Beatrice's Birth Story

Many folks know that our beautiful little Beatrice was born at home 3 and a half years ago.  I've been meaning to share her birth story here as we prepare for our second homebirth.  You don't hear much about women giving birth at home anymore, but a few of us still do it. ( I suppose you don't hear much about people growing their own food anymore either.... but that is another topic.) I really need to share our story because I feel like the power of birth is like a secret that isn't shared, but should be every woman's birth right. Birthing is so intrinsic to our deepest nature and is one of the most powerful physical, emotional, mental, spiritual events in our lives. My birthing of Bea at home was a wholistic process. I felt safe, comfortable, supported, strong and loved throughout the entire labor.

Here is our story.  My labor began around 12:30 at night.  Dan and I had gone to bed around 10 or so.  My water breaking woke me up and I went to the bathroom to see if there was any more to come.  When I came back to bed I told Dan what had happened and we called our doula, Isa.  Her calm at  being called at 1 in the morning was amazing and she assured us she was on her way.  We tried to go back to sleep, but I don't think we slept very much at all.  The contractions came right away.  Honestly, I don't even remember what they felt like.  I did spend a lot of time on the toilet.  I later told my brother that giving birth was like trying to poop out a bowling ball, because it does feel like the baby is coming out your bottom. Hence, the toilet seemed like the most comfortable place to be.  By morning I had dilated almost all the way and we called the midwife, Joanne, and we all thought the baby would be coming soon.  We had the birth tub (a 150 gallon stock tank from Agway) set up, but didn't think we'd need it.  Joanne arrived and when the baby didn't come right away, I decided I would get into the tub. Meanwhile it had turned into a beautiful July Sunday. Once I was in the tub I couldn't imagine getting out again. The tub was amazing - the water was comforting and I found I could press off the sides of the tub with my legs, arms, back. I was pushing with every part of my body.  I started pushing when I got into the tub and ended up staying there for about 5 hours!  At one point the midwife asked if I wanted to get out and walk around, but I couldn't imagine leaving the comfort of the tub. Everyone was cool as a cucumber and I really had no idea that my situation was a little unusual. I was pretty much pushing continuously  and thought, wow I could really use a break and also that it was "hard work". (At the time George W. was using that phrase a lot and I couldn't believe I was thinking about our president during my labor)  Bea was crowning for what seemed to be a long time, but no matter how hard I pushed, she wouldn't budge. There were no signs of fetal distress, so I just kept plugging away.  Finally she started moving down more and it was a tremendous relief to push her all the way out.  Joanne put her right onto my chest and I fell in love with my daughter immediately.  

I got out of the tub to deliver the placenta while Dan sat beside me holding Bea. Soon we were all snuggled up in bed. I ate a good meal and Bea started nursing. I should have been exhausted but I was on such a high, my body coursing with hormones.  I was elated and in love and overwhelmed with being a new mother. 

Only in hindsight did I realize just how lucky I was to have been home.  If I had been at the hospital, chances are good that there would have been some kind of intervention - because my waters had been broken for over 12 hours or because I pushing for so long (5 hours). I thank God for the wisdom of my midwife and doula, for their experience, strength and belief in my ability to birth my baby.  Not to mention the chance for Dan, Bea and I to bond undisturbed in our own home. 

So that is my personal story. While yes I am a little atypical, some might say a crunchy organic farmer or whatever, but I am not flaky.  Nor am I naive. My own miscarriage and the loss of a good friend's full term baby have made me painfully aware  that things don't always go according to our expectations.  Nevertheless, the facts are plain and simple about the safety of midwifery care.  For more info please check out this recent piece from the LA Times by Jennifer Block, author of Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care. 

Hello Baby... book, not peanut

No our little peanut hasn't arrived early, rather Hello Baby is the title of a wonderful book depicting a wintery homebirth. There couldn't be a more perfect way to introduce Bea to what actually could happen on the day peanut comes out into the world.  The mom takes a walk in the woods, the midwife arrives with her gear, the soon to be big brother helps his dad bring in fire wood for the cold wintery night.... even one of the big sisters is named Bea.  The illustrations are beautiful and convey so much love.  The mom walks around the house during labor with the dad holding her during contractions. The three older children get to see their little brother being born and even get to check out the placenta.  In the evening the whole family camps out in front of the fire.  I first read the book to Bea soon after it arrived in the mail. She was engrossed and I couldn't hold back my tears.  Later that evening Bea was showing Dan the book at the dinner table, he started reading and started crying.  He really hadn't expected to be so touched.  I think this was an "aha" moment for him when he was reminded of the emotions of  birth  and the reality that we are all going to be back at that special place soon. It was so funny. We were both crying, laughing and trying to explain to Bea the strange phenomenon of crying when you are happy.  On Bea's request we are now reading Hello Baby at least once a day.  

Bea is very excited to be a big sister and is becoming very interested about the birth.  "How is the baby going to come out of your vagina?"  If every thing goes according to plan, she will get to find out!  

Pregnancy & Chocolate

Ok, after a long hiatus, I'm back. What has torn me away from the computer for so long?  Not much, just the usual love/hate relationship with the computer world and lack of energy at the time of day when I would actually have the opportunity to sit here and type away.  Maybe I should blog at night around 2am, when I am usually wide awake, eating a bowl of cereal.

We've officially entered what we call "staycation".  This is the time of year when we are relatively free of the usual farm obligations. Instead of going away on a vacation we stay around home, leisurely milking the cow and taking trips up to Berkshire South Community Center, visiting friends, etc.  Some of my personal highlights of the last 2 months have been: making 2 little quilts with 30s reproduction fabrics for the silent auction at Bea's school, making her a waldorf  doll (a new baby of her own) for Christmas, seeing Coleman Barks read Rumi at Kripalu and simply having lots of family time with Dan and Bea. 

Chocolate, as well as an ever growing list of things I mean to mention here, has brought me back to the blog. (Also thanks Sarah M. for blog inspiration!)  Although this story isn't that recent - it was reported on last April - I recently heard about it on The Health Show on WAMC.  Reuters reported that a Yale study showed that women who ate 5 or more servings of dark chocolate a week in their last trimester were 40 % less likely to develop preeclampsia that women who ate only one serving.  

Preeclampsia can be a serious complication in pregnancy and is indicated by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and edema. Theobromine, found especailly in dark chocolate, has been shown to lower blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. Yahoo! as I sit here I'm enjoying a cup of hot cocoa a la Patches!  Here is the link to the health show story to hear more: Pregnant? Mangaire the Chocolate!