Brandy's 11lb4oz Mother's Day HBA3C

When I found out I was pregnant I was very happy about the baby, but could not bear the thought of a 4thC-section. I knew I had to do things different this time! I read all I could about a HBAMC and talked to as many women as I could that have had a successful HBAMC. I changed my whole diet, walked every day, and found a supportive midwife! I also started seeing a chiropractor at 26 weeks! The pregnancy was wonderful! No leaving the Ob’s office crying from all the scare tactics! I got to my due date and was getting nervous that this was not going to happen for me. All my c-sections were because I was told I would never have a baby over8lbs so I figured if I ate better and went into labor before my due date. I would be able to have my HB! My midwife had already told me that my baby was a good size, so I just figured I would ride it out and see what happened. I knew if my midwife told me that I need a C-section,then I need a C-section. I stayed up late that night cleaning. It was mother’s day and I did not want to have to worry about cleaning the house, little did I know my baby had other plans for me! I finally crawled into bed at 1:30 and before I drifted off to sleep I thought, “Lord thank you for my baby coming today and us having a safe and peaceful HB!”
At 4:30 I woke up with contractions. I tried to ignore them and go back to sleep. I really was not sure if this was it! I shortly realized I was not going to sleep through the contractions, they were just too strong and too close together. My baby was going to be born on Mother’s Day!I told my husband and he started setting up the birthing pool. I called my midwife and I took my carrot cake out the freezer that I had made a few weeks before to have the day my baby was born. My midwife got there about 10:30am she got all set up and checked me. I was 5 to6 cm. It was just so calm and peaceful being in my own home! I walked around, spent a lot of time in the birthing pool. I ate and drank whatever I wanted. My midwife’s asst. made me the best egg salad sandwich ever! I talked to my sister on the phone, iced my carrot cake. I worked thru every contraction trying to stay relaxed. I would just close my eyes and just remind myself to breathe. I know from my past labors that I want to hold my breath with each contraction; so I had to concentrate hard on breathing! I was determined to stay on my feet the whole time! If I won’t in the birthing pool getting in different positions I was walking. It felt great to be able to move around and listen to my body! I was in charge and my baby and body knew what they were doing. I was not so sure at that time I could do it, though. I stood in my Kitchen at one point and cried. I asked my midwife that at any point she thought I could not do this please tell me! I was so scared of going thru hours of labor and just ending back up on the operating table. My midwife assured me things were going good. I got hugs and words of encouragement from both mymidwife and her asst. I then pulled myself together and continued to trust my body the best way I knew how. The back labor was the worse I got on hands and knees for a little while to try to deal with the back pain. My midwife offered to do sterile water injections in my back. It stung like crazy when she did it, but it was amazing my back labor was gone. I was back up walking, swinging my hips, and working with each contraction! Atabout 8:30pm I walked out the bathroom and said “I am done!” My midwife decided to check me at that point and rub primrose oil on my cervix. I was 9 cm but the baby was still up pretty high all during my labor the baby was switching from side to side. While my midwife rubbed primrose oil on my cervix she told me to bear down a little bit! As I bearded down I felt a little gush not even thinking of my water breaking I asked what that was and before she could get out of her mouth that my water was leaking my water broke everywhere. I got a little discouraged when I asked if the baby was posterior and she said yes!! She saw the look on my face and reassured me that babies turn in labor. Now that my water was broke the contractions got more intense! I told her I need to get up and back in the birthing tub. I felt like I was losing control and started telling my husband I can’t do this. I was thinking I had a few more hours of this and I could not do it. My midwife and her asst stepped out for a few togive me and my husband some space! As I continued to change positions in the birthing tub and bearing down I was arguing with my husband that I could not do this because I was not completely dilated and the baby was still up high. I was not even thinking about the different positions I was getting into or that I was bearing down. My body just really took over! My husband went and got my midwife to check me. She checked me and her eyes got big and she said, “Brandy the baby is right there feel.” I felt my babies head not even to the first joint of my finger! That is all I needed to hear. I sat up,pulled my legs back, and pushed with all my might! My midwives told me two more pushes and my baby would be here! I looked at her and said, “Really, it isalmost over?” She laughed and said “I would not lie to you.” My husband took apicture of the baby’s head and showed it to me. My midwife was squealing saying, “Look at all that dark hair, and look at what a good pusher she is.” She was just as excited as I was! I pushed again and my baby’s head crowned! I had never felt that before and it took my breath away for a min. I was flapping my arms and saying I can’t breathe. My midwife’s asst said, “Brandy slow your breathing you can breathe, you are talking!” LOL Then I realized she was right. I had to be breathing to be able to talk. The burning of my baby crowning was only there for a few seconds and I was ready to meet my baby. I pushed again and his whole head was born! I was waiting for another contraction to push again and my midwife and her asst starting counting. I was not real sure why they were counting for; but after a minute my midwife told me she wanted me to get out the water. I took her and my husband’s hand, stood up, and climbed out of the birthing tub with my baby’s head hanging out. LOL My midwife squatted down. I stood in a little bit of a squat, put my hands on her shoulders, took a deep breath, and just began to push when my baby came flying in to the world at 9:08pm. My Mother’s Day gift! I sat down on the side of the birthing tub as she handed him to me. I was in shock! I just sat there and looked at my baby, rubbing that sweet little head as my baby just studied my face. I kept saying, “We did it! We did it!” Then I realized, I had not even looked at the sex of my baby! I peeked and announced it was my Joshua Christian! After getting us all cleaned up, the biggest surprise came when he was weighed. My little man was 11lbs 4ozs! My biggest baby yet! I am not broke! I can deliver the babies that my body grows!! I cannot put into words how grateful I am for my loving and patient midwife and her asst. Without them believing in me even when I did not believe in myself I could not be writing this birth story!! Joshua’s birth was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned that I have more strength and patience then I ever thought was possible!!