Gena's Birth of Phoenix
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 11:45PM Phoenix {Birth Stories}
The Birth of Phoenix. April 14, 2009
4-13-09
11:30pm- Gosh I can’t get comfortable. My hips are killing me and everything hurts. I just want to have this baby.
11:40pm- Maybe I’ll try some nipple stimulation to see if I can trigger something. Yeah, that’s working!
4-14-09
12am- I’ll get up to empty my bladder to see if that slows things down. Contractions still coming, guess I’ll move to the couch to try and get more comfortable because this bed is just not cutting it.
12:20am- Contractions are coming every 6min like clock work. Yay, a pattern is forming. This is a good sign. I tell my baby we are going to have a safe and gentle birth and that today is a very special day.
1:30am- These are getting stronger, I think I’ll get a heated rice sock. I use the restroom and there’s light bloody show. I’m getting excited now! I think today is going to be the day. I can’t believe it’s on the 14th. That’s the day I predicted from the beginning. Oh, I’m so happy he’s going to share my grandfather’s birthday. I’ll light some candles and put on some music. I’m going to make the most of this day and enjoy every minute.
2:23am- Ok, they are getting closer together. I should check to see what’s going on. I check and my cervix is like butter, 4cm open, and completely effaced. Wow! I call Ann to tell her to pray for us today. She’s still awake and I feel at peace after talking to her. Then I go upstairs to tell Cody I’m in labor but I let him sleep some more because I’m loving the solitude right now. Next I call Lynsey, my birth photographer, because I know it will take her some time to get here. Ok, all that’s done, I think I should go ahead and fill the tub. Now it’s back to business. I walk around, sit on the ball, go up and down the stairs, and do some more nipple stimulation.
3:15am- Things are really moving along. I think it’s time to have my love join me. I go wake him up and have him get dressed. He comes down and makes some coffee and jumps right into the swing of things. The mood is light and fun. We joke and laugh together. I feel like I’m hanging out with my best friend sharing a beautiful moment in time. He keeps reheating the rice sock and makes sure I’m supported through each contraction. I love him so much. I feel safe and confident with him near.
3:58am- I have him call my doula to give her a heads up.
4:10am- Lynsey arrives and I’m so happy she’s here! She blends right in and I feel great. I tell her I love this dynamic of just me, Cody, and her. I ask if she’s comfortable with being the only one here. She says yes and so I press forward.
5:30am- Things feel more intense. I tell Cody I need to look at him through the contractions. He asks what he should do. I tell him “Nothing. Just look normal and do something.” hehehe! Lynsey is very amused by this comment. I think I should check to see what’s going on. It’s hard to tell for sure. My cervix is very open, I think about 7cm maybe. I’m starting to shake, feel nauseous, and showing other signs of transition approaching, so I say it’s time to wake Juliet and get in the water. She comes down and puts her bathing suit on and jumps right in. It brings me so much joy to have her near! I love her. Cody, Juliet, and I are all in the pool now. I feel crowded so Cody and Juliet get out. Cody starts to fan me and I’m pretty sure I’ve never felt anything so good in my life. Juliet gets in and out and helps me by giving me water, fanning me, and holding my hand. I love having a daughter! This is just as I had pictured this day to be. I’m loving every minute of it! I look around and notice I’m in the very spot where many of my dearest friends and my family laid hands on me and my belly to pray for this day. I realize that all their prayers were being answered. “Thank you Lord!”
6am- My doula texts that she is up and on her way. I ask someone to text Ann to let her know transition is near or hear. Cody says “Really? I didn’t think we had gotten started yet!” Very funny. I still haven’t lost my sence of humor.
7:45am- I still have a left anterior lip and feel pushy. I don’t want to push past it because I’m worried about making it swell and it hurting. I also am hoping I won’t have to actively push like with my last delivery where he literally just fell out without any effort.
8am- I get out of the water because I’m holding back to much. I want to push on the toilet so I can just let go. Baby is still only about a 0 station and I’m still not wanting to push. I feel like I’m at that rock and hard place. I’m feeling frustrated that I’m fearful! I don’t want to fight it but I don’t want to push. I’m leaning against Cody and I know every thing is going to be fine. I resolve to move to the couch finally. One contraction on my hands and knees and I don’t like it at all. So I move to the floor- squatting against the couch.
8:10am- I can feel him moving down and I’m only pushing a little. His head is starting to peak through. Cody is putting warm compresses on my perineum and they feel great! My doula is warming them up and keeping them coming. Man that is my saving grace!
8:16am- I’m really pushing now with all my might. My bag of water pops with a big bang. Cody and Juliet are startled. Cody is trembling. Birth is near. You can feel the energy fill the air. Excitement and fear and every thing in-between! I’m focused and intense. I’m not holding back and I know he will be here soon. The next contraction I know he is on his way out. I tell everyone he is coming. I start to instruct myself aloud on what to do at the top of my lungs, “Stretch, Blow, Push, No, Stretch, Please Stretch!” I reach down as his head crowns to support my perineum- I scream “Please Stretch!”
8:23am- His head delivers. I hold his head in my hand and am overcome. My body tingles with joy. Cody calmly says there’s a cord and I reach down to reduce it and he helps me gently pull it over his head. I begin to scream “I LOVE YOU BABY!!” over and over again as his body delivers. I can’t stop myself from saying it. I’m so overjoyed. I feel like a lion roaring these words. I feel ferocious and strong. I feel beautiful and powerful. I feel completely conscious and primitive. He is born into mine and Cody’s eager hands and I bring him to me. There are no words…..the perfect birth! Thank You God!
This was one of my absolute favorite births to photograph because it was so unique, being the only unassisted birth I have ever had the pleasure of attending. If you are interested in sharing your birth story on the blog please email me, and as always, don’t forget to find me on Facebook!
Photos used by permission from Lynsey Stone's website:
http://www.dfwbirthphotographer.com/home/
Tags: birth, birth stories, birth stories on demand, home birth, unassisted birth, free birth, doula, birth stories with pictures, natural childbirth, homebirth, birth pictures, positive birth stories, inspiring birth stories
Reader Comments (9)
YOU ARE AMAZING!!! And gorgeous. I have read your story over and over and I'm sure you konw your photo is viral!! I cry EVERY SINGLE TIME, I read this entry. Beautiful! So beautiful.
This is such and amazing story! Your baby is beautiful and congratulations for the new addition! God Bless
Amazing story and beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing with us!
great work mom and dad!
Beautiful birth, thank you for sharing it. This is one that all expectant women should read in preparation of their birth. It is encouraging, and quite different than what most women hear and see on T.V. This is real birth at it's best, by a woman who obviously prepared well, and was well supported by her husband. Congratulations!
I just found your story while browsing mom sites online...I see that the birth was two and a half years ago...would love to see a picture of your beautiful family with Phoenix as a toddler. Dido to the post before mine...so good to see people posting nice things. Thanks again for sharing! It has reminded me of those wonderful feelings when I gave birth to my four children. Thank you for that! Best wishes to you and yours.
Wonderfully written account of your son's birth, and beautiful pictures. Both seem to truly capture the essence of the ideal unassisted home birth. I am half-way through my 3rd pregnancy and plan/hope to have a wonderful unassisted home birth as well.
My first son was born in a hospital, with an epidural, and into the hands of my mid-wife. Total time from when she broke my water, and labor really began, was only 5 hours - despite the epidural and being flat on my back.
My second son was also born in a hospital, although one certainly more focused on labor and delivery, as opposed to a general hospital. I awoke at 2:00AM, arrived at the hospital around 3:00AM, and after only a few minutes of pushing he was born into the hands of one of my mid-wife's partners - no drugs, no epidural, and bag of waters broke as he was on the way out.
And, as I already said, I hope to have an ideal, uncomplicated, unassisted at-home birth with this, my first daughter. I doubt I'll be able to chronicle my experience in such a detailed way as you have, and I know I wouldn't be able to have someone else there to photograph it, but kudos to you for both! I think more mothers and mothers-to-be should be exposed to all kinds of birth experiences, as they don't all happen the same!
Wow....that was amazing! Got me teary-eyed. I am so impressed with all of you, to find the strength to do that at home, without drugs, without doctors... I wish both my births had been complication-free but unfortunately, I had to be in the hospital and hooked up to all kinds of monitors and magnesium. Couldn't even walk around. :( Very happy things went well with you all, and like the lady above, I'd like to see a current photo of the family too!! Great job!
Oh my gosh ... I just saw these photos and read the story. So powerful. So ... emotional. Thank you for sharing. What a wonderous experience! Beautiful.