A Natural Hospital Birth | Flagler Hospital
Abby and I met at a “Meet the Doulas” event at Fit Mamas Tribe in St. Augustine, Florida. She was interested in hiring a doula, but with a background in wedding videography herself, she was also considering adding a birth photographer to her team. This event connected us and a few weeks later, Abby and her husband Mike asked me to join their birth team. They had a smooth and joyful birth in one of the low-intervention rooms at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine with one of their wonderful midwives. Enjoy the birth of Banner, told by Abby herself, with a few of my thoughts sprinkled in to help tell her amazing story.
For Abby’s birth, I was also able to create a full BIRTH FILM! Watch the video below!
“One to never be caught without a baby doll in hand, I’ve been patiently waiting from a very young age to have my own baby, and I’ve always been fascinated with natural birth. My mom had my brother and me naturally almost 30 years ago and I knew, also from a young age, I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I finally got my opportunity and my baby!
January 4th (38wks 4days) was my most uncomfortable day of the pregnancy yet, with lots of pressure low on my cervix and the first visible ‘pregnant waddle’ I’d had so far. I decided to do a mile long beach walk, knowing I was way too uncomfortable NOT to progress somehow. That night I lost my mucus plug after peeing and had mucusy/ bloody show the next two mornings.
January 5th, I had some more ‘crampy’ feeling contractions than the normal stomach-tightening Braxton Hicks I’d been having all pregnancy but went to bed not thinking anything of it. I woke up at midnight to pee and there was a lot of bright red blood in the toilet. I called my midwife who told me to make sure baby was still moving good and just keep an eye on bleeding over the next hour. Baby was moving, the bleeding mostly stopped, and I started having contractions shortly after that I could tell were legit labor contractions. I tried to go back to bed, but it wasn’t happening. Within a couple of hours I was having to breathe through the surges, though they were still 6-10 minutes apart. I found I mostly wanted to be left alone, not touched or talked to, to focus and moan through them.”
Abby texted me to let me know that she was seeing and feeling changes in her body, and I knew from what she was experiencing that baby would be here soon! I always appreciate it when my clients keep me in the loop so that I can get to them quickly when they are ready for me.
“My mom came over around 4 am. During a super strong contraction around 8:30 am, my water broke, dramatically gushing everywhere like in the movies! Contractions got closer together and more intense after that; my mom and husband tried different doula-ing and soothing techniques to try to ease the discomfort.”
Mike texted me around 3 am to let me know that labor was starting, and then again once her water broke, saying that they were ready for me to join them as things were getting intense. I live in Jacksonville, but I take birth clients in St. Augustine, so I zipped down 95, excited to be a part of this special day. It was a crisp January morning, and I walked into their sun-soaked, peaceful home, filled with light, love, and gentle music. Abby greeted me with a hug and a tired smile. She had been working hard all night, but she seemed so confident and at peace with this natural process.
During Abby’s pregnancy, she told her mother, Joy, that she was interested in adding a doula to her birth team. Joy started doing research and found that within a few weeks, there was going to be a DONA doula training in her area…so she signed up! She spent Abby’s pregnancy learning all about birth and doula support. The birth of her grandson would also be her first certifying birth with DONA, starting her new career as a doula. How amazing is that??
Joy quietly looked at her watch and wrote down every contraction. I thought it was beautiful that she hand-wrote each contraction for over 6 hours rather than using an app, like most do. Abby later shared with me that her father had written down every contraction when she was born, years and years ago, and that those precious scribbled numbers were kept in their baby books. Joy wanted her grandson to have a similar memento.
“Around 10:30 am, when contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and lasting a minute, we headed up to the hospital about ten minutes away. I knelt on the passenger seat, facing backwards during the ride.”
It was a quick trip over to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, and Abby wanted to get over there before things got too intense. So focused on getting into the hospital between her contractions, she walked through the parking lot and the Flagler lobby barefoot before slipping on her shoes in the elevator!
“I got checked in to my hospital’s low-intervention room at 5 cm dilated. They require thirty minutes of continuous fetal monitoring upon arrival and an IV with a port at a minimum.”
“After succumbing to their requirements, I was free to move around, and changed positions quite a few times, from kneeling by the bed, to leaning on my mom and husband, to ultimately lying in the tub.”
The Flagler nurses were so accommodating; they pulled out a padded mat and a birth ball for Abby to labor with. She had Hypnobirthing tracks playing from her phone, gently reminding her to stay loose and relaxed, and that her baby was coming.
“The tub was extremely relaxing and I was actually able to fall asleep during some contractions.”
Mike and Joy turned that tiny hospital bathroom into a spa. They borrowed some of the low-intervention room supplies, like battery-operated candles and an essential oil diffuser, and shut off all the lights. Peaceful music matched the slow drip of warm water rippling over Abby’s toes. Joy had written a few pages of birth affirmations and visualizations to help guide her through her surges. She choked up once or twice as she read these vivid, positive words to her daughter, reminding her of the millions of mothers who had walked this road before her.
“The nurse asked to checked me at one point while in the tub and I denied, knowing that if I hadn’t progressed much since arrival I would be devastated and potentially open myself up to interventions. Very shortly after that, around 3 pm I started getting the urge to push and my body was doing it naturally through some of my surges. My husband told the nurse who asked me to get out of the tub (as the hospital did not allow delivery in the tub).“
Abby and Mike were an incredible team. Mike was by her side the entire time, lending his calm, quiet presence with loving touches and words of encouragement. He kept repeating things like, “You’ve got this. You’ve prepared perfectly for this. You’re doing so good.”
“At that point I allowed the nurse to check me and I was 10cm and fully effaced. I moved to the bed, lying on my back slightly reclined, and started pushing through contractions as it felt right. I have always been so terrified of ‘the ring of fire’ and baby’s head actually coming out, but in the moment I truly felt no ‘ring of fire’- just some pressure down there.”
“All in all, by that time, I was so ready to meet him and be done with labor, it was nothing to push through that fear.”
With her husband, mother, and wonderful midwife quietly encouraging her, Abby pushed her baby down lower and lower. We saw peeks of his head during pushes and our hearts all beat a little faster as we knew this perfect boy would be here any minute.
“At 4:14 pm I was able to catch my little Banner Kai and pull him to my chest- it was definitely the most emotional moment of my life.”
The room exploded into joyful noise, with little Banner’s wails ringing out like “sweet music” as grandma Joy said. Everyone was alternating between tears and laughter as they took in this beautiful sight: that pink little baby finally united with his mama in the late afternoon sunlight.
Banner was an alert little guy, turning his head to peek at the world with his wide-open eyes. Their midwife stepped back with her hands folded, a huge smile on her face, as this new family got to know one another.
“I had two very small tears which I didn’t even feel the midwife stitch up. Banner was 7lbs 9oz and 20” long born at 39 weeks and he’s been an absolute joy.”
“My husband and I got certified in ‘The Bradley Method’- husband-based childbirth coaching, and I truly believe it helped us immensely. We both knew exactly what was going on with my body and the process throughout my entire labor. He was able to remind me that everything I was feeling was totally natural and he knew when to encourage me to change positions, relax, etc.”
After a little while, the midwife said her goodbyes with big hugs and words of praise. The nursing staff helped Banner and Abby to start breastfeeding, and Banner couldn’t stop staring into his mama’s eyes.
Abby asked Mike to come get in the bed with them and do some skin-to-skin with Banner. They inspected every inch of their son, cooing over his wavy hair, his chunky cheeks, his precious toes.
Joy instantly and flawlessly transitioned from the role of doula to grandmother. She held her daughter’s hand and told her over and over how amazing she was.
The sun streamed in through the blinds as the afternoon wore on. Mike texted their family and friends, letting the world know that their son had arrived, safe and sound. Abby and Mike snuggled Banner and soaked in the relief, pride, and love that they had for him and one another.
“I can’t speak highly enough about my birth photographer Dallas Arthur. She was such a positive presence throughout my labor and I’m in love with the shots she took. If you’re in the Jacksonville, Florida area I strongly recommend her!”
Abby, Mike, and Joy (and Banner!)…you all did an incredible job! You each took on your roles with such strength, calm, and positivity. It was an honor to be a part of your birth team; thank you for trusting me with your memories. You did it!!!