MB's BIRTH STORY

The birth of our first child was something fascinating, beautiful, excruciatingly complex for my brain to explain. The complexities of birth and the will of this mother’s naivety was real, but I didn't let it cave to society's norms. 

My research began, and weeks later in our 3rd OB’s office, I realized that they too weren’t suitable for what I needed nor wanted in delivery of our baby girl! Did I have high expectations? I did! I had such high expectations that I preferred to have my baby squatting in a rice paddy field rather than in a cold, lit up room with needles, lights, plastic gloves popping or someone forcing me to have a baby while on my back or in stirrups. 

I wanted someone to tell me I could do this. I wanted someone to let my body do what it was created to do. I wanted prayers, music, soft words, quietness and my husband present. I also wanted to eat if I felt like it! By all means I was not stopping until my baby was born how God intended, in the most natural setting. I was in my second trimester, after meeting with this 3rd OB, they said they’d do a c-section because of my baby's “umbilical cords short state of growth and potentially our baby being small.”  I knew I could not trust myself in their hands!

My husband and I were so aggravated. He quit going to appointments, I quit too. I researched midwifery. What I needed, wanted and hoped for all 20 minutes away from our home (we’d just purchased) was The Nest.

It began there, a friendship, a trustworthy network, a web of women who saw their bodies fit to do the most amazing things, giving birth, “THE HARD WAY!” Midwifery landed us in the hands of The Nest, and I am still thankful. Through our prenatal appointments we realized I was deficient in many things and needed lots more nutrients, to increase water intake, and supplements of magnesium. Because of a caring team our baby grew: she thrived, so did her umbilical cord. 

I also realized the most amazing thing; your body tells you when the baby is coming! No matter the pain, babies come, and the birth of a child changes everything.

The month of October led to many things, monitoring, a few ultrasounds and decisions to not be induced and just wait, regardless of opinions at the hospital.

The week prior to our birth I walked daily with my mom and dog. We went grocery shopping and meal prepped. Nights were awful in a row of great discomfort and pain for 3 days. It was unimaginably tiring and painful. Well, I thought it was painful until actual labor when I was unable to sit: throwing up and cramping came, and fast the night before her date of arrival. 

We called Nichole around 11pm, and we made a plan to meet at The Nest. My husband loaded me up with a pillow and blanket in the front seat, my mom stayed behind to tend to our pup, Toby! All I remember was praying and telling Joseph not to stop, but we got stopped by a train. Then, crossing over the railroad tracks my water broke in the front seat of our Highlander! Laughable. Immediately I started throwing up, and it went all over. I remember nothing until we got to the Nest! I just wanted to lay flat and I did… in the parking lot, in the cold. Having a baby in the cooler months was a blessing! 

From there I went to the bathroom, and ended up gravitating to the cool tile floor. Then I got to the birthing room where my pool was. My husband and our midwife set up our room and our birthing tub; praise music began to play.

I was reminded to breathe for baby, ways to encourage her position, and thankfully they reminded my husband that I may not be nice! Honestly, I still am sorry for my lack of kindness that night when he was such a trooper, helpful and never left me! 

The labor honestly flew by when my real contractions began! I never knew how much I needed God; how much I needed prayers memorized and songs to help me through the pain I didn't know I'd face. Birth is another animal, but natural birth is an elephant in the room teaching you that it will take everything in you to get that baby here and you've just got to do it! At midnight one of the assistants was talking to me about how they were all betting the baby would come sometime around 7 or lunch! I knew then I didn't want to wait that long! I just started praying and reciting the Lord’s Prayer in my head (because it's all I could remember) and singing every song I could. Contractions came stronger and stronger, and I was moving from bed, pool, and potty. I'll never forget the last transition. I asked, “how much longer?” Nichole and Jackie said, “when you can breathe calmly, make it through contractions she’ll pick up on your rhythm and cues and she'll get in position!” 

Sometime around 4:30 ish I'd asked the time. I told my husband I felt I was going to die or I had to have this baby! Jackie came in to check the warmth of the water and she and Ruth had been forcing me to drink liquids! They and Joseph had massaged my back. I'll never forget Jackie whispering, “I dare you to get that baby here before sunrise!” 

Something sparked, I felt her totally shift and I found my rhythm;, my humming and my favorite praise song came on. 5 contractions came and went and I got in some odd position and she came in about 5 pushes, in the tub. The next thing I knew I had this gorgeous baby girl coming towards me in the water, she swam. Then she came to me and crawled up my stomach, and found her way to my nipple and latched first try, all in her first ten minutes earthside! Life forever changed looking into my daughter's eyes. All I felt next was love: my husband's hands around us and warm towels. Peaceful songs, joy, precious moments captured by Jackie and all moments stood still until the birth of the placenta which hurt worse than actual delivery! The flood of emotions guiding something that gave life to my daughter, and the long umbilical cord many specialists claimed was short and not giving life to our girl, and then scares flooded me of all the “what ifs.” 

Then and there I was glad I was the fighter I was and I did something few do, trust instincts and trust God! You're capable of doing anything you put your mind to! I'm so grateful I did do something harder than anything I'd done before! 

”Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.“

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.“

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

”For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.“ “Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ -28ESV‬‬

The parable of Hannah in Bible resembles, she was prayerful for her child, and dedicated him back to the Lord, as I'll always do for our baby. For she taught me a new way to fight, to stand, to go against something common, and to be defensive and on guard! Noe we are blessed richly for walking in the Goodness of God!