7 Reasons Why You Need a Doula

We'd like to thank Amy from Pink Stork Solutions for allowing us to share her article on our blog. 

Doulas are awesome. Plain and simple. These incredible women provide invaluable service to mothers around the world. A more natural birth experience is on the rise and for good reason. Check out these seven reasons why you need a doula!

Women with doulas are less likely to have C-Sections
Who wants a C-section? C-sections are expensive, intensive, and result in a long recovery time. This major surgery is on the rise throughout the US, despite the advances in technology and medical knowledge regarding birthing. In a review of studies published from 1968 to 2012, researchers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found significant data supporting the reduction of cesarean sections in women who used doulas during labor. In three studies, doula support in labor was associated between a 5%-22% reduction in C-sections. Another study found a reduction of 20.6%, and yet another found a reduction of 34.2%! Any way you slice it, having a doula improves your chances of delivering your baby naturally.

Doulas save you money!
In an age of ever-rising medical costs, a study published by the Wisconsin Medical Journal, found an estimated $29 million dollars could have been achieved for every low-risk birth were attended in-hospital by a professional doula! An estimated cost savings of $424 per delivery or $530 dollars per low-risk delivery.

Birth is expensive enough! Doulas actually save you money! Choosing to work with a doula is an investment, but one that rewards handsomely.

Doulas reduce labor time and result in fewer medical interventions
A study published in 2005 shows that the presence of a doula during labor resulted in fewer epidurals and shorter labor time. The study supports the role of the doula in the birthing process and encourages institutional changes to provide doula support to laboring women.

Doulas reduce rates of tears and deliveries via instruments
Doulas provide focused labor support to laboring mothers. Women who received doula support were 41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps and 25% less likely to experience painful tearing of the vagina and proximal muscle and skin structures. A less painful birth and quicker recovery were associated with doula support.

Doulas result in more personal support from the fathers-to-be
Doulas allow fathers-to-be to support their partners physically and emotionally while doulas assist the mother during the labor process. This way, the partner can provide the personal support mothers so desperately need while having their birthing needs tended to by a certified professional. This study showed that the fathers remained further away from the mothers than doulas and talked and touched less. The father provided far more personal support while the doula resulted in significant benefits in outcome.

Women who use doulas report greater self-esteem, less depression, and a higher regard for the babies compared to women who don’t use doulas
At 6 weeks after delivery a greater proportion of doula-supported women were breastfeeding, reported greater self-esteem, less depression and a higher regard for their babies. Furthermore, doula-supported women held a much higher regard for their ability to care for their babies compared to the control mothers who opted for no doula support during birth.

Doula-assisted mothers are four-times less likely to have a low birth weight baby
In this study published in 2013, doula-assisted mothers were four times less likely to have a low birth weight baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding. The study suggests communication and encouragement from the doula increased the mother’s self-esteem regarding her ability to impact her own pregnancy outcomes.

Convinced yet? Check out our directory of doulas and midwives here and find someone local to help you during your pregnancy journey!

A childbirth without meds, absent pain?

If you watch any movie or television show depicting a woman delivering a baby, the scene is always, as you might expect, a little dramatic. And while anyone who has been through the actual process will likely agree that those scenes are a little off the mark, the consensus among most women seems to be that, yes, childbirth is hard work and, when un-medicated, incredibly painful.

However, based on her own experiences, Kelly Colvin of Washington Fields says it doesn't have to be.

After delivering two children in the hospital with an epidural and not being pleased with her experience, Colvin started looking for alternative methods when it came time to have her third child. What she found is a trademarked version of hypnobirthing known as Hypnobabies and the concept just made sense.

Practicing medical grade hypnosis techniques, Colvin says Hypnobabies teaches its participants to tap into the deepest level of hypnosis that is, "ideal for giving birth."

Colvin is quick to point out that the laboring woman is not asleep — a common misconception when it comes to hypnosis — but instead is fully functional and able to communicate. The difference is, she has placed herself in a deep level of hypnosis that allows her body to do what it was designed to do without fear and anxiety impeding the process.

"All hypnosis is self-hypnosis," says Colvin, a certified Hypnobabies instructor, as well as a Hypnobabies doula. "No one is controlling you."

To the skeptics out there, Colvin says the average person is in a state of hypnosis several times a day without realizing it – while driving, while watching television or staring at a computer.

"Anytime you are concentrating deeply on anything, that's a form of hypnosis," she says.

"The key with Hypnobabies and hypnobirthing, is to control that concentration and reprogram the mind that childbirth does not have to be a painful experience.

Although Hypnobabies does not guarantee a pain free labor and delivery, Colvin says the goal is to have, "the most comfortable birth for you and your baby" as well as "the safest birth experience."

Colvin herself utilized the Hypnobabies techniques with her third and fourth children, delivering in a birth center with the third and at home for her fourth, but she has acted as a Hypnobabies doula on many occasions for women delivering in the hospital as well. For her, the difference in her birth experience from the first two children to the latter two was amazing and she couldn't wait to tell other people about what she had experienced.

"In our culture we view (birth) as this horrific, painful experience but when you educate and prepare yourself it is so much different," Colvin says.

A six-week class, along with at-home practice CDs and literature serve as a guide for women seeking to give this style of birthing a try. For Savannah Swanson ofWashington City, the difference was night and day.

"It's very empowering," Swanson says. "It's not just about birth, it's about the way you view things."

Working as a mental health therapist, Swanson was familiar with cognitive behavioral therapy and the power of a person's thoughts. Putting that idea into action by using the tools she learned in the Hypnobabies classes helped when she delivered her third baby.

She delivered her baby at Dixie Regional Medical Center with an obstetrician who was "very supportive of my using Hypnobabies," and although her experience was not completely pain-free, it was "a stark contrast" to her previous births.

"There was one moment of, 'this is really hard!' but with the Hypnobabies training the more positive thinking started to kick in and I was like, 'You know what? I can do this,'" Swanson says.

Minutes later she was holding her child in her arms.

Chelsea Stephenson of St. George was also displeased with her experience delivering her first three children, all of which had to be induced.

"I was thinking, there's got to be something better out there," Stephenson says.

She heard about Hypnobabies from a sister-in-law, but was skeptical at first.

"I thought it sounded really hard," she says.

After attending the classes and meeting Colvin, she jumped in with both feet, opting to deliver at home with Colvin serving as her doula. When the day came, she was in a completely relaxed state.

"I was never crying. It was never a pain that I couldn't handle," she says. "It was amazing how it worked."

The key, Colvin says, is getting away from the fear and the traditional mindset that childbirth is such a negative experience.

"When fear is present it leads to tension, which leads to pain," Colvin says.

With that in mind, Colvin says she felt her own contractions as "pressure, like a big warm hug, stretching and pulling."

With more and more women in the Southern Utah area becoming interested in natural childbirth, Colvin says the idea of Hypnobabies and hypnobirthing is gaining popularity. To her knowledge she is the only person offering the official Hypnobabies classes, but there are other hypnobirthing technique classes available in the area, including through Dixie Regional Medical Center.

For more information on Hypnobabies, log onto peacefulbirthchoices.com.

Matthew's Birth-VBAC

Before I share my HBA2C, I need to give some background information on my first two births. My first baby was born c/section because he was breech. I found out a few days before his birth that I have a uterine septum, meaning that my uterus is heart shaped. The septum in my uterus causes my babies to turn breech in the last few weeks of pregnancy.

My first experience with birth was very painful. I struggled with a long physical recovery and it was also emotionally painful. I wanted to give birth normally. No one seemed to understand why I was so upset because I had a healthy beautiful baby. That is what every mother wants and expects but I wanted a healthy baby and a good experience too! When I found out I was pregnant the second time I wanted to do things differently. A repeat c/section was out of the question. I even switched doctors when the first one I went to wasn’t supportive of a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). I recalled talking with a friend about her birth and that she had used hypnosis. I did an online search and found Hypnobabies and was immediately intrigued.  I knew that this was what I wanted. I loved the hypnosis scripts and did a good job with my practicing. I also read a lot of books on natural childbirth. I felt very confident and prepared to have this baby normally. I knew I would have to fight for what I wanted in the hospital because it would be a VBAC, but I was up for the challenge.

During my 38 week OB appointment my doctor informed me that my baby had turned breech. My heart sunk. I broke down and cried right there in his office. I went home and tried all kinds of things to get my baby to turn during that week, but when I went back a week later he was still breech. I had felt so ready and prepared for this birth, and I wasn’t even going to be given the opportunity to do it my way. So with a heavy heart I went into the hospital and had yet another c/sec.

I knew that we still wanted more children and I couldn’t face preparing for another vbac to have my hopes dashed. I told myself that I would just schedule a repeat c/sec and try not to feel bad. But my heart ached. I wanted that beautiful natural birth experience. I was angry at the situation, and at my body. Women’s bodies are made to birth babies vaginally and I felt cheated! A year after Jason was born I started reading more birth books and was put on the path to become a doula. I learned that I could have the birth experience that I yearned for and I would do everything in my power for that to happen. When I became pregnant for the third time I was ecstatic. but soon after was faced with the challenge of finding the right care provider. I wanted a midwife for the quality of care and in the event that this baby turned breech then I could still birth normally. I spent hours searching out midwifes and then driving around all of Utah and Salt Lake County interviewing them to make sure we were on the same page. I interviewed twelve midwifes. In the end I chose a wonderful midwife and felt very confident in my choice. I loved her and her assistant. They spent so much time in my home getting to know me; they listened to my hopes and fears for birth and gave such wonderful support.  Then eight weeks before my due date my family and I moved 4 hours south of our home in Springville to St. George. Not only did I have the huge responsibility of packing up and moving our family but also finding a new midwife. Luckily I found two wonderful midwifes that work as a mother daughter team just one hour from my new home. They were very supportive of my wanting a vbac after 2 previous cesareans. They also had assisted in many breech births. So I felt confident in them, and they were confident in me. Sure enough, much like my last two pregnancies, when I went to my 35-week appointment my baby had turned breech. I spent the following weeks trying to get him to turn with exercises, chiropractic, hypnosis, energy work and more. I finally came to the conclusion that I had done everything in my power to get him to turn and it would be okay if he were born breech if that’s how he needed to be born. When I would listen to the Hypnobabies Turn Your Breech Baby Track, I was asked to visualize my baby being born in the vertex position, and I just couldn’t do it, it didn’t feel right.  I really felt like he was supposed to be in a breech position.  So I stopped worrying about it and just visualized my uterus having lots of room in it for my baby.

I went to my last midwife appointment at 38 weeks, a Monday. I was tired but excited that I only had a few more weeks left before I would meet my baby boy. I had been having Braxton Hicks for about three weeks and I was hoping that would make for a fast birth.  Tuesday was a very busy day and the Braxton hicks felt different. They were stronger and more consistent. I was feeling them 10-15 min apart. After dinner I finally had a chance to rest and they slowed down. Wednesday morning I woke up a little disappointed to still be pregnant, but also glad I was because I still needed to fold and put away the baby clothes. I spent an hour listening to my Hypnobabies Birthing Day Affirmations and putting my baby’s room in order. I was very relaxing and enjoyable. I was really hoping that tonight would be the night, but I wasn’t having any Braxton Hicks or pressure waves. I took the boys to swimming lessons and then my friend came over and took my oldest son to play for the day. I tried to take it easy, but by the time Mike came home for dinner I was exhausted and cranky. I went to bed at 8:00, and Mike went on a bike ride. By 8:15 I had two huge pressure waves (contractions) and I knew that something was different. I called my sister Kelly, who was also my hypno-doula at 8:30 and told her that I thought it was the night and asked her to come over. I tried to relax and sleep. Mike got home the same time Kelly showed up and I told him we were going to have a baby. It was so laid back and comfortable. Kelly would time my PW (pressure waves) and Mike and Kelly would take turns pressing on my back. We all got to work putting my house in order; I really wanted it to be clean for the midwives and after the birth. My pressure waves were coming about every 7 minutes and by 9:30 they hadn’t slowed down so I called Vickie, my midwife. I showered while Kelly and Mike put clean sheets on my bed. We continued to just hang out, relax and laugh. I tried to sleep but couldn’t because my PW were getting stronger, and I think I was afraid I was going to miss out on something. I went into the living room to sit on my birth ball, and have Kelly press on my back. It wasn’t very long when Vickie and Camille arrived (my midwives). I remember feeling grateful when they walked in that I was in the middle of a PW, so they would know that it was for real. After they got everything set up they came and checked my vitals and the baby with the doppler. Everyone relaxed and we chatted while I did my thing.  My pressure waves were so easy that I was worried that I wasn’t really in my birthing time. Vickie wanted to check me around 1am. I was super nervous that I would only be 1 or 2cm dilated and I almost asked her not to tell me what number I was but I was curious. To my surprise I was 4 centimeters! I was so happy that I cried. Everyone was a little worried when I came out of my room with red eyes but I assured them that I was okay, that I was happy. I was a 4! Never in my life had I been dilated 4 centimeters.

Kelly made me a delicious chicken sandwich loaded with fresh veggies. It felt weird eating so much in the middle of the night, but I knew I needed it for energy later. We all just relaxed, talked and laughed. I spent a lot of time by the kitchen sink, I had just bought a padded mat and it felt so good to lean over the sink and have someone press on my back during a PW. At one point I was in the middle of a PW and my dad made a joke and I couldn’t help but laugh. (both my parents had come over) I was having so much fun. Vickie told him to stay and I would just laugh my baby out. After a while I decided to try to get some rest. I didn’t sleep but I rested in bed while listening to my Hypnobabies Deepening Track. Mike finished up some work on the computer while everyone slept. I was probably in my bed for an hour when things really started to pick up. I had Mike wake up Kelly so that she could read me Hypnobabies Birth Scripts and Prompts. I sat on the floor next to my bed while Mike massaged my head and my mom and Kelly sat on the floor beside me. Camille and Vickie were in my room and checking on the baby and me but mostly they just took a step back and let me have my space. The lights in my room were low and we would talk between waves and Kelly would read me prompts. It was so easy and relaxing. My PW were starting to get stronger and I had my mom call my sister Katie to come over so that she could take pictures and video my birth.

My birthing time was so enjoyable. I loved feeling the light pressure of the waves and feeling my body relax when Kelly would read me scripts. I knew that my body was working just the way it was supposed to and that I would see Matthew soon.

After sitting on the floor for a while I started to get uncomfortable, not from the waves but from sitting on the floor. I decided to try the bathtub, and it was awesome. I was in the tub for hours, my body got so wrinkly but I didn’t care, I was so relaxed. We all just chatted and it was so much fun. We would be in the middle of a conversation and I wouldn’t want to stop for a PW so I would try to just relax on my own and keep listening and then the wave would peak and I would have to ask Kelly to read me another prompt and immediately my body would relax and it would be so easy. After the wave would end we would just continue our conversation where we left off.

When the sun started to come up I thought, “Wow, I’ve been up all night!” Vickie checked me again and I was 7 centimeters dilated. That was really exciting. I was progressing so well. I absolutely loved the way I was treated during my birthing time. I was surrounded by so many wonderful women that were all there for ME! I felt so loved.  So many times I would just start crying because I was doing it, I was finally accomplishing what I had wanted for so long.

After a long while I got out of the tub.  The water was getting cold and I needed a change of scenery. I sat on the birth ball for a while but found that it was more comfortable to stand and sway and then lean over the closest person during a wave. My boys woke up and knew that the baby was going to be here soon. It was nice to have them there but really distracting at the same time. They wanted Mike’s attention but I needed his attention too. So my Mom made us breakfast and then took them to her house and my dad was so great to play with them. Vicki checked me again and I was complete. I was so excited and thinking I would see my baby very soon. But I didn’t feel the urge to push. My midwives thought that he was still breech and posterior so we decided to try the rebozo while I listened to the Hypnobabies track “Turn Baby Turn.” I loved this, it was so relaxing having the movement of the rebozo and talking to Matthew asking him to turn to make his birth easier. I felt him rotate into an anterior position, but we all still thought he was breech. I tried a few pushes but still no urge so Vickie suggested I rest in bed for a while. Kelly stayed close and read me scripts while Mike pressed on my back. I slept between waves, which was awesome. I rested for about an hour and then told Camille I was ready to start pushing. I was so tired at this point and ready to get things going. I tried pushing in bed on my side but that was really uncomfortable. I had wanted to have a pain free birth and so far I had, but now I was hurting and exhausted. I got out of bed and tried different pushing positions and that helped so much. I tried to stay upright to help him descend better. My bag of water was bobbing and not allowing Matthew to descend so Vickie broke my waters, to get some off the pressure off. The first few contractions a little water leaked out and then a huge gush! That was awesome. It felt like the hot water faucet had been turned, and it was coming out with that much pressure too. It would stop and then with another wave more and more water. I felt instant relief.  That’s when my pressure waves changed and became more productive. I continued pushing in a squatting position. My pressure waves had picked up so much that I every time I had a wave I would ask Camille to look at me. It helped so much to make eye contact with her. I will always remember Camille’s beautiful brown eyes. She was so patient and loving with me during such a trying time. Vickie and Camille sat on my bathroom floor in front of me and would press on my knees while I pushed on the toilet. Kelly was there reading scripts to me but at this point all I could concentrate on was pushing and Camille’s eyes. I just wanted to get into the bathtub. Someone started filling it up again. When the water turned off and the bathtub was full Camille said that I could get in after 5 more contractions. I wasn’t keeping track but after awhile it was finally time to get in the tub. The warm water immediately helped relax my muscles. I was feeling a lot of backpressure so I asked Mike to press on my back.  It helped tremendously; I even wanted him to keep it up between pushing.  I could feel my baby move down my birth canal, and it was very intense.  I finally had gotten into the swing of things and I knew my baby would be here very soon, and then I could stop pushing. I kept thinking that I was feeling the “ring of fire” and any minute he would emerge and Camille would announce that my baby was here, but it kept on going. I was picturing his body coming down through me and I knew I had a lot of work to do. It hurt to push but I knew I couldn’t stop because he was almost here. I would compare how I was feeling to when you are working so hard with every ounce of your being to finish a really important task and it’s almost complete. You are more exhausted than you have ever been in your entire life but you just have to “push” through all the pain and exhaustion because you know the finish line is right up ahead. You just have to keep going, even though you want to stop, you can’t because you’ve worked too hard for this moment. So yes pushing hurt, but not so much that I even considered quitting. I had worked so hard for this moment, SO much prayer, research, time and tears to have my baby the way I wanted him to be born there was no way I was going to quit. I was doing it. I pushed with every bit of strength I had and Camille would reward my efforts with praise that really helped keep me going.

When Camille said that she could see hair and that my baby wasn’t breech, it took me a few minutes to register or even care what that meant. (Looking back I think he must have turned head down when I did the rebozo and listened to the Hypnobabies Turn Baby Turn track.) First that Matthew was coming headfirst and second if she could see hair then I was almost done! I continued pushing on my hands and knees for a while when all of a sudden I wanted to sit back in the tub. The room was full of excitement and I wanted a better view.  All I could see was a head full of dark hair. I don’t remember hurting anymore, I was so motivated to meet by baby, I only pushed one more time and his head was all the way out, and then a little more to get his body out. Camille handed him directly to me. I cried. It was amazing, Matthew was here and we had done it together!  

Matthew’s birth was so empowering. It was the hardest thing that I have ever done physically and emotionally. The past 9 months have been very emotional and life changing. My journey to Matthew’s birth has been long, hard and very lonely at times. Since Matthew’s birth Mike has expressed many times how great it was not to have surgery, and that I am home recovering so quickly. It has been easier for us to bond with the new baby as a family since I didn’t have a long hospital stay. Mike is amazed at what my body was able to do. He understands more of why it was so important for me to birth at home.  A few days before Matt was born Mike and I were discussing the birth and some of his fears. He told me that my first OB had told him that because I had a heart shaped uterus that I would always have to have c-sections. It was pretty cute the way he announced very shortly after Matthew was born, “Don’t ever tell my wife that she can’t do something, because she WILL DO IT!”

I am so glad that I found Hypnobabies. I loved the Joyful Pregnancy Affirmations. I feel that they helped me to be more confident during pregnancy and during my birth. The Hypnobabies program is fantastic! I love telling people that I loved my birthing time, and I really did. I was actually sad when it was all over. I highly recommend taking the Hypnobabies course. The live class is so great because you can ask questions and get to know other couples who are making similar choices for birth, much like a support group. I also encourage a hypo-doula. Kelly was such an asset to my birth team. She allowed Mike to take much-needed breaks and support me on a level that only a woman can. Even when she was just sitting next to me holding my hand I felt her strength.

I am so happy with this birth experience. It was better than I imagined. And even though my first two births were not ideal I wouldn’t trade them because I have learned so much. I would have never sought out anything different. I would not have become a doula or sought out the care of a midwife or had a home birth. I believe that birth challenges us and changes us. And we can do hard things!

See Matthew's Birth Video Collage HERE

Jane's Beautiful Birth

I have to start this birth story by writing a little about my first three birth experiences. I didn't choose to educate myself about birth when I was pregnant with my first two children and I had very challenging births as a result.  My first son, Jack was born via cesarean and even though it was difficult I felt that the cesarean was truly necessary. My second son, Sam was a VBAC in the hospital with an epidural--his birth was full of unnecessary interventions and was quite traumatic. After his birth, I felt like my body was broken and I couldn't even fathom the idea of ever wanting to have another baby. After 3 years I did want another baby.

When I became pregnant with Ben, my third son, I hired a midwife, Cyndi Johnson, took the Hypnobabies course, and gave birth at The Birth Sweet. My perspective on birth completely changed after Ben's birth. I experienced how birth is meant to be--gentle, kind, and peaceful. It transformed me in such a powerful way. I think I was on a birth high for a year! I wish that I had more eloquent words to describe the way I felt after his birth. I am so grateful for Cyndi's quiet confidence in me--it empowered me in so many ways as a woman and a mother. I am also grateful for the Hypnobabies program for helping me to let go of my fears about birth and to feel confident in my body's ability to give birth.

This is the story of Jane's birth; my forth child, third VBAC, second Hypnobabies-baby, and first home birth.

The night before her birth, I went to bed having pressure waves (Hypnobabies lingo for contractions) and even woke up during the night with more pressure waves, but then I would fall back asleep. This was typical of the past 3 weeks, so I tried not to get my hopes up about this being my actual birthing time. But, around 5:30 a.m. they were starting to regulate and at 7:30 a.m. they were about 7-10 minutes apart and over a minute long. I decided I should call Cyndi. I also sent my doula a text. She told me earlier in the week that she was going to be out of town. I asked her if she had left town yet. She had already left, but I wasn't worried; everything happens for a reason and I knew I was in good hands. I sent my mom and sister a text telling them that it was finally time and I hoped it really was this time (I had a few false alarms in the past month)! My midwife arrived around 8:30 and my mom and sister shortly after.

It also just so happened to be my 6 year old, Sam's birthday. I asked him, before everyone arrived, if it was okay if his little sister was born on his birthday. He thought about it for a minute and then said, "Yeah."  I was glad he was okay with it--because I don't think he really had a choice!

My mom got to work making Sam his birthday breakfast and Cyndi got set up and timed my pressure waves, did counter pressure and rubbed my back. She told me that my waves were much closer than 7 minutes apart and more like 3 minutes apart--I was surprised, but was glad that things were progressing and that I was enjoying my birthing time. I really was too. I had a massage appointment scheduled for that afternoon and I remember thinking, would I rather be getting a massage right now or be doing this? And I thought--Giving birth! I guess I really love birth!

Cyndi's assistant, April came about an hour later and she took over doing counter pressure and rubbing my back.  The mood was still pretty light and we would talk a little bit in between pressure waves and Jake would come in and make jokes and sit near me. The house was unusually quiet that day, especially with three little boys at home--I think they must have sensed the special event that was in progress.

I spent most of my birthing time rocking on the birth ball on my hands and knees. As Jane dropped deeper into my pelvis, I had to empty my bladder more often. After a pressure wave ended, I would get up and hurry to the bathroom and then before I would make it back to the birth ball I would have another pressure wave--they were that close together! So I would drop to my hands and knees--it just felt so much better to be in that position. I had my Hypnobabies Easy First Stage playing out loud on my phone right next to me during my whole birthing time--it was a huge comfort and I felt so much more relaxed when I could hear it.

At about 11:00 a.m. I decided to get into the bath tub. I floated on my belly and worked with the pressure waves. About 10 minutes later, I could tell that the waves were changing--becoming more powerful as Jane began to move her way down my birth canal. April showed Jake how to massage my back and it felt so good! As a pressure wave would begin, I would start to groan and become vocal, then Jake would massage my back and within seconds it would help me to relax and refocus. Cyndi, would say just the right words at just the right time. I hadn't really discussed any of the Hypnobabies cue words with her because I had planned on having my doula there, but she picked up on them and would say, "Release." The Hypnobabies cues really helped so much to keep me relaxed and focused. Sometimes, as I could feel a wave approaching, I would say, "Talk to me Cyndi."  Her voice and words were so calming.

At one point April asked me if I felt like pushing.  I told her "No, not yet." But sure enough, with the next pressure wave I started to feel pushy and I told her so--it's pretty amazing how a good birth team can become so in tune with a birthing woman. After pushing through a couple of waves my water broke. Wow, what a cool thing to feel under water!

I could feel Jane moving down even more with each pressure wave and it made me emotional, we had waited and waited for this day, and now she was almost here! Soon I could feel her crowning--I reached down and could feel her head. When the pressure wave ended, she would slip back up--in a two step forward, one step back fashion.   Cyndi's words were so encouraging. She said things like, "Perfect pushing. Good job. Just like that. You're doing it just right."

After a while I turned from floating on my belling to sitting reclined against the back of the tub.  At 11:40 a.m., after pushing through a few more pressure waves in this position, Jane's head slipped out. A moment later her body slipped out. Then I pulled her up to my chest. It all seemed to happen so quickly and it took me a little while to process it all. When I looked down at her she was so beautiful! I told my sister to go get my kids so they could meet their baby sister. They were there almost instantly. They all came in so quietly-- they somehow just knew how to reverence the sacredness of her arrival. It was so sweet and wonderful to have them all there.

Just minutes after her birth, Jake said, "That was so easy!"  Everyone laughed and Jack, my oldestsaid, "Dad, you didn't have to do it!" But, he was right--it just seemed so simple and natural to be at home, surrounded by those that I love. It didn't feel like a big, dramatic affair--it was just how I hoped it would be; no, it was better than I hoped it would be.

Jane's birth was so beautiful. She was born on her brother Sam's birthday. It was such a tender mercy that she decided to come on that day. There were so many things that I wished would have happened differently at Sam's birth and many things that were painful for me to remember when I would think of that day. My heart is so full of gratitude that God had a perfect plan. My pain was so deep, but now I feel exquisite joy and gratitude. The difficulties of Sam's birth, 6 years ago, is what propelled me to seek for something better and I am now grateful for that experience. Jane and Sam's birthdays will hold an entire new meaning for me--a new birth in so many ways.

Jane's (G-rated) Birth Video

How To Prepare For A Natural Childbirth

This topic has been on my mind for several different reasons. I recently had a conversation with a pregnant friend who called her OBGYN’s office explaining that she wanted a natural birth. The receptionist’s response was, “We don’t do that procedure here.” Wait, what? You don’t let a woman deliver her baby without medication?

I know that having a natural birth seems absolutely crazy to many people. I always pictured myself getting an epidural. I mean, why go through incredible pain when you can choose to not feel a thing? When I was pregnant with Johnny I did a lot of research on natural vs. epidural births. Learning that one third of women in the United States have c-sections and that epidurals and Pitocin contribute to this high rate was frightening to me. My aunt, mom, and a close friend had amazing experiences with their natural deliveries and helped convince me that I could do it too. My husband fully supported me and together we started preparing for the big day.

I like to compare natural labor to running a marathon. Both are nearly impossible without training physically, mentally, and emotionally. Both require support from loved ones. Both require more than a few days of preparation. It’s a lot easier to drive 26.2 miles than it is to run it. And labor is a little (okay, a lot) less painful when you get an epidural. Now let’s be honest, labor and recovery from childbirth is difficult and amazingly rewarding no matter how you do it.

Here are some ways that I prepared for a natural delivery. I hope you will find them helpful too!

Learn about childbirth. When I was pregnant I was obsessed with reading birth stories online. This was helpful but also gave me a lot of anxiety. What was more productive was reading the book “Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn”. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. I felt as prepared as possible for the delivery given this was my first pregnancy. I even had my husband read some segments that I thought were beneficial for him.

Work with a doula. Having our doula, present was the best decision we made for having a natural birth. She was essentially our birth coach and provided physical and emotional support throughout the entire process. She gave us suggestions on how to progress labor using different positions, was constantly aware of my needs, and helped keep John and I calm. Most importantly she was our advocate. I only saw my nurse for about 10 minutes every hour and my doctor came in at the very end, but our doula was there every minute we needed her. 

Jax's Birth Story

I pretty much thought that I would go over my "guess date" because I've never gone into labor with any of my other babies early. My guess date was June 18th. Secretly I wanted him to be born on a even number (or even better the 28th) since all of our birthdays are even numbers.  I guess I'm just weird like that! When my due date came and went we were trying everything under the sun to get him to come. We ate at Pepper's Cantina a few times, always ordering their spicy salsa and sauce over my enchiladas.  That night I would feel more pressure waves start, but they always stopped when I got up to go to the bathroom.  I really felt like I might be pregnant forever! 

 I felt a lot of Braxton hicks throughout my pregnancy and really wondered what REAL pressure waves would feel like. I knew what labor induced pitocin pressure waves felt like because I was induced with all my other babies.  I even wondered if my body even knew HOW to go into labor on it's own, since I never did with any of my babies. Though, I didn't wait until my babies were past due more than 7 days to give in and say, "Okay, I've been pregnant long enough, let's get started artificially." What was I thinking?! This birth was going to be completely different from my others because we planned to have him at home, in a birthing pool, using hypnobabies to help me have him with no pain medication.  My whole mindset of birth changed throughout the course of my pregnancy and my eyes were opened to all sorts of things that made me feel completely at peace with having my baby at home naturally. I really think it's because I was surrounded by an amazing birth team. Which consisted of my wonderful husband, midwife DyAnna, hypnobabies instructor and doula Kelly, and family and friends that experienced the same thing I was going through. I was so blessed to have these people to help me.

The day of the 27th (yes, 9 days after my guess date) I started having some pressure waves that made me have to stop and bend over and breathe and relax through them. They would come and go throughout the day. Robby and I decided to go on a walk around the track a few times before we went to bed. My Mom was in town with my sister and she offered to come over and make sure the kids didn't wake up and be home alone, but it was almost 9:30 and I figured they were fast asleep and we would only be a few minutes away. I was pretty uncomfortable and felt lots of pressure as we walked, but nothing too bad that I couldn't handle it. They weren't stopping me in my tracks like earlier in the day. We got home and I felt like things settled down and that it was just another night.

We went to bed around 10 pm and I started having pressure waves. They were little so I tried to rest and see what happened.  I turned on my hypnobabies scripts on my phone and had them playing softly. The pressure started getting more intense that I couldn't sleep, so around 12:30 I got up and got in the warm shower. It felt so good to have the warm water pounding my back.  When I got out of the shower I thought the pressure waves were so intense that I knew we needed to call my midwife and doula. I woke Rob up and he told him I thought it was time to call DyAnna and Kelly. He was like, "Really?! You think it's time?!!" YES it's time! He called DyAnna and I texted Kelly and they both said that they'd be here in 30 minutes. My doula, Kelly, would be bringing her 5 week old baby girl, Jane, with her. It turned out to be a miracle that Jane slept the entire time in the other room and Kelly was able to help me the whole time.  I got on my birthing ball (just my big blue yoga ball) and rested my head on a few pillows on my bed. My hypnobabies track, "Birthing Day Affirmations" was playing in the background. When a pressure wave would come I tried "Ahhhhhing" it out and the breaks between them were so welcoming! I started to feel nauseous and told Rob I was going to throw up. He quickly grabbed the throw up bag that came in my birth kit. Good ol' birth kit! :) After I threw up I hoped I wasn't going to be doing THAT again since that was worse than the pressure waves in my book!

Rob started pushing on my lower back and soon I heard DyAnna and Gina come in my room and begin setting up the birthing pool and getting everything ready. I was thinking, "Wow is this really happening?!" It was 1am. I think that's the last time I glanced at the clock. Kelly arrived and she began saying hypnobabies scripts to me and massaging my back during the pressure waves. Rob was helping set up the birthing pool now, too. Soon I heard our little 2 1/2 year old come trotting in and he started "helping" set things up. :) The Pressure waves would start in my back and move forward and down to my cervix. It was very intense. I couldn't completely turn myself "off" like I had learned in my hypnobabies classes, but I was relaxing my cervix during the waves so I felt like I was doing great just staying in center. Finally I heard DyAnna say that I could get into the pool after I emptied my bladder. She helped me up and into the bathroom and there I had some really intense waves. I was hanging onto DyAnna for dear life during the waves. I finally got into the birthing pool and it felt SOOO good!! I leaned over the side and held onto Rob as each pressure wave came.  Little Knox was now in the living room watching Toy Story. He would come in and out to see what was going on. Kelly and DyAnna helped push on my back and pour warm water on my back. Soon I felt my water break. I felt a "POP" and gush of fluid come rushing out and I told everyone what had just happened. After that the pressure waves came stronger and closer and I could feel Jax's head moving down and my body stretching. It started stinging and the pressure was SO intense!!! Finally, his little head came popping out and I reached down and felt his head and all his hair! I use the word "pop" because it really felt like that! DyAnna said that his little hand was up by his face. The pressure was like having a HUGE bowel movement. My body was pushing him out without me really doing anything. It was Amazing! I was very vocal saying "Ahhhhh" through all the waves and keeping my focus on relaxing.  I needed Rob right there in front of me. I thought I was going to wake up the other kids because I was so loud. :) I kept saying, "Oh my goodness!" DyAnna told me to now close my mouth and push him out. I felt his body slide out and DyAnna was telling me to reach down and pick up my baby!  I looked down and saw him in the water! I picked him up and put him to my chest. He was perfect.  His round little face, chubby little cheeks and dark head of hair. "Look at you!" was all I could say, over and over again!! I couldn't believe he was here. He had THICK white vernix (white creamy good stuff) all over his back. He was born at 3:20 am on the 28th!! My favorite number and the day Knox and I were born! :) I thought it was special that his little brother Knox was there to see him be born!

I got up out of the pool to deliver the placenta. I kept holding Jax and he was so happy to be in my arms.  He was grunting but never screaming or crying. I was helped into bed and DyAnna checked me to see if I had any tears. NO TEARS!! Just a tiny little paper cut on the side where Jax's little hand was up by his face. It was amazing!  Jax was still attached to my placenta while DyAnna showed us how big it was! It was a huge, healthy placenta. After a while Rob cut the umbilical cord and Jax was already trying to make his way to start nursing. He was so alert. He started nursing and was doing so well. Awhile later, he was weighed and measured and checked out by DyAnna. He was perfect as can be! 10 pounds 2 ounces and 22 inches long! Such a big boy!

I was able to get up and get in the shower really quick to get cleaned up. Kelly made me a yummy egg salad sandwich that I gobbled down. It was so good!  Everyone had everything cleaned up and put away and said they'd be back to check on us soon.  We all were able to get a few hours of sleep before the older kids came into our room and were excited to see their new baby brother!  The rest of the day we had family visitors and lots of resting!  I was still in shock that Jax was finally here, healthy and happy and I was already at home in my own bed. I never felt so good! I never knew how far I was dilated or effaced because I was never checked throughout my pregnancy or during my birthing time.  I am thankful for that, too! It was an amazing experience and I am blessed that during the whole thing I never felt nervous or scared. I was at peace and was able to relax and let my body do what it was designed to do. I wouldn't do it any other way!

Elizabeth's Story

Growing up I had always planned on getting an epidural during labor, but I found myself reevaluating that decision when I was actually pregnant for the first time.  I did a lot of reading and talked to several friends who had experienced an unmedicated birth.  This appealed to me and I decided I would also try to have a natural childbirth.

My husband was also supportive of this.  We felt strongly that we would need extra support to help get us through labor.  A family member had suggested we hire a doula.  Luckily we listened to this advice and found ourselves meeting with Karen (Editor’s note: Karen was a previous doula at Peaceful Birth Choices and is now taking a break from birth work) a couple months before I was due.

Karen was very helpful even before I went into labor.  She came to our home to meet us and to get an idea for our birth preferences and to answer questions.  She also helped us become familiar with our birthing options and gave me suggestions on topics to discuss with my doctor before the big day.  Most importantly, she helped me feel calm about labor.  I knew she was a good fit for us.

We called Karen at 2 AM, two days before my due date, to tell her that my water had broken and that we were on our way to the hospital.  She was there shortly after we arrived. She immediately was helping me feel comfortable by getting me drinks, offering suggestions to help my labor progress, and by providing many words of encouragement.  My labor progressed very slowly at first and my doctor wanted to start Pitocin.  This was one of my big concerns with labor and was something I absolutely did not want to do.  With Karen’s help we had learned the importance of asking for more time before starting interventions.  We also were aware of natural ways to help labor progress.  We were fortunate that my labor did pick up on its own and Pitocin was not necessary.  Karen and my husband were very involved during my labor by helping to manipulate my body into more comfortable positions during contractions.  Karen was great at suggesting new positions for me to try.  She was also able to guide my husband and help him know how to best help me.  Karen was able to discern when I needed help, when my husband needed support, and when we needed privacy as a couple.

The birth of my son was such a beautiful experience for me and my husband.  We will always feel a close connection with Karen since she was part of such an intimate moment in our lives.  Since my experience with Karen was so positive I plan on doing natural childbirths with my future children, of course with the help of a doula!  on getting an epidural during labor, but I found myself reevaluating that decision when I was actually pregnant for the first time.  I did a lot of reading and talked to several friends who had experienced an unmedicated birth.  This appealed to me and I decided I would also try to have a natural childbirth. 

My husband was also supportive of this.  We felt strongly that we would need extra support to help get us through labor.  A family member had suggested we hire a doula.  Luckily we listened to this advice and found ourselves meeting with Karen a couple months before I was due.

 Karen was very helpful even before I went into labor.  She came to our home to meet us and to get an idea for our birth preferences and to answer questions.  She also helped us become familiar with our birthing options and gave me suggestions on topics to discuss with my doctor before the big day.  Most importantly, she helped me feel calm about labor.  I knew she was a good fit for us.

We called Karen at 2 AM, two days before my due date, to tell her that my water had broken and that we were on our way to the hospital.  She was there shortly after we arrived. She immediately was helping me feel comfortable by getting me drinks, offering suggestions to help my labor progress, and by providing many words of encouragement.  My labor progressed very slowly at first and my doctor wanted to start Pitocin.  This was one of my big concerns with labor and was something I absolutely did not want to do.  With Karen’s help we had learned the importance of asking for more time before starting interventions.  We also were aware of natural ways to help labor progress.  We were fortunate that my labor did pick up on its own and Pitocin was not necessary.  Karen and my husband were very involved during my labor by helping to manipulate my body into more comfortable positions during contractions.  Karen was great at suggesting new positions for me to try.  She was also able to guide my husband and help him know how to best help me.  Karen was able to discern when I needed help, when my husband needed support, and when we needed privacy as a couple. 

The birth of my son was such a beautiful experience for me and my husband.  We will always feel a close connection with Karen since she was part of such an intimate moment in our lives.  Since my experience with Karen was so positive I plan on doing natural childbirths with my future children, of course with the help of a doula! 

Rose's Hypnobabies Hospital Birth

Bryce and I both wrote out our memories of the birthing time and of Rose's arrival. I've just meshed them together to make one long narrative - so you can read as is, or you can read each separately (as it might flow better).  Enjoy!

Bryce:  Thursday night on the 20th of December.  Chanae and I were thinking about getting to bed.  This had already been a productive week.  The Monday marked Chanae’s due date to have the baby, Tuesday was the day I was taking the Praxis located in Cedar City.  The roads were paved with snow for the return trip home.  Our midwife Katie’s husband had some surgeries that we had to try to avoid so she could be there for baby to be born.  

That Thursday we finished watching the end parts of a movie called Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  After that I played a video game while Chanae found a book to read. Around 11:00 we decided that we should get ready for bed. We brushed teeth and had a prayer and lights were off.  Only just after Chanae laid down she got up in a mild rush with a moan of pain.  This was about 12:00.  Alarmed, I inquired if she was ok.  She said that she was hurting; I immediately got up to see what the matter was.  She was in the bathroom with wet pants.  Excited I asked if her water broke, she said it hurt and felt like a popping but that she thought that it might be that she wet herself.  She smelled it and determined that it was inconclusive, I tried smelling it but almost threw up right away.  I’m not sure if it was the smell or the look of it that set me off.  She continued to leak and we determined that it was her water that had broken. We were both excited and almost immediately her pressure waves began.  

Chanae:  I had just laid down to go to sleep (around midnight) and I suddenly felt a pop, accompanied by a jab of pain, and a sudden pressure that, I thought, meant I needed to go to the bathroom. I jumped up – as fast as a woman nine months pregnant can jump up – took a step toward the bathroom trying to “hold it in” when I felt the pressure release and some liquid come rushing out soaking through my pajama bottoms. I finally made it to the bathroom and took a look. I wasn’t sure if this meant my water broke, or if the baby had just kicked me in the bladder. I remember reading something about how amniotic fluid smells different from urine – so I smelled it – but honestly had no clue what I was doing or smelling for. Poor Bryce also smelled it and almost puked immediately. I felt so bad. 

Bryce:  By 12:15 her pressure waves had begun and they were quite uncomfortable for Chanae.  We had set a goal to have a natural childbirth and the pain of the pressure waves had me worried that Chanae may not be able to go through with it if this was her reaction to the beginning of pressure waves.  I began to time them using my IPhone.  It was difficult because I couldn’t always tell when a new contraction was starting.  I called Kelly (our doula) to let her know that Chanae's water had broken and that we would be going back to bed to wait it out ‘til morning.  My thoughts were that Chanae would be able to comfortably dilate under the protection of sleep.  Kelly thought this would be a good idea too.  After hanging up with her, I quickly arranged to listen to a hypnobabies track and Chanae and I got back in bed.  I held her close and tried to time the pressure waves.  She whimpered in pain and wasn’t able to hold still.  She got back up and went back into the bathroom where she had leaked all through her pad.  She was really hurting.  I began to panic just slightly because I felt that the plan we had made wasn’t working out and I couldn’t handle soothing Chanae on my own.  I called Kelly and asked her to come, and she arrived around 12:30.

Chanae:  I decided to put on a pad, just in case it was my water that broke. Bryce at this point was pretty excited – sure that “this was it!” So he called our doula (and Hypnobabies instructor), Kelly, to give her a heads up – but told her we were going to go back to bed and wait it out before she needed to come over. I was still unsure and had Bryce get the iPad so I could google “how do you know if your water breaks?” One option they gave was to lie down for 30 min and then check your pad to see if it was wet. So this was the option I went for. We went back to bed, Bryce put on one of my Hypnobabies tracks to help me to start to relax and get in the “zone”.

We were only laying there for 5 min, maybe, but I could not get comfortable. I had told Bryce a few weeks ago that when the pressure waves (or contractions) started I wanted him to give me a blessing – thankfully he remembered – because I didn’t – and he asked if I wanted it now. After he gave me the blessing, I decided I could not stay down. I began to feel strong cramps and got out of bed to try to find a better position and when I got up I realized I had already soaked through the pad and another pair of pajama bottoms – this time however there was blood too. I changed again – this time Bryce gave me some of his sports shorts to wear, as I did not want to wear something too constricting. 

We had planned to take some treats to the hospital with us to give to our nurses so I told Bryce to go get the cookie dough out of the freezer so it could thaw. I decided to kneel by the bed to pray – and in the meantime found a position I felt I could stay in for a while. Bryce came back in and got me a pillow for my head and knees. When each pressure wave began I would begin to rock back and forth and had Bryce start rubbing and putting pressure on my lower back – which really helped. Bryce was trying to time the pressure waves, but it was really hard for me to determine when each one started. There would sometimes be a hard long one – and then little ones in-between (Bryce later found a great way to describe them – as similar to an earthquake and then the aftershocks). 

Bryce:  After I called Kelly I went and opened the front door almost entirely.  It is hard to get open and so Kelly would be able to push her way in when she got here.  After she arrived she pulled her phone out and began to time Chanae and comfort her.  About this point Chanae found a comfortable spot where she was on her knees on a pillow with her head and arms resting on the side of the bed.  Kinda how you would pray kneeling at the bed.  Waves came and went and Kelly observed that the pressure waves were lasting quite awhile.  Time was moving fast.  

Chanae:  Bryce soon decided it was time to call Kelly to come over. Kelly got here and sat by me timing the pressure waves while Bryce continued to rub my back. Kelly said that it looked like they were really close and long. I told her I felt like I needed to push and she asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I told her I didn’t know. It was decided Bryce would at least start loading the car and finish packing the last few things we needed for the hospital. While he was doing that Kelly took over rubbing my back, getting me water, and reading some scripts to me to try to help me relax and use the hypnosis techniques we had learned in class.

Bryce: 12:40am                                                                                                   Chanae said something like, “I feel like pushing.”  In the next few seconds I began to pick everything up that Chanae had packed and started hauling it out to the car.  Kelly stayed with Chanae to help her through her birthing waves.  I put on some jeans and we got Chanae in the car.  Then, we were off.  

Chanae:  I felt the urge to push again and decided I couldn’t wait any longer – we were going to the hospital. Bryce asked if I wanted to change first – probably knowing I would normally never go out wearing what I was wearing (mens sports shorts, a mens t-shirt and flip-flops), but I told him no. I started making my way from the bedroom towards the car – asking Bryce as we went if he had remembered different things (my jacket, my purse, my ipod). As we passed the stove in the kitchen I saw the cookie dough out thawing and told him to put them away – he said, “don’t you want me to make some?” and I replied, “we don’t have time.”

Bryce:  12:45
There is only a few times that a man is above the law in his life and this was my time.  I sped to the highway then proceeded to bust out 90 on the highway.  I put on my hazards but Chanae told me not to.  I think she thought I was being dramatic.  She said this right before she told me that she was leaking her juices all over my passenger seat.  I said I didn’t care but secretly I was super grossed out at the thought of bloody mess on my car seat.  Sadly there were no cops to escort/chase me to the hospital.

Chanae:  We finally got in the car, and Bryce began speeding and put his flashers on. I told him we did not need those on. Soon however I could not focus on his driving, all my focus was on trying to breathe through the pressure waves. I do remember saying something to him about leaking again, and I hope it wasn’t getting on his seat. We got to the hospital pretty fast – thankfully this was all happening at such an early hour, as we did not have to deal with traffic problems. Bryce pulled up to the entrance of Labor & Delivery and jumped out to run in. Kelly arrived and began helping me out of the car. Bryce went to park the car as we made our way into the building, stopping in the doorway as another pressure wave came. 

Bryce:  12:55
I jump out of my car and run up to the emergency doors.  They are locked, does that make sense to anybody? There are a couple of people outside the doors off to the side.  They look like security or something.  I tell them my wife is having a baby and they seem to do something.  Kelly arrives and she starts to help Chanae out of the car. Whatever the security guards/people did seems to have worked because there is a nurse there coming out of the building with a chair.  I quickly park the car.  The parking spot was special; I suspect I parked where the ambulance usually parks.  I don’t care.  A quick look at the passenger seat and I’m relieved to find no trace of blood.  I was almost worried there.  I gather the bags and purses and quickly catch up to Chanae.  By this time she had been wheeled inside and was on a course to enter her room.  I ask the nurse if she had Katie’s (Chanae's midwife) number and to give her a call.

1:05
We enter the room and the nurse hands Chanae a cup and asks if she can pee in it.  I’m beginning to tell the nurse that Katie should probably know that she needs to come.  I hear Chanae whimper in the bathroom.  I enter to find her pants down standing with the cup in her hand bracing herself with hands on the wall.  She is in pain.  There is blood and stuff all over her legs and floor….. and my clothes that Chanae has been using as pajamas for the past several weeks.  Chanae says that she can’t pee in the cup.  I take it and give it back to the nurse, or it might have been Kelly.  I grab some tissues and start to help Chanae get cleaned up.  I try comforting her while the pressure wave finishes.  We get Chanae completely undressed and the nurse and Kelly help her get into a hospital gown.  She gets on the bed and is restless because she isn’t finding a comfortable place.  I ask if Katie has been called again and the nurse acts almost like I am not speaking English.  Its weird, she is looking at me but not responding like social etiquette would insist on.  She says that another nurse needs to come but that she can’t because there is an “emergency.”  I can hear another woman somewhere screaming bloody murder and wonder if she is the emergency.  I’m worried that Chanae is going to hear this other woman and try to engage her to act as a distraction.  I’m reminded once of my Mom talking about giving birth and telling me that when she was having herfirst she heard a woman in another room screaming like a crazy person and decided that she would never scream like that no matter the level of pain she had.  I was worried that Chanae would be a screamer and was worried that I might look at her as less if she did.  Spoiler alert…… she didn’t ever scream.

A wheelchair arrived and I was taken into a room. The nurse gave me a gown and a cup and asked if I would be able to give them a urine sample. In my head I was thinking, “are you kidding me?” But I took the cup and went in the bathroom. Almost as soon as I sat down on the toilet another pressure wave hit – it was too much to stay sitting so I stood up and began to make some noises, which is when Bryce came in. I felt so bad when I looked down to see I had leaked more fluid and blood all over the floor and his clothes. I told him I was sorry and he said it’s okay we’ll just throw them away – but I told him I would clean them when we got home. He helped me out of the bathroom (without the urine sample) and the nurse helped me to get undressed and into the super huge and attractive hospital gown. 

1:20
This other nurse comes in and says that she needs to check Chanae.  As her protector I run interference saying that we will let Katie check her when she gets here.  I follow that up with asking if she had been called yet.  Apparently she hadn’t been called and the nurse then tells me that she isn’t going to call Katie until she has checked her.  I’m irritated and tell her to proceed.  She seems like Toby to me.  As she begins to check Chanae I tell her not to tell us what she is dilated to, she can keep it secret to only tell Katie when she calls.  Her expression is priceless as she runs from the room knowing the situation is as urgent as we think.  I’m feeling a little satisfaction in knowing that I’m smarter then the nurse.  We ask for the Jacuzzi room and the nurses take us there.  We learn that at this point we can’t be in the Jacuzzi though.  I was already getting in my underwear to enjoy a nice hot bath.  Oh well, maybe next time.  I mess with the CD player and hook in Chanae’s IPod and begin playing a hypnobabies track.

Chanae:  Bryce kept asking the nurse if they had called our midwife, Katie, yet. She said that, “no they couldn’t call her until they checked to see how far along I was.” The nurse finally came to check me – and two seconds later she was running out the door saying, “I’m going to go call Katie.” 

Bryce:  1:40
Chanae is in pain and is still uncomfortable.  From the beginning at home she wants her back rubbed and this continues to be the case in the final moments of baby Rose’s birth.  The nurse attaches some sort of belt with ultra sound technology built in.  This doesn’t remain long because Chanae changes positions and wants it off.  I suggest that she get in a cat cow position and she gets on her knees facing the back of the bed.  She is using the bed as support through the pressure waves.

1:50
Katie has arrived and is looking tired with red in her eyes.  She greets us and we are happy to have her.  She checks Chanae and seems satisfied although quiet about her observations.  She asks for Chanae to have the ultra sound machine hooked up for a moment so she can see whatever the data shows her.  Chanae stays on her knees in that position for awhile.  I help her breath baby down and continue to rub her back.  Chanae is a picture of power and she has the entire room in awe as she pushes through each pressure wave in dignity.  She is in pain and we all know it but she is brave through each wave.  The hypnobabies tracks are playing in the background almost as an invitation to everyone to be reverent.  The nurse that reminded me of Toby has won my appreciation begins asking me questions about Chanae.  Medical questions like, “does she smoke or have any tobacco use?  Drink?”  I answer her questions in funny ways.  

Chanae:  After this point I only remember certain things, as I was focused on getting through the each pressure wave. I was not comfortable on the bed so someone (Bryce or Kelly) suggested I kneel over the back of the bed – in the same position I was at home. I did that for a while. Katie arrived. Katie began holding a warm cloth to my perineum to help it to relax and be able to stretch more – it really helped to relieve the pain. Kelly was a huge support – giving me sips of water, wiping my forehead with a cool cloth. Bryce was rubbing my back. Through each pressure wave I tried to “breathe the baby down” and make the guttural noise sounds that we had learned about in class – Katie suggested I do little grunts instead. 

The baby nurse came in to prepare for the baby and she came over and began talking to me about the normal procedures that they do and did I want to have the vitamin K shot, and heel prick done, etc… I couldn’t really express or think about what our preferences were except to say – “No we don’t want those”, then I remembered our Baby Plan (which outlined exactly what tests and procedures we wanted and did not want done) as well as our Birth Plan (which outlined our goals and desires for the birth of our baby) and told Kelly where to find it in our hospital bag so she could give it to the nurses. 

Bryce:  3:00
Chanae is feeling tired of this position.  Her back is hurting and so she decides that she wants to lay on her side with her leg up.  I am in front of her, Kelly is behind her, and Katie is at her bottom.  She quietly gets my attention and points at an emerging baby in Chanae's nether regions.  Katie has been keeping a warm rag on Chanae’s pelvic area and butt to keep it warm as baby comes out.  Chanae is vocal about how good it feels.  It is crazy to me to see that baby is on its way out especially as we have only been going for a few hours.  My job at this point is to hold Chanae’s leg up.  I am emotional at times for the miracle of the situation, for Chanae being so brave, for Chanae handling pain, and a little because I’m tired and emotional.  Kelly continues to rub Chanae's back and I rub her legs and feet.  With each pressure wave baby is two steps out, one step back and then a rest.  

Chanae:  After some time had passed, my knees were starting to hurt, so I wanted to change positions. So I laid down on my side – Bryce held my right leg up by his shoulder to help open up the birth canal and Kelly took over rubbing my back for each pressure wave. At some point the baby began to crown – this was painful. I could feel my perineum being stretched open – and staying open. I began to feel panicked and even more scared. I remember looking into each person’s eyes trying to get some comfort and reassurance (I’m sure I looked wild-eyed and crazy to them), and each person was so great. Each time I made eye contact with one of the nurses, or Bryce, Kelly or Katie, they each told me how great I was doing. Katie asked if I wanted to feel the baby’s head – but I didn’t want to. It was all I could do to stay focused and I was worried touching the head would make me break – realizing “hey this is real, there is a baby sticking out of me…” So no, I did not want to feel the head. 

Bryce:  3:40
Baby Rose has her little head almost completely out.  We tease Chanae that we almost know the color of her eyes. I watch as the head completely emerges and then a shoulder.  There is a little bit of panic because the 2nd shoulder gets caught for a moment, but baby emerges and is fine.

Chanae:  I finally pushed the head out - feeling my perineum stretch to its fullest and more. I was gripping the sides of the bed - it was so painful. There was so much pressure. The baby's head finally made it out, which I felt so relieved by, but then almost immediately I was being told to "push, Chanae, push! You need to get the other shoulder out" and I kept thinking, give me a minute - I just pushed the head out! But Katie and the nurses were pretty insistent about giving some big pushes so I kept trying. Finally the other shoulder came out and then the rest of the body.

Bryce:  4:00
I am helping dry off Rose and she is crying.  My emotions are too difficult to control.  I go to Chanae and kneel by her side crying.  Baby is given to Chanae and we enjoy a few moments.  The umbilical cord is finished pulsing and they offer me a chance to cut it.  I don’t want to, I’m too busy with my sweet wife and Rose.  After the birth Katie works on the placenta and other nurses help Chanae breastfeed.  It takes awhile but everything works out after a short time.  By around 6:00 we are put into a room where we promptly fall into a light coma.

Chanae:  Then so many things began to happen all at once – Rose was being dried off, a nurse was helping me to unbutton my gown so Rose and I could have some skin-to-skin bonding. Rose was put on my chest, the baby nurse was there cleaning out her mouth and nose. Kelly was taking pictures, Bryce was up by Rose and me. One of the nurses began to try and help me to breastfeed – the umbilical cord stopped pulsing and was cut. Katie and the other nurse then decided it was time to get the placenta out. Wow – so painful. My stomach/uterus was being pushed and kneaded by the nurse; Katie’s hand was up inside my uterus scooping blood clots out. It was all too much.  Once Rose latched on and began to breastfeed, the placenta started coming out, but not before I almost lost it – I kept telling them, “you need to stop, you need to stop. I’m done.” It’s a different pain from pushing out the baby, but still a high level of pain and I was not prepared for it. I had no idea that it would be so painful to get the placenta out – I mean isn’t it just a blob of blood/muscle? When it finally came out, it was such a weird feeling – the biggest blood clot ever slowly plopped out. Eww – it grosses me out just thinking about it. 

Once again – I thought I was done – but no, Katie told me I had 2 small tears, both only 1st degree but they would still need some stitches. They numbed me up first, gave me some stitches, which weren’t really painful but I could feel the needle and the pulling of the actual stitches so that was uncomfortable and odd. And then we were done – it was finally time for some rest and recovery, and some time to get to know my baby. 

Afterwards everyone told me how great I was, and how calm and in control I was (One nurse said she had neverseen someone crown for so long but still stay in control) – but that’s definitely not how I felt on the inside. I kept thinking, “I can’t do this, I can’t do this” and then someone would say something encouraging, or I would hear a phrase from the hypno tracks playing, and I would say, “no, I can do this.” I remember also saying over and over in my head – “God, help me!” I was praying non-stop throughout the entire 4 hours. I was actually very surprised when all was said and done to find out it only took 4 hours. It seriously had felt like 2 hours at the most. It seemed so quick. It was painful yes, and difficult yes, and I honestly don’t know if it’s something I would want to do again :) – but it was fast. 

We had such a good birth experience - Rose's birth was fast, we had no difficulties or problems, almost no tearing, and we have a healthy beautiful baby girl! We were and are so blessed!