Katrina is finally here!!!

[jhpjsmom]

I'm sorry I've been away so long, but Katrina is finally here!  Katrina Kay was born on Jan. 5th at 3:38am.  Her birth was beautiful and as peaceful as you can get.  She was born in our bath tub at home.  I'd love to share my birth story with everyone because it is the most beautiful experience of my life.

Katrina was due on Jan. 2, but like so many due dates, it came and went with no baby. :)  I had been contracting for over a month and was getting rather annoyed, but I was trying to be patient.  Then, on Friday the 4th at around 11am, I had a gush of bloody fluid.  At first I didn't think much of it, but I wondered if it was my water leaking.  A little while later, I had another gush of fluid, so I decided to give my midwife a call.  I wasn't having any contractions, but the law in this state says that a midwife cannot assist in a home birth after the waters have been broken for 24 hours.  So she recommended that I start on black and blue cohosh and do a lot of walking.  She also sent her assistant midwife over to check me and make sure it was really my water.  Sure enough, it was. :)  I was really excited.  It seemed like we had been waiting for so long for her to get here.  I called my husband, and he came home to help me and take care of the kids. 

Hours went by and nothing happened.  I dilated a little, I was between a four and a six, but I wasn't having consistent contractions.  My midwife decided to come just to be close.  I started getting discouraged because my back was hurting so bad but nothing was happening.  Then at a little before 11pm, my midwife suggested I take a dose of castor oil and go to sleep.  She could tell I was getting tired and discouraged.  She and her other assistant made beds on the floor in our living room and went to sleep.  My husband and I went to bed, but I couldn't get to sleep.  My contractions had finally started!  My body didn't even wait for the castor oil to work! LOL  About 12:30, the midwife came in to listen to the baby and check me.  I hadn't dilated much, but Katrina was finally far enough down that the contractions were making some difference.  She told me that when the contractions were coming no matter what I did, I could get in the tub.  Then she went back to bed.

A little after 1:30, I knew I needed to get in the tub.  Things were getting more intense, and I knew I needed to warm water.  When I got in the tub, I couldn't believe how wonderful it felt.  I had been shivering, but as soon as I entered the water the shivering stopped.  I think my midwife came in to listen to the baby again, but she didn't check me.  After four previous hospital births, this was such a welcome change!  A little while later I ended up throwing up, which was a good thing because I threw up the castor oil!  During the contractions I would hold onto my husband and moan low as I breathed.  I put my lips on his jaw and closed my eyes during the contractions.  I heard his voice but didn't listen to what he was saying.  I felt him breathing with me.  Toward the end, his stubbly jaw and his voice were the only real things in my life.  I could feel his strength and confidence in me.  Then the contractions started coming one on top of the other.  My moaning got louder and woke up my mom.  She has never seen or experienced a natural child birth.  She was scared and anxious for me, so she came into the bathroom.  I heard her ask my husband if she should get the midwife.  He ignored her and focused on me. :)  After two more contractions, he could tell from my body that I was getting ready to push.  He told my mom she could go and get the midwife.  When the midwife came she said the words that I couldn't wait to here.  "If you want to get this over with, you can push with your next contraction!"  YES!  With my next contraction, I pushed.  No one counted for me.  No 1, 2, 3, 4,... etc. until I want to smack someone.  No one told me not to make noise.  No one told me to hold my breath.  I was allowed to push how my body told me.  In two contractions Katrina's head was out!  Her shoulders got a little stuck, and my midwife told me to lay back a little more and push.  I was pushing, and I thought I was moving, but I wasn't. LOL  So my husband took me and spun me around a little so I could lay back a little.  Then Katrina was born in a rush of baby and fluid.  The midwife took her little body and handed her to me.  She spoke so gently to her.  There was no vigorous rubbing or suctioning.  Katrina was allowed to stay in the water on my belly and breath on her own.  She didn't even cry very much.  It was so peaceful.  It makes me cry to think of the way my daughter was treated with respect and love from the moment she was born.  There were no nurses or doctors treating her like she was less than human.  No bright lights shining in her eyes.  She wasn't taken from me until I stood to deliver the placenta, and even then she went straight to my husband.  I walked to my own bed and held her again, her skin to my skin.  She breastfed right away.  Our children were woken up and came to meet their baby sister for the first time.  

For an hour the midwives left us alone to bond as a family while they cleaned up.  They started a load of towels and sheets in the washer.  After the hour was over, it was time for the newborn exam.  Again, Katrina was treated with respect.  And Hanna, who had waited so long for a sister, was able to help with the newborn exam.  When it came time to weigh her, my mom said "I bet she's 7 pounds, 13 ounces."  I thought, no way.  My biggest baby had been 7lbs. 9oz.  She ended up weighing 7lbs, 15 oz, but the midwife said she was more like 8lbs or 8lbs, 1oz because she had already peed and pooped a few times!  So my mom had been close!

So that is my beautiful birth story.  Right after Katrina was born my midwife said to me, "So this is your first time without an epidural."  She said she thought I was going to kick her, but instead, I just gave her a great big smile!  It was so much better giving birth naturally in my own environment.  You don't remember the pain, all you remember is the joy.

[bsailors]

Jan. 21, 2008 at 6:31 PM Wow your story was beautiful. This is only my first baby so I am doing doctors and hospitials but next time I want a water birth....maybe. I will have to see how things go. Everybody swears I will beg for the epi I am such a baby myself! lol! I hope someday I am strong enough to have as beautiful of a birth as you have.

[tattooedsuess]

Jan. 21, 2008 at 8:27 PM Oh I'm so overjoyed for you!!!!!!!  I had tears in my eyes reading your birth story.  Isn't home birth the best ever?!?!  It's so great to have you back!!!!  Congratulations!!!!!

[MaMaAng]

Mar. 1, 2008 at 10:32 PM

Oh yay- I'm SO PROUD of you, and thrilled for your whole family!!! I *so* wish I was normal (and not 'high risk') and could have a home-water birth too.   I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!!  We've had the flu (the bad one), sinus infections and pink eye here for about 6 weeks altogether.... ugh!

Do you have a nursing necklace?   I'd love to send you one, if you'd like one.  I can make any color(s) you like, here's my etsy page if you'd like to choose: http://www.abcs.etsy.com.  Just PM me your mailing address and your color choices, and I'll make one and mail it to you and Katrina!!  Congrats & Hugs!!! ~Angie

[doulala]

Jun. 28, 2008 at 12:50 AM

That is SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 (It was a litle hard to read through my sobs & streaming tears... )

[Lynette]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 2:22 PM how did I never read this?  This will be my first w/out an epi too.  thank-you so much for sharing your story and your encouragement.  I am so excited to have birth directed by baby and me, not by docs and policy

[Jaspenelle]

Jul. 7, 2008 at 4:55 PM I loved reading your birth story! (I just put mine in my journal.) It sounds like it was a beautiful experience!