A Water Birth Story | First Coast Midwifery Birth Center
Location: First Coast Midwifery Birth Center in Jacksonville, Florida
Midwives: Caity and Sharon of First Coast Midwifery
Birth photographer: Dallas Arthur Birth Stories & Support
I got a text message from Tabitha in the early hours of the morning. Her labor had started at 2pm the afternoon before and carried on through the night. It looked like this baby could very well be born right on the due date! I quietly knocked on the front door and walked into the most peaceful laboring space around 4am.
“The beginning of my labor was slow and exciting, knowing that we would soon meet our baby.”
“I was able to cope through labor in the beginning by using my birth ball, walking outside and relaxing. While laboring at home I rested in between sitting on or leaning on my birth ball.”
Tabitha rocked back and forth on the birth ball, breathing deeply through each surge. Her dear friend Jill came over, with her giant bag of comfort items and a joyful spirit. She alternated between doing some hands-on comfort measures with Tabitha and snuggling her sleepy boys.
When the sun came up, they went for a walk around the neighborhood. We made a few laps, enjoying the beautiful weather and getting to know each other.
Tabitha’s contractions spaced out a bit, so I went home for a few hours to give their family some time to labor without the extra eyes on them. I returned in the afternoon, when she felt like surges were getting stronger.
When I returned, Tabitha was finishing up the first position of Miles Circuit, as recommended by her midwife to help get baby in a better position. She counted down the minutes as she held this open-knee-chest position through her contractions, then settled into the side-lying position in bed for the next 30 minutes.
In the meantime, the boys were getting restless. They had some wrestling time with dad, getting out their excited energy as they awaited for the birth of their new sibling…whether the baby was a boy or a girl was a surprise that was coming!
Tabitha emerged from the bedroom a short time later, moving back into a hands and knees position while the boys enjoyed dinner and a movie. It was clear that her contraction pattern had gotten much more frequent and stronger, and she was ready to head to the birth center.
“We decided to go to the birth center when my contractions were about 3 minutes apart.”
I followed them over to the birth center, where they were greeted by midwife Caity. She listened to baby, offered a cervical check, and found that Tabitha was progressing beautifully.
“I had great support for my labor and birth, my husband was able to comfort me and do counter pressure, and just be there with me.”
Her husband Noelle helped the boys change into their “Big Brother” shirts, and they quickly found ways to entertain themselves at the birth center!
“Later on in labor in needed counter pressure, and I was able to get in the tub at the birth center once we were there. My friend Jill was able to talk me through some of the most intense pains.”
Soon, the grandmas arrived!
“My mother and mother in law were able to help with my older children so they could be there with us.”
Tabitha labored peacefully in the tub, trying different positions as surges got stronger and stronger. The afternoon sunlight poured in through the windows of the birth center.
She got out of the tub for a while, laboring in bed and then draped over the birth ball again.
As she felt the urge to push, she moved back into the tub. She still needed the powerful counter-pressure from Noelle, so he found his place on the edge of the tub where he could reach her. The boys gathered in close, quiet and curious.
“I love that my older children were able to be there during the birth of their sibling.”
“I was thinking after the first push that baby was half way out, however after hearing my midwife and husband talking about how they could see the baby's head, I realized that just the top of the head was showing and I had more work to do. Baby was out in 3 pushes and my husband was able to catch his daughter.”
“We did not find out the sex of the baby until the birth and when we met our baby for the first time and found out that we have a girl, we were so happy and so glad that we waited till birth to find out.”
The room erupted in laughter and tears as they discovered their sweet baby was a sister!
Their baby girl settled onto Tabitha’s chest and blinked at the bright new world. The placenta was born and Noelle cut the cord, then lifted her out of the water and into his arms.
The birth team tended to Tabitha, giving her sips of water, encouragement, and steady hands as she transitioned from the tub to the bed.
Like all of the First Coast Midwifery babies, she had her tiny feet painted and stamped on the wall. Midwife Sharon perfectly placed her little toe prints in the corner as the sun set on the birth center.
“Her brothers were so happy to be there when she was born and to meet her for the first time. I was able to experience 3 different types of births and am so happy I was able to give birth to my baby in the water at the birth center.”
“We chose to go with Dallas for our birth photos and we are so happy that we did. She was very nice and professional. She answered when I text or called and would check up on me. We absolutely love the photos she took. She captured the birth perfectly. If you are thinking about getting birth photos done for one of the most important days of your life, hire Dallas!”
Tabitha, you were amazing! I know that having an unmedicated water birth was such a big goal for you, and I’m just so proud of you for achieving that. I’ll always remember the tears that sprung to my eyes when you announced you finally had your baby girl! Congratulations, Tabitha and Noelle!
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