**WARNING: A couple graphic birth photos in video. Do not watch if you don't want to see or do not appreciate that birth is a normal, natural process. Do not watch/read if boobs, vagina, blood, or poop as it relates to birth offend you. The beauty of home birth for me is that I got to birth how I wanted without direction or mandates from anyone. Not that I preplanned how I was going to do it, but I just followed my body's intuition and desire. All 3 of my births were different and I didn't birth in the same position with any of them. Thanks for reading. I hope moms preparing for natural birth will be inspired and others will enjoy the miracle of birth as told through Naomi's birth.
Naomi was "due" on July 4th. Strong Braxton Hicks (BH) contractions started around week 39 so I was hopeful she would make her debut close to her estimated due date (EDD). But days kept passing... On week 40, I visited my acupuncturist (acu) as my tradition has been with each baby. Within seconds of seeing me, she said baby was not ready. I do not know how she knows these things, but she hasn't been wrong yet. "I think it will be 2 weeks." Insert moan here. She did some acu and said it would be like putting a light at the end of the tunnel and baby could opt to go towards it or not. We now know she did not.
I went back to see my acu on Monday which was week 41 day 3. She said baby was ready! Boy was I relieved. BUT my body was not. ::Sigh:: She could somehow tell my cervix had not dilated past 2 cm and the baby had not gotten into the proper position for delivery. She did some acu to help my body prepare and she said I'd deliver the baby no later than Friday, but it would take some time for the body to prep. She made several other recommendations for me to do to assist. Now in the last 2 weeks, I had already tried lots of natural ways to induce labor, from DTD, EPO, 5W, clary sage diffusion, acupressure, walking 3x a day on my treadmill. The list goes on. All of it to no avail. Baby was just NOT ready.
On Wednesday (July 16), the day was like any other day except I had been having bloody show. But I wasn't sure if that meant anything because I had my 1st cervical check the day before with my midwife and cervical check can cause contractions and I figured some bloody show would naturally follow. Michelle, my midwife, confirmed I was only 2 cm. We discussed other possible options of natural inducement and made another follow up appointment.
I took my girls down to the pool for a swim Wed afternoon and sat at the water's edge while the girls played with Nana Laura and friends. At one point, Laura asked me if I was having a contraction to which I immediately said No, but then as I thought about it, I changed my answer to Yes. I have been having them for so long, I just ignored them. By the time we got home and I started dinner, the contractions increased in intensity and I text my MW to let her know I thought it was soon. I made it through dinner and Chris put the girls to bed while I laid on my side in bed and tried to relax. I kept telling myself I needed to sleep.
By 9pm, we had all turned out the lights expecting to be having a baby sometime in the night. But as I laid in bed, the contractions were so strong, I couldn't sleep! At about 10:30, I started a warm bath to sit in. The contractions were strong and I breathed deep through each one and was careful to relax all my muscles. The water definitely made them less painful as long as I breathed through and relaxed. After about an hour, I decided I REALLY need to try to sleep. I got back into bed and laid on my side, but each contraction made me moan. The sounds woke up Chris around midnight. He asked if I was ready to call Michelle. I wasn't sure. My last labor was 12 hours long and I felt this way early in the labor. He started timing contractions. And then I started needing to go to the bathroom to empty the bowels. I remember getting up and going several times. In hindsight, the last couple times I sat on the toilet, I was feeling the pressure of the baby move down. This position is likely what helped the baby come so quickly. One of the last times I was on the toilet, Chris looked at me with eyes wide open. He didn't tell me until later that he could see the very wide opening of the vagina as I had each contraction.
I got back into bed and laid on my side breathing through each wave. Chris was on the phone with Michelle asking her to come on over. This was around 1:45am. Luckily, Chris had already prepared the bed the day before with mattress pad and vinyl back cloths, and towels. Laura arrived and started helping Chris and rubbing my lower back in between getting warm towels, cold compresses and taking photos. As I was laying there on my side, my water broke. Suddenly, I have no idea why, I rolled over onto all fours. I said, I needed to push. Chris exited the room to call Michelle and let her know. She told him he could call 911 or she would be there shortly but he should take some of the towels and put them in the dryer to get them warm. I'm glad he was calm and collected and opted to prepare himself to deliver our baby.
Michelle walked in minutes after that and I remember telling her, "My water broke." I remember hearing her break open the birth kit and then laying a vinyl backed cloth and several medical underpads under me. She checked the baby's heartrate between pushes and said everything looked great. Then suddenly, I just remember being so hot! It felt like a sauna in the room and that's all I could repeat multiple times. "It's so hot in here!" Then the hard pushing came. The baby was going to be here soon! Oh the noises coming out of my mouth. The low grunting and groans hurt my throat for many hours after birth. And then, burn baby burn. The burning sensation of the head descending out is mind numbing. At one point, I said "I can't do it." But then I said, "Wait, I can do this. I've done it twice before. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" And then I started praying. Naomi's head was out in 2 or 3 pushes. I just knew that she would be here in just 1 more push. And then the opportunity came and she was out! In fact, it seems like she just fell out at 3:11am. I muttered, "Thank you, Thank you" under my breath so many times. It happened so fast. Praise the Lord!
Due to being on all fours for delivery, I propped myself up on my knees to see her and I picked her up and brought her to my chest. Oh the joy, relief from pain, and awe of being part of the miracle of birth again. So many emotions swept over me. Gotta love that oxytocin rush! It always makes me weepy. I had some help to lay down since the cord was still attached. And Naomi got her Apgar exam while laying with me. As soon as given the opportunity, she nursed immediately and didn't want to let go, but it was time for her to get wrapped up to be enjoyed by her Papa so I could sit in an herbal sitz bath. She joined me after a while and then was ready for her newborn exam. Chris and I sat on the bed to watch. She weighed in at 8 lbs 10 oz and 21.75 inches. Our biggest and longest baby yet. She was clothed and bundled up and shortly after, we heard Lana's footsteps around 630am. She wasn't sure why there were people in our house but then realized Naomi had arrived after she cautiously walked into our room. Chris went upstairs to wake Lila up and let her join the family fun. She was a bit groggy at first but then woke up pretty quickly when she saw a baby in my arms. Both girls doted on Naomi, kissing her and asking to hold her.
I did tear and was sutured up. After I was fixed up, I laid in bed with baby beside me and was ready for some sleep. Chris took the girls to be fed breakfast and I snuggled next to Naomi Faith Reneau. After carrying her to almost 42 weeks, I am grateful for a swift labor and delivery. We are so blessed to have this little one join our family.
I did tear and was sutured up. After I was fixed up, I laid in bed with baby beside me and was ready for some sleep. Chris took the girls to be fed breakfast and I snuggled next to Naomi Faith Reneau. After carrying her to almost 42 weeks, I am grateful for a swift labor and delivery. We are so blessed to have this little one join our family.
Psalms 139: 13-14
Photos by Nana Laura.
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