Birth Stories by clients of Carla Stange and Suzun Wells
Mary Jane DeVore tells of the birth of her son Harris
"The doctor in Fort Bragg tried to scare me with tales of large babies..."
Gregg Stevens and Laurie Boone have a son, Ryan Graham Stevens
"Not long after the puppy ate the diaphragm...".
Charlotte Yoneda has a waterbirth
"We became facinated with the idea of a waterbirth..."
Marilyn Lemos has a homebirth
"I had a lot of fear and confusion around pregnancy..."
Khamoor and Tim Poehlman start a family
"The only thing I've ever known for sure ..."
Mary Jane deVore tells of the birth of her son, Harris
I had felt fine during this, my second pregnancy. I was not so frightened as with my first and felt more prepared. I also realized that anything could happen and that having given birth to one child did not make me an expert but I knew that being calm was always helpful.
I had gotten quite large. The doctor in Fort Bragg tried to scare me with tales of large babies getting "stuck part way out of the birth canal." He told me I shouldn't eat for the next four weeks. I told him that I wouldn't if he wouldn't and that I had a nine-pound baby once and could do it again. I had confidence that the midwives attending me would know what to do. But, he had rattled me.
Later that same day, I ran into Suzan, one of my midwives. I told her of my experience and she laughed. "Have you looked at your hips lately? I bet you could push out a twelve-pound baby!"
February turned to March and this baby was still content to stay in the relative quiet of its crowded next. On March 2nd, I began to feel some serious contractions. I took a walk at sunset by myself along the headlands. The tide was turning and I could feel the waters inside of me answer. I felt connected to all the women who had come before me, on the edge of an experience that would transform my future. I felt at once secure and aware of how little control I had over the outcome of this adventure. With no expectations, I headed for home.
Our home was warm and calm. Jovan and Maggie were reading stories when I returned. Maggie was four-and-a-half years old and had been watching videos of births for months. She was excited about being a big sister. She would have grown friend as her advocate during the birth and seemed to feel secure. I very much wanted the birth to be a smooth one because I knew it would have a lasting impression on her.
We checked in with Carla and tucked ourselves in for some sleep. As I tried to get comfortable, I had a vision of a dark-haired boy. It was the first time that I had considered that I might be carrying a boy!
I awoke at about 2 a.m. and rolled out of bed just in time to feel my waters break and soak the towels I had laid out on the floor. Jovan stirred and asked if I was all right. I assured him I was and suggested he get some extra sleep. I wanted to be alone for a while. I lit some sage and stoked the fire. The cats came and took turns on top of my belly as I sat in the rocker watching the fire. As each contraction came, the cat would stretch its claws out gently and hang on. I sang quietly and talked to the baby, letting it know that we were waiting patiently and that we trusted its time table.
Jovan woke about five a.m. and sat with me, timing contractions. At about seven he called in our birth party. Carla and Susan arrived with their equipment and knowledge. Frances came to be with Maggie, and River came to look after Jovan and me. River had performed our marriage ceremony. She had given hours of bodywork to both of us and was a very grounded individual. I wanted someone at the birth that could look after and comfort Jovan if it was needed, as well as someone who had really strong hands for massage. One of River's sons had died recently and I wanted to give her the gift of a new birth.
My contractions continued steadily. I had back labor. That was a new one for me and Jovan was using all of his strength to push against the pain I felt. I felt pain but I also felt progress. It was very different than my first birth, when I was at a loss to understand how to help my body perform this miracle. Frances and Maggie appeared and disappeared and it was wonderful to know that our daughter was well taken care of. At one point, while I was standing, Maggie crouched between my legs and exclaimed, "I see it, there really is a baby in there."
I worked on, and so did the baby. I looked out the window, watching the grey clouds sail by and knew it wouldn't be long. I knew that this was the last time I would have this experience and I honestly didn't want to rush it. I trusted all the people around me to do their jobs and I paid very little attention to them as I turned inward. I felt safe and protected.
When the baby's head was born, I heard a wail as it cleared its lungs. Then there was quiet as the rest of the baby's body slid into the air. The sun broke through the clouds and the room was filled with light. What an outrageous feeling, to be stretched to the limit and then feel your body fall back into place! We had an agreement that no one would proclaim the sex of our new child until Maggie had a chance to. Every one was silently smiling as Susan and Carla looked the baby over. Maggie exclaimed, "It's a boy!"
We had decided on the name of Harris. Harris sneezed once and looked calmly around him. When he sneezed, we all saw his dimples. A healthy child is the obvious desire of every pregnant woman. I considered dimples a bonus. They reminded me of my father. Harris weighed in at ten pounds four ounces. He nursed readily and settled in to stay.
Mary Jane, Jovan, Maggie and Harris in 2001
Bun Joins the Circus: Gregg Stevens and Laurie Boone have a son, Ryan Graham Stevens
Not long after the puppy ate the diaphragm, it became obvious that Laurie had a bun in the oven. I have to admit that, at that time, another child was several notches down from someone driving over my foot on the list of Things I Want. In fact, I had recently been trying to alter the birth certificates of my 8- and 10-year old boys in an attempt to enlist them in the Marine Corps by the end of summer. Between my two and Laurie's two and the dozen or so other children who always seem to be around, many of whom I have no idea who they actually are, I had realized long ago that parenthood is sort of like having a three-ring circus performing non-stop in your living room, day and night forever.
But Laurie's enthusiasm was contagious, and I soon found myself happily arguing over names, a debate which continued until long after the actual birth.
Bun grew and grew and Laurie did too; so much that we soon started thinking there might be more than one baby in there. Like maybe twelve. So off we went to the hospital for a Sonogram. And lo and behold, up on the video screen was a perfectly clear image of Bun, gleefully slapping itself in the face, complete with tiny fingers and tiny toes and all the traditional baby accessories. We elected not to look between its little legs, however, as this would be like peeking at your Christmas present in July.
The Due Date came and went, but Bun was still cooking. It was during this time that I realized women are much better equipped emotionally to deal with this sort of thing. Sometime back, Laurie had casually mentioned that she would be having the baby at home, which made all kinds of horrible visions dance through my head and cranked the old Nervous Factor way up there. Yet, while I was chain-smoking and chewing my fingernails down to the elbow, she was working and dancing and swimming. Even after all these years, womenfolk still blow my mind. Down deep they're so tough it's scary.
Finally, Bun was done. The midwives came over and our friends dropped by and the children were on their best behavior. In a sign of things to come, the baby changed its mind several times and kept us waiting all night and most of the next day. Then, all of a sudden, there he was.
Now, I had never actually been present at a delivery before, and if you're in the same boat, I'd like to pass on a few things I learned that day.
First, giving birth to a child is anatomically impossible. Strange but true. Why such a common and necessary event is done in such a difficult manner is beyond me. But I guess if it was any easier, splitting in two, for instance, the population boom would have long ago wasted the Earth.
Secondly, watching your own child come into the world after months of anticipation, and start squirming and wiggling around, is one of those things where, if you've been there, You Know. If not, all the words in the world can't truly describe the emotional rush you get. I damn near cried, and it's not like I'm forever bursting into tears over Lassie reruns or something. Try it sometime. You'll see what I mean.
Welcome to the show, Ryan. Glad you could make it.
Charlotte Yoneda's Birth Story
In February of 1990 I discovered I was pregnancy. I am a fitness trainer and group exercise instructor and I teach 10 classes a week. After consulting with Carla and Susan we became fascinated with the idea of a water birth. As midwives they were cautiously open to the idea and steered us in the direction of a birthing tub. We also were guided to a midwife in Glen Ellen who had witnessed many such births in the Soviet Union before starting to assist in this process in the U.S. She had lots of video footage of the various births in the USSR and the U.S. We spent an entire day at her mountaintop cabin talking and watching videos.
The only other resource was Kelly Peterson in Comptche who had delivered both her sons in a tub, assisted by Carla. We were able to watch videos of those births as well. I was grateful to Carla and Susan for both their support and counseling.
I continued to teach until I delivered, after consulting with Kathy Smithís (personal prenatal) coach. Kathy had just delivered her 1st child after taking an 80-mile bike ride in Europe. What I learned which is very important is that your baby will not perish from lack of oxygen rather they suffer if the mother overheats (their core body temperature rises). So, exercising is fine as long as you drink lots of water and listen to your body.
Carla and Susan provided prenatal classes and regular visits. When they day arrived 2 days early they both came to the birth. Labor was about 6 hours. The tub was almost too relaxing, but it really made a difference in terms of reducing pain and stress. When my daughter was born she was asleep and rather listless -- Carla gave her some oxygen just in case. This baby did not have a traumatic birth! After the birth we discussed it at length, which gave me valuable insight into my way of being in the world at that time - and I'm sure everyone else's as well.
Ever since my birth experience I have been very grateful for such a blessedly uncomplicated birth and such great support that I got from Carla, Susan and Marilyn (the birthing coach). My daughter now sleeps in the room she was born in and will swim anywhere, any time for as long as she can, including the Pacific Ocean for Ω hour or more. I asked her once if she wanted a wetsuit and she said, ìOh no, mom ñ then I couldnít really get wet.î I always attribute this love of water to her pleasant birthing experience.
Marilyn Lemos
My first pregnancy was interesting. I had a lot of fear and confusion around pregnancy. I was not close to my own mother and so didn't feel comfortable talking with her. Whenever any of us asked her anything about pregnancy or when we were little she basically told us she couldnít remember. I am a twin and I was always led to believe that somehow this damaged her body and so my fear was wrapped around body image. Would I be the same after the baby was born? Could I indeed go through labor and birth and survive? Was I capable of being a good mother?
I felt great during my pregnancy. I was a bit neurotic around food. I ate well, but was very strict about what I ate and only gained about 15 pounds, which was not good. At 7 months along I went on a group wilderness back pack trip for 14 days and it was absolutely one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I stayed healthy and strong, but came home weighing the same as when I left. By the 8th month the doctor started doing a blood test to determine the viability of the placenta. Eight years later with my 2nd pregnancy I was told this wasn't even a test done anymore.
From the first visit with the doctor I told him that I believed he was off on the dates. My periods were irregular and I had a long cycle, sometimes 5-7 weeks between menses, and so I believed that I was not as far a long as he did. He wouldn't budge and kept my due date on June 30th. By the 6th of July he told me I needed to come into the hospital for induction. He believed the viability of the placenta was giving out and I was told if I did not come in I was running the risk of a brain damaged or a stillborn baby. I was told that an induction was necessary so my progress could be monitored and if needed a cesarean, if the baby couldn't deal with the stress of labor. To say the least this was very upsetting for both Bill and me.
I was told not to eat anything all day and to come into the hospital at 6pm. I dutifully cooperated and they started the drip of pitocin and for 5 hours kept me hooked up with no result. At 11pm the Dr pulled the plug and told me to go home and eat and get a good nights rest and be back at 8am. Do you think I was stressed, worried, scared?????
I dutifully followed the instructions and was in at 8am and by about 11am I was having regular induced contractions, like one on top of each other. I didn't take birth classes but I did read extensively about pregnancy although I really didn't understand how induction works and so was unprepared. An induction is not the same as your own body regulating the contractions and by the drip being too high or too low or just right determines what the contractions are like. I was in a bed hooked to an IV in one arm and the induction needle in the other. I felt trapped and no one suggested that I could get up and move around and walk. It was miserable.
I was a perfectly healthy physically active person who thrives on exercise and movement confined to a bed being induced. By 2 in the afternoon I was so uncomfortable that I was ready to ask for a cesarean. I had only dilated 3cms. The doctor came in about 3 and wanted to break my water and said if things were okay he wanted to give me something to relax me. Unfortunately there was meconium staining, which was probably due to the stress of the induction, so he just wanted to keep monitoring my progress.
The breaking of waters did help and I dilated rapidly after that and was complete by 5pm and was told I could start pushing. That for me was a relief. She was born at 6:40pm. I didn't even see her as she was whisked onto the pediatric cart and Bill has always said he was glad I wasn't really aware of what they did. The Pediatrician intubated her for fear she would inhale meconium. I delivered the placenta quickly, no tears, no stitches and finally was given my baby. She cried and cried and finally calmed down and started to nurse. She was perfect and beautiful. The placenta was perfect and beautiful. The doctor spent quite a bit of time inspecting it, but it was perfect.
We spent the night in the hospital and the next morning I was sitting on the bed and knew she needed to be changed. I had never changed a baby's diaper and in walked Suzan Wells who was an OB nurse at the time. In our conversation she asked me why I didn't have a home birth. I was shocked and said was that an option for me? She told me about her home birth the year before. I was in awe and determined that if I ever had another child I would have it at home.
I have always felt that if the doctor had left me alone that I would have gone into labor on my own. The only good part of the induction was that she was born on 7-7-77 and we always thought that was pretty cool. As far as mothering my first baby I took to it just fine. I loved her and loved being her mother and felt nurturing and caring and I do remember her birth and her babyhood and her childhood.
My 2nd pregnancy, 8 years later, was again easy. I was healthy, ate well, exercised and looked forward to the opportunity of another child. The difference with this pregnancy was that I went to a midwife and was determined to have a home birth. Suzan Wells was now a certified midwife with a homebirth practice. At my first visit she reviewed my record and gave me a "due date", then said, we are going to actually assume that this baby will be a week or two late because of your long cycles. I fully agreed with her! I took birth classes with this 2nd pregnancy and because of my first birth, my interest in pregnancy and labor and lots of reading I felt I really understood how labor works and what to expect. Throughout this pregnancy I felt respected by Suzan. I felt I had a say and a part in my care and that my opinion, feelings and thoughts mattered.
My first due date came and went and when I was more than a week "past due" by that date and rapidly moving past Suzan's and my 2nd due date. She wanted me to go into labor and I did too. Finally I went to my neighbors who had a 2 month old baby and tried to "nurse" her to see if that would start contractions. It was so very odd and strange to try and nurse another's baby, but with that and black cohosh tea I woke that morning about 1am in labor.
Contractions were strong and regular from the beginning. I had lots of back pain and was unable to sit or lie down so I paced and paced. We called Suzan and she arrived about 4:30am. Upon checking me she was happy to see I was about 8cm along with a persistent anterior lip. She set up for the birth. I had a friend come and be with our daughter and she was present for the birth. Suzan's birth assistant arrived and we worked and worked and my son was easily born at 6am. Bill "caught" him and brought him up on my belly. A beautiful healthy boy, quiet and alert! Again no tears or stitches for me, the placenta came easily a few minutes later.
We were so happy. I was so unbelievably happy to have Bill and Justine with me and to have had my baby at home and with his birth my back stopped hurting! I felt great! Homebirth is such an empowering experience.
Kamoor: Full Circle
The only thing I've ever known for sure about myself, is that I love babies and I have always wanted to be a mother. When I was a young girl, I had tantrums because my mom wouldn't have another baby. When I was in high school, and had met the love of my life, it didn't take us long to start talking about our future family. Of course we all knew that I was much too young to make such commitments, so we let a few years pass, and packed a lot of wonderful experiences in, and then, with this same great love and at 19 years of age, we weren't going to wait any longer.
Tim and I had just returned from a trip to the South Pacific, bought some property, and suddenly, we were pregnant.
I went to Hanya Barths' office for a urine test, and to our delight it was indeed positive. Hanya introduced me to her new helper, Carla. I remember Carla saying to me "You can be my first "start to finish" patient, it is both of our first day". The connection was made, and the pregnancy progressed beautifully.
On April 23, 1986 a pregnant friend and I sewed baby stuff all day. We went for a long walk in the botanical gardens. She said "One of us is going to have a baby tonight." We went to the movies that evening, and my back throbbed. Tim rubbed it throughout the show. We went home and hopped in bed. At 1:00 I awoke to some mild contractions, and the beginning of a full lunar eclipse. I showered and spent some time alone. It was indeed the real thing. Tim got up around 3:00 and filmed the eclipse. His pictures are of the moon, and the audio part is him describing what is happening with me. He called my sister-in-law, and said, "Hey Rhonda, there is an awesome eclipse happening. Oh, and Khamoor is having the baby!" She headed to our house watching the moon as she drove the hour-long trip. By dawn I was really working. I was thinking the pain felt like someone had put one of those great big plumbers wrenches in me, clamped it down, and was twisting and pulling on my guts! At dawn Carla arrived, her calm presence reassuring. Tim decided to make sweet rolls with abalone and eggs for breakfast. The smells were too much for me. Gagging, I insisted that he get that food out of the house! I puked. I still can't face sweet rolls or abalone in the morning.
Labor progressed, and finally Hanya arrived, bringing with her a few kids, a babysitter, and others. I ached and throbbed, I cried and gave up, I pushed and pushed, and finally, out came the most beautiful little baby girl I had ever imagined. (Tim was a bit shocked at her severely coned head). Eight pounds, twenty inches and ours! The crowd dissipated, the baby looked around, latched right on, and we were bonded. Right then, only moments after giving birth, I knew that even though it had been way too much work, and way too much pain, it was worth it. I would do it again, right at that moment, if I had needed to. Carla sat with our little family in the bedroom, and we talked about what to name our new little angel. "Carla is a nice name," she offered. Jessica Diana Poehlmann it was.
Later that day many family members and friends came through. I was in a daze. It was a fantasy, it all felt so right. By evening they were all gone. Tim and I looked at each other and asked "Now what?". We figured it out, we were a family. Four months later we had a big wedding. We were married in the Presbyterian Church in Mendocino because Tim wanted to. I wore a long white gown because I wanted to, our baby was in our arms, because that's where she was supposed to be.
A year and a half later, I had an ectopic pregnancy and an emergency surgery. They said to wait at least three months before we tried again. We waited three, and were pregnant. I remember spending lots of time with little Jessa. This was her time to be our only child.
By now Suzan and Carla were working together. We had another smooth pregnancy and were due to have our baby at home on November 9, 1988. That morning I woke up with a small puddle of blood on the sheets. A call to the office sent me to the hospital for some tests. They did an ultrasound, checking on the baby. I insisted that they not let me know the gender. I needed that surprise at the end. I did see the face of the baby, and it was the most amazing thing. This fully developed, beautiful little face looking around, inside of me! The baby was fine, but there was a small abruption, a separation of the placenta from the uterus. Because of this I could no longer plan on having my baby at home. It was a difficult change to make, but we knew it was the best for us all. I had to go to the Womens Health Center for a meeting with the doctor. There were doctors asking if I was a intraveneous drug user? A speed user? I must smoke? Abruptions like this happened because mothers are neglegent. I felt abused and exhausted. He told me to go home, get my things together, don't eat, and come back to the hospital. All this frenzied change bothered me. I finally got back home where our family had gathered, waiting for the events of the evening. I cried because this was where I wanted to be. This was where I wanted to have my baby. They ate pizza, and I gathered my things. I ate a carrot, rebelling against the doctors orders.
Tim and Rhonda and I went to the hospital, where I was hooked me up to a monitor, and started on a Pitocin drip. Tim, expecting a long night ahead went out for some food, and solitude. As soon as I had a contraction, I bled more. The doctors and nurses started to scuttle about. I was reprimanded for eating that carrot earlier. Suzan arrived, there was more bleeding, I was off the Pitocin, and the doctor informed us that we were looking at a C-section. Too much placental separation was not safe for the baby. I did not want to do it, I didn't trust that they were giving me a chance. Suzan reassured me, and informed me that, yes, this was what we had to do. Tim returned to news that we were heading to surgery. Rhonda and Tim and Suzan all scrubbed up, and came in to the operating room with me. My body was numb. Tim, who is blood-shy, stayed right with me, behind the screen. Rhonda observed the whole process, with Suzan offering a running dialogue of what was happening. "Now we see the placenta". I felt some pushing and some squeezing from the inside out, and suddenly, at just after midnight, our baby was born. A boy! A healthy, perfect boy! Tears streaming down Tim's face, our baby boy Bryce was here. Suzan snatched that baby from the pediatrician's examination table, and announced "This mom needs her baby". She knew. She held my baby up to my face, since my body was immobile. I couldn't hold him, but I could kiss him, and I could love him. Tim got our baby in his arms, and in a moment of nothing but the two of them, he wrapped him up, opened the door and headed out. The nurse went chasing him, "Hey you can't leave this room with the baby!"
I went to recovery, then finally to the room where my family was waiting. It was agony that night, not being able to move my body to fit with my baby. I needed help nursing and rolling over. Tim stayed on a cot in the room with us. The next day he brought Jessa up, and at night he pulled our van right up to the window outside of my room and they slept there. With both windows open, we were almost together.
It took a while for me to bond with Bryce. I think I somehow felt like I had failed him, not giving birth naturally. Luckily, he was the sweetest baby in the history of the world. A complete joy. I fell in love with him, and he became part of our family. He has always been a calm, even person. His birth blew my theory about birth experiences affecting the child's personality. Jessa's birth had been at home, mellow with candles and calm music. She was a high maintenance, intense, energetic baby. Bryce, with his rushed C-section, bright lights, and unfamiliar environment, was the most peaceful, content baby!
Our family was wonderful. We enjoyed each other, we went on trips, we grew up together. We always knew we wanted, and we hoped for more children.
I developed a seizure disorder and was medicated for a few years. We wanted to start working on a baby, but I was unwilling to do it on the medication. I found a program that would treat my epilepsy without medication, and it was successful for me. We were once again expecting a baby. The due date was April 28, 1996. The same due date, ten years after our first baby. I was "high risk" because of my seizure disorder and my previous C-section. We would attempt a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) at the hospital . Suzan was working part time at the Womens' Health Center where I would have to be seen. I was thankful that she was at least somewhat available to me. A few months of 'less than ideal prenatal care, and all the emotions of pregnancy overwhelmed me, and one day I arrived at Suzan and Carla's doorstep in tears. "I can't go there anymore," I said, feeling like I needed the support and care that only Mendocino Family Health Care could offer me. High risk or not, Suzan and Carla agreed to see me through the rest of the pregnancy. We would still have to deliver in the hospital.
On May 1, 1996 the family was tucked in to bed, and I was ready to get this baby out. I had been walking for miles every day of the pregnancy and I felt strong and capable of delivering this baby. My support people had grown to include not only Tim and Rhonda, but now Jessa and Bryce, my mom, and our midwife friend Marcelle too. When the contractions became real and I remembered this game from ten years previous (having never really labored with Bryce). We called Marcelle. It was the middle of the night. She came over and monitored me. All was going well, and we wanted to be at home as long as possible. The labor was so similar to Jessa's, almost identical really. At about 5:00 in the morning we woke the kids and said it was time for the hospital. They were excited and a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect. I wanted them to be in the room if they were comfortable, and my mom was to be there to help them.
We made phone calls to Mom and Rhonda, and off to the hospital we went. As we were leaving our home, I had a huge contraction on our front porch. Clutching a post on the deck, and hanging on for dear life, I was moaning, "Let's not go, let's stay home. Pleeeeeeease!" I hated the bumps in the road, I wanted to be home, this was not the way it was supposed to happen. At the hospital they examined me and confirmed that I was indeed 8 centimeters dilated. The call to Suzan was made, and soon she arrived. My progress stopped as soon as I arrived at the hospital. All those beeps and lights and buzzes bothered me. I didn't like everybody watching the monitor instead of me. I said "I'll tell you when there is a big one, don't you tell me". I fought the contractions now, fearing that if anything went wrong I would be whisked into surgery for another C-section or have a seizure. I barfed a phenomenal amount, more than anybody attending had ever seen during child birth! I became dehydrated, and needed fluids, but couldn't keep them down. I refused the IV, because I thought it was one step closer to a C-section. 'I finally agreed, and it helped, getting the fluids back in my body. The productive contractions returned. 'Now the worst thing surrounding me was the smells of the hot tar they were pouring on the roof of the hospital, right above our room.
'My children and family around me, my body started doing its job, and I stopped fighting it. I pushed and groaned and worked, with my ten-year-old daughter holding my hand, my eight-year-old son watching hesitantly from his granny's arms. At 7:11 a.m. on May 2, 1996 the most wonderful little baby girl was born, Melia Rose. We were in awe of her. Tim cut her cord. The kids held her, Tim held me, and I cried. I had done it, against the odds. I had given birth naturally to another child after a surgery and a C-section and epilepsy and after eight years of doubting my own capability. Delivering Melia was the most empowering and enlightening thing I have ever done. I had my strength back, I had myself back. I credit Melia, and thank her for that.
Melia was a wonderful addition to our family. She fit right in and was surrounded by the love of our family and our community. She filled the need for a baby for many of our friends who were finished having babies of their own. I think she had more people wanting to hold her than any baby ever!
Always having dreamed of four children, we were expecting again. This time sooner then later. Melia was only about one year old and our family was growing. I was a bit startled at the timing of it. I had not even started weaning Melia, and now I was pregnant. I felt I was burning at both ends, but strong and healthy and ready.
This pregnancy, Carla and Suzan agreed to see me at their practice from the beginning. We all knew it was the only place for me to be treated. We were a bit concerned about the birth, remembering how much I had needed to be hydrated at Melia's birth, and the ever present risk of a seizure, as well as the VBAC factor. Still, treatment at their office, with the concern and depth of their care was what I needed. I wanted a home birth again, potential risks did not carry enough weight to overly concern us.
Spring was just around the corner, and my body full and ripe, March 17, 1998. We tucked the family in to bed, I called Suzan and suggested that she tuck in early too! I knew tonight was going to be the night. Everyone sleeping, and me resting, getting ready. I felt calm and capable. Marcelle was here with us again, and her skills and presence made us all comfortable. The night was crisp and cold. I got into the freshly filled hot tub, relieved to get the weight and pressure off my body. The stars were bright, my family was safe and close by, Mom sleeping inside as well. We were home, and didn't have to go anywhere. I actually enjoyed the labor. The work was hard, but it was completely productive. I was in the water for hours, outside with no inhibitions about moaning or making noise to wake the kids. Tim was relaxed and happy to be in our comfortable, familiar environment. He was making tea and changing the bed sheets. Phone calls to Rhonda, who we would never attempt this without, and to Tim's mother who had birthed seven children, had twenty grandchildren, and attended only one other birth. Calls to Carla and Suzan, though we couldn't reach Carla. Suzan went by her house and woke her, on the way here. I was so glad to have both of them here with us. As people arrived and the kids awoke, the labor continued, and the surroundings were perfect. Jessa and Bryce casually reading in the living room, completely relaxed and comfortable. My mom and Melia in the hot tub. The approaching birth an event to enjoy. No anxiety for anybody.
I am in the bedroom now, still feeling in control and strong. I am drinking Recharge, and taking homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica, to help avoid dehydration and barfing. I experienced absolutely no nausea, and didn't puke a bit. Someone asks, "Do you want to push?" and I respond, "No, are we really that close?" I see Melia in my moms arms, and not wanting her to witness more then she is comfortable with I say "Get her out, now! Tim, camera away!" My voice reminds me of what I have read and remembered about women in transition. I am surprised that we are really there. It has all been so manageable so far. I am feeling like I am not quite ready for it to be over.
Suddenly, "Yes, I will push NOW!" My family and loved ones watching intently, I push and push, and then there she is, another absolutely perfect baby girl! We are all overjoyed. Bryce had requested that he cut the cord, and he does. She is here, and we have done it. A wonderful trouble-free home birth. Melia, not quite two, says "Mommy pooped a baby," and when she holds her baby sister she announces "Dat is Kiera." All of our family here in our home, Kiera Eliza is born and loved and welcomed into our lives. She completes the picture. Our four beautiful kids sit in each others' arms, the morning sun shining on them. Our family is full and we have come full circle, all the way around from our first home birth to a rushed C-section, then a "risky" VBAC in the hospital, and finally another blissful home birth.
We are complete.
