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Natural Birth
tbjenk
member
No Fear Natural Birth Story FTM
tbjenk
member
I am a lurker, this board helped me mentally and emotionally prepare for a natural birth so I thought I'd pay it forward with the birth story of my daughter, Kenley. She was born May 29, 7 lb 9 oz, 21 inches and just a couple days before my due date. I think I was in active labor/transition for about 7 hours.
The week or so before delivery, I was the queen of pre-term labor. My body just wanted to contract. I went into the birth center with painful contractions that were timeable 2 1/2 minutes apart. Midwife checked and I was not dilated, 50% effaced, -3 station. They sent me home.
All throughout the week I had contractions that made me exhausted and sore. I was discouraged that I would not know when I was actually in labor since the pre-labor contractions were so close together.
Went in for my 39 week appointment and found I was 2 cm dilated, 75% effaced, -1 station. That evening I had contractions that were not very timeable - nothing out of the ordinary for me. From 7 pm-11 pm the contractions were becoming more and more intense. My husband was timing them and they would be 7 minutes apart, then 2 minutes apart, then 20 seconds apart, then 3 minutes apart, etc. All over the board. We called the midwife and she suggested to stop timing them, she said obviously my body is not doing labor the typical way (she was wise) She then would call me in an hour. She called at 12:30 am and listened to me over the phone going through a contraction and she told my husband that we need to come in right away.
The 30 minutes drive to the birth center soothed my contractions. Weird, right?
We arrived and I jumped in the birthing tub and was checked in at 6 cm dilated, 100% effaced and -1 station. What a relief I wasn't going to be sent home. I labored in the tub to Phillip Phillips music. My husband was phenomenal for supporting me with cold wash cloths, endless water supply, love and pep talks to get me through each contraction during the transition phase. My midwife was flawless at providing an environment where I can honestly say I did not have one ounce of fear that something may go wrong. My body made this beautiful little girl in the last 40 weeks without me telling it to; all the organs are in place, toes, fingers are all perfect and I just knew that my body would deliver this baby without me telling it how to.
During the hardest part of transition, my midwife changed my playlist to worship music and sat next to me in prayer.
At about 5 am I was checked at 10 cm and ready to push. I always envisioned this baby would be born as the sun was rising.
Kenley was born after about 45 minutes of pushing, "Lord Let Your Glory Fall" was the song that was playing. As her body came out I reached down and pulled Kenley onto my chest. We did not know if she was a boy or a girl and I didn't even think to check right away. All I knew was she was perfect. My husband finally reminded me to check because it was driving him nuts!
After we were done with the after birth to-do's, my midwife gave the three of us some privacy when my husband prayed and dedicated our daughter to Jesus Christ. 4 hours later we were on our way home.
We had a rough few days with latching issues and sleepless nights due to that. But now Kenley is breastfeeding and we are adjusting well. My husband and I really do have the most amazing combination of the two of us in this child.
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Re: No Fear Natural Birth Story FTM
That's a really beautiful story. It's not often I get teary reading birthstories, but with yours I did.
Congratulations on your wee girl. Hope you're all settling in, and enjoying this new adventure.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
Thanks for sharing, I find this statement very helpful for myself. While I watch the weeks/days go by and realizing that sooner rather then later I will be giving birth for the first time and not knowing what to expect and sometimes I think am I going to be able to do this. But after reading your story and specifically the quoted line above it is giving me a pc of mind. Thank you!
Loved your story!
I especially love that you mentioned worship music, and how you prayed after.
I became pregnant unexpectedly, without trying. My husband and I say on Gods timing, not ours.
I have always imagined doing and a natural labor, and have been praying about it since I found out I am pregnant. Though people always say why would you torture yourself when there is modern medicine. Though I know God wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle.
I also always thought to keep the gender a surprise, God allows for few surprises in the world and I hope to be able to not get anxious and to keep it a surprise. Loved how at the moment your daughter was born you didn't even look to see the gender!
Sounds like you had an amazing birthing experience. Thanks for sharing!