The Birth of Rebekah Ann

Rebekah~Captivating, beautiful.

Well, if you are looking for a lengthy birth story...look somewhere else. lol

On September 16th, the homeschool moms from our church gave me a baby shower. We had a fun time! I had a few braxton hicks but nothing painful. I had a lot of sweet tea, which was quite a treat because I haven't drank that in a long time. I left Tiffany's about 10:30 PM and went to Ingles. Mike had called earlier and asked me to pick up a few things. I got home about 11:15 PM or 11:30 PM, I can't remember which. I changed clothes and got into bed and watched a little TV. About 10 before midnight, Mike woke up and asked me why I was still up. He said that I needed to rest but I told him I had wanted to stay up a few more minutes...I think the sweet tea kept me up. So about midnight or a little after I went to sleep.

At about 2:20 AM or so I woke up. The tops of my legs were hurting really bad. When I went to pee, I saw a little bit of blood. I woke Mike up and told him that I thought I was in labor. After I told him, I had to go back to the bathroom. I peed again and had a really, really loose bowel movement. I KNEW I was in labor then. All of this happened so fast. I called my midwife and she suggested Mike run the tub and for me to get in and relax to see if that stops anything. She said that it sounded like the baby dropped. While Mike was running the tub, I called her back because the pain in my legs was not going away and I was feeling A LOT of pressure. During the few seconds we were talking she said my voice changed and for me to hurry and get in the tub and she was on her way. I immediately took off all of my clothes and got into the tub. I wanted to wear my black camisole in the tub but when Mike asked if I wanted it, I said that no, I just wanted in the tub. I got in and between the moaning and panting I asked him to turn on my CD player...it had a CD of a Celtic Christian band and it is very soothing. Mike then asked if I needed anything and I said something to drink. While he was gone downstairs, the pressure was intensifying. All of a sudden I felt a big pop and I knew my water had broken. I looked in the water and saw no color change and that made me feel better. I felt in between my legs and could feel the head. I continued to pant and pretending to blow out candles. I was also moaning. I was on my left side and I propped my right leg on the wall at the end of my tub. All of a sudden I felt and the head was out, then I remember thinking that ok...now the shoulders. Mike was still downstairs during this time...it was happening fast. Then all of a sudden I looked and the baby was out. I grabbed the baby fast and put her on my chest. I started crying and screaming for Mike. He was coming up the stairs at this time and ran in the bathroom. He looked at me and said, "Oh my God!" He was shocked! I was shocked! He called my midwife, who was about 20min away at this point and she asked him if that was the baby crying and he said no, it's April. lol She was crying too but I was louder. It wasn't from pain but from a joy I could not express any other way. I hadn't even looked yet if the baby was a boy or a girl! We have another girl! Rebekah Ann was born @ 2:36 AM on September 17th, 2008. I stayed in the tub until my midwife got there. Rebekah weighed 10 lbs 3 oz and was 22 1/4 in long. I couldn't believe how big she was! We both are doing really well and I am so happy that we didn't have to be transported to the hospital.

I truly believe God gave us this birth for me to have more of a bond with Rebekah. I wanted a boy so bad that I was afraid of how I would feel if this was a girl. She is a blessing and El-Shaddai gave her to us. I wouldn't have it any other way. I birthed her, I caught her. This is our story...just like Sarah's birth bonded her and Mike, this will forever bond Rebekah and I.

Rebekah Ann is here! :-)

Rebekah Ann was born on September 17th (she shares her birthday with my brother and Mike's brother) and weighs 10 lbs 3 oz and is 22 1/4 in long. We both are doing very well. It was a faster delivery than Sarah. This one was unassisted as well since my midwife didn't make it until 20 min after she was born. I will post pictures and birth story, hopefully soon. :-)

Home visit and check up~37 weeks

We had our home visit with my midwife yesterday. It went really well. My bp was up (146/96) and had protein in my urine. We know that the protein was because I has not hydrated enough and had not eaten very much yesterday. I have been doing so much the past few days to a week that I haven't been drinking enough water or tea and not eating very much. My anxiety level has been up too. I was just so worried that I wouldn't have everything we needed, that the house wouldn't be clean like I wanted it to, that my midwife would think our tub wasn't big enough (it is a garden tub), that I was going to go into labor now and for some reason I have started worrying about the pain. Well, we have everything we need, she loves the layout of our bedroom and bathroom and LOVES the tub, the house is decluttered and organized, I am not in labor and I can handle the pain...I know what to do about it. Plus yesterday and today I have been hydrating like crazy (like I used to) and eating. My bp @ Walmart was 144/75. Which is great for being at Walmart! lol I also got the tinctures I needed to get (Hawthorne berry and Passion Flower), plus liquid calcium, colloidial silver, more vitamin C with bioflavinoids, and tea tree oil. Soon, this little one will be here and I will have one other person to cuddle with. :-)

Homebirth

Having a homebirth can be life changing. I know when our 3 yr old was born it was miraculous. But having a homebirth should NOT be taken lightly. Well, the entire process of being pregnant, labor and birth should not be taken lightly. There has to be a connection with your midwife. You have to trust her and she has to trust you. When she tells you that this and this needs to be done to keep you and the baby healthy, then you need to listen and ADHERE to that advice. A homebirth midwife will not take just anyone. You interview them and they interview you. Safety of you and your baby is their primary concern so if you are lackadaisical about your health or the health of your baby...you better go looking for another care provider. They also generally do not take ANY high risk clients. Some take VBACs but only on a case by case basis. That includes taking anyone on that has to be on medication that has to be monitored by a doctor, anyone whose has PROM before 37w and who has not delivered by 42w, etc. Here are a few quotes from a few homebirth websites:

Many women feel there is no safer or more loving place to give birth than in their own home with the assistance of a midwife. The home setting is familiar and natural -- a place where the new baby and family are together from the start.

For low-risk pregnancies, there is no evidence to suggest that giving birth in the hospital is safest. The evidence does show much lower rates of obstetrical intervention, such as forceps and c/section deliveries, with midwife assisted births.

Compared with hospital delivery, home birth asks more of parents -- more participation, more responsibility -- and also gives parents more control and involvement in this intimate event. The woman, her family, and the midwife become partners in the health and well-being of the mother and the baby.

Here is the midwives model of care:

The Midwives Model of Care

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.

The Midwives Model of Care includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
• Minimizing technological interventions
• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

We absolutely cannot wait to have our 2nd homebirth. We are praying for a little bit slower labor and delivery. We want my midwife to be here and for us not to be transferred to the hospital. This baby and I are healthy because I have listened and taken the advice of my midwife. I am not so arrogant where I think everything I believe about pregnancy and birth are right. That is where I ask her what she thinks I should do. I know a lot about pregnancy and birth, more than the majority of women, so we agree on alot if not all things about pregnancy, labor and birth.

I urge women to talk to their midwives, be truthful with them and they can help you. They love to help women during this joyous time in their lives. They are a breath of fresh air to a sometimes frazzled pregnant woman. I praise God for my midwife. She is a blessing to us and many other families.

Midwife appointment~35wks

Everything went really well. I met her new apprentice and she is really nice. :-) I gained 2 lbs, my bp was up a little on the bottom ( still in the normal range though ) but we think we figured out why so all's good! lol The heart beat was 144 and the baby is in LOA position! YAY! The baby will probably switch between ROA and LOA but that's not a problem. We received the birthkit on Saturday and I am ordering the Rhogam on Thursday or Friday. There is still a few things to get and a few things to get in order but everything will get done...even if I have to delegate it! lol

My midwife appointment~31wks

My appointment went REALLY well! I gained 1 lb but that is ok. My bp was 98/64! Which is AWESOME! I usually had elevated bp every now and then with my past pregnancies. The baby has moved from posterior to an LOA position which is great! We finally heard the heartbeat with the fetoscope! Usually the baby is pretty stubborn and we have had to use the doppler but since the baby was not posterior...we got to hear it! The heartbeat was 136 and that has been the bpm for a few appointments. We talked a for a while about different things, mostly relating to homebirth and vbac. It was a nice visit and I can't wait to go back! Most people can't say that about their in-hospital care providers. :-)

Homebirth, Supplies & Birth Kit

To many people they probably have no idea of all the things that are needed for a homebirth. There are things that have to be gathered and they have to be gathered by you, not the midwife. It is sort of empowering to know that you have control of what is at your birth and what you would like to use.

Here is a list of supplies that are included in a birth kit (this isn't my kit per se but it is very close as I will be adding to my birth kit) :

• 1 Birth Certificate with verse

• 1 labor and delivery summary

• 2 plastic backed paper sheets

• 2 flexible straws

• 1 plastic mattress bag

• 5 super deluxe chux pads

• 10 large deluxe chux pads

• 2 Dozen large sanitary nakins

• 8 single sterile latex gloves

• 4 pr sterile latex gloves

• 1 Scrub Brush w/Hibiclens

• 6 sterile 4x4 gauze pads

• 1 8oz Soothing sitz bath 8 oz

• 1 peri bottle

• 1 2 oz sterile bulb syringe

• 2 mesh pant 2 peach contour pads

• 1 baby hat

• 12 alcohol prep pads

• 4 1.5 gram lube jelly packets

• 2 sterile cord clamps

• 1 footprinter

• 1 disposable paper tape measure

Then there are things that need to be gathered in addition to the birth kit:

Here is my check list. I scanned it because it is sooooo long. Just click on it to enlarge it.

The Birth of Sarah Nicole

The Birth of Sarah Nicole

For a few weeks I had been having bhc and they were getting a little more closer together, harder, and uncomfortable. The Thursday before I was 37wks I was 3cm, 75ffaced and soft, so we thought labor would start soon. Over the next few weeks, the contrax didnt start hurting at all, so I thought they were still bhc. At about 38-39wks, Mike and I tried everything to stimulate labor. We had sex, I ate VERY spicy food, and I walked A LOT! I still went to church and did all of my normal activities. The last week before my due date Mike didnt want me going anywhere alone (without him) in case labor started. On June 19th, Fathers Day, we still went to church, both Sunday school and worship. Everyone was amazed I felt good enough to be there, I was too and that was starting to really frustrate me. I thought that if I started feeling more miserable then that meant SOMETHING was happening. The day before (on Saturday) I was praying to God and asking Him why nothing was happening and to please give me a sign that labor was starting, pain, water breaking, SOMETHING. All He told me was that something was happening and that I wouldnt feel any pain until she was about to be born. All I thought was Yeah right! Ok back to Sunday, Fathers Day. I was feeling great! Mike and I had sex to see if that jump started anything. Well, night came and nothing. We put Elisabeth to bed and Mike and Rachel fell asleep on the couch while we watched a movie. I went to bed about 10:30pm. At about 1:30am on June 20th, my due date, a contraction woke me up. All I thought was, Ooh, that didnt feel too good. I went to the bathroom to see if that helped, I saw streaks of blood when I wiped and after that on the way to the living room to wake Mike up I had another one. I woke him up and asked him to come to bed in case another one woke me up and he could massage my back. We both laid down but I popped back up, there was another contraction. Mike told me to come back to bed to sleep during the contractions but I told him I couldnt right then. I tried leaning on my birth ball but that lasted for about 15 sec. I asked Mike if we should call my parents (who wanted to be there for the birth) and my midwife but Mike said that he thought we still had some time. I went to the bathroom again and I peed A LOT(it was just pee) and I started having diarrhea. So I thought we still had some time. . I came out of the bathroom and went to hands and knees position because I was having another one. This was about 1:45am. I started moaning pretty loud and I was right beside Elisabeth, who was sleeping on the floor by our bed. I got up right away and peed and had diarrhea again, plus another contrax and more bleeding. I dont really remember getting on the floor in the bathroom but I did. I was on my side, perpendicular to the tub. I was using the tub and hamper as counter pressure for my legs. I started moaning pretty loud and Mike said VERY stern to me, Do you want to go to the hospital?! He thought I was overreacting and we didnt know I was as close as I was. He has since apologized. I just told him to call my midwife and get me something to drink. Actually I yelled it. That was the last time I remember feeling pain. I started singing Trading My Sorrows and Victory Chant. I was also reciting Phil 4:13. I did all of that over and over again. All of a sudden, I decided to try to feel her head and I could! I told Mike, who was on the phone with my midwife, that I could feel her head. But when he came in, the contrax had ended and she went back up. So he left the bathroom to get more chux pads (Thank the Lord we got them Friday). My midwife was still about 45min away. I called him back in and said I felt her head. He looked at me and said to my midwife, Well, her head is out. I wasnt even really pushing, I dont even remember pushing, but I do remember coughing. This is what Mike told me that he and my midwife were talking about. She told him to check for a cord and when he did her chin popped out, then she cried, then her shoulder and then all of her @ 2:12am, 42 min after my first contraction. Mike wrapped her in a towel and handed her to me. She looked just like Rachel but with dark hair. Well, I thought the placenta was coming and I pushed but it was a large blood clot. I passed 2 of those. My midwife wanted us to call 911 because she couldnt assess the bleeding over the phone and she was still about 30min away. Before she and Mike got off the phone I delivered the placenta. Mike hung up with 911 when the EMTs got there. He got back on the phone with my midwife. The EMTs asked me which hospital and I looked at Mike and asked, Do I have to? and he said yeah. The ONLY picture we got at home was when they were about to wheel me and Sarah out of the bedroom on the stretcher. We wish the birth environment in Georgia was better because then we could have asked the EMTs to look and check my bleeding and if it was ok I would have just waited for my midwife. My midwife would have to double back to get to the hospital so Mike told her to go home and get some rest and come see me later that day. Our neighbors were walking over as I was about to get in the ambulance. They knew we were having a homebirth. They looked scared and I told them everything was ok, that I just had her REALLY fast. This was the first time I had been in an ambulance. Sarah started nursing on the way to the hospital and nursed for about 45min. The EMTs were great and so were the L&D nurses. I did have a 2nd degree tear, but just bottom one (had top and bottom with Elisabeth). Everyone in L&D called me their hero and everyone in the hospital kneweven the janitors! While the L&D nurses were cleaning me up, they asked if I knew how much Sarah weighed. I said no and they told me that she weighed 9 lbs 11 oz! I couldnt believe it! They just said wow and with no meds. I thought they were lying. They measured her too and she is 21 in long. We just cant believe how big she is. I didnt stay at the hospital 24hrs. I signed an AMA and was released about 15hrs after I was admitted. Which to Mike, my midwife and me we that it was too long considering Sarah and I were doing great! The ped released her at 10am but she still stayed with me.

It makes me feel a little weird that they called me their hero and that I am some woman because I didnt do anything on my own. I could not have done this without Jesus. Mike was so calm and that helped me a lot too. Well, thats about it. Mikes entire vision about labor and birth has changed so much. He wouldnt change the birth for anything and neither would I (except the tearing part). It is still so surreal. Mike wasnt too excited about this pregnancy and we believe this was the Lords way of bring excitement and bonding with our 3rd child. We are truly blessed and praise God everyday.