Birth Story – Nathaniel’s Birth
Andrew and I decided to have a baby. That is the way most birth stories start. We were married and had two beautiful girls from my first marriage, who were 12 and 9. After being a little “late” I took the test and to my delight the little + sign was there! Andrew was at work and I didn’t even call him or wait for him to come home, I got online and googled Midwife in Ottawa and the Collective came up and I called!
I had a midwife with my second child, and was prepared for a home birth, but due to personal issues I was no longer able to have one, but this time around I was going to! We also decided to have a birth tub.
Andrew was sceptical at first, but after meeting our lovely ladies, Ann, Paula and the student midwife Tina, all he ever talked about was how different the care is, how nothing was ever overlooked and that all things were taken into account, not just the growing belly! They took the time to listen to you. We both looked forward to our visits (and they were visits not appointments. Appointment’s make you feel like you need to get back out the door, there is someone waiting!)
Shortly before the baby was due we needed to have repair work done in our bedroom, because of snow and ice damage. I had had mild braxton hicks for weeks, so on April 8th, my due date, we went to home depot to pick up some paint colours. I didn’t think anything of the pain. Upon arriving at home, they were getting a little stronger, and when the kids both got home from school we all went for a walk to see if they would go away, they didn’t. When we got in the door I called Paula while Andrew and the kids filled up the birth tub. She agreed that she should come and take a look. We had a lovely supper of leftovers and a glass of wine to help me relax!
I was in early labour. Paula stripped my membranes and after much deliberation we decided to make love and see if that helped me progress, while Paula, Tina and my oldest daughter left. After that Andrew and I walked over to get our middle daughter from brownies it was clear that it wasn’t going to be long. I was in active labour!
I got in the tub and we all talked and laughed, while I concentrated on relaxing and not fighting the contractions. No one told me when to go to the bathroom, or needlessly “check” me, or tell me when to push, we waited for my body to do it on it’s own. After three and a half hours I felt the urge to push and we got the girls up, just in time too! Nathaniel was born after 2.5 pushes (about 3 minutes) in water in his very own room! He weighed a healthy 10 lbs 5 oz! The girls were delighted to see their brother born and my middle daughter had the back up midwife Sarah explain to her all about the placenta, something that would have never happened in a hospital! My husband was so awed by it all, he never felt, pushed out of the way, everyone was included. It really made birth a family event. I will say that this was my easiest birth yet!