A Natural Birth Story by Kate Dailey 

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was elated!  I have always leaned toward the natural route whenever possible and wanted desperately to have a healthy pregnancy and a labor without drugs and intervention.  But I knew my pregnancy and delivery could be tricky.  I have a few health problems that could potentially cause big problems.  So even though I wanted a natural delivery, it would have to be in the hospital setting in case there were complications.  I also knew that with my health issues, there could possibly be increased pressure to not have a natural delivery.  On top of all that, there aren't many women around who can tell you about their natural delivery and ease any worries that you might have.  Despite all of this, I decided to educate myself and go for it.  My husband was completely on board and so supportive throughout this process.

 

I began reading everything I could get my hands on.  I worked on reversing the fear that I had in my head.  All you hear in our society is how awful labor is.  I didn't want to feel this way going into my labor and I knew that if I could reverse this thinking I would have a better chance at making it through without drugs.  Throughout my pregnancy I worked on positive visualization, meditation, breathing and various positions to labor in. 

 

The next natural step was to find labor support.  I had chosen to follow the Bradley Method which asks the father to be the labor coach.  But I didn't want my husband to feel all of this fell on him, I mean, he was having a child that night too and may need a moment to feel emotional and not always be "on" for me.  So we decided to find a doula to be by our side.

 

Well we found her.  Heather immediately shared in our excitement and enthusiasm.  She was generous with her time and knowledge.  She was always able to answer my questions and discuss my concerns but more importantly she never doubted that I was completely capable of delivering my son naturally.  She helped guide me in so many ways. 

 

When the day came, I labored at home as long as I could.  My husband was at work and so when the contractions started I called Heather.  She talked to me about how I was feeling.  We knew that if I could talk through the contractions then I was okay to continue laboring at home.  She stayed on the phone with me as I explained how I was doing and she could gauge my situation.  We decided that all was going well.  My husband came home and we went through a few hours of contractions using the various positions that we had practiced and that Heather had recommended.  I was having back labor so we found that the best position was being on my hands and knees, a position that Heather recommended.  Finally after a few hours, the contractions were frequent and strong enough to head to the hospital.  My husband called Heather on the way and she met us there. 

 

From the beginning Heather was right by my side through every contraction.  She and my husband became partners in helping me find the best positions, breathe through my contractions and relax my body.  She gave so many helpful suggestions to make things easier.  She helped me use the birthing ball and also suggested the bathtub which was a wonderful place to labor!  She massaged my feet and stroked my back.  Above all else, she encouraged me.  She was completely calm and confident in my abilities which was so important to me.  She gave my husband a break when he needed it (I labored all night long) and talked to the nurses as they came in and out.  I had a midwife who was to deliver my son and she and Heather clicked as well.  There is also something about Heather that makes you feel like you can be however you need to be around her.  Of course you find yourself in some vulnerable and compromising positions when in labor but Heather honestly doesn't have an ounce of judgment in her.  I never felt uncomfortable at all.  I think a big part of this is that Heather honestly believes that a laboring woman is beautiful and that birthing a child in all of its messiness and difficulty at times is the most amazing experience to witness. 

 

When it finally came time to push, Heather reminded me that I wanted to be in the squatting position in order to keep myself as open as possible.  She helped me get into the position and gave me honey sticks to help keep my energy up as I was getting ready to push.  My husband held me up from behind and Heather was right by my side as I went through push after push.  The contractions were so powerful and the force and pressure of my son coming out was unbelievable.  Heather was invaluable during this time as I needed that support to let me know that everything was okay.  When my son was born, Heather shared in the joy and excitement right along with us. 

 

Heather just has a presence about her.  She is grounded and strong, compassionate and nurturing.  She had an unwavering confidence in me.  I don't know if I could have done it without her.  I hope to have another child soon and if I am lucky enough to, Heather will be my first call.  I don't want to labor without her.

A Reluctant Induction by Kerry  

Even long before I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to have a doula to help me through childbirth.  So, when it finally came time, I interviewed a few and really felt I “clicked” with Heather.  She has such a calming energy, and I especially liked that she had visited Ina May Gaskin’s farm to receive training. I enjoyed a very easy pregnancy and as my due date approached, I was filled with excitement and anticipation over the impending birth.  My nesting instinct kicked in and I scrubbed my tub thinking I would use it while laboring.  I envisioned creating a calm environment at home; candles, music and Heather and my husband helping through contractions… My due date came and went without even a hint of a contraction and knew my doctor was going to start talking about induction.  I eventually “allowed” them to schedule an induction date anticipating that I wouldn’t make it that long anyway.  But days passed and still no contractions.  The days leading up to the induction were by far the most stressful days of my pregnancy.  I tried everything I could think of to help my little one arrive naturally (acupuncture, primrose oil, castor oil, walking, sex, warm bath…) but nothing helped.  Eventually, I surrendered to the induction.  While I was deeply saddened that I was not letting nature take its course, I needed to end the waiting game as it was causing me more emotional stress than I could handle.  I mourned the decision for a few hours but ultimately felt relief that I didn’t have to deal with the stress any longer.  Heather and I spoke often during this period; she was reminding me to relax, offering suggestions on how to start labor.  It was so helpful to have her to talk to and to vent to as she helped me remember that the best part was yet to come. I arrived at the hospital at 7:00 am on August 8 and my Pitocin drip started around 8:30.  I waited until around 12:00 to call Heather because the contractions were still quite mild.  When she arrived at the hospital I felt both excitement and relief.  With her arrival, my “birth team” was now assembled and ready to go.  For the first hour she was there we really just chatted and caught up.  Then the fun really started.  The nurse would periodically turn up my Pitocin drip and at one point, within a matter of two or three minutes my contractions went from a 4 to a 9.  I got really scared.  My first thought was “how am I going to do this?”  Heather immediately got to work calming me down, rubbing my back, and reminding me to relax my hands.  I asked the nurse to turn down my Pitocin drip to a more manageable level and to my surprise, she actually did. Although I was hooked up to the monitor continuously (hospital policy if you’re on Pitocin), I was still able to walk around by hooking up the belts to a portable device.  I was determined to keep moving and stay out of bed.  When the contractions grew stronger though, I needed to get in the shower. In the shower, I would spray my belly with the shower head during contractions while my husband massaged my lower back.  During one contraction I began to moan.  It was a long, deep moan.  Heather had helped us practice this technique during her home visit with us.  I remember thinking then that it felt odd and unnatural, but for some reason during labor it came naturally and I just started moaning spontaneously.  Heather popped her head in the bathroom to offer some encouragement; “those are some great sounds, Kerry.” I’m not sure why, but I left the shower and moved to the floor in the delivery room.  By that time I was completely naked (Heather was right, I couldn’t have cared less) and was on my hands and knees leaning on a stability ball.  I stayed in this position right up to the point of pushing. While on the floor, Heather and my husband had a great system to get me through contractions.  Between contractions, Heather was feeding me ice chips and putting a cold washcloth on the back on my neck.  Once my moaning signaled that another contraction was starting, Heather took my hands, reminding me to relax them, applied acupressure, and offered encouraging words in her quiet, calm voice.  My husband would begin massaging my back until my contraction passed.  And then there was the lovely scent of lavender oil that Heather was using to massage my upper back and hands.  During this time, I used another technique Heather asked us to practice; I repeated a mantra over and over in my head.  What worked for me was the phrase “this is just a feeling” telling myself that I was okay, the contractions were a feeling, but not pain.  The moments between contraction were quite fun actually.  I remember being very present and even cracking a few jokes here and there. The nurse checked me while I was still on the floor and told me I was 8-9 centimeters.  I was astonished that I was that far along because it really didn’t seem like I had been laboring that long.  I felt such relief because even though the contractions were wild and intense, I knew I was getting close.  And I also felt victorious because I knew I was going to get through it all without an epidural.  My birth may not have started the way I wanted it to, but at least I knew it was going to end the way I wanted it to.  Eventually, my moaning turned to pushing without me even realizing it.  I remember hearing Heather telling my husband that I was pushing, she could tell by the sound of my voice.  I pushed on the floor while still on my hands and knees until the nurses finally wanted me to get into the bed.  Heather asked if I could squat in the bed rather than lay down which helped quite a bit.  I tried pushing “naturally” (without coaching) for a while and was making some progress but not much.  Eventually, Heather and the nurses helped coach me making my pushes much more effective. As delivery was getting closer, Heather asked if I could deliver on my side, as opposed to on my back because I just couldn’t bear being on my back.  I am so thankful because she knew exactly what was going on with me and what was going to be the most comfortable position for me.  I was not able to articulate this myself.  During the pushing phase, I just remember lots of coaching, cheering and encouragement.  It was so wild and surreal that I was about to meet my baby.  I just kept focusing on what he or she might look like and finally getting to hold him or her in my arms.  According to the clock it been about 5 hours from the time that contractions really started, but I had no concept of time.  It could have been 30 minutes for all I knew. With one final push, our beautiful daughter was born and my husband and I fell madly and deeply in love. I felt so proud and so powerful but at the same time I was humbled by all the love and encouragement I received.  I had such admiration for Heather being able to stay so calm, so present, so supportive.  It was as if she were family.  She was just as much a partner in the birth process as my husband was.  I had been so scared facing the induction but Heather helped me forget about that, forget that it wasn’t part of my plan, and focus on wild and miraculous journey of childbirth anticipating my  needs and articulating them when I could not.  I am so happy to have shared this experience with Heather.  She truly has an amazing spirit.

 

Birth Story by Deborah Stroh 

I was in labor with my first child, so I didn't really know what to expect.  Well, I thought I did; I'd read many birth stories, and three or four different books about what to do while in labor.  I was also convinced that I'd go past my due date, so when I went into labor 9 days before that magic number, I wasn't mentally prepared.

 

We were having a home birth, and I'd left work early after two hours of "contractions" that felt like menstrual cramps.  I couldn't believe it was actually happening, and it seemed so fast.  My husband Eric helped time the contractions, which were about 4 minutes apart.  I was having trouble dealing with them because they seemed to be running together with no real break.  I needed time to switch gears and get on top of things, but the baby was coming and there was no pause button.  Eric made the calls to Heather and our midwife, but he was feeding off my anxiety.  We were both a little scared.

 

Heather arrived as I was sprawled over my blue exercise ball.  I was greatly relieved to have a professional there!  She got down on the floor with me and asked me how I was doing.  I felt like I could handle it with her by my side, and I started to relax and go with the flow of the contractions.  Heather was calm and peaceful, and made sure I was as comfortable as possible.  I spent a lot of time in the hands and knees position, and Heather would use light touch massage on my back and hips.  I often focused on her slow movements to counteract the force of the contractions. 

 

When we changed to a standing or squatting position, Eric stepped in to support me physically.  Heather was still close by with my water glass, and made sure to keep my hair out of my face.  She was not too embarrassed to help me get to the toilet, nor did she flinch when I needed to puke.

 

After my water broke the contractions took on a new dimension, and I could tell the baby was moving down.  I was again leaning over the blue ball, and needed to pull against Eric.  It felt like a freight train in my abdomen, and I remember thinking that if I didn't hang on with both hands I'd be forced backwards with the power of the contractions.  I guess this was the pushing phase, but it was more like I was getting pushed.   I certainly didn't need to add any of my own power. 

 

As I neared crowning we switched again to squatting.  Heather had some honey sticks and more water for me.  She refreshed the cool washcloth for my forehead, and held a warm one to my perineum.  The 8-10 minutes from when the baby's hair was visible to when his head was out seemed like forever.  Heather was supporting my leg as the midwives stepped in to catch him on the next contraction.  We had a beautiful baby boy!

 

Heather provided a calm anchor for me.  She didn't leave my side, but at the same time allowed for my husband to be as involved as he could be in the birth of our son.  She helped me through my labor so my midwives could concentrate on the medical details of the birth.  I will always cherish the pictures she sent us of my final moments of labor and our son's first moments in the outside world.  I would recommend her to anyone wanting a smooth and peaceful birth. 

 

 

"Every labor is different" by CourtneyOmega Turner 

I can't count how many times I'd heard this but as I entered my second pregnancy I couldn't help but wish that my next labor would be like my first one. I'd had my daughter in a quiet caring facility with a doctor who had impeccable bedside manner and a team of committed and loving nurses. It was a natural vaginal delivery and even though I'd never attended a childbearing class, the attending staff talked me through it as throughout the entire process the pains gradually increased.

 

A little over a year later I learned the exciting news that I was going to have a son! Yay! In a new city and of course faced with finding a new pregnancy support team, I thought I'd finally found a great way to improve my first labor experience. I was going to have a female doctor and a CNM, how excited was I? Very, until my CNM told me that she had no intention of attending my delivery and if I went past the the EDD, the attending physician (whom I'd ever met) wasn't guaranteed to be there. I was given this information two weeks prior to my EDD, nonetheless.

 

I was incredibly disappointed but after a day of sulking I decided to take this labor back in my own hands. I sent out a message on a doula board and even though I was bombarded with responses, I'd already been destined to meet with Heather. She was referred to me by another awesome doula because of her availability and commitment to care.

 

We met and I instantly was impressed with how warm and sincere she was. Not only was she knowledgeable but she didn't mind listening to my uneducated, though limitedly researched suggestions. Even before I made a payment for her services, Heather followed through with information and every time I called or text or emailed, she immediately responded. Not only was I impressed, I was touched. She attended my remaining doctor visits with me and talked with me about everything under the sun as I waited to be seen on a busy Friday morning by my CNM.

 

And the labor night? Well, I'd become anxious after going a week past my due date but Heather assured me repeatedly that I knew my body and my son's movements better than anyone and I should trust my gut. Her quote "Now is the time for faith not fear" resonated with me and gave me newfound hope for the best.

 

At about 3 in the morning I awoke with the familiar signs of labor but these contractions, as Heather predicted, were quickly on top of one another. I phoned Heather and informed her of the timing. She was witty and deliberate with her response, "Wow! You're gonna have that baby! YAY!" Even through my buckling labor pains, I managed a smile. Yay! I was going to have my baby. It was amazing to know someone else was just as excited about my son's birth as I was. She was waiting at the hospital when I arrived a half hour later and didn't leave my side for a second during the process. Even as she was right next to me I called her name loudly and desperately with each pang of labor. The smell of her massage lotion wafted through the air as she confidently spoke to the nurses on my behalf as my husband tended to my daughter. My labor progressed swiftly, which caused Heather to act even quicker. Keeping up with the intense labor wasnt an easy task. Even the nurses had a tough time. They couldn't even get an iv in me to monitor because the contractions were bearing down so frequently.

 

The doctor arrived a little after 5 am and I was fully dilated and ready to go. I thought Heather would take a watchful role at this point but I was wrong, fortunately. She positioned herself behind me so that I would have support as well as get the most out of my pelvic position while pushing the baby out. The pain was mounting but I could feel Heather's steady encouragement as I bore down for my final push. He was out and I was elated but so pleased that not only was my labor this time different, it was better. Heather made that difference!

 

 

The Birth of Selah by Tara Greer