The pushing itself was wonderful!
I always love the look on people’s faces when they come into my home for the first time and I casually mention that my son was born right over there in the dining room. It amuses me when someone says I must be crazy or very, very brave. I just think giving birth to my little boy at home was the best choice for all of us.
Eddie was born on Saturday, June 27th, but I lost my mucus plug and started having contractions on June 23rd. The contractions for the first few days were just warming me up for the real thing. I didn’t enter active labor until the morning of June 27th. The midwives, led by Kim Jacob, got to the house around 10:30 that morning to find that I was 5 cm dilated. I never did have “regular” contractions that stayed within five minutes of each other consistently — I’d have several that were close together, then several that had longer intervals — at least not until the end, but I was probably in labor for about 13 hours.
My husband Steve was amazing. We spent most of the day in our bedroom, me sitting on the birth ball next to our bed, just watching my favorite movies and tracking contractions on his iPhone. He got me everything I needed during labor and did everything he could to help relieve the pain, whether it was pressing on my lower back during contractions or not touching me at all. He helped me walk around the house and up and down the stairs a few times, but for the most part I felt most comfortable on the birth ball.
Around 2 in the afternoon, I hadn’t progressed very much past that 5 cm. Kim brought in her dual electric breast pump, and I went a few rounds of 15 minutes on it, 15 minutes off, to encourage the contractions. There was an immediate difference as soon as the pump turned on. The contractions were much more intense and much closer together. They’d calm down a little during the “off” times, but after the third “on” session, the contractions were helping me progress enough that I didn’t need the pump anymore. I did, however, have to do some exercises later in the afternoon to make Eddie tuck his chin under. The silly boy apparently wanted to watch the view on the way out, and that just was not going to work. He cooperated and tucked.
I finally moved into the birth pool in the dining room some time after 8, I don’t know exactly when. I really wasn’t paying attention to clocks at that point. Not long after that I started pushing. By that time, I was so exhausted that I seriously considered falling asleep in the pool in between contractions. The water was very comfortable. But then another urge to push would start, so I stayed awake. I also had the constant support of my husband and the midwives, who frequently reassured me that I was doing great and that I could do this, to help keep me awake and pushing.
Now this is the part most friends don’t believe. I had an almost orgasmic birth. The contractions hurt, but they were manageable. I never even thought about wishing for drugs. But then I got into the birth pool, and then I got the urge to push. With each wave, I’d push several times while vocalizing, then break off with a shuddering “Oh, God.” I remember one of the midwives telling me not to be afraid of the pain and to keep pushing through each wave. I finally had to tell her that I wasn’t afraid. It felt good. Pushing felt really, really good. I did have some pain, but that was just soreness in my lower back, and it was only there because I’d been dealing with contractions for so long. The pushing itself was just wonderful.
Kim made me get out of the pool around 10:30 so I could sit on the birth stool. I suddenly had a much better position and gravity to help with pushing, and Eddie was born at 10:38. When he started crowning, yes, that was painful. But again, it was manageable. Through all this, it was manageable mainly because I knew I had to deal with it, I could deal with it, and it was just something I had to get through if I wanted to meet my baby. There were only a few moments of pain at this point, and once his head was out, his body slithered out with no problems at all. I had a tiny abrasion, but no tears.
Kim and Steve caught our baby together, and they quickly gave him to me. I distinctly remembering saying, “It’s a baby,” and feeling surprised. How on earth could this amazing little creature have come from me? Even after 9 months of pregnancy and all those hours of labor, he was still a miracle. I’m still glad we were able to choose such a wonderful birth for our wonderful little boy, a birth I can honestly say I loved!