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Kaysha's Birth Story
I once heard a midwife say that a natrual birth is one of the best gifts you can give your baby. I believe this to be true. Having my babies is truely my greatest life accomplishment and I do not believe that I will ever do anything that will even come close to comparing.
This is my homebirth/waterbirth story. My parents were not real
sure what to think of the idea when I told them. Dh's parents were
much better taking the news, thankfully. I switched from an OB to MW
at 16 weeks. I researched my birth options and did not like the
hospital option, the thought of it made me feel sick. So I went
about my pregnant life answering all sorts of questions, you can
just imagine.
I was dilated to 4cm at 36 weeks. I was 75% effaced. My MW,
Toni, was shocked. I was thrilled thinking I was going to pop
any second. Then I was told by several that I could tarry for
weeks like that. Toni came to my house for the 37 week visit
to find I was still 4cm but 90% effaced. She could feel the
water buldging and told me if it weren't my first baby, she would
just pop the bag and we would have the baby. She was concerned as
she was leaving for the weekend.
On Friday, she gave me instructions for contacting the backup
MW, Mif, whom I had never met. I was praying not to have to.
Nothing like having your first baby, but then to do it with
someone you don't know. But Saturday arrived and dh and I had
to go shopping for me some new boots since the ones I wore had
holes, were scractched up and hurt my feet. I got some at JC
Penney and immediately took off the old ones, threw them in the
mall garbage and put on the new ones. Then we were off to buy
new tires for the truck. We ended up having to wait to get
them put on so went to dinner.
We got home at 7:30pm and I had a message from my mom who was
calling to she where we were all day and if anything was going on.
I called her and told her what we did and no, nothing going on.
I took a bath and remembered I forgot a magazine I wanted to look
at in the truck. I squatted to get my shoes on and felt a trickle.
I told dh, either I just peed in my pants or my water broke.
"Great" was his unimpressed response. SUre enough, it broke but
was a slow trickle. I called Mif, the backup and introduced myself,
and told her my water broke and the details of my last visit.
I had no contractions and she told me I could tarry a day or two
like that. I told her I would call her before bed and update her.
I called my mom back and needless to say, was she suprised.
I told her we were going to bed, me and my box of maxis.
At 10pm I called Mif and told her I was still leaking clear
fluid but was not contracting. We went to bed.
At 2:30am I was VERY rudely awakened by contractions. I got
immediately in the tub and told dh to call Mif again. SInce I
could talk through contractions, she told me to call her when I
could not. The tub was not helping so I got out and paced.
At 3:15 I was not talking through contractions. I remember
getting on the toilet to pee and telling dh to bring me a
garbage so I could throw up. He did, and I did, then handed
it to him to get rid of. It was quite an experience.
Dh called my mom and Mif and told them they needed to come.
My mom arrived at 3:45, much to dh's relief since he didn't
know what to do. I labored in bed and he kept running back and
forth looking out the window. Finally I told him to go one place
or the other and sit still. My mom was okay but didn't really
know what to do either. We had had a whole 2 lamaze classes
and I was trying out the Bradley method of relaxation, if
you could call it that. Finally at 4:15am Mif and her daugher
Laurie arrived. My mom and dh introduced themselves, and I
could hear them chatting as they approached the bedroom.
I think they must have expected a false alarm call becuase they were immediately silenced and taken aback when they came in my room.
Mif said she was glad she brought all her stuff since we were
obviously having the baby.
My contractions were not easily timeable. They would be like
90 seconds long with 20 seconds in between and then I would
have two on top of each other. They gave me a new breathing
technique that gave me relief. She checked me and I was completely
effaced and between 6-7. I thought for sure I should have
been done. They assumed Kaysha was face up since this was what
is referred to as back labor. I continued to labor on my side
with dh drilling his fists into my back, my poor mom holding my
hand, I think I probably hurt her. Mif and Laurie took turns
bringing warm towels for my tummy. After 45 minutes of this
I turned to the other side and continued what I thought was dying.
Finally, I had to pee so in my little 20 second break between
contractions, I ran to the toilet only to find my mom already on it.
She jumped off so I could get on only to have another contraction.
That was so awful. Then I told her I didn't think I could take
anymore. I got in the tub again thinking it could not be any
worse there. I don't think Mif realized I was planning a water
birth and they moved all their set up into the bathroom.
She checked me again to find I was complete. It was 5:30am.
Pushing sucked in my opinion. I was able to push when I felt
the urge and they did not do the counting thing or hold my legs.
I did what my body told me. I remember one contraction when
Kaysha's head was visible but not crowning and they all thought
I was going to push and I never got the urge. We all just kind of
laughed and I remember her saying that that was actually a
good thing to listen to your body and do what it says.
Finally Kaysha crowned and what a horrible feeling.
I think it took a few contractions to get her out, but
I remember her doing a sort of a twist on the way out
that righted her position, finally. They took her immediately
and put her on my chest. She seemed so little and she looked at
me and said "EEEEHHHHH" and that was it. Just a sound like,
"I am here, happy now?" and that was it. She never cried.
She was covered with vernix, the more there is, the earlier they are.
The MW's like to use it on their skin like lotion and for cuts.
Apparently the healing qualities are endless.
She was born at 6:33am on Sunday morning 10/20/96 weighing 7'4"
and measuring 19 inches. I did not get to hold her long as they
were concerned about my blood loss. Dh cut the cord.
Dh got her next in all her glory. They told him to take his
shirt off and put her on his chest. I think he was in a sort
of shock by then since she was neither clean nor dressed,
but he did as he was told. I ended up delievering the placenta,
and getting a shot to stop bleeding and make my uterus
clamp down. I remember getting out of the tub and feeling
dizzy and freezing. My mom and Mif bathed Kaysha and dressed her.
Then I ended up getting a few stitches as well.
Dh came in to tell me how pretty Kaysha was, I think
he was suprised! The stitches never really bothered me,
but nothing like that to make you feel like you would never
be done. Everyone stayed til 10:30am making sure I was
okay and Kaysha was nursing. Then they all left. I wanted
to sleep but just ended up staring at her for hours.
It was truely an experience that none of us will forget.
I ended up having her on the day of my baby shower, ooops.
One guest acutally came over that night and about died when
she saw I had Kaysha. Then I told her she was only
12 hours old and I thought she would faint.
It was pretty priceless!
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Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31) No weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17) Let the redeemed of the Lord say so (Psalm 107:2) We are the redeemed! Glory to God always!
