Evie's Home Birth

[Waiting4bb]

On the 28th I went into the birth center for a non-stress test on the baby because I was 41 weeks pregnant. I was having contractions with period pain and some back pain. They weren’t really strong, but certainly different than Braxton hicks. The baby responded well in the test and we scheduled another for Monday. I was hoping I would have the baby before that time. All day I kept having the contractions, but they never gained in intensity nor were they that close together. When my husband got home he suggested a walk, and even though I didn’t want to go, I knew it would help the baby to come. So we went for a long walk and it was pretty tiring and I was still having contractions. After we got home we watched a movie and ate dinner. I figured if I didn’t go into labor that night then I wasn’t ever. Well I never fell asleep because my contractions kept coming and I started to get back pain with them more and more. My daughter wouldn’t go to bed (she is two) because she knew I was in labor. She kept saying “momma” and looking at me all concerned. My husband called a friend over to come be with Piper and the contractions were getting more intense. At some point, the contractions were closer together. About 5 minutes. My husband called the doula and later the midwife. Our doula came at the perfect time and she started to press on my back and massage me. It was wonderful to have her there. By the time the midwife and assistant got there things were picking up a bit. I had an IV drip put in for my group b strep and labored for awhile sitting on a chair. My midwife massaged my face with jasmine essential oil (AMAZING!) and said a prayer for us and the labor and baby. I am a very spiritual person, so this was wonderful. Pretty soon things started getting more intense. I tried lots of different positions to alleviate my back pain. What seemed to help the most was standing but leaning against something while the doula pushed on my back. My first birth I was induced with pitocin. This birth was very different. The contractions were strong at the start and would slow and then hurt again. Sometimes I would have a contraction and then right away another one. The space between contractions really surprised me. When I was induced the contractions gave me no chance to breathe. They were almost back to back and intense through the whole contraction. By the time I started feeling the need to push I was having extreme pelvic pressure. I squatted while leaning over the couch for awhile, then the midwife suggested my husband hold me and pull me up between contractions. Pushing was great at first but then it became very intense and I had to tell myself to breathe because I was so exhausted. 45 minutes of pushing and she was born. At some point my waters burst and everyone laughed. Crowning was quite painful, more so than with my daughter. When I finally pushed her out and sat down she seemed so tiny! Her face was a little blue and the assistant suctioned out her mouth and nose. She cried and looked amazing. She scored a 9 on the Apgar. I was able to latch her on right away. I was 99% sure she was going to be a boy! The plancenta came out with me pushing shortly after and it was quite big. Unfortunately I did tear but it wasn’t as bad as my first. I had a 3rd degree tear that time. She weighed 8lbs and 7oz, 21 and ½ inches long. We thought she was going to be around 7lbs! Took us by surprise that she was so big. I am so thankful to be able to say that we had a home birth. It was a million times better than my hospital birth, even if the pain was just as intense. I have to say that I was much more aware and alert this time. I wasn't utterly exhausted like I was after my induction. Post partum has also been way easier.

Anyway... thanks for reading our story!

Evie Rose

 

[lm3898]

Congratulations! Great story!

 

[Eline]

Congratulations on your little girl!

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

Congratulations!