A Swift, Unmedicated Birth of her First Baby | St. Vincent’s Southside
Location: St. Vincent’s Southside Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida
Walking the journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with first time parents is always such a joy to me. And we literally walked together around the neighborhood, dreaming about her birth experience, completely unaware that Diana’s water would break just a few short hours later! I couldn’t be more proud to be your doula, Diana, and I’m grateful that you are sharing your story!
-Dallas
Tuesday, April 25th was a normal working day. I helped equip my team as much as possible, walking them through my maternity leave spreadsheet. That day I had plans to meet with our doula Dallas for lunch to get to know each other better and walk around the neighborhood. Little did I know that Tuesday April 25th would be the evening that my water would break.
My baby girl and I had been bonding and snuggling together for nine months but my husband talked to her more than I did. I was so busy working and nesting. Honestly, I wasn't sure what motherhood would be like—let alone labor and delivery. After many loops around the neighborhood, Dallas and I became much closer and she assured me that the best qualities of myself would come out in the hospital room and not to worry about a thing.
That evening in bed with my gestational diabetes prescribed snack, I told my husband and texted Dallas that I had some bloody show after my first cervical check that I had had that afternoon. I was two to three centimeters dilated with effacement of 60% and station of negative two. I definitely thought we would last until our May 5th due date, given that she was my first and a girl.
Right after my text, as my husband fell asleep, around 9:00 PM that night watching Big Bang Theory in bed, I felt my water break. I knew immediately that I had not peed myself but that I was sitting in a gush of amniotic fluid. I jumped out of bed and wobbled across the room, dripping all over the carpet, telling my husband that my water just broke and to call Dallas. I needed him to ask her if we should head to the hospital. Dallas couldn't believe it and asked me how I felt and if I was proud of myself that I had walked my baby girl out! I laughed and told her I didn't even get to drink my red raspberry leaf tea which was sitting on my night stand. She told me the best course of action would be to call my OBGYN, as I was GBS positive.
Upon calling, the medical professionals recommended making our way to the hospital as soon as possible. Thankfully my husband and I had our bags about 80% packed and we lived less than five minutes away from the hospital—a two-mile drive at most. As we gathered our final things, I flipped through my 2-inch binder of resources, scanning for breathing techniques in a final attempt to absorb any last minute tips. We savored in the moment of living in our house for the last time as a family of two. I kissed my husband, we packed up the car and backed out of the driveway. A text went out to my parents and my boss to keep them in the loop.
Once we arrived at the hospital we had a lot of paperwork to fill out. Dallas had set our expectations that this process would take a long time and slow our contraction intervals. Thankfully my contractions had not begun and although I was giddy, I was able to concentrate enough to fill out the required forms, pee in a cup, and change into my hospital gown for check in. We stayed in triage for what felt like an eternity. I listened to a final “prep for birth” mediation while Dallas assured us she was resting up and would be on her way soon to join us in our hospital room.
Upstairs once we were brought into our room my parents came to visit. I was hooked up to an IV with antibiotics. My folks were so excited to become grandparents; and as I started to feel slight contractions upon Dallas’ arrival, my husband made the call that my family should head home to rest for the night. It was around 1:00 AM. My family hugged me goodbye and went home.
Dallas recommended that my husband take a nap so that when the throes of labor began, he would be ready. Within half an hour I was feeling the contractions. It was a foreign sensation that took some getting used to. Dallas knew exactly what positions would be the most comfortable, alleviate the most pressure, and ease my anxiety. My husband woke up to my breath work during contractions and so it began.
Dallas coached my husband on partner work, reminding him from our prenatal visits that providing optimal counter pressure would be most helpful to me. Every position that we tried, whether sitting on the yoga ball, side laying in the hospital bed, or even dancing in the shower—I felt at ease. The Hypnobirthing tracks Dallas had lent me washed over me during every pressure wave and my mental headspace took over. My Pandora birthing playlist played in the background but I was in the zone. Contractions were spread about every two minutes.
It was hard to tell amidst our baby girl’s heartbeat and machines beeping if time stood still or was flying by in the dark of the hospital room. Every time I considered what intervention I could leverage, I seemed to talk myself out of it. I would ask Dallas how long this had been going on and how much longer it would be but assumed that the anesthesiologist would be out of the office since it was an overnight labor. Dallas knew my birthing preferences and that I was open to accessing tools, but had also always been in awe of women who had an all-natural birth, so she kept assuring me that I was doing great, that everything was progressing smoothly, and that she felt like I could do this. She kept me focused on the next contraction. Every recommendation was prefaced with, “Let's talk about that after the next contraction,” or “What about if after the next contraction we changed positions?” With the focus always being on the next two minutes I was able to stay focused and before I knew it I was asked to do another cervical check.
This time, it felt like my daughter's position was low and dull in my pelvis. Since I didn't have any anesthesia, I was hyperaware of her descent. I was told we were at 10 centimeters and any drowsiness that my husband felt was eradicated as he jolted wide awake. Adrenaline pumped through me, as I wasn't sure how enduring pushing would be, since I didn’t even realize when we were in transition. The nurse called the doctor and reported that she needed the staff to come help her set up for delivery, as she didn’t anticipate the doctor would arrive in time.
Our doctor was running through the parking lot and barely made it through the doors as our baby was already crowning. No one told me to push, and I was already intuitively going through the motions. Dallas tied a scarf to the headboard and offered for me to pull on it and grunt as I pushed. It was exhilarating as I locked eyes with my husband and we were grunting at each other and with the last exclamation she arrived! I expected tears from us as new parents, but we were all smiles at 5:43am—our normal wake up time.
As a generally queasy person I attempted to protect my first memory of her, not immediately looking as they placed her above my left hip bone. Her umbilical cord was so short she didn’t reach my chest. I looked over at Dallas and her praise and congratulations made me beam. She told me she was so proud of me and assured me I was so kind even when pain was at an all-time high. The nurses on shift high-fived me reminding me I was a warrior, beast Mama who went all-natural. A combination of exhaustion, joy and awe overtook me as I passed the placenta and Daddy cut the umbilical cord.
They placed her on my chest and I surged with oxytocin. My husband assured me she was beautiful and it was safe to look. Without my glasses I couldn’t really see her but I didn’t need to because I realized I already knew her as we were intertwined at our core. I could feel every inch of her and upon hearing her small cry, I said what I now sing to her all the time: “Mama is here, Teya is safe.” It was in that instant, hearing her nickname, that my husband knew we had picked the right name. We started making family calls to report the great news of our baby girl’s debut.
Dallas took the most precious first family iPhone photos of us. They were raw yet radiant of a moment forever ingrained in our hearts. The messaging in the meditations were true, "Your body knows how to give birth and deliver your baby.” Trust you and your baby’s journey—everyone’s is unique, but they are all beautiful with two main goals—a safe delivery and healthy baby!
Whatever your birth preference – Dallas will do her very best to help you prepare to not only endure but thrive at achieving a safe and healthy birth. Best partnership investment for a smooth, low stress pregnancy and birthing!
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