Birth of Brandon James Oct. 10, "98
Updated March 05, 2015.
When my husband and I found out we were pregnant, the thought of having our baby anywhere else other than home never even crossed our minds. I had been present at my little sisters home births, both of them, and it just seemed to me that that was the way it was meant to be! My mother had quick easy births with both my sister and I, in a hospital with drugs, of course, but none the less, short labors, and my sister had no problems with either of hers so I naturally had it in my mind that I was going to breeze through this!
I started my prenatal care with my midwife ( the same one that assisted my sister) at 3 months. I took great care to eat well, and to take prenatal vitamins, calcium supplements, and red raspberry leaf capsules ( uterine toner). I quit smoking and really tried to take care of myself, in my mind, not only ensuring a healthy baby but preparing my body for the "breezy" labor I was going to have.
I really got involved on the Internet, reading all the birth stories I could get my hands on, and talking to other pregnant women, taking in all the information that I could. I first read about waterbirths in those birth stories and from what all the other women said, that was the way to go if I was going to go natural, so I started to research it, what risks there were, what were the advantages and where to find a tub! That was the hard part was finding the tub, but I found a place online that would deliver one to my house and arrange for UPS to pick it up when we're done! So that's what my husband (Carl) and I decided to do.
Many of the women who had had waterbirths, called them "wet epidurals" for their pain relieving qualities... so I was expecting of course for this to only add to my "breezy" labor!
We also took Bradley birth classes. They teach relaxation techniques, and the need for good nutrition, to ensure a healthy pregnancy and to prepare for successful natural childbirth. There are 12 classes so the material is studied in depth...concentrating on husband coached childbirth and making sure that the parents are well informed about the procedures in the hospital. We were the only ones in class having a home birth, so a lot of the things we learned didn't apply for us, but we still learned so much, and just incase something went wrong, we would be prepared for the hospital.....although I was VERY adamant about not going to the hospital unless there was an emergency!!! As far as I'm concerned hospitals are for sick people and I wasn't sick! Everyone on my birth team ( my mom, my sister Shannon, my best friend Jenny, my husband, and my midwife Michelle) knew how strongly I felt about it! So I had their support...lucky for me because I would end up needing it!
I had set up the room where I planned on having the baby with a water fountain, lots of plants and candles, things that made me happy, mood setters, though people said that I was crazy and that I wouldn't even notice they were there, I did notice and was glad that I took the time and effort to make it nice for myself...
I was due on Mon. Oct. 5th...well that day came and went! But I was O.K. with that, but the calls had already started, " how do you feel?" " any news yet?" even though I was thankful for the concern it kinda bugged me and I told everyone that I would be sure to let them know if anything started to happen! On Wed. morning at 6 A.M. I got up to go to the bathroom and I walked into the living room to turn off a light that Carl had left on when he went to work ( at 5:30) and my water broke! I had been really scared that it was going to happen while I was in a store or something so I was very happy that it happened at home, and over my tile floor, not in bed or on the couch. Not very much came out but it was enough for me to know what it was, I got a kleenex and wiped some of it up, checking the color to make sure it was clear. It was and I called Carl and told him, he asked me if I wanted him to come right home I assured him that it was going to be a while, so then I called my mom and Shannon, and told them just to let them know that something was happening, then I went back to bed, not that I was able to go back to sleep but I did lay there and rest. I got back up at 9:00 and called Michelle. I had an appointment with her that day but she told me to stay at home. She said that once my water broke that it was wise to stay in my own environment, so I ate breakfast and laid back down at 10:30. I did finally fall asleep till 12:30 when Carl came home and filled the water tub. So we sat and waited, I was cramping a little, like period cramps, but they were constant, not come and go type pains, and Michelle said that was just because my cervix was irritated after my water broke. I went out for a long walk, trying to get things started but nothing happened. I went to sleep that night disappointed but not too worried. I was sure that any minute I would start those ever elusive contractions.
When my husband and I found out we were pregnant, the thought of having our baby anywhere else other than home never even crossed our minds. I had been present at my little sisters home births, both of them, and it just seemed to me that that was the way it was meant to be! My mother had quick easy births with both my sister and I, in a hospital with drugs, of course, but none the less, short labors, and my sister had no problems with either of hers so I naturally had it in my mind that I was going to breeze through this!
I started my prenatal care with my midwife ( the same one that assisted my sister) at 3 months. I took great care to eat well, and to take prenatal vitamins, calcium supplements, and red raspberry leaf capsules ( uterine toner). I quit smoking and really tried to take care of myself, in my mind, not only ensuring a healthy baby but preparing my body for the "breezy" labor I was going to have.
I really got involved on the Internet, reading all the birth stories I could get my hands on, and talking to other pregnant women, taking in all the information that I could. I first read about waterbirths in those birth stories and from what all the other women said, that was the way to go if I was going to go natural, so I started to research it, what risks there were, what were the advantages and where to find a tub! That was the hard part was finding the tub, but I found a place online that would deliver one to my house and arrange for UPS to pick it up when we're done! So that's what my husband (Carl) and I decided to do.
Many of the women who had had waterbirths, called them "wet epidurals" for their pain relieving qualities... so I was expecting of course for this to only add to my "breezy" labor!
We also took Bradley birth classes. They teach relaxation techniques, and the need for good nutrition, to ensure a healthy pregnancy and to prepare for successful natural childbirth. There are 12 classes so the material is studied in depth...concentrating on husband coached childbirth and making sure that the parents are well informed about the procedures in the hospital. We were the only ones in class having a home birth, so a lot of the things we learned didn't apply for us, but we still learned so much, and just incase something went wrong, we would be prepared for the hospital.....although I was VERY adamant about not going to the hospital unless there was an emergency!!! As far as I'm concerned hospitals are for sick people and I wasn't sick! Everyone on my birth team ( my mom, my sister Shannon, my best friend Jenny, my husband, and my midwife Michelle) knew how strongly I felt about it! So I had their support...lucky for me because I would end up needing it!
I had set up the room where I planned on having the baby with a water fountain, lots of plants and candles, things that made me happy, mood setters, though people said that I was crazy and that I wouldn't even notice they were there, I did notice and was glad that I took the time and effort to make it nice for myself...
I was due on Mon. Oct. 5th...well that day came and went! But I was O.K. with that, but the calls had already started, " how do you feel?" " any news yet?" even though I was thankful for the concern it kinda bugged me and I told everyone that I would be sure to let them know if anything started to happen! On Wed. morning at 6 A.M. I got up to go to the bathroom and I walked into the living room to turn off a light that Carl had left on when he went to work ( at 5:30) and my water broke! I had been really scared that it was going to happen while I was in a store or something so I was very happy that it happened at home, and over my tile floor, not in bed or on the couch. Not very much came out but it was enough for me to know what it was, I got a kleenex and wiped some of it up, checking the color to make sure it was clear. It was and I called Carl and told him, he asked me if I wanted him to come right home I assured him that it was going to be a while, so then I called my mom and Shannon, and told them just to let them know that something was happening, then I went back to bed, not that I was able to go back to sleep but I did lay there and rest. I got back up at 9:00 and called Michelle. I had an appointment with her that day but she told me to stay at home. She said that once my water broke that it was wise to stay in my own environment, so I ate breakfast and laid back down at 10:30. I did finally fall asleep till 12:30 when Carl came home and filled the water tub. So we sat and waited, I was cramping a little, like period cramps, but they were constant, not come and go type pains, and Michelle said that was just because my cervix was irritated after my water broke. I went out for a long walk, trying to get things started but nothing happened. I went to sleep that night disappointed but not too worried. I was sure that any minute I would start those ever elusive contractions.
