Birth of Eden
On June 5th, I started having some very mild period like cramping about 11:30 am, no pattern of any kind. We went to Home Depot around 3 pm to pick up some batteries and a curtain rod for our bedroom. Of course I had to walk through the garden section and look at all the plants. I ended up buying a new monstera plant that was asking to be rescued. These are important details, ha!
We got home, and at about 5:30 I went to the bathroom and lost a piece of my mucous plug (no blood.) Of course I snapped a picture, but I won’t share that now. Still only mild cramping with no pattern. I started to question whether it was just prodromal labor or if today was going to be the real deal.
Johnny and the kids were watching the movie Raya, and I started cleaning to get house ready for the birth “just in case.” I then baked some cinnamon crumb cake muffins with the kids to have some snacks ready. Baking with the kids wasn’t as relaxing as I had hoped, it just left a big mess. But I was thankful for some fresh muffins the next morning. I was still having mild cramping but they were starting to form some what of a pattern coming and going. About 8 pm, I sent a text to Samantha (friend), Chelsea (friend and photographer), and Jaymee (midwife) stating that I thought it would be tonight or tomorrow, and they were about every 7 minutes at that point.
Johnny went ahead and placed the Tens unit on my back. I’ve found that they’re the most helpful when applied early so your body can adjust.
I was laying down with the kids to put them to bed about 9:30 when Samantha knocked on the front door. They were excited to go out and greet her, but quickly returned to bed to go to sleep. I told them baby would likely be here in the morning, and by the grace of God they went to sleep quick! I visited with Samantha a little while I sat on the birth ball and she braided my hair. It was a lovely distraction. While in early labor during my previous birth, I had grabbed coffee with some girl friends at a local coffee shop and Samantha braided my hair for that birth too.
I walked around the house listening to worship music and swaying through the contractions. They were getting closer together but still felt very manageable. By 10:40 they were about every 4 minutes. They had picked up some in intensity but still felt pretty mild. I asked Johnny to do a few Spinning Babies exercises right before 11 pm. We started with Belly Sifting through a few contractions. I was down on my elbows and knees. He lifted the rebozo scarf under my belly and bicycled his arms. I stood up after and felt baby drop lower and I suddenly had more pressure. This is when I called our midwife Jaymee to tell her we were ready for them to join, and sent a quick text to Chelsea our photographer. I went ahead and laid on the edge of the bed to do the Side Lying Release. He started with the tightest side (I think), and waited while the leg released, we swapped to the other side. Once laying on the other side I felt a huge amount of pressure and was very uncomfortable. He wasn’t able to do the exercise on that side, I HAD to stand up. Looking back, I probably should have waited to do Spinning Babies until the midwives were in route and closer (oops ha) because if labor was just waiting until baby was perfectly lined up to pick up, it was then go time! But my mind was thinking it was still early and calm.
I decided to change into a robe before our birth photographer got there and do my make up. More important details for birth ha. I had to stop a few times and breathe through the waves while doing my makeup. We turned the music on in the bathroom and Johnny began to fill the tub. I had complained to him the day before about the water not getting hot enough, so he went in the attic and cranked the hot water heater up. He filled the bathtub with straight hot water thinking it would be a little while before I got in and it would have time to cool. This is when I felt that shift, and wanted to retreat within myself. I wasn’t interested in chatting and needed to focus. Chelsea arrived and started snapping pictures.
Around 11:55, I took off my Tens unit and got in the tub and wow that was some hot water. It felt nice and took away some of the discomfort. I was able to rest in between the waves until there wasn’t much time in between. I was feeling all the pressure. I began to try and breathe through the waves and rest in between. The song “Talking to Jesus” by Elevation Worship was playing on my playlist. It was perfect timing and a gentle reminder to pause and pray. By 12:05 I was feeling a lot of pressure down below and I was just waiting for the urge to push. I remember asking if the Midwives were close, and Samantha assured me they were. I’m not sure she actually knew that, but I was glad she said it anyway. Ha!
Things were getting intense. I then leaned into Johnny and told him that I wasn’t sure I could do this (which is a beautiful sign that baby is close! Usually when a mom says the “I can’t” and “I’m done” is because she’s close) I heard Chelsea whisper “you can do it momma” and that was just the gentle encouragement I needed. Baby was close. I remember thinking okay I can have this baby before the midwives get here, this is all normal and everything will be fine. My body was created perfectly and I trust God in this process. But when our midwife Jaymee arrived first at 12:08, I definitely felt relieved she was there. So while I said I wasn’t holding out for her, I feel I kind of intuitively was.
I reached down and could feel the amniotic sac still attached and bulging. This gave me a confidence boost that it was close and I knew once the water broke it would be quick! I began to push to see what it would feel like and it was intense but felt like that’s exactly what I had to do. Once I began to push, there was no stopping it. One contraction later, I pushed and could feel the whole baby’s head was out. I could feel a full bubble around baby’s head and the sac was still intact. I had Johnny reach down and get ready and just waited for the next contraction and pushed the rest of baby out. Baby was born at 12:13 am, and came out purple but thankfully screaming LOUD but pinked up quickly. We were waiting to find out gender, so we looked down and saw it was a GIRL. She was perfect. Her cord was under one arm and behind her shoulders and up through the other. Jaymee reached in to release her cord. Time paused and we were just able to soak in all the newness. Seeing our new daughter face to face made the long pregnancy so worth it. As we were admiring her, the song “You are my Sunshine” by Caleb and Kelsey came on. I remember adding it to my birth playlist by accident and thinking “I’ll probably delete that before birth, it’s cheesy” when listening through the songs. But then in the moment it was so perfect.
We stayed in the water until the placenta was delivered. Being the birth nerd I am, I had to get a good look at the placenta. How amazing our bodies can create a whole new organ to nourish the baby. What a miracle!
I didn’t have any tearing and after the placenta was delivered, Johnny held baby Eden and did skin-to-skin in bed while I showered and then crawled into bed. She latched quickly and was ready to eat! Samantha slipped off into the kitchen during our family bonding and made some of her famous (in our home) tortillas and started on steeping the herbal bath tea for me to use in the morning in my bath. My mom thought it was just an herbal tea and poured herself a cup and drank it. We all got a good laugh that she drank the herbs and epsom salt without complaint not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Side note; the herbal bath is totally safe for consumption but intended for a healing bath after birth. That’s one of my favorite memories from the birth (sorry mom, ha!)
The kids slept through it all, and got to meet their new baby sister in the morning when they woke up. My oldest thought she was the cutest thing and proclaimed the words “she’s so cuteeeee” on repeat for weeks. The now middle child wasn’t so sure at first, but is equally obsessed with her new baby sister now. I think they were most excited about the tortillas that morning, though.
PHOTO CREDIT: Chelsea McLure Birth & Lifestyle Photography
MIDWIFERY TEAM: In Bloom Midwifery
