lovealittle1
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Baby Jude Tuesday October 16, 2012 7:56 am 6lbs 11.5 oz 19long 37 weeks
After my emergency c-section with ds1 I knew that I wanted a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) and further into my pregnancy I realized it was a HBAC (home birth after c-section) what I really wanted. I spent my entire pregnancy preparing myself for this day. I got a supportive Midwife and of course our amazing Doula. I visited the Chiropractor weekly. I went for massages, practiced yoga and spent lots of time on spinning babies to do all I could to ensure optimal fetal positioning. I also surrounded myself with people whom have homebirthed as well as medication free birthed. I read and watched so many home birth stories. I joined a VBAC support group on Facebook. I read so many books. I prepared flash cards with mantras I found on the internet and from friends. I also did my best to forgive myself for all the guilt that I felt from ds1s birth and accepted that he was born the way he needed to be born. I really and truly felt that I did everything I could to prepare myself for a successful HBAC. Here is our story:
I woke up around 1:15 am to a small gush of fluid. I cleaned up put on a pad and tried to go back to sleep as I knew I had a lot of hard work ahead of me. DH was asleep with ds1 in his room so I told him to get some sleep as well.
I tried really hard to fall asleep but the gushes kept on coming and I kept having to get up to change my pad and underwear. I gave up and came downstairs and rented a movie What to Expect when you are Expecting I was doing alright on the couch watching the movie when contractions started. They were manageable at this point and I could lay on the couch and breathe through them. I got pretty comfy and noticed the contractions were slowing down. Of course I did not want this. So up I got and started walking circles around the house. This worked and the contractions really started to take off now. It was about 3 am now so I called my Midwife to let her know things were happening. She said to call her back when the contractions got much stronger.
I kept on walking circles. I am so thankful to have an open plan house that allows me to do this. I got out my flash cards and laid some of my favorites out on our island so every time I did a lap I could stop to read a couple. They helped tremendously and kept me focused.
Around 4:30 the rushes were getting very strong and I knew I needed some help so I went upstairs to wake DH. He came down and we started a contraction timer on the laptop. The rushes were about a minute long and a minute apart so I had him call our Midwife and our Doula to let them know what was happening. They both said they were on their way.
Our Midwife arrived quickly and Doula not far behind. Our Doula and I kept on doing circles and she coached me through the rushes when needed. I kept on reminding myself how badly I wanted this and also how badly I didnt want to be in a hospital. I talked to my baby through rushes saying stuff such as cmon on baby open relax you can do this This helped tremendously. It gave me something to concentrate on.
Around 5:30 my Midwife suggested that I have an examination to determine how dilated I was. I really did not want to be checked. I knew how painful checks are and I also knew that had they told me I was only a 4 or even a 6 I would stop coping. Midwife and Doula both assured me that I was much further than that based on the sounds I was making. At first they suggested I lay on the couch for the exam but the thought of that was horrendous so they suggested that I get checked on the toilet. So to the toilet we went. Midwife quickly checked me and ran off. I kept thinking how I consented to this exam and why isnt she telling me how far I am?? Doula and I made our way out of the bathroom where we found Midwife and she said that babys head is right there and I am a 9!! She had ran to get to her phone to call the secondary Midwife as there has to be 2 Midwives present at a homebirth. A student Midwife also came. This would be her first homebirth!
I was ecstatic to already be a 9! With that I had a very strong rush where my body took over and pushed. DH hurried to start filling the pool. I got in when it was half full. It felt really nice to be in the water. It all happened so fast that DH forgot to use the pool liner.
For the next 1.5 hours I pushed with each rush and kept on switching positions. I had my arms out around our Doula the whole time and she coached me through each and every rush. I was getting very frustrated as I felt as though these rushes were not doing anything. I could not feel baby moving down as I thought I would and just didn`t feel much progress.
Ds1 woke up around 6 am and was snuggled in Daddys arms.
Around 7:30 am, Midwife suggested that I would need to get out of the pool and try the birth stool if things didnt start happening soon. I think that was the motivation I really needed to push with all my might and fully surrender. The next couple pushes and I could feel baby`s head and all that pressure. Once I got to this point I really welcomed each rush as it was hugely encouraging as I could feel the progress happening. I had one hand down below to feel baby`s head emerging. It was an amazing feeling and one I hope to never forget. A couple times the head would get close and then the rush would end and it would go back up then finally I had a rush where the baby`s head stayed there and a few more big pushes and I had birthed baby`s head. The ring of fire was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated. I kept my hand cupped around his soft squishy head the whole time. Absolutely amazing to feel my babys head!! Apparently I neglected to tell anyone that his head was out. Whoops! I really was in such a zone.
At this point for whatever reason I just thought the rest of baby would come out so I asked What do I do now? Doula said You have a baby ha ha. I gave 2 more massive pushes and out came baby. He was delivered with me in a squat. I turned over and scooped him up. It was the best feeling. A couple seconds later and he made a few squeaks and I told him that he had done so well. Once he was covered in a blanket I had a peek and announced that he was a boy. Ds1 and DH were both looking over my shoulder for the announcement. Jack Johnson was playing in the background when baby Jude was born.
We stayed in the water until the cord stopped pulsing. DH cut the cord and we got out. It was only steps to my couch and I got to snuggle with my squishy newborn and enjoy skin to skin. I longed and craved for this magical moment as I felt robbed of it at Ds1s birth. Jude latched on at his own accord just minutes later.
Not long after, I delivered the placenta with no intervention and it was huge! Everyone commented how nice it was.
I ended up with a second degree tear that required a few stitches but I am so thankful I didn't have to go into hospital.
From water breaking to babe in arms was less than 7 hours. I never once got tired or scared or felt as though I couldn't cope or needed intervention. Judes birth was absolutely amazing. I would not change a thing about it. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have the perfect birth story but I got it.
I am eternally grateful for all the support I received from my husband, my Midwife, my Doula and my community of friends IRL and here on BnB. Thank you to everyone who made this possible and for trusting my body and trusting birth.
Will add pics another day!
Thanks for reading
After my emergency c-section with ds1 I knew that I wanted a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) and further into my pregnancy I realized it was a HBAC (home birth after c-section) what I really wanted. I spent my entire pregnancy preparing myself for this day. I got a supportive Midwife and of course our amazing Doula. I visited the Chiropractor weekly. I went for massages, practiced yoga and spent lots of time on spinning babies to do all I could to ensure optimal fetal positioning. I also surrounded myself with people whom have homebirthed as well as medication free birthed. I read and watched so many home birth stories. I joined a VBAC support group on Facebook. I read so many books. I prepared flash cards with mantras I found on the internet and from friends. I also did my best to forgive myself for all the guilt that I felt from ds1s birth and accepted that he was born the way he needed to be born. I really and truly felt that I did everything I could to prepare myself for a successful HBAC. Here is our story:
I woke up around 1:15 am to a small gush of fluid. I cleaned up put on a pad and tried to go back to sleep as I knew I had a lot of hard work ahead of me. DH was asleep with ds1 in his room so I told him to get some sleep as well.
I tried really hard to fall asleep but the gushes kept on coming and I kept having to get up to change my pad and underwear. I gave up and came downstairs and rented a movie What to Expect when you are Expecting I was doing alright on the couch watching the movie when contractions started. They were manageable at this point and I could lay on the couch and breathe through them. I got pretty comfy and noticed the contractions were slowing down. Of course I did not want this. So up I got and started walking circles around the house. This worked and the contractions really started to take off now. It was about 3 am now so I called my Midwife to let her know things were happening. She said to call her back when the contractions got much stronger.
I kept on walking circles. I am so thankful to have an open plan house that allows me to do this. I got out my flash cards and laid some of my favorites out on our island so every time I did a lap I could stop to read a couple. They helped tremendously and kept me focused.
Around 4:30 the rushes were getting very strong and I knew I needed some help so I went upstairs to wake DH. He came down and we started a contraction timer on the laptop. The rushes were about a minute long and a minute apart so I had him call our Midwife and our Doula to let them know what was happening. They both said they were on their way.
Our Midwife arrived quickly and Doula not far behind. Our Doula and I kept on doing circles and she coached me through the rushes when needed. I kept on reminding myself how badly I wanted this and also how badly I didnt want to be in a hospital. I talked to my baby through rushes saying stuff such as cmon on baby open relax you can do this This helped tremendously. It gave me something to concentrate on.
Around 5:30 my Midwife suggested that I have an examination to determine how dilated I was. I really did not want to be checked. I knew how painful checks are and I also knew that had they told me I was only a 4 or even a 6 I would stop coping. Midwife and Doula both assured me that I was much further than that based on the sounds I was making. At first they suggested I lay on the couch for the exam but the thought of that was horrendous so they suggested that I get checked on the toilet. So to the toilet we went. Midwife quickly checked me and ran off. I kept thinking how I consented to this exam and why isnt she telling me how far I am?? Doula and I made our way out of the bathroom where we found Midwife and she said that babys head is right there and I am a 9!! She had ran to get to her phone to call the secondary Midwife as there has to be 2 Midwives present at a homebirth. A student Midwife also came. This would be her first homebirth!
I was ecstatic to already be a 9! With that I had a very strong rush where my body took over and pushed. DH hurried to start filling the pool. I got in when it was half full. It felt really nice to be in the water. It all happened so fast that DH forgot to use the pool liner.
For the next 1.5 hours I pushed with each rush and kept on switching positions. I had my arms out around our Doula the whole time and she coached me through each and every rush. I was getting very frustrated as I felt as though these rushes were not doing anything. I could not feel baby moving down as I thought I would and just didn`t feel much progress.
Ds1 woke up around 6 am and was snuggled in Daddys arms.
Around 7:30 am, Midwife suggested that I would need to get out of the pool and try the birth stool if things didnt start happening soon. I think that was the motivation I really needed to push with all my might and fully surrender. The next couple pushes and I could feel baby`s head and all that pressure. Once I got to this point I really welcomed each rush as it was hugely encouraging as I could feel the progress happening. I had one hand down below to feel baby`s head emerging. It was an amazing feeling and one I hope to never forget. A couple times the head would get close and then the rush would end and it would go back up then finally I had a rush where the baby`s head stayed there and a few more big pushes and I had birthed baby`s head. The ring of fire was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated. I kept my hand cupped around his soft squishy head the whole time. Absolutely amazing to feel my babys head!! Apparently I neglected to tell anyone that his head was out. Whoops! I really was in such a zone.
At this point for whatever reason I just thought the rest of baby would come out so I asked What do I do now? Doula said You have a baby ha ha. I gave 2 more massive pushes and out came baby. He was delivered with me in a squat. I turned over and scooped him up. It was the best feeling. A couple seconds later and he made a few squeaks and I told him that he had done so well. Once he was covered in a blanket I had a peek and announced that he was a boy. Ds1 and DH were both looking over my shoulder for the announcement. Jack Johnson was playing in the background when baby Jude was born.
We stayed in the water until the cord stopped pulsing. DH cut the cord and we got out. It was only steps to my couch and I got to snuggle with my squishy newborn and enjoy skin to skin. I longed and craved for this magical moment as I felt robbed of it at Ds1s birth. Jude latched on at his own accord just minutes later.
Not long after, I delivered the placenta with no intervention and it was huge! Everyone commented how nice it was.
I ended up with a second degree tear that required a few stitches but I am so thankful I didn't have to go into hospital.
From water breaking to babe in arms was less than 7 hours. I never once got tired or scared or felt as though I couldn't cope or needed intervention. Judes birth was absolutely amazing. I would not change a thing about it. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have the perfect birth story but I got it.
I am eternally grateful for all the support I received from my husband, my Midwife, my Doula and my community of friends IRL and here on BnB. Thank you to everyone who made this possible and for trusting my body and trusting birth.
Will add pics another day!
Thanks for reading
A strong determined mummy letting your body do what it was meant to. And all the more impressive I might add with all the negative associations you might have had from first time around.
I just realized that Jude was born on my mom's birthday! 
