The Beauty of Laboring At Home | Part 1 of 2
This birth. This powerful, emotional, surprising, long, incredible, unforgettable birth.
It's just too much for one blog post! Part 1 will focus on the time that I spent with this family as mom labored at home. Part 2 will tell her story once she left for the hospital, and what it was like to meet their sweet baby boy!
A little background on the state of things when this baby's birth story began, from mom herself:
"My family (two big sisters, mom, stepdad, dad) were all in town for my due date, which I knew not to bank on, but I couldn't help myself. So, for the whole week I tried everything under the sun to get little Hootie to make a move! At my 39 week appointment, Dr. Adams [OB at Full Circle] let me know I about 60% [effaced] and 1 cm [dilated]. TEARS! I was so sad that my family wasn't going to be able to see his arrival and my attempt at a natural childbirth. I left defeated but encouraged by Dr. Adams that Hootie would come when he was ready, and to just relax. That Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 we were all set to meet for breakfast before everyone headed to the airport. I started my walk to Simply Sara's about 2 miles from our house and, right on top of the Ortega bridge at 8:30am with an unsuspecting fisherman under me...my water breaks! We lock eyes and say nothing as I waddle back home to change pants!"
Um...water breaking on a stranger...that's a first! Birth is a funny thing!
So her family rearranged their flights to leave the next day, and spent the morning and afternoon supporting mom through her contractions.
Five hours after her water broke, one of her sisters called me around 1:30pm and let me know that she was ready for her doula and I to join them.
I usually join my clients when they are in active labor (4+ cm, or unable to speak through contractions), once they are so focused that they don't even notice what is going on around them.
With this labor, though, there were a few reasons why I arrived a little earlier than usual. She had already been in labor for 6 hours by the time I arrived. She is a doula, and wanted to document the whole process, because birth is so sacred to her. (Awesome!)
When I arrived, the house was buzzing. With all of her favorite people in her home, mom was comfortable, relaxed, and having fun. Her sisters styled her hair and pampered her a bit, while her pressure waves were far apart.
Squatty Potty for the win! These things are awesome for keeping the pelvis open and helping baby remain in an optimal position!
College football played in the living room while the family relaxed. Their sweet pup roamed around and loved all of the attention. It's like he knew that he wouldn't be the baby for much longer!
Dad loves photography (he's pretty talented, see part 2 to see some images he took with my camera at the hospital!), and he had taken weekly Polaroids of his beautiful wife's growing belly. They had to get one final picture before baby arrived!
Dad ran out for Chick-Fil-A, and mom met him at the car to help him bring everything in. Dinner for everyone! They were so considerate of all of their birth team's needs. They had snacks, homemade treats, tea and coffee...everything their family would need to support them through this wonderful process.
There is so much beauty in laboring at home. In the movies and on TV, what do we always see? A woman's water suddenly breaking, or a first contraction, and then everyone screaming and scrambling, collecting suitcases and booking it for the hospital. For most pregnancies, that is nowhere near necessary.
I believe that a woman should labor where she is comfortable laboring, and birth where she is comfortable birthing. Period. Maybe that is in a hospital, surrounded by talented medical staff to support her. Maybe it's naked in a meadow with the sunshine warm on her belly. Maybe it's at home, with your pup by your side, rocking some Brooks & Dunn. For this family, it meant laboring at home until she couldn't talk through her contractions, and then heading to St. Vincent's Southside Hospital to birth her baby with the incredible team of midwives and OBs of Full Circle Women's Care here in Jacksonville. The best of both worlds!
Mom used her doula tricks that she had used with so many of her clients before. She had an awesome birth ball (it had rubber grippies on it and sand in the bottom to keep it from rolling away), and used different labor positions to stay on top of the waves.
Grandpa gave his daughter her space, as her sisters, doula, and husband supported her, but his loving gaze was always on her through every contraction. It was touching to see him lend his quiet strength and confidence to his youngest daughter.
I love details like this. The fresh flowers, the candle, Oprah magazine, candy canes, the laminated birth plan...all a unique part of this family's story.
This is doula Ali Castillo. She is this mom’s wonderful friend and backup doula. (As in, mom is also a doula, and Ali will backup for her if she has two clients in labor at the same time.) They are such an amazing team and it was so cool to see them work together.
This is where her contractions began to require some serious focus. She started to get a little shaky and a little teary, and they were getting much stronger and closer together. After a few very difficult waves, they decided that it was time to start moving towards the hospital.
But first, a little makeup! Anything that a laboring mom can do to make her feel more comfortable and confident is a great thing. Even if that means doing your eyebrows in between contractions!
One last surge before heading out the door. It was a good one!
And a quick picture, the last one as a family of two before they headed into the night.
And off to St. Vincent's they went!
It was so special spending a few hours with them as they labored at home. Mama listened to her body, and with the guidance of her doula, they made the best decision as to when to head to the hospital.
Ready to read the rest of their birth story? Click here!
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