Supported by Friends: A Midwife’s Birth Story | St. Vincent’s Clay
Location: St. Vincent’s Clay in Middleburg, Florida
Birth photographer/videographer: Dallas Arthur Birth Stories & Support
OB/GYN: Hyler & Associates
Whitney and I met at the very same place where her son was born: St. Vincent’s Clay Medical Center. She is an amazing hospital midwife, and I had come in with a home birth client who had transferred into her care at the hospital after days of labor. Whitney was a breath of fresh air, giving my client and her birth team so much encouragement and patience. (You can read that birth story here!)
Whitney and I stayed in touch after that birth, and I was so honored when she asked me to be a part of her own birth team a year later! She has a history of fast labors, so when she called me early in the morning, I knew we didn’t have much time. Little did we know how truly speedy this birth was going to go!
Seeing Whitney supported by her fellow midwife colleague and the nurses and hospital staff that she works with every day was so special. A few minutes after birth, she joked, “Okay guys, I’ve gotta go do rounds now!”
Enjoy this speedy birth story, in Whitney’s own words:
It is amazing what can happen in 2hrs.
Around 4:45am on Wednesday morning, [my husband] Jacob woke me up to say good-bye before he went to work. I had what I thought was a pretty strong Braxton Hicks contraction but was able to fall back asleep. I woke up at 5:30am to get ready for my last call shift and had two more contractions that were about ten minutes apart.
Then at 5:55am, they started coming strong and fast, every 2-3 minutes. I called Jacob at 6:08am and told him he needed to come home. I was hoping a shower would either prove or disprove labor and quickly realized I needed to start calling people:
6:11am- My midwife and dear friend, Kourtney
6:16am- Ross [my teenage son], to wake up and help with the dogs (no answer )
6:16am- the hospital, to let them know if they needed someone for delivery, it would have to be my back-up
6:18am- Dallas, my birth photographer
6:22am- my backup for the day to let him know he would be solo (also no answer )
6:26am- My mother-in-law, who just so happened to be just called off work
6:28am- Jacob, to see where he was at. He should have only been 5-10 minutes out at this point. Only for him to send me to voicemail and a text that said “Sorry, I can’t talk right now” (Are you sensing a trend from the men I had to call??)
6:28am- Jacob calls back, FROM WORK! He hadn’t left yet because when I initially called him, he was in the middle of something.
At this point I knew I was on limited time to get somewhere. My contractions were starting to get to the point where I could not longer talk through them. A decision was made for Ross to drive me to the hospital closest to Jacob with hopes he would make it and my mother-in-law would start driving to us and then turn around and follow us in case a car delivery was imminent.
This is where I am so, so proud of my kids. Ross and Zoey got themselves ready, got the dogs fed and let out, secured the house, got a towel in the passenger seat, all of my hospital things into my car, and helped me to get dressed and into the car. At this point, I was crying and couldn’t even get pants on.
We left at 6:47am and Ross was a super star. We have been holding off on getting his license because he hasn’t been ready, but I couldn’t give him any help or instructions, besides please don’t stop, just keep driving. My mother-in-law was able to meet us about half way, and called the hospital ahead to have them bring me out a wheelchair and helped Ross park and get all my things out of my car. She stayed on the phone with us from the time we left until we got to the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital at 7:09am and Jacob called me while we were pulling up and asked where I was. Turns out, he was at the hospital closest to our house and I was at the hospital closest to his job. I couldn’t even talk to him at this point and instructed him to call his mother.
I was crying again and the labor and delivery team sprung into action. One of the wonderful surgical techs helped me get undressed and gave me the biggest hug. Everything after that was smooth, organized chaos.
IV started, blood drawn, TOCO and US on, consents signed.
My kids, mother-in-law, mom, and [my midwife] Kourtney came in the room at some point. My birth photographer had a tough time getting past security- luckily my nurse and the nurse manager were able to get her back.
My nurse then began coaching me through contractions.
I knew I was close because I started questioning my ability to do it without an epidural-this was my sign with Jude too. Kourtney checked me and all was left was my bag of water.
Jacob was still en route so my nurse continued to talk me through every surge.
I breathed. I screamed. I felt out of control. I refocused with my nurse’s guidance.
Finally, Jacob made it and Kourtney broke my water almost simultaneously.
I didn’t feel the urge to push, I resisted, but when I started to push, the pain went away.
At 7:54am, after a couple “I need something for pain,” “I can’t do this,” and a few f-words, one contraction and three pushes, I got to open my eyes and reach out for my baby that Kourtney was handing to me and say “It’s a boy!”
I don’t remember much about the hour leading up to Axel’s birth. I had a gown and socks I never got to put on, lights and a banner I never got to hang, a fan and water bottle I never got to use.
But I do remember feeling heard. Seen. Comforted. Reassured. Empowered.
But most importantly, I remember feeling safe.
I had the most beautiful birth experience. I cannot imagine a better way to have brought our newest son into the world.
“All I know since yesterday is everything has changed.”
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