or slow dance.
I was feeling sick to my stomach and thought to myself “I must be getting ready to hit transition”
I walked out of the bathroom and another contraction hit, I had to lay on the floor in the hallway….then I threw up.
I was really having to breathe through my contractions and I felt like I was starting to lose it.
We moved back to the bedroom and I asked the MW to check me, I really wanted to know where we were.
She had to do it quickly because my contractions were so close.
I was 6-7cm and completely thinned out.
My cervix just needed to finish opening.
I told Charles I wanted to use the tub…it wasn’t even full, but I had to get in anyway.
I started saying I couldn’t do this anymore, I wanted to go to the hospital, and they all kept telling me I was doing a great job.
I had made it clear before that if I said I wanted to give up or go to the hospital, I didn’t mean it. I only wanted to go if there were an emergency with the baby.
I really did mean it at the time…..everytime the doula and mw left the room, I would beg him to take me to the hospital.
He was so great, he kept telling me over and over that I was doing great and the baby would be here soon.
The water didn’t really cover my belly, so he used a washcloth to keep pouring hot water over my belly.
There was something different about the contractions, and I felt like I needed to push, so I would push a little with a few.
In between contractions I felt like I wasn’t in myself anymore….I was so relaxed and listening to the sound of the water.
I told him I wanted to go back to the bed, but my contractions were one on top of the other.
The water was cooling off, so he started to drain and refill the tub…He also turned the shower on and directed it on my belly.
I’m not sure how much longer I was in the tub, but I got this sudden burst of energy and climbed out of the tub by myself.
He was going to help me, but he was too slow, lol
That is the fastest I have ever moved at the end of my pregnancy.
I got down on my hands and knees on a towel in the bathroom and started pushing.
Charles yells that he sees blood and the doula comes running and she’s like “OMG The baby is coming! Go get the MW!”
She had run down to the car to get her instruments, and 20 mins before that had run home to get her youngest daughter.
I could feel the baby moving down and the doula kept telling me to blow, but I wanted to push.
My body was pushing for me.
It was so hard not to push….Charles kept giving her some type of oil that she was using so I wouldn’t tear.
Finally I was instructed to give little pushes and then to blow some more.
I felt the ring of fire, and her head was right there.
Charles said she was crowning as soon as I got down on the floor.
Her head came out and I felt her rotate and I pushed again and felt her shoulders slide out.
It was amazing!
Charles kept asking what we had, but they knew not to say anything….I wanted him to be the one to announce the sex.
He was so excited to say we had another little girl.
I kept saying “I did it!” I was so excited and proud of myself.
The doula had him pass the baby under me so I could hold her.
We had planned on having Charles catch the baby, but we had no idea I was only going to push for 2 mins before she came flying out.
He cut the cord, and helped me walk back to our bedroom.
They got me and Ava all snuggled in and she nursed within the hour.
The MW checked for tears and I didn’t, so we just applied cool compress to the area.
My parents came back over with Nakaiah, she was sleeping.
We loved how the MW and doula stayed out of the way and left us alone unless we asked them for something.
The doula offered me water or juice every now and then.
Everything was absolutely perfect.
They just let us be and do whatever we wanted….I couldn’t have asked for anything else.
It was the most peaceful birthing experience and Charles was my rock the entire time.
Ava Elizabeth
May 27th.
10lbs 10oz and 22in
The Mahogany Way 