Birth is an experience share by people all over the world and yet each one is different. Listen in as mothers share the stories of their births and be empowered by the strength in their journey.
Madia is a second time mother. For this birth she knew she wanted an experience different from what she had during her first birth and her husband Eric was fully supportive. She realized that she would have to do something different in order to get something different. Let’s listen in to hear what that something different was for her. Enjoy!
I spent the days leading up to labor trying to relax and keep my blood pressure down! I had gestational hypertension in both of my pregnancies, and I absolutely did not want to be induced in the hospital setting again so I made sure to relax and do as little as possible. I was also practicing all the breathing techniques that my Doula taught me. I was getting as mentally prepared as I could!
I had been having some bouts of timed contractions here and there for a week so I knew labor would start any day. I started doing a lot of natural induction techniques starting at 38 weeks because my blood pressure kept creeping up. I was drinking raspberry leaf tea, taking primrose oil, bouncing on a ball…etc. At 38 weeks and 2 days I decided before taking a nap that I would try pumping to induce labor. I pumped for maybe 7 minutes and then went to take a nap. The second I woke up from my nap, my waters broke! About 2 minutes after that I was having STRONG contractions and they were 2-3 minutes apart.
During the whole labor I was feeling extremely confident, more so than I felt the whole pregnancy. I went to the birth center shortly after my water broke and my midwife checked to see how dilated I was. I was already at 5.5 centimeters which explained the painful contractions! That’s also when I decided to call my Doula Tashona and let her know that I was ready for her to come! All the stars aligned and it just so happened that she and her backup Doula partner came right away! Right when they got there I was put at ease. They were both instantly making me comfortable, praising me, and their presence lifted my spirits immensely. They were also talking with my husband (who was watching our son the entirety of the birth) and putting him at ease as well. Tashona instantly took action in helping me work through my contractions by changing up positions every few contractions. I could literally FEEL my son getting into position for birth. It was simply amazing and I know that her support when I couldn’t think for myself helped my labor speed up and run so smoothly. During transition, I was in so much pain and so nauseous! My doulas helped with peppermint oil and finally we all agreed that it was go time and time to get into the birthing tub. The pain was the most intense feeling I have ever felt in my life! I was begging my midwife to just get the baby out! LOL! It was so painful I stopped pushing because I was too scared. My body ended up taking over and pushing for me! It was an intense but amazing feeling!! I couldn’t breathe or move! My body just bore down extremely hard and after three of those pushes my baby was out!
The last few moments before my son was born I was feeling confident and ready. I had such a bad experience with my first son’s labor in the hospital setting that I knew in my heart that going the birth place route and having a natural labor was what I needed. Having my doulas being there just made it that much more magical.
Birthing my baby was simply a fairytale. It was exactly what I needed after the traumatic first induction birth of my first son in the hospital. It was completely healing. Sometimes I tell my husband that I wish I could go back in time and relive it. Having my two doulas and midwife was everything and more. I had all women lifting me up and supporting me every step of the way. I felt so empowered!
As a new family of four I felt a strong sense of love! I still had support from my midwife and doulas even after the birth. I even had my placenta encapsulated to help with baby blues. Between the continued support and placenta capsules, my immediate postpartum experience was great! I was able to slow down and soak it all in!
The first few days and nights at home with my new baby was much easier than I thought it would be! He was a nursing champ! My first son’s induction birth wore him out so all he did was sleep when he was born for a good 24 hours. We had such a rough start with nursing that I had to use a nipple shield for 3.5 months with him! The natural birth was just what my baby and I needed to get off to a great start!
I just want to add that you can make your own path. You don’t have to do what the mainstream populous does. Trust in your body and the process! After my traumatic birth, I decided to do lots of research and that’s when I decided to go the natural and birth place path. Best decision I could have made for my baby and I. When telling people of my decision, I had SO much kick back. People told me I was making a mistake. That’s when I decided to stop talking about my decisions until it was all said and done. All I needed was the support from my doulas and midwife and WOW what an amazing feeling. My doulas not only gave me the support I needed but they gave me the knowledge, tools, and confidence to fight for what I wanted.