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Janelle's Home VBAC

9/11/2014

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Janelle's first 4 babies were born in the hospital.  Her next 3 were home births.  Baby #8 was a cesarean due to transverse lie, which led to an inverted T incision to deliver the baby.  Janelle says "My c-section was a nightmare.  As a home birther, it was devastating when they told me I would never have another vaginal birth."

This labor was different from my other 8.  It started and stopped so often I didn't think it was going to happen. Finally when evening fell, it picked up again and got more regular.  He was in position and I could feel him descending.  It took a few hours but it was manageable and we passed the time talking and eating.  

It was another few hours later when I realized he was no longer in the right position.  He was almost a repeat c-section as he had flipped transverse mid-labor and we had to turn him.  Just in case, we called 911 and boy did those paramedics get more than they bargained for!  For one thing, they had never seen (and one had never even heard of) a water birth. They started to freak out, so I kicked them out.  They kept coming back saying if I need a c-section we have to leave now. I was in way too much pain to go anywhere so I cried out to God for mercy.  Finally he turned and engaged, but his position wasn't optimal so I would have to get him out. The urge to push never kicked in but my water had now broken. The next push didn't do much but something was different. I looked up and my midwife looked into my eyes and it was time to do this.  This time when I pushed he came right out, so quickly no one could tell how he presented. Lol. The paramedics were nice enough to stay in the kitchen, though still freaked.  They wanted to take us to the hospital, claiming they had to take us by law (lie).  My midwife stepped in and called them on that and magically the refusal of service forms were given to us to sign.  My hubby gave them a few cigars and they went on their way.

David was 8lbs2oz, 20.5" long.
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Meg's VBA2C

9/10/2014

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My husband and I have two children born via c-section. Our eldest daughter was born via c-section because our doctor told us I failed to progress after only 3 hours of being in labor after my water was broken. We were 23 years old, on our own in a city we didn't know, and enrolled in graduate school, and didn't know much about labor and so we trusted her. We found out later that the real reason she pushed for a c-section was because she wanted to go home to her children.  She told us this while I was on the operating table. 

Our beautiful baby girl was born at 9lbs with a head full of hair. She was beautiful. Unfortunately, because of the numbing medication and the exhaustion of it all I was in and out of consciousness and shaking badly. I held her for a few minutes before she and my husband were taken to a different part of the hospital for her check up. I was taken to get an x-ray and then brought into my recovery room and all I remember saying is "Where is my daughter? Where is my husband? I want to hold my baby." 

They didn't bring her to me until after she was already bathed, I lost track of time and it felt like forever before I got to hold my daughter; my husband tells me it was at least an hour and a half. We were over the moon in love with her and happy she came safely. My recovery went very well, up and walking, very little pain (I have a high pain tolerance) and we were sent home three days later. It wasn't until a few months after her birth that the way she came into the world bothered me. I felt like I was lied to, that I wasn't given enough options. Sure, I was happy that we had a healthy baby girl but I felt like something was missing.

Our daughter was only 6 months old before we found out we were expecting number 2. We played with the idea of having a trial of labor with him but nothing really came together. I called two doctors in my area that were VBAC friendly and one was booked, not taking any new clients, and the other one agreed to meet with me. When we met I had a list of questions but as soon as he saw the list and I asked my first one, he seemed annoyed. He bulldozed over the entire conversation, ending it with "If I even think your baby will be over 8 pounds, you'll have a c-section." I left that meeting and cried to my husband over the phone in my car. An ugly cry. I felt defeated. 

We knew that our second baby was going to be at least 9 pounds like our first, and I did not want to have a c-section in the hospital in which this doctor delivered. So we gave up and decided to go with a provider who was very pro-VBAC but unfortunately his practice was not, so he could only offer us a c-section. We took that and delivered a 9 pound 6 ounce baby boy. This was the hardest birth for me. I wasn't able to hold my son for 9 hours due to continuous vomitting from the spinal tap I had. All I could do was stare at him while my husband held him, skin to skin. When I was finally able to hold him, I was happy that he was healthy but so sad and empty inside for the way he came into the world.

When we decided to have our third baby we knew we were at a fork in the road. We knew that a VBA2C was our only shot if we wanted to have more children after this third baby. 

This time I didn't even bother calling the previous doctor who told me he wouldn't allow me to give birth if he suspected a big baby. I called two other doctors, one was booked and one told me on the phone "You're a medical risk." Great. I called my husband again, crying. After our conversation I decided to think outside of the box and called a midwifery group in a city an hour and a half away from me. I talked to them and they seemed more than optimistic that we could have our third child vaginally. I felt like I won the lottery.

I staid with my OB until I was 20 weeks and then transferred my care an hour and a half away from me, where my mom lives. The 21 weeks of travel, sometimes by myself, sometimes with my kids, was never a burden to me. I was focused on having this baby under my own terms. I zeroed in on what I wanted, using the nights to commit myself to positive thinking. I can't say we had any non supporters in our lives. But our friends and family just thought we were crazy for driving that far to deliver a baby and unsure about why we would take the risks that come with vaginal births after c-sections. But we were confident in our choice, we knew that it was our destiny.

I went to the doctor on a Wednesday, 7 days overdue and nothing was happening. They gave me the option of a c-section, waiting it out until I was 2 weeks overdue and then inducing, or inducing on Friday at 9 days overdue. I told them that a c-section was completely out of the question, we didn't come this far just to give up. They were very nice about it though, the practice believes in giving every option and I appreciated that. We decided that we would go with an induction on Friday.

Thursday morning I woke up with horrible contractions. From nothing happening to contractions the next day!? I was over the moon. We spent our time cleaning up the house, packing the rest of our things, getting the oldest two ready and when we felt like our home was in order, we started on our hour and a half drive. 

We made it to my moms, dropped the kids off, and went to the hospital. They told me that I was barely at 1 but I was happy with that. We walked around the hospital, me contracting in hidden stairways, my husband right by my side. I was checked again but nothing changed and I was instructed to go home and relax. I went back to my moms and ate friend fish and french fries. I was so hungry! I was never allowed to eat in the hospital before. But I was eating! And hugging my babies! And leaning on my mother for support. I went to sleep for a while until I was up with more contractions. This time they were closer together and we decided to go back into the hospital.

At the hospital they told me I was barely at 2 but because it was getting late and I was set for an induction the next morning, I could stay. We settled into the hospital and I immediately fell in love with my nurse. She was amazing and the entire staff were pro-VBAC.

That night I slept pretty well and woke up on Friday with stronger but irregular contractions. Throughout the day I was allowed to move around as much as I wanted, including getting in a shower, so long as my portable monitoring system was picking up the baby's vitals. The baby was doing great, I was great (but in pain) and everything was moving along. I was checked at this time I was at 3! The doctor said "I'm sorry. You're only at 3" and I said "Why are you sorry!? I'm doing this on my own!!!!" I was so happy. The first OB we ever had, our first c-section, told me my body had failed me...I was devastated then. But now, my body was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing.

I was told that I would need pitocin. There is a lot of literature out there saying that pitocin could cause rupture but I trusted my care providers and I had done my own research and I knew that at very small and controlled doses it can be fine. I agreed to that and contracted with pitocin until my body was able to contract regularly on its own. During my contractions I shut my eyes and I reminded myself things like "This is opening you up." "This is natural." "This is supposed to happen. "Just relax."- No it didn't take all the pain away, but it helped.

Around 4 in the morning, on Saturday, I told my husband "I'm feeling shaky..I have to throw up!" He asked if it was normal..I said..I think so..But he went to get the nurse staff anyway. Just in time too because I threw up in a bucket! I didn't even think at the time that throwing up could be a sign of transition into labor, I just knew I had to throw up. The nurse checked me and the midwife yelled "Yes! It's time! Hold on! We have to go tell everyone, they didn't think this was going to happen! We have to do a happy dance."

And they really did..They left the room, screamed in the hall "She's ready!" and danced!  I looked at my husband and I was in disbelief. 

My body had done this all on its own, my body wasn't a failure.

I began pushing our baby out with the help of an amazing team. The midwife placed warm cloths on me before every push and talked me through everything. My husband was fanning me and that wonderful nurse? Well she was coaching me on how to breathe. It was all very exciting and my breathing was erratic and she helped me with that. I remember saying "You guys are telling me to push, when I'm not at the peek of my contraction." and they apologized! They said they were sorry and I should just push when I wanted to! 

I finally got the head out and I stopped contracting..I guess my body thought I was done. The doctor sounded very worried and told me "Push please..Just push." and I did..But nothing happened. My eyes were closed the entire time but my husband says one of the nurses pressed a red button and more nurses came in. 

My midwife said in a very stern soft voice "You have to get this baby out..NOW" and I did. I pushed hard once or twice and there was a popping noise and out came my baby. What happened was that her shoulders almost got stuck.

I opened my eyes and looked at my husband. He was crying! And all I kept saying was "I did it! I fucking did it!" And I was crying. There isn't a word for the way I was feeling. 

We had a baby girl. But she wasn't crying. I remember saying "Why isn't she crying!" And a different nurse came by my side and said "She is fine. She is perfect..She's just in shock." And right when the nurse said that, she belted out the loudest cry. 

Our daughter was crying, I was crying, my husband was crying and the medical staff was in awe. 

The staff weighed her quickly and took measurements and then handed her to me. I had never nursed our first two, life circumstances didn't allow for it. But with her, we were determined to make breastfeeding work. I was nursing her, marveling at her beautiful face and then heard "She is 21 inches long..and..10 and a half pounds!" 

I looked up at them and said "Stop lying..You need to weigh her again. I don't believe you." After she was done nursing, they weighed her again. 10 and a half pounds.

This 2 time c-section "medical risk" mom birthed a 10 and a half pound baby! I wanted to climb the tallest mountain and shout "Fuck all of you!" 

I used to cry whenever I talked about the birth of my oldest children. I felt empty and like something was stolen from me. But now I feel like I have healed. 

Women are allowed to have healthy babies AND healthy birth experiences. They are not mutually exclusive. 

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Jandel's VBAC

4/27/2014

5 Comments

 
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I had a c-section with my first born son for failure to progress. My water broke early in labor and My OB told me to come to the hospital. I was only 3 cm dilated but they admitted me. I believe my OB just wanted to monitor his time clock and didn't give me the time to progress before inducing me. I only got to 5 cm even with the pitocin. 

Fast forward two years later with a new and supportive OB and I had the perfect VBAC experience for the birth of my daughter. Here it is:

(An important background note: I am the biggest April Fool's prankster you know. I've been pranking my husband since we met 10 years ago. So it is EXTREMELY fitting that my daughter was born on April 1st)

Midnight April 1st: As I'm laying in bed with my 2 year old, I feel contractions that center in my lower left abdomen, so I do the whole routine of drinking water and laying back down to see if they are Braxton Hicks. THEY'RE NOT. So around 4am, my son wakes up (I think he knew the baby was coming) and I just decide to get up and casually let my hubby know that today could be the day. He says "it's a shame you're using the baby to play an April Fool's joke this year" He didn't believe me lol  Of course I know I deserved this for all the times I've "cried wolf"

8:00am Still having contractions, not very strong, and mainly in the front abdomen but becoming more like 10-12 minutes apart. So I let my mom and sister know and go figure, they say they don't believe me!!! I thought "thank goodness I'm seeing the OB today to confirm that something's happening."

10:00am OB appointment, all the nurses are excited that I'm having contractions. My mom comes with me and still doesn't believe me until the OB checks my cervix and says baby's head is lower and I'm 1 cm dilated. He says, it's such early labor that he could see me in labor later today at the hospital or not for another few weeks. (We were hoping today!)

11:00am I keep my hair appointment and drop off some paperwork at my job for maternity leave

1:00pm Hair is finished I head home and make sure my hospital bag is packed. I text my hubby that the contractions are still light, but regular so he can probably stay at work (IN LAFAYETTE) late as he had planned.

3:45pm My water breaks!!!! and the contractions get swift and hard REALLY REALLY quickly. I call the nurse at the OB's office and the OB gives me 6 hours to try to labor at home even with my water broken. I didn't have a birth plan because I didn't think I needed one. My plan was strictly to labor at home and go to the hospital at the latest moment possible, when no one could harass me with silly interventions, etc. We wanted an unmedicated VBAC!

4:05pm. I tell my hubby who's all the way in Lafayette he better hit the road b/c the contractions have sped up and are like 5 minutes apart and getting stronger.

4:05-6:30pm My labor progresses extremely fast. I'm managing contractions by changing positions and listening to motivational music. We had planned to leave home at 7 or 7:15pm to be able to say that my contractions had been strong and hard for 3 hours, but at 6:30pm I got this weird feeling of the baby wiggling down and I shouted "LET'S GO NOW!!" My husband had only been home 15 minutes!

6:45pm By the time we pack the car and I'm able to get to the car (had to wait until in between contractions) It's 6:45pm and I'm in major pain and contractions are 2 minutes apart.

7:00pm We arrive at Woman's assessment and I am triaged (all during very hard contractions where I'm shaking and shivering). I get back to assessment and can't even lay on my back for them to check my cervix, so they check while I'm on hands and knees and the nurse says 6cm dilated fully effaced. I thought "SIX CENTIMETERS?????!!!!" I was about to lose it, thinking if it was THIS painful to get to 6cm how am I going to get to 10 without medication????

7:10pm I get the urge to push and push, while the nurse who said I was 6cm dilated says DON'T PUSH! I'm like "Really lady?" Everyone's in a rush and saying I need to get upstairs NOW! My OB sends in his partner Dr. Mullens to deliver the baby and he says I should be able to have the baby vaginally! WOOO HOOO. But then there's this pain!! While he's saying this I'm being rolled quickly up to a labor and delivery room.

7:15pm We're in the labor and delivery room and Dr. Mullens is able to check my cervix and he says SHE'S FULLY DILATED SHE CAN PUSH WHEN SHE WANTS TO!! I was like "HALLELUJAH"!!!!! But my mom wasn't even in the room yet. My hubby jumps on the phone and says "Hurry you have to get here now!" My mom had been trying to get in the room, but the front desk folks were giving her a hard time. So my hubby had to get a nurse to forcefully make them let my mom in. She ran and was able to make it as I started pushing!

7:15-7:30pm I'm pushing (I had no idea pushing could be that intense or difficult. No wonder people say to rest during early contractions. I was so worn out I didn't think i could do it! but everyone, MD, nurses, hubby, and mom were SOOOOOO supportive!!!!) 

7:30pm My beautiful baby girl, Malaika Sarah, is born! 

So that's my story of a successful unmedicated VBAC that nearly happened in the car lol! I was at the hospital for THIRTY MINUTES before the baby was born! The nurses didn't even get to put in an IV or ask the general assessment questions before the baby was born. If there was an accident or bad traffic on I-10 coming from Lafayette, it's possible my hubby could have MISSED the birth. Literally less than 4 hours after my water breaking the baby was here!! If we had waited to leave for the hospital until 7 like we planned, things would have been even more chaotic lol 

I am just so thankful that this time around I am able to honestly and happily say, I had the EXACT experience I wanted and wouldn't have changed a thing!! My advice is to stay home as long as you can and feel comfortable with and with a supportive OB and family you'll be just fine!!
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Stacey's VBAC & Home VBAC

2/28/2014

1 Comment

 
Stacey's VBAC

"He's never coming."  I had convinced myself of this.  You see, I KNEW Madison was coming early...and she was 5 days past the EDD, so I was SURE Kyle was coming mid or late September.  He was due September 10, so I was expecting him around the 20th.

When I woke up with slightly painful contractions, I was in denial.  I rolled over and looked at the clock, 3AM.  "This isn't it."  I rolled back over and tried to go back to sleep, but there was another contraction, 3:05.  "This is so annoying!  I just want to sleep.  I know this isn't it, so please stop practicing!"  3:10, a third contraction.  "Ok, I'll go get some water...and my ball just in case."  As I came back upstairs I thought, "Well, this could be it, but I don't want to get my hopes up.  He isn't due until Saturday."  After about 30 minutes (~6 contractions), I decided to wake DH.  He had been sleeping in the guestroom because his snoring was keeping me awake.

"Honey, wake up.  I think it is time."  "Huh? Ok," rolls over and back to sleep.  "Wake up!  It is time." "Ok.  I'll get it," clearly still sleeping.   "HELLO!  I'M IN LABOR!  GET UP!!!" "What?  Ok, let's go to the hospital!"  He was finally awake.  We looked at our sheet to see when to call Dr. T..."It says to call when contractions are 6-8 minutes apart."  We called and Tia informed us that Dr. T was already at the hospital.  "How far apart are the contractions?" "5 minutes.  Been that way for almost an hour."  "Go to the hospital."  We called Annette (doula) and asked her to meet us at the hospital.  Then we called our neighbor to come stay at our house with our daughter.  "She can have cereal for breakfast.  And here is her cup, milk first then juice or water.  She can eat a lunchable and some fruit for lunch.  Her clothes are on my bed.  She..." "Relax, momma.  You get to the hospital and have that baby.  I'll take care of everything here."  We packed up the car and were on our way.

Upon arrival, the hospital doors were...locked!  Luckily, a guard was walking by and let us in.  DH went to park the car and the guard wheeled me upstairs.  Check in was smooth.  DH arrived shortly after I checked in and they took me to my room where the questions began.  Just as the nurse was finishing, Annette arrived.  Thank goodness she was there!  I had forgotten my birth plan at home  but Annette saved the day!

Dr. T came around 5AM to check me.  "She's still smiling...She's 6 cm.  Looks like you're staying."  Thank goodness!  I would have died if I got sent home!  I needed to stand, that felt better.  I hugged my husband's neck and we swayed.  Ok, that doesn't feel good anymore.  All fours?  I need ice.  It's hot.  I need to stand up.  Ugh, nothing will dull this pain!  "Relax your shoulders."  Thanks for the reminder, Annette.  Breathe, Stace.  You can do this.  I squatted and OMG!  That hurts!  "It will help open things up."  I know, Annette, but...breathe, Stace.  You can do this.  I had to, so on the next contraction, I squatted.  "That a girl!"  I've never been more encouraged!  Thanks again, Annette!  "I need to be checked."  

Dr. Tate returned to check me again, 8:15 and I was 8.5cm.  At this point, contractions were rough, but still bearable.  No request for pain relief.  I was ready to have this baby.  "Do you want me to break your water?"  "But that means more pain...ok, go ahead.  If there is ANY chance that will speed things up."  He broke my water.  The next time he came back, they got the "tools".

Around 10AM, Dr. T checked me and said I was 9cm, almost 10 and that we would push through to 10.  I had an anterior lip that he had to get around the baby's head.  It was time to push.   "Every time you have a contraction, I want you to take a deep breath and hold it.  Push for 10 counts.  We want to get 3 pushes for every contraction."  I got the instructions, but it didn't sink in at first.  As a contraction came, he instructed my husband to hold up my right leg and Annette to hold my left.  Deep breath.  "1, 2, 3..."  Wooooo.  "No, I said hold it for 10 counts.  You're letting it out."  Deep breath.  "1, 2, 3, 4, 5..."  Wooooo.  "You gotta hold it.  You aren't holding it."  Deep breath. "1, 2, 3...."  I got breathing down.  Now to push properly.     Who knew it required so much thinking?

"When you push, I want you to bear down like you are having a bowel movement.  Get those legs up."  "This hurts."  PUSH!  "Nope, you aren't pushing right."  "I don't know how."  "You can do this."  "I'm tired."  "Why do you think they call this labor?  I see.  She doesn't believe she can do this."  Great job, Dr. Tate.  "I can, just not right now."  PUSH!  I was so tired.  "Alright, here we go, she's having another contraction."  My ever so concerned DH says, "Babe, are you having a contraction?"  "No."  As Dr. T. feels my stomach, "She's lying."  Wooooo.  "I'm tired, I just need to take a break during that one."  "Every one you do that through is a wasted contraction."  I love Dr. Tate's straightforwardness (if that is word).  This had to be the longest 30 minutes of my life!  PUSH!  "I made a mistake, I need drugs."  "Too late for that.  You gotta push this baby out."  "No I don't, I have options.  What if I was unconscious.  DH, hit me!"  Ok, I need help.  "Get the forceps and pull him out."  "I won't pull him out, I will guide him."  "Whatever, get this kid out of me!"  Once they were on, it took one good contraction and 4 pushes.  

I felt everything!  What a different experience it was?  I felt his head come out and the tear .  I thought that would hurt the most and I felt it, but it wasn't painful at all.  I felt his head come out on the 3rd push of a contraction and everyone was ready to wait for another one.  I couldn't wait, I took a breath and pushed...Kyle was here!  They picked him up and put him on my stomach.  "Roll him over so his stomach is facing this way and DH can cut the cord."  I did it!  I did it!  I couldn't believe it, I did it!  DH was crying and just kept saying, "You are amazing!"  Kyle was officially born and 10:31AM on September 8, 2011.

While they weighed him, I got worked on.   They were stitching up my tear. "Are the almost finished?"  "Not quite, honey."  Annette was familiar with this process and she knew it would take awhile.  "I just want to close my legs."  I totally understood the skit I had recently seen in "Be Bold".  It felt like it was taking years and all I wanted to do was close my legs.  Finally, they were finished and handed him back and I began nursing.  He was a pro and latched right on, no issues.  Words cannot express the way I felt/feel...I'm still in disbelief and he is 6 weeks old.


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Stacey's HBAC

Nov. 9, 2013


I woke up at 6:30am on Nov. 9 and I felt refreshed. For the first time in weeks, I had pretty much slept the entire night, only waking two or three times to roll over. I had to use the restroom, but was hesitant. Going to the bathroom would start my morning contractions and I just wanted to continue relaxing. Nevertheless, I went, but no contractions. I laid in bed thinking abt the day. We planned to go to the zoo to encourage the baby to come. At 730, Maddie came in and I put on cartoons for her while I went to the bathroom again.


With this bathroom break, I had some concerning stool. My contractions also started around this time. Slightly more painful than yesterday, but I wasn't sure. I had about 3 from the toilet, to washing hands, and back to my room. These hurt! By 8, I had gone to the restroom again and decided I should be timing the contractions. I sent my midwife and doula a text. "We may have a baby today."  Both of them responded with "what is going on?" "contractions abt 5 min apart lasting a min and 15 sec" My cell rings, it is my midwife, but I'm having a contraction. I call her back and she says she is on her way. Then my doula calls. She too thinks she needs to head our way. I try to relax. Nate was feeding the kids breakfast and I was on my ball watching the contractions.

By the time Lisa arrived, I had moved downstairs. Nate called my cousin to come watch the kids and they were finishing breakfast. I was so glad to see Lisa. I didn't have to do it alone anymore! She started my bath for me and said that should help. Nate put the kids in the basement to play and things got going...

At this point, contractions were a 1.5 min apart and a little over a min long. I got in the tub and immediately felt better, but nothing slowed down. Nate was back and forth from the kids and I was feeling pushy. "Lisa, get Nate. And call B(midwife). Where is she? I don't want to have the baby without her."  Another contraction, and I'm really scared. I can't stop my body from pushing. I pooped again.  I wanted to feel for the baby's head but I was terrified to find out he was crowning so I didn't.  Lisa was awesome and emptied the tub and got new water going.

10:00-in walks my midwife. Thank God! Nate gets in the tub and sits on the back ledge.  I put my arms over his legs and got in a squat position. B reached down and put pressure on my perineum. I thought she was going to check me, but after so many deliveries, she knew I was complete. 



Another contraction and you could see my belly take on a new form, push! My bag of waters poked out still in tact. Another big push and there was his head. "The head is out, baby girl. Come on let's meet the baby. Wait, the cord. OK, I got it off." I push again...nothing. "big push! Bigger!" I push again...nothing. I can feel his head and everything in me wants the rest out but it seems my efforts are in vain. 

"Get her up!" Nate lifts me by my arms so that I am in a more upright position. I feel a contraction and some weird and uncomfortable movement. "Don't do that." "It isn't me, it is the baby." I push again and this time B has her hand up to help. The baby is stuck. I'm pushing, she is pulling...one more contraction and he is here! He is also huge! I'm sitting in the tub, holding my baby. He takes a few seconds to cry but he is OK. Then we hear, "I think his arm might be broken." I'm on such a high, I just keep talking to the baby. Nate is worried, but we both relish in what just happened.  Nate pulls back his leg, we have a boy! I ask Lisa to go get the kids from the basement.

When they arrive, they both seem in shock. "Is that your blood? Look, its a new baby!" Madison had watched several videos so she was kind of familiar.  Kyle points and says "bebe".  As I'm sitting in the tub waiting on the placenta, MB(midwife’s assistant) walks in and shortly after that, my cousin Mary walks in. "We have a baby!" "What? Already!?!?" We called my mom to give her the news. Nicholas was born on her birthday.

Once the placenta came and we were out of the tub, we moved to the bed to cut the cord. It, like everything else, was large. We had to wait bc the supplies were still being sterilized. It all just happened so fast! Once they were ready, B got Nate and clamped the cord. He cut it and she gave us a lesson. "Here are the three vessels. Oxygen in, food in, and waste out."  She gets out her scale to weigh him. Everyone puts in bids. "9lbs" "8# 12oz" "10# 2oz".  B was right on! He was 10lbs, 2 oz.  We wrap him up and everyone is cleaning up as we sit and love our new baby. I noticed some blood and called B. The cord was so thick, the initial clamp had cut through. She got another band and put it on and everything was fine. His arm was also moving OK, so we figured it was fine as well.

What an amazing team. B checked out my baby and they all kept commenting on how awesome things had gone. I was in disbelief. We did it! B checked me for a tear. "There is a small one, but I don't think you need stitches." So I sat back and tried to start nursing.  He gave me a little trouble nursing, but he got it eventually.


We ended up calling my chiropractor to come look at him and he got his first adjustment. She also suggested we go get x-rays. It was a Saturday evening, so we scheduled a visit with the family doctor and then for the earliest xray appt we could get.  We found out Tuesday that Nicholas does have a broken arm.  Not exactly how I would have liked things, but after doing some research, I’m glad my midwife knew what to do and how to act appropriately in an emergency.  His arm will heal in a few weeks and he is handling it like a champ.  Overall, I’m glad we did it and I am so in love with my new little man!
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