Dearest G and L,
From the moment we sat down for your free consultation, I longed to be your doula. I could sense immediately how “into” being parents you were, how overjoyed you were about being pregnant. I could sense your determination to bring your baby into the world as sweetly and softly as possible.
G: Like all first-time moms, you had doubts. Would you be able to get through labor? Would you know what to do, would anything bad happen? I gave you some Ina May to read and did my best to reassure you. I knew you’d do fine.
L: Your excitement and joy about being a Father filled the entire room. You wanted to be an active participant in the labor; you were fully supportive of G and her goals.
Saturday, Sept. 27th. Three days before your “due date”:
I was at a health fair promoting my business when, around 11:00 AM, I got a voice mail from L. You were having some cramping, it started around 8:00 AM, not sure what was going on, please call you back. I called and was told that the “cramping” was every 5-7 minutes, you had had some bloody show, and loose bm. You told me that you were doing fine, wasn’t sure if it was the real thing, and would call me back in an hour.
I sat and thought. Normally, first time mothers have longer labors. But for some reason, a little voice in my head told me I should leave now. I called you to find out how you were doing, and by listening to you trying really hard to concentrate through a contraction, I knew to leave.
I got home on half hour later and changed, then L called. He said your “cramps” were now two minutes apart, more bloody show…is this the real thing?
Fifteen minutes later, I was at the house. Your contractions were two minutes apart…and you were having back labor. I applied counter pressure and a rice sock to your lower back and you almost sighed with relief.
We worked on getting the baby to turn. You slow danced with L, did some lunges, and lay down for a bit. I could tell your contractions were getting more intense, and I knew the hospital drive was an hour long, so I suggested that we leave and labor at a hotel room near the hospital. This way, you wouldn’t have to be in the car through transition.
I thought you still had a while to go, as the contraction weren’t getting closer together or longer.
We got stuck in traffic and the drive turned into an hour and a half long horrendous ride for you. L called when we were almost there and said that you felt you should skip the hotel room and just go straight to the hospital. Mother’s intuition.
We arrived at the hospital and while we were waiting to be admitted, you started showing signs of transition: shaking, burping, neasea, etc. They laid you down on the bed and hooked you up to the monitor. They checked you and you were at 4 cm dilated, 100% full effaced. You were discouraged, but I assured you that to be 100% effaced at 4cm says a lot of how hard your body is working, and reminded you that the second stage is not as long.
The nurse came in and told you that she didn’t like the look of the baby’s heartbeat. It was too fast. The doctor followed soon after and immediately said she wanted to break your water and insert an internal fetal monitor. You asked for a minute to think and after I explained what an internal monitor is, and how you would have to remain flat on your back, you compromised with the doctor and agreed to get IV fluids and remain on the external monitor for twenty minutes before resorting to the internal monitor. You were a warrior in disguise, ready to stand your ground if needed, but choosing compromise as a first action. I was so proud of you!
We got into your room, you got your IV fluids, and the baby’s heartbeat balanced out beautifully. Then, you continued to labor….
….you leaned against L during every contraction while I put counter pressure and heat on your back.
….your breathing was perfect, nice and slow.
….your sounds were nice and deep.
Since you couldn’t stand to sit or lay down for long, we did a lot of rocking and swaying. I used some acupressure and aromatherapy. At one point you said that the counter pressure and heat were no longer working. You simply wanted to be in L’s arms.
I sat back and watched. You leaned all your weight against L while he whispered words of encouragement and love into your ear. You both swayed slowly back and forth.
Man and woman. Bonded in friendship and love. Bonded in the desire to meet the life you both created, to hold the essence of the two of you combined in your arms, to bring your precious baby into the world as sweetly as possible. It was amazing, sacred, beautiful, inspiring, and I felt priviledged just to be in your presence.
Two hours have passed and you are still showing signs of going through transition. G, I could sense your frustration. You started to tell me that you didn’t know what to do, how could you keep going on? The doctor came in to check you. As she began her examination, I thought to myself, “Please be at least 7cm, that would be sooo good.” The doctor looked up and said…..
“You are fully dialated.”
The disbelief on your face, on all our faces, including the doctor’s, was amazing. You looked up and said, “You mean, I got through transition?”
The baby was up high so we worked on moving the baby down. We rocked and swayed. About 15 minutes after we started, you said you felt some pressure, like you had to “go poop.” 45 minutes after that, you were ready to push.
You felt the best thing for you was to push on your back, coached. I could tell that it was the best thing for you as well. We gathered around you, supporting, encouraging, loving.
You pushed your beautiful baby out into the world after only ten minutes.
A beautiful baby girl. 8lbs, .1oz. 19.5 inches long.
L was crying, you were amazed. You held your beautiful baby and just looked and looked. Baby and Mother finally meet, a sacred moment in every mother’s life, and you were fully aware and awake for it.
Baby S latched on right away and nursed beautifully. And we hugged and smiled and laughed and talked.
You were a birthing goddess. A warrior. A queen. And I was honored to be there, present for this sacred event.
What a lucky baby. What a beautiful family.
Inspiring Birth Stories 