N and T started care with me in the first trimester of their third pregnancy.  I had the honor of being N’s doula in her first two pregnancies in 2012 and 2016, and was ecstatic to be her midwife on this journey.  Although I did not have my blog in early 2012, you can read about her previous birthing journey here.

N’s pregnancy progressed along beautifully with the normal ups and downs pregnancy brings.

N’s estimated due date came and gone.  When N was 40.5 weeks, she decided to come in and try a membrane sweep and herbs.  N was surprisingly already 4-5cm dilated, 80% effaced, and baby at a -2 station. Her cervix was very soft and stretchy.  I estimated baby to weigh around 8lbs 8ozs, a little bigger than his siblings.  Note this when you see how wrong I was later in the story!

Things started slowly.  N had manageable cramping and contractions through out the day.  Around midnight on October 30th, her contractions shifted, coming every 2-3 minutes, intense, but short.  N requested the birth team around 130am, and we headed her way.

N was laboring beautifully, calmly in her bedroom, leaning over her bedside with contractions, her doula providing counter pressure with contractions.

We did an exam a little after 3am, and found N to be 7cm dilated, 100% effaced, and baby at a 0 station.  Things were progressing along beautifully.  Contractions were coming every 3 minutes, lasting over a minute.  N was ready for the birth pool, and got in at 325am to labor on her knees.

Over the next 90 minutes, N alternated between laboring on her knees and semi reclining.  She was focused with contractions, but we would all talk in between.  Her doula was providing comfort measures during, and offering water in between.

N requested an exam a little after 5am.  I did the exam in the pool, and found her to be 8cm.

We had been discussing lift and tucks with the rebozo for a bit, and N decided she was open to trying them while in the pool.  Apprentice A helped N with lift and tucks for ten contractions.  N noticed her contractions shifting, and felt them intensifying.

As 7am neared, we recommended N get out of the pool for a bit, move around, and try some different positions.  N walked around, then alternated side lunges with hip circles for a few contractions.  Her doula suggested a forward leaning inversion and belly sifting, and N was so willing and sweet to do any suggestions that brought her baby closer to her arms.

N requested an exam a little after 8am.  There had been no change.  I encouraged N to consider laying down in her bed with T for an hour and then we would see how things proceeded.  I encouraged her that each baby makes their own journey, and she was doing everything right.  We helped situate N on her left side, and let her rest.

30 minutes later, we rotated N on her right side, and began giving her a homeopathic to help with progression and cervical rigidity.

At 918am, T came out and said N’s water had broken.  We all rejoined them in the room.  N was feeling more pressure now.  The birth pool had been refreshed, and N got back in.

Labor was intense.  N was focused, moaning with contractions.  At 949am, I found N to be 10cm dilated, baby at a +3 station.  Knowing that news, N felt better about beginning to push.  With the next contraction, she started to push.

The head was felt on the perineum at 1001am.  We encouraged N to push with contractions, and to build her strength back in between.  The head was crowning at 1005am.  Things moved slowly at this point.  N was pushing on hands and knees.  The head was born at 1009am, and after some work, the entire baby was born at 1011am.

Welcome to the world, Maverick!  Born earth side on October 30th, 2019 at 1011am, weighing a whopping 10lbs 2ozs, 22 in long.  Boy, was my weight guess so wrong!  His mama worked so hard having her big boy.  Her strength was so visible through out her labor.

It was such an honor to have helped this sweet couple for a third time, but even sweeter that this time I got to help them have their sweet baby in the comfort of their home.  <3

-Midwife Shannon

#sacredjourneymidwifery

Photos taken by Devynn Leanne Photography.