My Birth Story

I woke up after the sun rose, laid in bed, finished a book I was reading.
Lower abdomen was crampy, went to bathroom
Did I just lose my mucous plug?
Strange, maybe, oh well... but wait, I'm leaking?
I felt a steady trickle, every few minutes, two pant changes later,
Hmmm...did my water break?

My husband awoke, so I shared my confusion.
More cramping, are these contractions?
It's Thanksgiving! Going to mom's house for a feast.
Need to make desserts..
I started to making a pumpkin pie from real pumpkins. Yum!
Then I'll make a cranberry-apple crisp too!
While in the kitchen cooking away happily thinking about turkey,
mashed potatoes, stuffing, all the goodness,
Papa 'to be' is setting up the AquaDoula birth tub in the dining room...finally!

Pie in oven, tub is almost ready, I say to Papa,
"Let's go for a walk... I need to walk."
We got dressed and to the lake we walked, about a mile from home.
Feeling okay... crampy still.
Got to lake, gazed into each other's eyes, hugged and kissed.
"Time to go back? " he asked
"Yes! Pie's in the oven, and we have a feast tonight," I exitedly replied.
"Are we still going to dinner?" Papa continued ...
"Sure! I responded, I don't know if this is labor, and if it is, I can hang out with these contractions and we'll have the baby tomorrow!"

Started walking back, but I kept slowing down...
Stopped, waves of tightness poured through my body.
Papa started timing... waves were five minutes apart.
Got to get home, need to take pie out of oven, here's another...pause.
It has passed, walking faster until the next one comes.
Almost home, we'll call our midwife, and ask if this is the real thing...labor!?!

At home, tired, took pie out, went to find my yoga ball.

I haven't had breakfast yet...not hungry, maybe later.
Started filling the bath tub in the bathroom...
Let's time again...pressure in my lower back... waves were 3 to 5 minutes apart.
Papa makes the call to our midwife while I rock side to side resting my chest on the ball.
I get in the warm bath... ah! All is great..maybe we'll make it to dinner....maybe not.
This could be the day we meet our baby!

Our midwife comes shortly after noon, and her assistant a couple hours later.
I'm in my robe hugging my yoga ball.
Round'n'round I sway, as the waves come and go.
Is the Aquadoula tub ready?
Soon...

Finally! I make my way into the big round tub in our dining room.
Sooooo nice! hot! relaxing! lots of room for us!
Squatting...hands'n'knees...standing...walking..
Stay active...pressure...waves...It's all okay!
Vitals; my temperature & blood pressure, and baby's heartbeat.
We're both doing good...
Drinking water through straw and teaspoons of honey all day.
Transition...intense!...baby is moving down.
Breathing... one breath, one minute at a time.


This too shall pass...stay focused...stay deep inside.
Breathing...moving...wading in hot water.
Hanging onto my husband...great support...helping me, helping us.
More water is poured into the tub,
ah! so nice and hot.. too relaxing and out of the tub we go.

We lay on the bed...tired...so tired.
It's dark now.. no idea what time it is or how long it's been.
How much longer?
We must be close...
Actively pushing, pushing the baby down and out.
I push, she moves out... I can't hold anymore and she comes back in..
Waves...in and out...I'm pushing!

Change positions... push..hold..ah!
Another position and the cycle continues..
So tired... muscles trembling... cold.. hot... what a ride!
I get into the shower on hands'n'knees... hot water on my lower back... so nice!

I remembered my tattoo that I got this summer in Hawaii.
On the back of my neck by a fourth generation Polynesian artist.
It means; life force, strength and balance.
Yes! That's it...
Life force, strength and balance.
Life force, strength and balance..
Life force, strength and balance...
I keep repeating until I use up all the hot water.

Okay, getting out of the shower.
Which position shall we try now?
Squat! Shorter birth passage and wider hips...
I got this! Yes!
Life force, strength and balance!
Push...push.. push...
Yay! The baby crowned and stayed!
Hoorah!! Only a few more pushes!
Yes! Whoah! Breath! Hold! Push!
Getting bigger... coming out....my baby!

She comes to my chest! Slippery and warm!
Sweet cries, eyes opening to glimpse at me.
Ah! She is so precious! and here in our bedroom!
Welcome Mira! Thank you for coming to us!
New energy and love engulf me.
We are in our own bubble,
we are together at last.
Skin to skin.. I'm your Mama!

I feel the placenta's cord puls...wow!
Waiting for it to stop and separate...
Ready to push?
No, not really... can you just pull the cord?
Okay... I lean forward towards a squat.
A little push, a pull, another push.. out comes the tree of life.

Oh beautiful tree of life!
Nourishing our baby in my womb.
We are both alive.. in love.. together...
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.