My birth team arrived one at a time. Ashley my photographer and friend came first and rubbed my lower back as I rested on the birthing ball. Mom and Livy blew up and filled the birth tub. Ginger my doula arrived. I never opened my eyes or saw what she looked like until I was in transition to the final stage of labor. She put essential oils behind my ears and applied a “natural epidural” by applying pressure to my back. She said to imagine a yellow ring circling around my head, going down my spine and circling my baby with each breath and contraction. The yellow ring never left my mind for the remainder of the birth. I rocked my hips and swayed with each contraction. I wanted to get in the tub, but knew it was my last option for pain relief. I ate some yogurt and honey. And drank lots of water. We called the midwife. I didnt want to call her too early, but I wanted her to check my progression to see if it was too early to get into the water. I didn’t know how much stronger or longer labor would get. They said they wouldn’t tell me how far I was, just if it was time to push. They said I was progressing beautifully and it wasn’t time to push. I went through a hormone change and shivered uncontrollably.
Tony came home early and waited outside with favorite cousin Nils, 21 year old scotch and Cuban cigars. Birth is a place for woman, was his belief and I fully supported his level of participation.
I started feeling a lot of pressure and intensity. I asked Ashley to pray with me, and she did. I wanted to lay down and rest between contractions. The midwives said it sounded like the contractions were getting less intense as I was laying down, so to try and sit on the toiled or squat. Time did not seem to exist in birth land. I existed in between each contraction, leaving my birth cave to see everyone in the dining room. I asked for more yogurt and honey. I decided it was time to get into the birth tub. "blow out the candles, no voices, no music". Everyone happily followed my every wish. I go into the birth tub and squatted. My “ohhhhs” got louder and stronger. "everyone!" I requested. I wanted everyone to use their voices with me. I felt like I needed to hear their strength to get me through. I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. "i just want you to take the baby out!" I gained a new energy and got really hot. I grabbed who ever would gave me their hands, my eyes never opened in my dark birthing cave. I started grabbing the handles of the birthing tub and lifted myself out of the water and shook or rocked my hips with each contraction. I wiped my head like a wild animal and threw myself over the side of the tub to rest in between each contraction. I felt the baby’s head descending deeper and deeper down. My body started pushing on it’s own. My “ohhhhs” turned into a wild groan. The midwives told me to reach in and touch my baby’s head. I felt the soft bag of water, which hadn’t broken, about one knuckle in. Tony came in from outside. The midwife was monitored the baby’s heart beat with each contraction and looked into the pool with a flash light. They said I could hold my breath and push down with each contraction to get the baby out. Margo supported my peranium from behind me as the baby’s head crowned. I felt the burn all the way around, but I didnt care, I was so excited I was so close. Angie got in my face and yelled “Rebecca stop pushing, blow out the 100 candles.” They had told me in one of my last prenatal visits about this slow birthing of the head technique, and I blew out my candles. With the next contraction the baby’s head was born. “On your next contraction you will meet your baby.” They told me to reach down and touch her head, but I just wanted for it to be over. My next contraction seemed not to come for over a minuet. Finally it came and with no effort, the baby was born at 4:22pm. “reach down and catch your baby Rebecca”. I lifted her up and placed her on my chest. She was born en-caul, and Margo pulled off the sac. Only one in 80,000 babies are born in their caul.
“My baby my baby. I love you baby. I love you baby.” Almost everyone sobbed.
I wish I could relive this moment everyday for the rest of my life. NOTHING could EVER top this feeling. This love. I kissed her slimy sweet head as she let out a gurgling cry.
We had waited until birth to know the gender. I looked between her legs and the umbilical cord was in the way, I though it was a boy. I moved it and saw she was a girl! Tony smiled, this whole time he was determined she was a boy! We needed this little girl in our life.
The rest of the day all I could say was, “I’m so happy.” Baby girl who would remain nameless for the next three days was weighed 7.7lbs and 21 inches after We had skin to skin, she nursed, and Daddy held her.
I needed no stitches. The midwives examined me and helped me into the shower. I almost passed out and they put me back to bed with a shot of Pitocin.
We layed in bed the rest of the day. We all had Birthday cake. Mom fed me shrimp and rice and it was SO GOOD.
I remember no pain and I would birth a thousand more babies just to relive that moment of meeting Annabelle Estelle.
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