Birth Story – Reilly’s Birth
Reilly was born at home with the help of midwives and our doula on June 27th 2005. My first son Liam was born in hospital via cesarean section. I had planned a drug free birth with Liam and due to a detached placenta I had to have an emergency cesarean. I was put to sleep, missed the birth of my baby and we were separated for several hours after birth. Shortly after Liam’s birth I had decided that if I had another baby I did not want this experience a second time. I did lots and lots of research and preparation in order to have a VBAC and also decided that I wanted to have my baby at home.
I had a very restless night of sleep and had woken up many times to use the washroom. In the middle of the night I got up and tried to sleep in the living room, first on the sofa and then on the floor. I would sleep a few minutes here and there but was so uncomfortable that was all I could do. My back was so sore that the only good position for me was child’s pose. I kept going up and down stairs trying to use the washroom and couldn’t go.
I woke up my husband at 4:30 and told him that I thought that something was starting, but that I felt constipated – it was either that or the cheesecake that I had for dessert the night before. Finally when my bowels emptied I realized that I was in early labour.
I decided to have a hot aromatherapy pack to try and relax and maybe get some sleep as I knew that I would have a long day ahead of me. Around 5:30 am I called my doula, Annik, so that she could prepare her day, as well I called my mom who would be taking Liam for the day. I had some breakfast and some tea; I pulled out my yoga mat and did some meditation to help get me centered for what lay ahead. I had been practicing hypnobirthing through my pregnancy so I also listened to my CD.
My mom and doula both arrived around 7:30. Liam was awake and was really quiet and just wanted to sit with me; he could tell that something was up. I gave him lots of kisses and off he went with grandma.
Annik and I spend some time talking about how I was feeling and how it seemed as if things were slowing down. Bill reminded me that I should call the midwives’ office and tell them that labour was starting. My midwife Sarah called back and we confirmed that there were enough midwives and that I was still able to have a home birth, I began to cry, mostly from relief as I did not want to go to the hospital.
Bill, Annik and I decided to go for a walk to help bring on stronger contractions and have a chance to talk. Sure enough the walking helped and I was feeling good when we got home. I decided to make a fruit salad for later for us and the birthing team. Annik and I went for another walk while Bill took a nap. I was worried that I had called Annik too soon and was worried that I was wasting her time – she assured me that was not the case and that was what she was here for. I know as a doula myself that labour can be a long process but it is nice just to know that your support person is there for you reminding you that what you are going through is normal.
We got back to the house and Bill was up from his nap. I wandered around and decided that it might be good for Bill and me to take a walk together and have some alone time. It was getting really hot outside and all my contractions seemed to happen in direct sunlight and never under the shade of a tree. We got back from our walk and spent some time in our garden talking. I was starting to get tired so we decided it would be a good idea for me to take a nap. I slept for about 2 hours and was feeling much better physically and emotionally. It was too hot to spend any more time outside so I paced around our house and did some cleaning. It seemed whenever I sat down on the birth ball my contractions would slow down so I had to keep walking and standing.
I called Sarah again around 5:30 and told her how I was progressing and that it seemed as if I was in active labour, but I wasn’t sure. She said she was close by and would stop by and see me just in case. She came in and observed how I was doing, checked the baby’s heart rate and my vitals. I had several contractions in the living room. Bill was amazing, I would hold onto the door frame for each contraction and he would pull the rebozo giving me a great hip squeeze and rub my back.
I went upstairs to use the washroom and the contractions got stronger. Annik came upstairs and suggested I try the bathtub – this felt great! I would get on all fours during a contraction and would lay on my side in between while she and Bill poured water on my belly and kept a cold cloth on my forehead. I was using homeopathy for nausea and it was really helping.
Sarah came in and asked if she could check me. It would be the first and last vaginal exam though my entire pregnancy. She said I wouldn’t have to move and to tell her when my contraction was over, she checked me and I was 9 cm, almost 10. Sarah later told me that she was only expecting me to be 5 or 6. She hurried out to get her stuff.
I was really moaning and grunting now. I kept thinking to myself an open mouth is an open cervix, so I kept vocalizing and it was really working for me. I got out of the tub and went into the bedroom. I got on all fours on the bed and felt like pushing. Bill kept putting pressure on my sacrum.
Shortly after there was a loud burst and my water broke with a big splash. It was such a relief. I continued pushing with each contraction but there was little progress. Sarah kept checking the heart rate as I was a VBAC we had to be extra careful. The heart rate wasn’t recovering after contraction so Sarah suggested I try the birthing stool. That sucked for me so we got back on the bed and I tried on all fours again, then my left side and finally my right. Not much was changing, I recall Sarah saying that because of the heart rate she was calling an ambulance and that, I would have to go to the hospital and have a cesarean – she was so calm about it so I did not panic. So I said ok and kept pushing with contractions. In my head I was thinking there is no way I am having another cesarean especially after having such a great day, so just watch me!!! I pushed with every ounce of my being. Just as the paramedics were coming up the stairs Sarah said she saw the head, and told the paramedics that she didn’t need them. They asked if they could stay, Bill asked me and we said ok. Out Reilly came, I felt his head and then his shoulders and man was it fast. I heard Bill say, “it’s a boy, we have another boy!” I was so happy!
The paramedics congratulated us and said that dispatch congratulated us as well. They had never seen a homebirth before and were happy that they had stayed and thanked us for letting them.
Sandra, the second midwife, was also there and helped Sarah do all the postpartum stuff. Reilly nursed a little but it was hard to do on my back. I took a nice warm shower and Reilly and I climbed into our fresh bed together and nursing was even better the second time. We all had some fruit salad and Bill got into the bed with us and we fell in love with our new baby even more. We were so happy and felt so lucky to be at home with our now bigger family right from the start.