From Suzanne ~ Just four months ago, I gave birth to my third and final baby. Maternity leave from doula work was supposed to last until my daughter was about nine months old. But sometimes things happen for a reason. One day in early August, my phone rang. I answered it, and a small voice said, "Hi are you a doula?" I said yes. She then said, "Is it free if you're under 18?"
My heart stopped for a beat. I had not wanted to return to doula work so soon. But I thought about what this girl must be going through. I felt that if it was meant to be, it would all work out.
This young mama, Hailey, chose to share her birth story with my readers in her own words.
I hope you enjoy her story.
My heart stopped for a beat. I had not wanted to return to doula work so soon. But I thought about what this girl must be going through. I felt that if it was meant to be, it would all work out.
This young mama, Hailey, chose to share her birth story with my readers in her own words.
I hope you enjoy her story.
The birth of Haven
My "due date" had passed and there was still no baby. The following days I felt contractions and what felt like my water slowly leaking. I noticed little bits of mucus come out sometimes and I got excited thinking labor must be near! I waited 9 days past my due date in anticipation. I really didn't want to be induced. A day or so before my labor I got this feeling that my baby was ready, like my body was saying he's done growing in here.
On the 16th of September at 5:55 am I started to time my contractions thinking it could be labor. I took multiple showers, made food, walked, and the contractions still didn't go away. They lasted all day and some were pretty painful. Around 6pm they were about 3 minutes apart and very regular and didn't show any signs of slowing down soon. So I contacted Suzanne, and my mom and I went to the birth center. During the drive there my contractions spaced out a little bit and weren't too bad.
On the 16th of September at 5:55 am I started to time my contractions thinking it could be labor. I took multiple showers, made food, walked, and the contractions still didn't go away. They lasted all day and some were pretty painful. Around 6pm they were about 3 minutes apart and very regular and didn't show any signs of slowing down soon. So I contacted Suzanne, and my mom and I went to the birth center. During the drive there my contractions spaced out a little bit and weren't too bad.
When we got to the birth center, I laid down on the bed for a while. After laying there alone for a while they got closer together again and more intense. I went to use the bathroom and I got my "bloody show" and it looked like I had passed the mucus plug. Then I laid back down and while Suzanne was rubbing my back I felt my water break, it was like a burst of water that just popped. Then I got into the birthing pool with really hot water and pretty soon my contractions were very painful and kept getting more painful to where I started crying, then that lead to me screaming as loud as I could. I can't think of a time that I ever screamed that loud I kept changing positions just without even thinking about it.
The birthing pool wasn't helping that much anymore so I got out and walked around. I squatted and got onto hands and knees. I asked for ice water to be poured onto me, but eventually just took the the bowl and dumped
it onto my head. The pain was so intense that it made me angry so I grabbed a box of baby wipes and chucked it across the room. Then I used the birthing stool which helped tremendously. Soon I felt the burn of my baby's head moving down and it made it hurt even more. The midwives kept asking to check me but I kept saying no. Then I got onto the bed and that's when pushing started. The pain got even more worse and I didn't even think that was possible.
The birthing pool wasn't helping that much anymore so I got out and walked around. I squatted and got onto hands and knees. I asked for ice water to be poured onto me, but eventually just took the the bowl and dumped
it onto my head. The pain was so intense that it made me angry so I grabbed a box of baby wipes and chucked it across the room. Then I used the birthing stool which helped tremendously. Soon I felt the burn of my baby's head moving down and it made it hurt even more. The midwives kept asking to check me but I kept saying no. Then I got onto the bed and that's when pushing started. The pain got even more worse and I didn't even think that was possible.
I remember saying "I don't want a baby anymore!" and just saying "noo nooo nooo" because it hurt so bad. I have never been in so much pain in my whole life. Then it was time to push and the pain got even more intense! It just kept getting more and more painful. I just kept yelling "no nooo no" and then Suzanne said "It's better to not run away from the pain" and I was like "Is that what I'm doing!?" and she said yes.
So I listened to what they told me to do to make the pushing easier and be over faster. I pushed as hard as I could. I felt the baby's head while he was still inside me and his head was super soft. Then I kept pushing even more. It was really hard to feel the pain of the contraction and push at the same time but that is what I did.
So I listened to what they told me to do to make the pushing easier and be over faster. I pushed as hard as I could. I felt the baby's head while he was still inside me and his head was super soft. Then I kept pushing even more. It was really hard to feel the pain of the contraction and push at the same time but that is what I did.
I just kept pushing and it felt like forever, I just wanted it to be over. Then my baby was born and I collapsed my face into the bed and just said "finally finally finally" over and over again to myself. I didn't really hold my baby for an hour or so after he was born because the pain I just went through was so intense, I guess I was just in shock and couldn't really
do anything. But then when I did hold him his eyes were open and he was so awake and then I was grateful that I did a natural birth. It was so amazing to see him be so alert right after being born it made it feel worth it.
There was blood all over the whole bed, I have never seen so much blood it was everywhere. He had a super long cord and there was a knot tied in it, so he is very lucky. He still had that white coating on him so he was on time, my due date was just a little early. When I saw the cord and placenta I didn't want to cut it so I just did a lotus birth which was great. My mom put his first outfit on him and the midwife wrapped up his placenta.
do anything. But then when I did hold him his eyes were open and he was so awake and then I was grateful that I did a natural birth. It was so amazing to see him be so alert right after being born it made it feel worth it.
There was blood all over the whole bed, I have never seen so much blood it was everywhere. He had a super long cord and there was a knot tied in it, so he is very lucky. He still had that white coating on him so he was on time, my due date was just a little early. When I saw the cord and placenta I didn't want to cut it so I just did a lotus birth which was great. My mom put his first outfit on him and the midwife wrapped up his placenta.
I had super bad contractions after labor which was very hard for me since I had just went through so much pain. The midwife put his feet in this blue stuff then stamped them onto his birth certificate. And then we put the baby in his car seat with his placenta on his lap and I sat in the back with him.
We kept the placenta attached for about 3 or 4 days before cutting it, but at that point the cord was all dried up. Doing a lotus birth and natural birth was exactly what I wanted.
We kept the placenta attached for about 3 or 4 days before cutting it, but at that point the cord was all dried up. Doing a lotus birth and natural birth was exactly what I wanted.
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