Soren's at home water birth story

jhunter89 · January 2014

Hi ladies! It's been a little while since I've posted regularly around here. But I wanted to share my homebirth story since I know there are a few ladies who are curious about them. Let me just say...it...was...awesome!

Short version: Soren Noble was born January 17th at 4:07am, 9 hours after I started timing contractions and after only 7 minutes of pushing. Born in the birth tub in our living room with DH, my mom, a midwife and two student midwives present. 7lbs 13oz, 22" long. Didn't need a single stitch, all are doing very well!

Full story:

I'd been having nightly contractions and bouts of false labor for almost three weeks by the time the 16th rolled around. I wasn't too uncomfortable really, but emotionally, I was worn out and ready to meet my bub. I had had an appointment with the midwives the day before and after 6 hours of contractions, really truly believed he'd be here that night. Needless to say, when I woke up without a baby, I was frustrated, discouraged and resigned. I did a lot of praying for patience and encouragement that day.

Kaia and I went about our day as usual, I had some random contractions and lots of discharge but I was determined to ignore it all. I wasn't going to get my hopes up yet again. DH got home around 6 and brought flowers and ice cream to help me feel better about still being pregnant. After dinner, I noticed that contractions had started to get timeable but they weren't very strong. We put Kaia to bed, picked up the house a little and settled in with our ice cream on the couch. Contractions kept coming and started demanding my attention. Around 10pm, I started to need to breathe through them a little and didn't want to walk or talk during one if I didn't have to. They were around 7 minutes apart, lasting a minute. We started to wonder if we should alert the midwives or head to bed and try to sleep.

At 10:30pm, I went to the bathroom and was pretty sure that my water was leaking just a bit. We called Ali, the midwife on call to let her know what was going on. She advised us to rest and if nothing had happened by morning, we'd meet her at the birth center at 9am. DH and I rested until just after 1 am on the 17th when I decided I couldn't just lay in bed anymore. Contractions were too strong, I needed to breathe and move through them. We called Ali and my mom and told them we were ready for them to come. I think we were still in denial that this was really it but we started to get things ready around the house. We made up our bed and the couch with waterproof sheets, set up the birth pool, lit candles, put on music and unpacked the birth kit, blankets and towels from the box where they'd been waiting for months.

I lay on the couch and moaned through each contraction. My mom, Ali and Alyssa (the student midwife) arrived around 2:30am. My mom helped me relax while DH and the midwives finished setting up. Alyssa was ready to check me around 3, I had decided I would be happy if I was at least 5 cm dilated, very happy if I was 6. I was very surprised to hear that not only was I fully effaced, but I was a good 7-8cm! Wow! I was almost done and the contractions were still pretty manageable. They were tough, but I could keep my body loose during each one and I never felt out of control or panicky. I would not have guessed I was in the middle of transition. Not being exhausted and not having back labor made a huge difference this time around!

After my vitals were taken, it was a mad rush to get the birth pool filled and warm enough as soon as possible. I finally stepped into that blessed water around 3:30. Instantly I was able to completely relax and for at least 10 minutes, I got a break from contractions! We were all able to chat, relax and joke around a bit while my body acclimated to the water. I then decided that I wanted Alyssa to finish breaking my water since it was still mostly intact to help finish up dilating. Once she did that, the pressure increased tenfold. I was so thankful for the hot water to relax into. I don't know how women do it on dry land!

Right around 4am, I felt my contractions shift just slightly and I knew I was ready to start pushing. I let the midwives know that I would most likely be ready to go with the next contraction. All the sudden, the urge to push hit me like a freight train and just like with Kaia, the intensity scared and shocked me a little as I went along for the ride! With one contraction and 2-3 pushes, his head was starting to crown! I caught my breath and another contraction started. One push and his head was born, Alyssa looped the cord off his neck, and then with two more little pushes his body was out and I turned around and lifted him out of the water and into my arms! He was born after only 7 minutes of pushing at 4:07am, January 17th, 2014. I couldn't believe it! He was finally here and it was so easy! He was absolutely perfect. He pinked up so quick and gave us a good holler to let us know his lungs were just fine despite not having much time to get them squeezed dry.

We did the newborn exam and he nursed for the first time (he did great despite being tongue and lip tied like big sister). I was amazed when they told us he was 7 pounds, 13 oz and 22 inches long! So much bigger and longer than Kaia, though he still looked teeny tiny to me. The midwives made sure I was recovering well (praise God for not needing a single stitch!), and started to pack and clean the house up for us while my mom made us bacon and eggs. Around 6:30am, just as the midwives were about to leave, Kaia woke up and DH brought her downstairs to meet him. She was so sweet and immediately gave him a little hug and kiss, pointed out his feet and nose and then went about her business. We are so thankful for a quick, easy, straightforward birth in the comfort of our own home as well as the excellent attention of the midwives and my mom. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

candypantsls · January 2014

Amazing story, thank you for sharing!!

Kristinfm · January 2014

Wonderful story!!! Congrats, mama! I am so looking forward to my home birth (40+3 today).

jenalena · January 2014

Thank you for sharing! What a great story!

Cara1024 · January 2014

wow what a quick birth!! congrats!!

valigrl21 · January 2014

Congrats!

KristaBelieve · January 2014

Congratulations!

rowanthefrog · January 2014

Beautiful story! Thank you for sharing and congrats on your little guy!

A

last14real · January 2014

Congrats On your baby boy!

bensmommy518 · January 2014

congrats and thanks for sharing your story.

megs12914 · January 2014

Congrats!

ksonne · January 2014

Congrats!

ccip82 · January 2014

Thank you for sharing your birth story and congrats on DS!!

km_md · January 2014

Congratulations!! I'm glad that your birth went so smoothly.

jhunter89 · January 2014

Thanks ladies! I'd do it all over again in a heart beat! @PNWGirl98118 the birth kit had things like gloves, gauze squares, a cord clamp, mesh panties for me, a newborn hat, absorbent disposable pads, antibacterial wipes etc. The midwives brought a lot of it with them too just in case.