My son's unassisted birth

[mcmommyof6]

Well my water broke on December 12 at around 5:45 in the morning. So I knew that something was going to happen. I had the feeling earlier that I wanted my DH to stay home but I never said anything because we have had false alarms in the past with other babies….

So fast forward to the evening of the 12th. Once the kids were asleep, things really picked up as I knew they probably would. The contractions were really hard to deal with, I think I had a lot of fear which made them tough. I had to give my self a good heart to heart at around midnight in the shower. Once I thought through things that were bugging me I was able to deal with them and vocalize through them the shower and swaying was so helpful. I couldn’t sit or lay down at all.

At around 2:45am they changed again. It was so hard to deal with them, I realized that I was probably in transition and knew that the birth was forthcoming. I had this hang-up on what if I have to push and I am only 6 cm….. So I had some fear on that front as well. Also this was the first time it was only me, not some midwife telling me what and when to do it. Just before 3:30 DH tried to check and see if I was fully dilated…. He couldn’t figure out what he was feeling but said that he felt baby’s head. So he phoned a doula we know just to ask her about checking for cervix dilation. During this time I am starting to yell that I can’t do it, it hurts too much and no I am done. I knew that I was in transition but it didn’t make it easier. She gave my DH encouragement and said that it wouldn’t be long before baby was born.

I tried giving a few little pushes and they felt so much better. Then I really got into pushing, I put my hand up in to feel if I could feel baby and I felt something really odd and I was trying to figure out what it was. I was still pushing and I could feel myself pooping…. I did with every other baby so I guess why should this one be different. I felt baby’s head come into my hand, my husband said that we had baby’s head right there. I kind of knew that. He told me I had to move my bottom up a bit as I was squatting on the floor at the end of our bed. I lifted my one leg and pushed and out slid baby. It felt so good. His cord was around his neck once and it wasn’t really long. He pinked up and cried right away, all of the kids came running in to meet their new brother. I didn’t have them in for the actual birth as my 2 year old was up almost all night and I so didn’t need the distraction of him right at that moment.

I bled a bit and I passed the placenta in about 20 minutes. I think I may have pieces still inside as the after pains are really nasty and remind me a bit of contractions. The placenta didn’t look like it was all intact so I am keeping an eye on fever and stuff. I am taking some homeopathic remedies right now and we will see if they help.

We left the cord and placenta attached but I think that we will cut it soon as it is a little bit awkward to handle. Baby has only nursed a few times and has been sleeping really well. His heart sounds great, and he is quite alert when he is awake. Now we just need to find him a name. So I will be searching this afternoon to see what I can come up with.

He has a bit of haemorrhaging in his one eye but I have had several of my kids have that from how fast they came out. I still don’t know if I tore or anything. To me if I did it is minor compared to having him here.

I am so happy to be holding my newest little baby and I am glad that it is over. My husband was so awesome. Never once did he question me or yell at me or panic. He was so encouraging and he was the best support I could have ever had. I am so glad to have him….

******
This story was written about 10 hours after his birth. I did pass 2 bits of placenta but I never got sick and it didn't affect my milk supply either. His birth was so incredible. We got his birth on dvd now and it is really cool to go back and watch. I was so proud too I only swore once.

We did cut his cord at 14 hours or so after his birth. He is now a very active healthy 8.5 month old.

Shannon

[SassyMama]

FYI- Re: Del*very- Around here, Pizza's are del*vered, babies/placenta's, are birthed. Change the language, change how the process is viewed. If you use a word that is ***'d out, its a word the Mods/Founders of the site have deemed as disrespectful to women, or the birthing process. (how'd I do on that explaination Mods?)

Great story though! Can you tell us more about the heart to heart you had with yourself around transition? Those are always good to learn from!

Megan

[mcmommyof6]

I totally understand the language thing... it just shocked me because I kept trying to figure out what I had said...

My transition phase was really long with him. I think it was due to fears of getting the pushing urge too soon. I had that with my second child and I was told to go ahead and push... so for 5 hours I was then told not to push because I wasn't dilated. That was I think one of the fears that was holding me back. During transition I kept thinking this will be over soon.... but it kept going on. I kept thinking about holding my baby. I kept thinking about how much like a whale I felt pregnant and knowing that soon I would be able to move properly again. I kept envisioning baby slipping out and me holding my baby.

I have never been in transition that long before and I do have to say it wasn't much fun at all. I do realize how much my thoughts were delaying everything too. When I did finally give the push I realized that I probably should have done that a long time ago. I never did get the overwhelming urge to push like some of my other babies. I still can relive the birth in my mind. I also find the fact that I had my hand up in my vagina as his head was descending down is the coolest feeling in the world.....

[Cyathea]

Awesome story!! I am drinking in every Freebirth I possibly can at the moment

Very interesting to hear you passed the extra pieces of placenta with no problems. Lovely.

[Waratah]

Thanks for sharing that great story

Catherine

[Birch]

Congratulations Shannon on your wonderful and amazing birthing!


You did there things I never thought possible and have a lovely baby boy to show for it. How lovely that you can share the reliving of the event with him too when he is older. Thank you for sharing with us.

[Kat]

your story is amazing and its wonderful to read it when so fresh after only a few hours!

Thanks for sharing

[kangaroomom25]

Wonderful birthstory Shannon, I love it!

[Ilithyia]

Awesome story!! I am drinking in every Freebirth I possibly can at the moment

^ What she said!

It is always a joy to read another happy freebirth story, and I love that all the little variations that came with this bubba's birth (like the cord being around his neck and birthing the placenta in two installments) were calmly accepted by the whole family as normal and not cause for panic.