Lauren’s Birth Story – VBAC

You can visit Lexi’s blog and read about her daughter Lauren’s Birth.

An inspirational VBAC story!

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Sara’s Birth – VBA2C unplanned home birth

I wasn’t sure I would post Sara’s birth, but someone wanted to hear it, and I love the story, so here goes…..it’s really long, so be forewarned!

Sara’s birth really begins with the birth of her sister, Lily, and continues with her brother, Webb’s birh. I will keep them short so as not to bore you all! If you want to get straight to the actual birth, skip to *****

When I was pregnant with Lily I really looked forward to a beautiful water birth at a local free standing birth center. That dream was shattered when 50 hours after my water broke I had a c-section due to failure to progress (I never got past 7 cm). The surgeon later told me that there was no way she would have fit through my pelvis and that I should never try to labor again – I had given it a good shot. Now, I should tell you that this huge baby that would never fit through my pelvis was only 7 pounds 10 ounces. Granted, she did have a big head (97th percentile), but still, she was not big.

When I got pregnant 9 months later, I knew I wanted to vbac. The birth center wouldn’t take me due to a prior C, so I went with the Navy midwives. We were also moving across the country, so I knew that birth center wasn’t an option anyway. So, when my water broke first with Webb as it did with Lily, I was nervous. I didn’t want a repeat. Thankfully, my birthing waves began within a half hour. 12 hours later my son was born via c-section. I never got past 9 cm and I truly believe this was a case of failure to wait rather than failure to progress. If I had known then what I know now, I would have demanded more time. Webb was 9 pounds 10 ounces.

When Webb turned a year we found out we were pregnant again. We were back where Lily was born and I began to look at my options. I started with the Navy midwives and was told at my first visit that I could have a vbac. At my second visit I was told that my c-section would be scheduled for a week before my due date. I said I did not want a C, and we fought it. Ultimately, the hospital did all they could to keep us, but I knew it would be a battlefield while I was in labor. They said I could attempt a vba2c, but I knew that there would be loads of restrictions and that it was likely I would not have supportive staff. I started to look elsewhere.

I interviewed home birth midwives as well as an OB. In the end, we ended up going with the OB. My husband was scared of a homebirth since I had never had a child vaginally. This OB ended up being absolutely amazing. He was supportive and honest. He respected my wishes and yet was upfront about everything. He told me that we needed to trust each other. I needed to trust that if he said a c-section was necessary that I would believe him and not fight it, and he needed to trust that I would not do anything he felt was risky (he had some patients in the past who did not take his advice and ended up in the ER). He told me the risks, but said that he thought I could do it. He was amazing throughout the entire pregnancy and told me I would be having my baby vaginally. He did this right up until my last appointment….I later found out from my doula that he was actually worried because I was late and while that did not concern him, the fact that I had very little efacement did. He was worried I would not progress – but not once did he let me know this! Talk about being supportive!

*******
For weeks I had been having prodromal labor. I lost my plug about two weeks before my birthing time actually began. This was about a week before my due date. I kept thinking it would be time due to the loss of the plug and the continuous waves, but this baby was happy where she was! Finally around 9 days after my due date, my doula asked if I wanted to stop by her house after my OB appointment and she would massagea my feet and do some pressure points. She also said that if I wanted to take some homeopathics that she had they could help encourage labor to begin, but if my body or baby weren’t ready it would do nothing. So I went to her house and relaxed for a while and just chatted. I took the homeopathics (and she sent me home with some too) and went home. I continued to take the homeopathics and by the next morning my birthing waves were remaining consistent. They were still pretty far apart but regular. We made arrangements for our children, and then did a few things before heading up north that afternoon.

I should say that we had a plan that is a little different than most. The hospital that we were birthing at is about 30-45 minutes from my house. My doctor said that while he was okay with me having a vbac, the hospital wasn’t. Therefore, he still had to recommend a C once I got to the hospital. He told me that if I was going to refuse the c-section he thought I should labor at home as long as possible. Over the course of my pregnancy I became very close to my doula and she offered her home for me to labor in (she lives about 3 miles from the hospital). So, the plan was to labor at my doula’s, and then go to the hospital at the last minute to have the baby.

So around 3:30 or so in the afternoon we went to my doula’s house. I listened to my HB on the way up there and then while laying on the couch at her house. She was amazing! She had all the lights off and had lit beautiful candles around her home. She had her hot tub ready for me when I got there. She had also put a blow up mattress (made up with sheets, blankets, and pillows) near the hot tub in her gorgeous and very private backyard. It was amazing. After working through the waves on the couch, we decided to move to the hot tub. So, my husband and I got in the tub and relaxed. It truly was wonderful. The water felt so good and I really relaxed even more. The only thing I wish I had done differently is that at this point I stopped listening to my ipod. We put music on instead. After a while I began to feel some discomfort, but it was mild.

My OB knew where we were and he checked on us to make sure all was okay. He even stopped by and dropped off a dopler for us to periodically check the heart rate of the baby. While he was there I was beginning transformation and was having more discomfort, but again, it was totally manageable. He later told me that it was absolutely beautiful watching my husband and I in the tub. At some point (when my husband was exhausted, hungry, and shriveling up like a prune) he and my doula traded places. My doula got in with me and supported me and had me change positions a little. I really had no concept of time, which is why I keep saying “at some point” or “a little later” and such….I just really didn’t keep track.

Here is where my story gets a little tricky. I personally feel like I need to leave some details out. Not because I am modest, or shy, or anything like that. I would truly love to tell the entire story….and someday I will. But, at this point in time I must only tell part of the story. I hate doing this because it makes us look foolish and risky, but we really weren’t. I also hate doing this because it makes us look as if we went against our OB….again, I assure you, we didn’t.

When I started to feel a little pushy, I got out of the hot tub for a minute. Well, when I did, my water broke. I knew then that I would not be able to get back in the hot tub because of the chlorine. This is where I started to experience some more discomfort. Again, it was manageable, but it was there. The Hypnobabies did help a lot though and I am so thankful for it. We soon realized that during labor my baby had turned posterior. This was probably the reason for the discomfort. When I got there my doula had checked me out and Sara was not posterior, so she had turned at some point. This was making things more difficult. This also made it more difficult to determine when to pack up and go to the hospital. While I was feeling pushy, Sara was still very high and no where near crowning. I was advised to push a little to see if we could get her to descend.

Keep in mind, while this is my third baby, this is my first vaginal birth. So we knew that it could still be a while. So, I began to push. And push. And push. I was making very little progress, and I must say I was becoming exhausted and discouraged. My baby was not positioned well, and we tried everything. I don’t know how to explain it, but she was posterior, and was essentially hanging out, as in over my pubic bone – so she was not coming down straight. My doula had me move into so many positions and eventually the thing that worked was sitting on the toilet backwards and pulling up on my lower stomach (trying to pull Sara towards me) while I pushed. I pushed for four hours in various positions. We all had a lot of discussions at this point and due to several factors, we decided to stay at my doula’s house rather than transfer to the hospital. Once I could feel Sara’s head with my hand, I got a new surge of energy – it was amazing!

I finally pushed her big noggin out (she was still posterior – she never turned) and her shoulder got stuck. I could not believe that we had a case of shoulder dystocia. So, my doula flipped me over on all fours and we thought for sure it would work – it usually does, right? Nope. Sara was not budging. Thank goodness my husband had no idea what was happening – I think he would have been scared. Amazingly, I was not. So, the next thing tried was pubic pressure while reaching in to dislodge the shoulder. I have to tell you, this is where I felt my pain. I don’t want to scare anyone, but it was excruciating. Having an arm inserted in the vaginal opening when the baby is partially out was just too much and at this point I tore (I did not tear when her 97th percentile head came through!). Once Sara’s shoulder was dislodged, she came right out! She was born at 2:27 am on November 16. She was bright pink almost immediately – it took her a few seconds to pink up and cry, but she was fine. Her shoulder was checked and thankfully no bones were broken in getting her out. After the cord stopped pulsing, we tied it with dental floss and cut it with a knife (my doula could not find any scissors)! I then delivered the placenta. It was all so amazing – I was able to put Sara on my chest immediately and breastfeed.

We talked to my OB about everything and he checked me out. I ended up needing stitches, but he told me I did not have to go to the hospital if I did not want to. I would just need to go see him again soon. We also had to make an appointment for Sara with her pediatrician for later in the day. Since this had not been our plan, we had no carseat, no diapers, nothing – we figured my husband would be going home to get our other kids after Sara was born and would get the carseat then. So, while my doula cuddled with Sara (wrapped in clean warm blankets) my husband brought me out on to my doula’s deck by the hot tub and helped me get cleaned up in the shower. I could have gone upstairs, but I was so weak (I had forgotten to eat this whole time) I didn’t think I could make it. After I got cleaned up, I ate a little and then my husband helped me upstairs. I slept for a while with my beautiful newborn while my husband made the trip home to get our carseat and diapers and some food for everyone. We went home that afternoon and after visiting the pediatrician, spent a lot of time cuddling in the bed together! Oh, and 16 hours after Sara was born, she weighed in at a healthy 9 pounds 5 ounces! While this was not my motivation for wanting the vba2c, it felt pretty darn good to tell all those people who told me I couldn’t do it, that in fact I DID do it! This was an amazing experience for me. I can’t tell you how good it felt to finally have my vaginal birth! After 2 c-sections I really questioned my ability.

So there it is. I am amazed if anyone made it this far! It was truly an amaing birth….I think if we have more children, I might just plan a home birth to begin with. Being in a home environment was so comfortable and private. It was beautiful!

I want to add a little bit of encouragement for those of you out there who are doubting yourself. You CAN do it! A couple months after Sara was born, my doula and I were talking and she asked me if there was anything I would have done differently. I immediately answered “no”. Well, the more I thought about it, the more it nagged me. There was something that I would have done – I would have listened to my HB more during the birthing process – waves and pushing. When I saw my doula again, I told her this. I told her that I felt like I was kind of losing it and not controlling myself well. She was floored. She asked me if I was kidding! She said I did amazing! She said that I may have felt that way on the inside, but I did not look that way to those that were there (except for the shoulder dystocia part – I did yell out then). She said that I was so calm throughout it all…that at one point when I was sitting on the toilet pushing (towards the end of my four hour pusing), I just looked up at her so calmly and just said “I don’t think I can do this anymore”….not screaming it, just calmly stating a fact. I was so happy to hear that – it made me feel so much better. And it also made me realize that while I didn’t listen to the HB the whole time, it made a world of difference! Thank you Hypnobabies!

Laura

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Tiffani shares her inspirational VBA2C story

Anyway, I had c-sections with my first two kids and knew that I wanted this 3rd one to be born natually and vaginally. I decided on a home birth rather than to find a doctor who would honor a VBAC, especially after 2 sections. My husband was NOT for it at first but the more and more I read and told him, the more comfortable he became with the whole idea.

Of course I had fears but after doing some fear-clearing sessions, they just all went away and I NEVER thought of them while in labor. The whole birth was so awesome. It was easy, fast and comfortable. I would call it painless as well. I just had my headphones on in my birthing pool and went inward saying “Peace” through every birthing wave. Before I knew it I was completely dilated and apparently had the urge to push (I just thought my body was having weird spasms, lol). I then “ahhhh’d” my way through pushing. The “ahhhh’ing” got loud at some points but I still wasn’t in pain (although Im sure it seemed like it with all the noise) but the louder I “ahhh’d”, the better I was pushing and bringing baby down. I went into labor at 11pm and had the baby at 5:52 am… so less than 7 hours in labor but it felt like 2-3 hours MAYBE. My pushing was an hour and a half but felt like 20-30 minutes. It was awesome and I credit it all to Hypnobabies.

I have to say that I felt so comfortable with my headphones on (this is how I practiced for months before labor) that I wasn’t even listening to the words. I was just so relaxed because I knew that they were there [for me] if I needed them. All I had to do was listen. About an hour into my pushing my husband asked me if I wanted to take off my headphones and I asked him why. He said, “The batteries have been dead for about an hour.” I had no idea, that’s how inwardly focused I was. And of course I didn’t take them off after that either

I would post my birth story but it’s 5 pages long (I like to remember ALL the details) so maybe if I can shorten it, I’ll post it later but I HAD to post something to let those who are attempting or thinking about VBAC’ing that it’s possible and it’s wonderful! Two days before I went into “real” labor I was questioning everything (I was having prodromal labor [false labor] with horrible contractions that I couldnt get through even with hypnobabies. I was thinking that if I couldnt handle “false” labor, how was I supposed to handle “real” labor. But baby was posterior and after 2 days of pain and worrying and wanting to just give up and have another c-section, I did a fear clearing session and an hour later went into labor feeling pressure waves that felt different. They were comfortable and actually fun! This was “real” labor and I handled it, all pain-free!)

I also didn’t practice like I was supposed to with the scripts and I couldnt let my husband read and practice his birth partner scripts because I’d just laugh but during labor he still put his hand firmly on my shoulder and that seemed to help. I also held his hand (tightly at some points) and didn’t let go the ENTIRE time and that helped so much too. So just as long as you stick to the schedule and make it a routine, even if you don’t think it’s working, it’ll still work when it’s supposed to. I was AMAZED!

Anyway, if anyone has any questions I’d love to help if I can
Here is a link to the FULL story!

~Tiffani

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Inspirational VBAC video

Inspirational VBAC video! To inspire all moms who are planning for their VBAC!

My Journey to a VBAC from Lindsey Meehleis on Vimeo.

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Inspirational VBA2C at a VBAC banned hospital!!!

It doesn’t get any better than this! 

Mariana was planning a VBA2C and used Hypnobabies to help prepare.  She hired a doula and was planning to birth at a hospital 30 minutes away that allowed VBACs.  Because she was so relaxed her doula didn’t realize she was so far along and they had to go to the hospital 5 minutes away and the baby was born 30 minutes later.  Vaginally at this hospital which prohibits VBACs. Maybe that was because there wasn’t time for them to figure that out!

You can read the whole story yourself at The Crafty Work At Home Momma!

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Teeth and Birth?

Why would you have natural childbirth?  Why would you want to feel all that pain?  You wouldn’t get a tooth pulled without drugs, why would you give birth without drugs?

 

 Not a perfect comparison

Why?  Think back to when you were little kid and your teeth fell out on their own. 

Did you need anesthesia for that?  No, it may have hurt a little, but it wasn’t agonizing.  Why?  It wasn’t horrible, because your teeth were meant to fall out!

But it can be a powerful analogy when you look at it this way…

Mind Shift – Dental Work and Hypnosis

Well, I had a huge mind shift when I saw videos of people getting dental work without drugs using hypnosis! There was a man getting a root canal without drugs?  Wasn’t he in agony?  NO!  He felt totally comfortable. 

 

A woman getting her front teeth pulled and implants put in, all without anesthesia.  Was she freaking out?  No, but I was freaking out just watching her!  It made my teeth ache just to watch.

 

Right there shows the incredible power of our mind!  If my teeth can hurt just watching her, then can our mind be powerful enough to create pressure, where there is usually pain? 

 YES!

This leads me to the question: 

 

If hypnosis can work for dental surgery, can it work for birth? 

 

Yes it can!  And it works even easier than for teeth.   Why?  Remember birth is a natural process and dental surgery isn’t.

Do you think your body is made to give birth?   Yes, a mom’s body knows just how to give birth.  It is a matter of our minds and fears getting out of its way!  

 

Did you know that your uterus has 2 opposing muscles in it?   The inner horizontal muscles hold your cervix closed and the outer vertical muscles help to open your cervix. 

  

  

All mammals uterus are like this, because it helps them escape from predators.  If you were a gazelle giving birth and suddenly a lion snuck up on you, your body needs a way to stop birth. 

 

The fight flight hormone (adrenaline) causes the inner horizontal muscles to stop your cervix from opening.  When the two muscles are fighting against each other it causes pain. 

 

But if a mom can let go of her fears and stay deeply relaxed then her birthing muscles can work in harmony and birthing comfortably is possible.  When you add the power of medical grade hypnosis on top of your body’s natural ability to birth, then you have an amazing recipe for an Enjoyable Birth! 

Staying comfortable with no medication! 

 

Wait a minute you say!  I have tons of fears about birth!  How am I going to let them go?  Luckily hypnosis can help with that as well.  (more on that in a moment) 

 

I wanted to have the benefits of natural childbirth. 

 

• Freedom of movement
• No catheter
• No drugs
• Easier Pushing
• Amazing hormones
• Better for baby!

 

BUT I didn’t want the pain.  So I tried hypnosis for childbirth with my last two births.

 

My 1st birth using hypnosis

My first birth had been an emergency cesarean, so I had a lot of fear lingering from that experience when I got pregnant with my 2^nd baby.   The program I used was…

  •More Guided Relaxation than Hypnosis 

–Gave me confidence  and helped me let go of my fears. 

–I didn’t have enough tools so I lost focus

–I chose to get an epidural (remember I didn’t want pain)

–Great Birth for me – my goal was a VBAC

 –The program was helpful and I was glad I used it.

My 2^nd birth using hypnosis

For my next birth I looked for a more complete childbirth hypnosis program.  I knew that hypnosis could work for birth, but I needed more tools.  I wanted deeper hypnosis, more tools and a CD especially for my birthing day.  I found all that I wanted in Hypnobabies. 

 

• Medical Grade Hypnosis

–        Like Dentist’s patients

–        Lots of CD’s including Fear Release

–        Cues to enter hypnosis instantly and deepen

–        CD just for Birthing Day!

 

• Childbirth Information

–        How birth works (where I learned about amazing uterus)

–        Staying Low Risk

–        Choices during birth

 

Did it work?  See for yourself.

 

 

It worked beautifully.  I was able to stay calm and focused for all 18 hours of my birth.  I felt pressure and it was pretty intense the last hour, but it wasn’t painful, just powerful! 

 

So indeed Hypnosis can help moms have comfortable childbirth! 

 

Want to Avoid Pain?

If your main reason for avoiding Natural Childbirth is to avoid pain, then check into Hypnobabies.   You can discover the power of your body and mind to create a comfortable natural childbirth. 

 

Still want an Epidural? 

If you are the type of mom who says sign me up for the epidural in the parking lot, then check into Hypnobabies.  Then you will have the tools to stay comfortable from the time your birth begins until whenever you decide to get the epidural.  Why have discomfort walking from the parking lot to the hospital and waiting for your epidural if you don’t have to?  (Not to mention, getting an epidural is not guaranteed!  It is great to have other tools ready to use just in case!)

 

Want help dealing with Fears?

If you want some tools to help you deal with your fears regarding birth, then check into Hypnobabies.  I think almost all moms today have some fears regarding birth, because we are bombarded by negative information regarding birth from the television, our friends and family.  With Hypnobabies you are able to create a Bubble of Peace to keep all that negativity out.  There is also a Fear Release CD to help you release your fears. 

 

Just want to sleep better?

If you think this is totally nuts, but want to sleep better during your pregnancy and feel more relaxed about being pregnant and birth, then check into Hypnobabies.  I ended up loving Hypnobabies so much, I became a Hypnobabies instructor.  My best friend was pregnant at the time, so she took my class just because I needed a guinea pig to practice on.  She never thought it would work.  She only listened to the CDs because they helped her sleep better at night and she loved how confident she felt about her upcoming birth.  (She had a cesarean with her first baby and was planning on a VBAC.)    But still didn’t think it would work when her birth started, but was thrilled when it did!  She had a comfortable un-medicated VBAC.   She said that even if it hadn’t of worked for her birth, she still would have been happy she used it because of the relaxation and confidence it gave her. 

 

Comfortable Childbirth using Hypnobabies!

 

Why would you have natural childbirth?  Why would you want to feel all that pain?   Well, I didn’t want the pain.  But I wanted the natural childbirth and with Hypnobabies  I was able to have natural childbirth comfortably!

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Birth Videos on You Tube

This is an interesting new way for moms to learn about birth.  There was an article in the New York Times about this.  Lights, Camera, Contraction 

I posted my Hypnobabies Birth Video of my VBAC Hospital Birth of Bryson on You Tube

I posted this over 2 years ago and 428,782 people have watched it.  I know it has inspired a lot of moms to look into hypnosis for childbirth.  My birth video ended up on the news in Georgia, when a mom there cited it as the reason she used Hypnobabies. 

I think that moms posting and watching birth videos on You Tube can be positive.  You just need to be selective about the videos you watch.  If you go to my You Tube Channel you can see a list of my favorite videos.  Many positive birth videos there.

If you have posted your Birth Video on You Tube.  Please leave a link in the comments!  If you have a birth video, but haven’t posted it… well think about posting it.  Your video may inspire many women to learn about how great birth can be!

Here are 2 of my favorite videos. 

The first is Temple, singing during her birth.  Here is a link if you want to read about her birth story. 

The next is a great video for women who were told their pelvises were too small to birth their babies. 

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Hypnobabies HBAC

I FINALLY got to sit down and write this all out this evening!  I did not really use Hypnobabies fully, but I can say without a doubt it CERTAINLY helped me stay relaxed, especially early in my birthing time.  I know that it helped me avoid a panic attack during transformation/pushing as well!!  I certainly will recommend the program to others in the future b/c even what little I was able to use made such a huge difference for me!!  I want to mention specifically that I printed out the positive “what if’s” and taped them up in my bedroom so I could always remember to focus on the positive and let the negative go!!!   It was a wonderful experience overall!!  I wish everyone the very, very best!  I will probably go special notices for a while after this.  Being a mommy of three small ones is just about all I can handle right now !!

 

Thank you all SOOO much!!!

 

 

Birth Story of Cael
February 11, 2009
9:06AM
8 pounds 12 ounces 22 inches

I woke up around 5:30AM with some mild crampiness. Since I had prodromal labor for weeks, I wasn’t convinced this was really labor. I felt like I had to go to the bathroom, so I did. I decided to lie back down to see if I could go back to sleep. Just a short while later, I felt I needed to go to the bathroom again. I sorta laughed at myself saying this was a “sign” of labor because I was cleaning myself out . I tried sleeping again, but it just wasn’t going to happen. So, I timed some of the “cramps.” They were about 8-10 minutes apart while I was lying down. I got up to take a Pepcid because I had horrible heartburn. I noticed as I was up walking around it seemed like the cramps were pretty close together. I timed a few then and suddenly they were about 3 minutes apart!
I woke Jason up about 6:30AM and told him he probably should call the midwife—I thought this was finally it. I then went to run myself some bath water. While the water was running I came back and Jason was asleep again. I woke him up again and asked if he’d called her. He groggily asked me what was going on. I told him I was having contractions 3 minutes apart and he NEEDED to call the midwife!! He got up then. I got in the tub, and the water was SO relaxing. Jason called the midwife, and she said she’d get her things together and be here as soon as she could. She knew there was a possibility my labor would be fast.
In the meantime, Mom and Clayton got up and started getting Clayton ready for school. Clayton came in the bathroom a couple times and hung out with me before he went off to school. We didn’t tell him that he might come home to his baby brother.
I was very relaxed and calm in the tub, but the contractions were still coming about 3 or so minutes apart. I was playing my Hypnobabies CD in the background, but at some point it started skipping because there was a big scratch on the CD. I told Jason to please turn it off and bring me the computer. I started playing the tracks on the computer and decided I would let some people know that I was actually REALLY finally in labor .
My midwife and her assistant arrived and started setting things up. My mom joked later that she didn’t realize they still boiled water, and she had used almost every pot and pan in my kitchen getting everything ready (including breakfast).
I stayed in the tub as long as I could, but eventually the water started getting really cold. Around 8:15AM or so I decided I needed to get out at least for a while and then we could run more hot water if we needed to. I told Jason before I stood up that I was afraid to get out of the water. It had helped me relax so much. I think somehow, subconsciously, I knew that once I got out things were going to get really intense really quickly. I had a contraction as I was getting out of the tub and Jason held me up until I could walk again. My midwife asked me if I wanted her to check me, and while we were debating I had a couple more contractions and had to lean over on the bed. My mom said when she saw me do that, she knew I was getting close. We decided not to do a cervical check because I was afraid I might get discouraged or upset if I hadn’t made much progress.
I got on the bed and was flat on my back for the next contraction. I felt a little pop, but I didn’t know what it was until something started flowing out. I told them I thought my water broke, and they checked to make sure. She asked if she could check me then to make sure nothing was coming out or whatever. I was 7cm then, and I let out a big, “Thank you Jesus!”—and everyone laughed. For the next contraction I rolled over on my side and I felt the most tremendous pressure. I told my midwife I felt a lot of pressure, in a confused sort of way. She then told her assistant to get by me because I was feeling “pushy”… I was really confused because she had just checked me and I was 7cm. I was scared to death to push before I was complete because I did not want to hurt myself or the baby.
I asked Jason to sit behind me and support me because I did not want to lie all the way down. My midwife reminded me to stay off my tailbone if I could, so I sorta leaned over onto my right butt cheek to take the pressure off. Jason was wiping my face with a cold wash cloth because I was sweating like crazy. He kept pushing it down in my eyes and it was really bothering me, LOL! He also tried to readjust my headband, but it was irritating me too so I ripped it out of my hair and threw it across the room . He really was great to me though, even when I was digging my fingernails in his legs during contractions!
The next couple of contractions I still felt like I needed to push, and this was the one moment that I really almost panicked. But, I kept telling myself that everything was fine, and my midwife kept reminding me to just do whatever my body told me to do. So, I finally did push. After that contraction I let everyone know that it was unproductive and I was slightly irritated. I told them I wanted my left leg lifted up on the next contraction, so my mom came in to help. I told them it was coming, so Mom lifted my leg up for me, and I pushed with a primal growl Cael’s head came right out in one push. They all were telling me I was doing great, etc. I told them I just wanted it OUT!! So, they told me I was doing it. The next push forced the rest of Cael’s body out onto the bed—9:06AM, just a little over 3.5 hours after I “thought” I might be in labor and about 45 minutes after active labor kicked in, our beautiful little boy was born! The midwife’s assistant said she was expecting a bit of a sticky shoulder—she had NO IDEA he would come out so fast. So, she wasn’t really ready to catch him . At least there was plenty of soft bed down there for him to land on! I told them when it came down to it, I didn’t have time to mess around with all that slow pushing stuff !!
They lifted him immediately onto my tummy and I started rubbing him and talking to him. He let out a couple soft grunt-cries. Once again, I was completely absorbed by the miracle that had just occurred. We waited until the cord stopped pulsing and then Jason cut it. I held him for a very long time. I can’t remember if I let him nurse before or after I delivered the placenta, but he did wonderfully! They finally took him to clean him up a bit more and measure him and weigh him. Everyone made a guess of what they thought he would weigh. No one thought he was the almost 9 pounds that he was!! We all also commented on his head full of hair (of course my only girl was the bald one!), and his skinny long legs. His Apgars were 9 and 10, and he was just perfect!!
The midwife said he and the placenta looked about 41 weeks, so those weeks that I was afraid I was post dates, he really wasn’t that “late.” I am SO thankful that I was willing to wait and let HIM choose his birthday and be born in the best way possible!
For most of that day and night, he would spit up tremendous amounts of amniotic fluid (midwives at home births don’t typically suction a baby unless there is a problem, so he had to get it out the old-fashioned way ). I could not imagine where in the world he had been holding all of that!! He and I spent most of the rest of the day hanging out in the bed. We had a couple visitors—Aunt Jessie came by and held him for a while and then my daddy came for a little while. I woke Anna up when I was pushing, so Jason had brought her in to meet her new baby brother. You could tell she was completely confused, but she was already enamored with him! When Clayton got home and saw him, he asked me if the baby was in my tummy and I told him that he had finally come out. After a few minutes of confusion, he finally made the connection and he has been a wonderful big brother ever since (at least until Cael is old enough to touch his things!!)!
Finally having a home birth brought many mixed feelings for me. First of all, it was THE most amazing experience ever. It was SO much better than a hospital birth and certainly incomparable to a surgical birth! Everything was extremely peaceful and relaxed and natural. No one was bothering me or forcing me to do whatever was convenient for “them.” I was safe and comfortable in my own familiar surroundings. Cael was so calm and alert for such a long time afterward. Jason kept saying he couldn’t believe how alert he was, and I told him it was because he was born so peacefully! But, on the other hand, there is a strong possibility that this is our last baby. So, I am sad that I will probably never get to have this experience again. I won’t lie and say that I enjoy pregnancy or even labor, but that amazing high you feel after bringing life into the world—the way it was MEANT to be—is absolutely indescribable!! <3

 

Cassie

Mommy to:

Clayton 6/1/2005 – c/s

Anna Cate 1/11/2008 – VBAC!!!

Cael 2/11/2009 – HBAC!!!

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Midwife’s Experience with Hypnobabies

I have been a Hypnobabies instructor for a year now and would like to share some of my experiences. I have taught three classes (actually in the middle of one). I am a home birth midwife and all of my Hypnobabies students have been my clients, except for one couple planning a hospital birth.

First class:
One hospital couple, the other two couples were my clients, planning a home birth. All of them were first time mothers,and all of them had good experiences using Hypnobabies. The hospital couple used their hypnosis and avoided all medications.

One of the home birth mothers used hypnosis during 24 hours of pre-birthing waves. By the time she was 3 centimeters, she was well rested and nourished. That was at 10 pm. When a mother is 3 centimeters, I ask them to get some sleep if they can. I remind them to put their Hypnobabies CD on, and this is what this mother did. During the night, I got up a few times to check the baby’s heart tones. The mother was resting well. She got up at 9 am the next morning, and when I checked her she was 8 centimeters. She had her baby two hours later.

The second home birth mother was also able to rest through the night using Hypnobabies. In fact, I missed the birth. She had called me at 1:00 am with pressure wasves every 10 minutes lasting 30 seconds. I reminded her to listen to her CD, use her hypnosis and get some rest. She was asked to call me as soon as things changed. Her husband called me at 6:30 am and told me the pressure waves just started to be 5 minutes apart, lasting 60 seconds. I was on my way when he called back 25 minutes later and said he saw the bag of waters bulging. I then heard the mother pushing. Five minutes later, she pushed her baby out. She pushed for a total of five minutes.  When I arrived, I asked her if she used Hypnobabies during the night. She said, “Oh yes. It helpd me rest and relax really well. I even slept.”

Second class: Three couples, all home birth.

The first mother didn’t practice her hypnosis  much, so she did not use it during her birth. Though, she did fine (VBAC).

The second mother practiced a lot (first time mother), and she used it through 24 hours of pre-birthing waves to help her rest, relax and sleep. By the time I saw her, she was 3 centimeters. She went from 3 centimeters to 8 centimeters in 20 minutes, and had her baby soon after that. She felt that Hypnobabies helped her tremendously through the prebirthing waves.

The third mother (third vaginal birth), who just gave birth today, used her hypnosis throughout her birthing time. She relaxed beautifully.

I have 5 couples in the third class, an we are half way through. They are all first time mothers. I can’t wait to see how they do.

I have been a home birth midwife for over 25 years now. Hypnobabies is amazing for these women! The big difference between teaching home birth couples versus hospital couples is that home birthers already feel empowered, educated and well informed. They don’t have to fight the system. Also, they don’t seem to like the bubble of peace very much. When people approach them with negativity about home birth horror stories, they WANT to say something. And, they do. They feel empowered doing so.

It is such a blessing to be involved with strong, powerful women!

Carolyn Drake

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VBACs in Time Magazine

I was so excited to see a great article about VBACs and the difficulty some moms have in their choice to have one in a Time Magazine Article.  I have had 2 VBACs and am lucky enough to have a hospital and OB who supports them.  But there are many women out there who do not have that support!

Please go and read this article.

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