Jaylen- Nebraska Home Birth in an Urban Area with a Non-Nurse Midwife
{This story was submitted by Jaylen's mom, April.}
Three days before baby was born. Feb. 24, 2008
It was a Sunday. I was getting ready to go to Church with Ailani, and my husband Juan had left to go play soccer. I kept having contractions. I was probably having between 5-10 an hour. I did not go to church for this reason. Juan in the meantime got home and there was some family drama between him and his sister. Well not between him but it was involving him. And at this same time, his family in Mexico had NO IDEA that we were even gonna have another baby because he had NEVER TOLD THEM I WAS EVEN PREGNANT. I was stressed for that reason because here they are, telling him about some dang family drama that is going on, and I am sitting here having contractions but they don't even know we are expecting. I never did know the reason he didn't tell them, and they only recently found out.
So contractions kept coming, I did not know if this was the real thing or not. It was weird. My sisters Andrea and Avi came over and so did my friend Laura. It was just so weird because the contractions were definitely strong... but I still did not know if they were real or not. Oh, they were as real as a contraction could be, but my body (or, I think rather, my MIND) was not ready to have that baby yet. After awhile we finally decided to go on a walk. I knew that if my body was ready, walking would bring on the contractions, if not, they would stop. We walked around the neighborhood and came back a bit later. Contractions stopped. Meanwhile we had been talking to Leana, a friend of mine from Chicago who was present at Ailani's birth, because the plan was that she was gonna come if time allowed for it, but she wouldn't have much time off so we had to be SURE it was labor. We just told her we would keep in touch with her if anything changed. So after contractions stopped Juan was just all shaken up about his family drama. I think this was really stressing me out and not allowing my body to relax- especially since they had no clue about the baby.
Life went on, I was still pregnant, we moved on from those contractions. But that was the start. The next day (I THINK!) was the screening of Business of Being Born. We went (I dragged Juan). It was great. Kind of to get my body in the mood to give birth.
Three days before baby was born. Feb. 24, 2008
It was a Sunday. I was getting ready to go to Church with Ailani, and my husband Juan had left to go play soccer. I kept having contractions. I was probably having between 5-10 an hour. I did not go to church for this reason. Juan in the meantime got home and there was some family drama between him and his sister. Well not between him but it was involving him. And at this same time, his family in Mexico had NO IDEA that we were even gonna have another baby because he had NEVER TOLD THEM I WAS EVEN PREGNANT. I was stressed for that reason because here they are, telling him about some dang family drama that is going on, and I am sitting here having contractions but they don't even know we are expecting. I never did know the reason he didn't tell them, and they only recently found out.
So contractions kept coming, I did not know if this was the real thing or not. It was weird. My sisters Andrea and Avi came over and so did my friend Laura. It was just so weird because the contractions were definitely strong... but I still did not know if they were real or not. Oh, they were as real as a contraction could be, but my body (or, I think rather, my MIND) was not ready to have that baby yet. After awhile we finally decided to go on a walk. I knew that if my body was ready, walking would bring on the contractions, if not, they would stop. We walked around the neighborhood and came back a bit later. Contractions stopped. Meanwhile we had been talking to Leana, a friend of mine from Chicago who was present at Ailani's birth, because the plan was that she was gonna come if time allowed for it, but she wouldn't have much time off so we had to be SURE it was labor. We just told her we would keep in touch with her if anything changed. So after contractions stopped Juan was just all shaken up about his family drama. I think this was really stressing me out and not allowing my body to relax- especially since they had no clue about the baby.
Life went on, I was still pregnant, we moved on from those contractions. But that was the start. The next day (I THINK!) was the screening of Business of Being Born. We went (I dragged Juan). It was great. Kind of to get my body in the mood to give birth.
On Tuesday, Feb. 26th, 2008 I went to a La Leche League meeting and I guess I was just kinda out of it. Jen B asked me something like if I was ready or something. I think inside she knew that it was gonna be soon. I remember complimenting her on this yummy pineapple, cream cheese, pecan dip that she brought, and I told her that she must bring some to my labor as well because I would want to eat it. Little did she know that she wasn't even gonna have time to prepare it...
I remember thinking that night how I should get to bed early since I needed to be well-rested. I think it was around 9:30 or so that I went to bed, maybe even 10. I woke up abruptly at around 10:30 pm to some strong, strong contractions. I even remember right before that Ailani wanted to nurse or something.
So at that time, I was having these strong contractions but I did NOT want to wake up Juan or Ailani. I was just trying to cope with them. For a little bit I remember being on the computer talking to Lidia from Ecuador, which was very fitting because the 26th of February is her boyfriend's birthday (who is like my Ecuador brother). Anyway... back to the story.... Then Juan woke up and said that we should call my mom -- she was planning on coming to the labor and birth. I told him it wasn't necessary yet, but thank God he did call her. I don't remember if I talked to mom on the phone or not but I do remember that she had no vechile except for her Semi truck, so thats what she planned on taking to Lincoln! Maybe an hour or so later she showed up, in the Semi. LOL. Our neighbors must have wondered what the heck was going on!
So she got there and was like... have you called Midwife yet? I laughed and said, "Why would I call her now, I still have a long way to go." With Ailani's birth, total labor was about 36 hours, so I was guessing this one would be AT LEAST 18. Hahahahaha! Luckily, Mom had the sense to actually call her. And just as God has a perfect plan in everything, Midwife was only 1.5 hours away instead of 4. After mom talked to her on how my contractions were, Midwife said she'd be right over. At this point I just kept getting through the contractions. I remember being on the birthing ball, drinking recharge. I feel as though I was trying to re-live Ailani's labor because I wanted to make sure and do things how I did it then, it was so perfect! I do remember what I was wearing too. It was my Ecuador team shirt. Not the real one, just a fake one I had bought in Chicago. But still. There is significance in that, I think.
It was different having my mom there. I know with Ailani's birth I had friends that had never experienced birth plus my midwives, this time it was just my mom until midwife and doula came.
Midwife came and was telling us how she had just checked into a hotel an hour before. Imagine that. I felt guilty for having to call her.... ooohh also in this time we had gotten ahold of my friend Leana because I wanted her to come, but of COURSE since I didn't call her til after 11 or maybe even midnight, there were no flights from Chicago to Lincoln until 6 am. I told Leana PERFECT, she'd FOR SURE make it. lol. Always watch your words- they will backfire.
So, at some point, midwife asked if I had called my doula, Jen B. No way, I thought, why would I call her yet? I am still so far off, and I have my mom here.... I don't need her yet and there is no way that I need to bother her at 3 am. Midwife knows better, and she told me to call her right away. My mom calls. And calls. And calls. No answer, no answer, no answer. After I don't know how long, she calls back- she had her phone on vibrate or something. But she says she will be right over. She gets there quickly, probably by 4:30 am, at least.
Lots of contractions. It was all happening so quickly. So much quicker than Ailani's birth. Some of the contractions were SO intense. I think around 5 am or so after going pee, my midwife told me to go ahead and get in the birth pool. I was like "you've got to be kidding me, I am still so far off" and again, she knew better and told me to go ahead and get in. I asked if I should call my friend Leana to make sure she'd get on the flight. Midwife was like.. "well, if she wants to come to see a baby, because she won't come to see the birth, she won't make it." Again, I was in denial. Of COURSE she'll make it, its only one hour from Chicago to Omaha, then another hour here, and by the time the flight leaves, she could be at my house by 8 am or so...... Midwife insisted that NO, she is not gonna make it. We called Leana to let her know.
Oh, and in all this, between contractions I clearly remember talking like it was any ol' day with everyone. I think I even called Leana.
So it was probably like 5:45 am or so when all of the sudden, I threw up. THEN, and ONLY THEN, did I believe Midwife that Leana was NOT gonna make it. I was like.... HOLY COW this baby is ALMOST HERE how the heck....
So, at around 5:50 or 5:55 am, my water broke. That was very obvious when it happened. Then that was it, shortly after that I started pushing. I remember thinking how I should have been in a different position for Ailani's birth during pushing, or I should have at least moved, so when prompted to move into other positions, I did try for Jaylen's birth. I think when he came out I was facing backward in the birth pool. Mom was videotaping. OHHH- one thing I forgot: during most of this, Ailani was awake. She had woken up and would not go back to sleep. She was just hanging out, drinking recharge. During the time when I was pushing, she was screaming. We definitely could have used at least one or two more people to help with her and take pictures.
Anyway. So, pushing. I remember crowning seemed a bit more painful with Jaylen. Maybe it was that I was just more aware of it? I don't know. Either way, it did not take long to push him out. At 6:10 am, February 27th he was born. I was so excited when I saw that it was a boy. I had been so back and forth with what I thought it was gonna be, but in my heart I think I knew it was a boy, I just was nervous that I might be wrong.
So there it was. Afterward I just took the herbal bath with him. Then shortly after, a lot of my family came to visit. Maybe all of them, I can't really remember. I remember Amzi and Jazz, I think Andrea and she had a boyfriend at that time, and Guy. And I think Avi came too, and my dad even came. I think I was a bit more overwhelmed after this one because of so many visitors. With Ailani being born in Chicago, my friends all left after she was born, and after the midwives then it was just us, no family or friends, so I had the resting time. Here I did not have that at all.
Well, that is the best account that I can make it. I never did find my notes, but I know they were very detailed.
I do know that it sucked here that I had to take him in to get the heel prick, whereas in Chicago, my midwife C was able to do it.
Ohhh, another thing- that morning around 9 or 10 am Maryn called me saying she just had the urge to call me. She had the intuition that I was gonna have that baby that day. So cool. She was at Ailani's birth as one of my midwives-- in training--- she's now a midwife in Arizona.
Ok, that is mostly it!
To learn more about story submission, or to read more birth stories please click here.
I remember thinking that night how I should get to bed early since I needed to be well-rested. I think it was around 9:30 or so that I went to bed, maybe even 10. I woke up abruptly at around 10:30 pm to some strong, strong contractions. I even remember right before that Ailani wanted to nurse or something.
So at that time, I was having these strong contractions but I did NOT want to wake up Juan or Ailani. I was just trying to cope with them. For a little bit I remember being on the computer talking to Lidia from Ecuador, which was very fitting because the 26th of February is her boyfriend's birthday (who is like my Ecuador brother). Anyway... back to the story.... Then Juan woke up and said that we should call my mom -- she was planning on coming to the labor and birth. I told him it wasn't necessary yet, but thank God he did call her. I don't remember if I talked to mom on the phone or not but I do remember that she had no vechile except for her Semi truck, so thats what she planned on taking to Lincoln! Maybe an hour or so later she showed up, in the Semi. LOL. Our neighbors must have wondered what the heck was going on!
So she got there and was like... have you called Midwife yet? I laughed and said, "Why would I call her now, I still have a long way to go." With Ailani's birth, total labor was about 36 hours, so I was guessing this one would be AT LEAST 18. Hahahahaha! Luckily, Mom had the sense to actually call her. And just as God has a perfect plan in everything, Midwife was only 1.5 hours away instead of 4. After mom talked to her on how my contractions were, Midwife said she'd be right over. At this point I just kept getting through the contractions. I remember being on the birthing ball, drinking recharge. I feel as though I was trying to re-live Ailani's labor because I wanted to make sure and do things how I did it then, it was so perfect! I do remember what I was wearing too. It was my Ecuador team shirt. Not the real one, just a fake one I had bought in Chicago. But still. There is significance in that, I think.
It was different having my mom there. I know with Ailani's birth I had friends that had never experienced birth plus my midwives, this time it was just my mom until midwife and doula came.
Midwife came and was telling us how she had just checked into a hotel an hour before. Imagine that. I felt guilty for having to call her.... ooohh also in this time we had gotten ahold of my friend Leana because I wanted her to come, but of COURSE since I didn't call her til after 11 or maybe even midnight, there were no flights from Chicago to Lincoln until 6 am. I told Leana PERFECT, she'd FOR SURE make it. lol. Always watch your words- they will backfire.
So, at some point, midwife asked if I had called my doula, Jen B. No way, I thought, why would I call her yet? I am still so far off, and I have my mom here.... I don't need her yet and there is no way that I need to bother her at 3 am. Midwife knows better, and she told me to call her right away. My mom calls. And calls. And calls. No answer, no answer, no answer. After I don't know how long, she calls back- she had her phone on vibrate or something. But she says she will be right over. She gets there quickly, probably by 4:30 am, at least.
Lots of contractions. It was all happening so quickly. So much quicker than Ailani's birth. Some of the contractions were SO intense. I think around 5 am or so after going pee, my midwife told me to go ahead and get in the birth pool. I was like "you've got to be kidding me, I am still so far off" and again, she knew better and told me to go ahead and get in. I asked if I should call my friend Leana to make sure she'd get on the flight. Midwife was like.. "well, if she wants to come to see a baby, because she won't come to see the birth, she won't make it." Again, I was in denial. Of COURSE she'll make it, its only one hour from Chicago to Omaha, then another hour here, and by the time the flight leaves, she could be at my house by 8 am or so...... Midwife insisted that NO, she is not gonna make it. We called Leana to let her know.
Oh, and in all this, between contractions I clearly remember talking like it was any ol' day with everyone. I think I even called Leana.
So it was probably like 5:45 am or so when all of the sudden, I threw up. THEN, and ONLY THEN, did I believe Midwife that Leana was NOT gonna make it. I was like.... HOLY COW this baby is ALMOST HERE how the heck....
So, at around 5:50 or 5:55 am, my water broke. That was very obvious when it happened. Then that was it, shortly after that I started pushing. I remember thinking how I should have been in a different position for Ailani's birth during pushing, or I should have at least moved, so when prompted to move into other positions, I did try for Jaylen's birth. I think when he came out I was facing backward in the birth pool. Mom was videotaping. OHHH- one thing I forgot: during most of this, Ailani was awake. She had woken up and would not go back to sleep. She was just hanging out, drinking recharge. During the time when I was pushing, she was screaming. We definitely could have used at least one or two more people to help with her and take pictures.
Anyway. So, pushing. I remember crowning seemed a bit more painful with Jaylen. Maybe it was that I was just more aware of it? I don't know. Either way, it did not take long to push him out. At 6:10 am, February 27th he was born. I was so excited when I saw that it was a boy. I had been so back and forth with what I thought it was gonna be, but in my heart I think I knew it was a boy, I just was nervous that I might be wrong.
So there it was. Afterward I just took the herbal bath with him. Then shortly after, a lot of my family came to visit. Maybe all of them, I can't really remember. I remember Amzi and Jazz, I think Andrea and she had a boyfriend at that time, and Guy. And I think Avi came too, and my dad even came. I think I was a bit more overwhelmed after this one because of so many visitors. With Ailani being born in Chicago, my friends all left after she was born, and after the midwives then it was just us, no family or friends, so I had the resting time. Here I did not have that at all.
Well, that is the best account that I can make it. I never did find my notes, but I know they were very detailed.
I do know that it sucked here that I had to take him in to get the heel prick, whereas in Chicago, my midwife C was able to do it.
Ohhh, another thing- that morning around 9 or 10 am Maryn called me saying she just had the urge to call me. She had the intuition that I was gonna have that baby that day. So cool. She was at Ailani's birth as one of my midwives-- in training--- she's now a midwife in Arizona.
Ok, that is mostly it!
To learn more about story submission, or to read more birth stories please click here.
