PERSONAL TESTIMONY
Thoughts
&
Musings
"I couldn't have imagined a smoother labor and delivery": Positive HomeBirth Story. Baby #4
Our Baby BOY has arrived!
Sunday, March 12th, 2023.
~39 weeks pregnant
I woke up feeling exceptionally tired. Tired isn’t the word. I felt exhausted. We ended up streaming church that day, while I tried to lay on the couch as much as I could. For the remainder of the week, I woke up closer to 8AM, barely able to open my eyes. If I could, I would have easily remained in the bed until 11 AM…but you know, I had three other little ones to care for. Apart from my first trimester, I hadn’t felt this level of exhaustion throughout the pregnancy. But the level of tiredness I felt did feel reminiscent to the end of my first pregnancy with my firstborn son. Considering that my last two pregnancies were girls, it made me more convinced that I was carrying a boy this time around.
Wednesday-Thursday March 15th-16th, 2023.
Mild cramping and lower back pains began. At this point, I could only manage to get through our usual morning homeschool activities. But after lunch, I let the kids independently play with one another while I laid on the couch until my husband came home. I hadn’t experienced period-like cramps with my other pregnancies and the level exhaustion seemed to have been increasing at this point.
Friday, March 17th, 2023
I had a sudden burst of energy. My mother came over to watch the kiddos while I went out and bought a few plants for the house. I did a few house projects and felt oh-so-satisfied.
Saturday, March 18th, 2023.
Stronger contractions began anytime I moved around the house. Most noticeably, I began to become easily irritated by the smallest of things. I was very snappy towards my husband, and I didn’t want my kids to touch me. I simply felt annoyed allllllll day and didn’t know why. The contractions weren’t consistent, nor were they very strong, but something was bothering me.
That night, I went to bed early and slept with a peanut ball between my legs in order to create more room in my pelvic area for the baby to move on down. At this point, I felt very much ready for our baby to be born.
Sunday, March 19th, 2023
12:00 AM
I woke up out of my sleep due to a very intense contraction. I grabbed my laptop and began watching Abbott Elementary, Season 1 Episode 1. Months prior, I made a list of shows to watch during intense contractions and postpartum nighttime feedings. Well, the contraction I experienced at 12:00AM constituted itself as an “intense” contraction, and so the episode commenced.
For the next hour, the contractions came and went. They were intense but not super consistent. I used the restroom (i.e. diarrhea) and saw that I had lost my mucus plug. At this point, I reasoned that if I were to go into the labor within the next few hours, I wanted our kitchen and living room to be clean. We planned on having a home birth and the downstairs was a mess. I grabbed my robe and waddled downstairs, where I found my husband asleep on the couch. I began washing the dishes and woke him up to take out the trash and to help me tidy up the living room. My husband had been through enough births to know that when I was operating in a certain “mode,” he didn’t ask questions. He just obliged to any of my “absurd” demands. By 1:30 AM, everything looked to my satisfaction. I texted my midwife and doula to let them know that I had lost my mucus plug and was having more intense contractions-but nothing unbearable. I let them know that I planned on going back to sleep and would update them in a few hours.
5:30 AM
I woke up again due to contractions and couldn’t lay back down. I texted my midwife and doula again. I knew that these contractions weren’t super intense and so I didn’t tell them to come over just yet.
6:30 AM
Contractions ceased completely.
All 3 kiddos woke up.
7:30 AM
My two oldest got up and got dressed, while my husband made their breakfast. They were excited to go to church, but I knew that I needed to stay home with my husband nearby. I texted my parents to see if my two oldest kiddos could go to church with them. My husband then dropped our oldest two kiddos off with my parents while I stayed home with our one-year-old.
At this point, I was having contractions- but again, nothing unbearable.
12:00 PM
I laid back down and began watching Abbot Elementary. Somewhere in the middle of the episode, I fell asleep with the peanut ball in between my legs.
1:00 PM
I woke up due to a VERY intense contraction. I went to the restroom and straddled my legs around the toilet in reverse to open up my pelvic area more. The contractions began to come full throttle.
1:40 PM
Within a group chat with my doula, husband, and midwife, I texted my doula and asked her to come over.
My midwife called me and said that she was on her way. I couldn’t talk through my contractions anymore.
2:15 PM
My midwife and doula arrived. My midwife checked me and I was 7-9cm dilated. FYI: You only need to be 10cm dilated to begin pushing. My midwife began setting up her equipment and informed her assistants to head on over. My doula and I began to do abdominal lift and tucks during the contractions to help the baby engage the pelvis. After our fourth or so abdominal lift and tuck, I felt lots of pressure in my pelvis and wanted to move downstairs (away from our carpeted floor) in case I was ready to begin pushing.
3:00 PM
After moving through several contractions downstairs, I moved to our 1/2 bathroom to straddle my legs around the toilet. My midwife reminded me that I typically made the most progress in this position. Sure enough, my water broke minutes later. My baby was moving on down. I recall my midwife saying, “Jessica, do you need to push? I need you to get up.” I wailed back, “I CAN’T. I don’t want to get up!” With this being the third pregnancy that my midwife has overseen, I’ve learned when my midwife is being firm, despite her very very gentle approach. “Jessica, I need you to get up for the safety of the baby.” I got up and went back to the living room for her to check me. I recall needing her reassurance that my contractions were not in vain. “The baby is going down right?” I asked. My midwife retorted, “This baby can’t go any further down,” she looked up with a smile. Even still, I didn’t believe her. I wanted everything to be over. I felt so tired.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
My mom stopped by and tried to stay in the background. My doula asked if it would be good if my mama could hug me for a second. My mom was elated to do so. She gave me a quick hug and kiss before leaving.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
This was me sitting on our toilet in our 1/2 bathroom while going through more intense contractions. At one point, my water broke in this position. How convenient for clean up haha.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
Our one-year-old daughter was waiting to be picked up by my husband’s parents while I was in labor. Isn’t she the cutest?!
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
Listening to my Christian Hypnobirthing App truly helped me breathe through the contractions. I love their visualizations track.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
My husband peeping his head over to see me, while I labored in our 1/2 bathroom. He was simultaneously looking after our one-year-old as well.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
Smiling in between contractions. When you’re not contracting, life feels so normal lol.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
I was minutes away from pushing at this point. My midwife knelt down beside me and whispered the most beautiful prayer over me. She prayed for my strength.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
My doula supporting me through some very intense contractions.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
I knew I could begin pushing but I felt so tired. I asked my midwife if I could just lay down for a second to rest up. She told me I could. She asked my husband to support me from behind. The moment I felt my husband’s touch, my entire body just relaxed all-around. I asked my midwife if I could push from that position and she said I could. I usually pushed my children out on my hands and knees, but I felt so tired and that position on my husband felt too good. I began pushing.
My husband supporting me minutes before I began pushing.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
Baby BOY ARRIVED at 4:04 PM!
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
PURE ELATION! I seriously couldn’t believe that it was all over. I was in complete disbelief.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
The very moment that my husband found out that we had a BOY! This was our first time finding out the gender of our baby.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
My husband’s expression…simply priceless.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
Moments after being born.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
EUPHORIC HIGH.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
My 3 sisters on FaceTime after hearing the news.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
Three generations in one photo. What a gift.
**Photos by sarabethcreative.com
To any beautiful mama about to have her baby. Eat your dates, do your squats, get chiropractic care, go through child birth education classes. But you better not forget this…
“ …apart from me you can do nothing.” -Jesus John 15:5
So pray my sister. And ask those around you to do the same. You got this :)!
Eli James Stephens
7lbs 12 oz
March 19th, 4:04 PM.
Psalm 127:3 “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”
Thank you for the prayers, the gifts, the cards, the food, the love. Thank you.
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They Thought We Were Crazy to Plan a Home Birth...And Then Corona Happened. Here's Our Labor and Delivery Story.
When Corona happened, I’m so thankful we had the option to labor at home.
Before Evan (husband) and I tried to conceive for the second time around, we wanted to select our healthcare provider first.
For our firstborn, we were under the care of a midwifery group in Chicago. This midwifery group was affiliated with a hospital and only did in-hospital births. Since we had such a pleasurable experience with our midwives in Chicago for both our prenatal care and labor and delivery, we knew that we wanted a midwife again—especially after reading too many horror stories regarding the subpar treatment of African-American women during labor and delivery.
But once we moved to Memphis, we realized that our options were more limited.
9 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl.
We couldn’t find a midwifery group affiliated with a reputable hospital near our home. And there aren’t any birthing centers in Memphis. Therefore, we decided, after much prayer and research, to do a home birth with a midwife of choice. By the grace of God, we landed our feet with the best midwife in Memphis. Many thought we were crazy to do this.
But let me tell you.
Our prenatal care was out of this world. I’ve never felt more heard and seen. It felt like this midwife cared for me and my baby with the mindset that she would one day have to stand before God and give an account for her treatment of me and my baby girl. Her reverence and respect for my health, and the health of my child, were unmatched.
In addition to the superb care I received, the level of accessibility to my midwife truly mattered during nights when I was at a loss and needed answers to questions.
But more than that, when Corona happened, I’m so thankful we had the option to labor at home.
I know the ability to have a home birth is not accessible to everyone, nor do I ONLY advocate for home births. There are circumstances in which a hospital birth is needed and probably better for a person’s psyche, depending on the woman.
But for me, I’m thankful my husband and I chose this path because it made a world of a difference being able to labor at home. I felt at peace. I felt relaxed. And due to Covid-19, the added perks were that laboring at home meant I could still have my doula by my side while laboring; I didn’t have to worry about possibly being exposed to Covid-19 while hospitalized with other patients and being separated from my baby girl if I tested positive (stories like this were coming out around the time of my labor in May).
But enough of that.
Here’s the story of my labor and delivery. In this post, I use several technical terms because, honestly, other women’s stories helped me in the past to make decisions. And such stories gave me hope. This is why I write in such detail. Enjoy!
I woke up around 11:30 PM to use the restroom. This time, things felt different. While using the restroom, I felt a slight cramp while pooping. I glanced at my phone and saw a missed phone call from my mom that was sent around 10:30 PM. My mom is typically in bed by 9:00 PM. She never calls past 9:30 PM.
“Hey Mama, I was asleep when you called. Is everything okay?” I texted.
“Yes. Just calling to check-in,” she texted back immediately.
Then I knew. I knew exactly why she was calling.
She was calling to see if I was in labor. And I think I was.
Around 3:30 AM, I raised myself up off of the bed for the third time that night. What I was feeling weren’t Braxton Hick contractions. These were the beginnings of labor. I woke up my husband and let him know that I was sleeping in the living room because I’d been having contractions for the past hour. He got up, pumped more air in my birth ball, helped me downstairs, and then went back to sleep. By this second birth, we both understood that labor doesn’t always come quickly and that we would both need our energy for what was to come.
Thankfully, I got another two hours of restful sleep and then texted my mom around 6:00 AM to come pick up Evan Jr., our two-year-old son. I was still having irregular contractions that were stronger than Braxton Hicks.
I texted my doula and my midwife and let them know that I’d been having contractions. At this point, my mucus plug hadn’t dislodged yet nor had my water broken.
My midwife came over by 8:30 AM to check my effacement and dilation. I was 3cm dilated. She did a membrane sweep to help kick start things and then she left my husband and me alone to labor peacefully at home. I’ve heard this before, but women often don’t like to be watched while laboring—especially in the beginning stages. This couldn’t have been more true for this labor.
After my midwife left, Evan finished some last-minute emails before taking off work for the day, and I set off to clean the house. When we both finished, we went outside for a walk around 10:00 AM. At this point, the contractions left me paralyzed in place until they passed. I was definitely in labor.
This position on my birth ball felt great in between contractions.
Although the contractions were fairly strong, they were also very much irregular. As with my first pregnancy, I thought I was having “prodromal labor”, But what I’d soon find out, I’m simply prone to having irregular contractions during all of my labor (even when in active labor—6cm+ dilated).
As Evan and I walked outside, anytime I felt a contraction, Evan knew to become completely quiet, to grab my waist from behind, and to squeeze my hips together until the contraction passed. In addition to regular walking, I did some curbside walking too. After 30 minutes, we went back inside.
At this point, my doula came over and helped Evan set up the birth pool in our bedroom. She coached me through different positions to do while contracting. She brought over a peanut ball and instructed me to lie on my side and to prop my leg over the peanut ball for about 30 min-60 min on each side. And then she showed me the following exercises: forward-leaning inversion, rebozo manteada, and walking up the stairs sideways. Although my doula advised me to do these exercises, she emphasized the need for me to rest as much as possible. I was going to need my energy once my contractions picked up later on...especially during the “transition.” At this point, my contractions were definitely more acute than Braxton Hick contractions but they weren’t unbearable.
Birth pool. For those of you wondering, there is a lining underneath the pool as well.
Once my doula left, Evan Sr. and I began watching a movie while I propped my leg over the peanut ball. Then we ordered some Indian food. While I laid on my side, I still had contractions, but again, they weren’t unbearable. Many times, Evan Sr. didn’t know I was even having them. By the time the movie was over, I got up off the couch to use the restroom and realized that the back of my pants was wet as if I had used the restroom on myself.
My water had officially broken!
I was told that the peanut ball would help open up my pelvis. I just didn’t expect my water to break so quickly.
Evan and I eating takeout food and watching a movie. The blue ball is the peanut ball.
Now that my water was broken, I knew that my contractions were definitely about to pick up. (My midwife needed to know the exact time my water had broken, the color of the water, and the smell.) At this point, I became more excited. I never experienced my water breaking on its own with our first child (my midwives ended up breaking it) and so this was exciting for me to experience.
Sure enough, my contractions began to become more intense, but they were still very much irregular—every 5, 10, or 20 minutes. Around 4:00 PM, my midwife came back over.
Here’s what’s crazy. The moment my midwife came over, my contractions completely stopped. The reason why was because my midwife brought her assistant over as well. I didn’t realize just how much my body would respond to the presence of a stranger. Due to COVID-19, I never had the opportunity to meet my midwife’s assistant beforehand, as a precautionary measure to limit unnecessary exposure. But here she was. And although the assistant was extremely nice and friendly, my body still responded by my cervix beginning to close back up. My midwife checked me and I was 5.5 cm dilated. Since I still had some ways to go, I thought I’d feel better if my midwife and her assistant left (since my midwife lived 5 min away) and came back later to check me.
Once the midwife and the assistant left, Evan and I watched another movie. I laid down with the peanut ball, and we ordered some more takeout (Moroccan food). My contractions were more intense at this point, and Evan definitely knew whenever I contracted.
Around 8:30 PM, my midwife and her assistant came back over to check how far along I was. Right before they came over, I was mopping the floor and Evan was putting dishes up. I share this because although my contractions were more intense, things were completely normal in between contractions. Honestly, watching movies and carrying on as normal helped time to go by more quickly.
In the middle of my midwife checking me, I had the most intense contraction while lying on my back (it’s unfortunate that many conventional healthcare providers ask many women to labor like this). Although I was dilating more (6.5 cm), my effacement remained the same. Apparently, baby girl was coming down but then going back up. If I didn’t do something differently, this was going to be a long labor. In order to help baby girl contract downwards, my midwife used a Boba wrap to wrap around my belly and tied it right underneath my belly as a sort of bind Whenever I contracted, this belly bind helped baby girl go downwards instead of outwards. Once this wrap was tied around my waist, I could tell an immediate difference in my contractions. My contractions were much more intense.
After I was checked, the assistant recommended I sit backward on top of a toilet and spread my legs out to help my cervix open up more. I did this for about five contractions and became extremely tired. I could feel the baby pushing downwards. The assistant shared with me that she had two children and that her labors were quite long. For whatever reason, by the assistant sharing her childbirth experience with me made me relax completely. I no longer viewed her as a stranger. Just knowing that this was another mother who had gone through what I was currently going through (and probably a lot more), made me feel connected to her.
Around 9:30 PM, I decided to lay back down with the peanut ball as the contractions were becoming very painful. At one point, I thought to myself, I really need my Doula now! My doula had experienced seven natural births. She understood me and had a motherly way about her that made me trust her completely. I knew my mom would have a difficult time watching me in so much pain and I needed her to take care of Evan Jr. So having my doula there meant everything. I didn’t realize that I had forgotten to tell my doula to come back over at this point (she only lived five minutes away.) But without me realizing, I guess my doula just had a hunch, she came back over on her own volition. With the next contraction, she was already behind me holding me! When I saw her behind me, I just cried because the contractions were hurting pretty badly at this point and I needed her.
After a few contractions lying down with the peanut ball, I wanted to change rooms. We all headed downstairs, and at this point, I began to feel exhausted. I felt the baby coming down and the contractions were growing more intense. I needed to sleep.
Here I am lying on my side with my leg propped over the peanut ball.
Apparently, at this point, I’d go into a deep sleep (snoring and everything) and then wake up the moment a contraction came. I was still having irregular contractions, although they were growing more intense.
After three hours of going in and out of sleep, my body began to do some weird bodily stuff. During a contraction, I’d become hot, and then right after the contraction passed, I’d become very cold. At one point, I began shivering and shaking—indicating a change in hormones. Later I had an episode of throwing up profusely and then felt the urge to poop. It seemed like my body was being taken over. Transition was coming. But the baby didn’t seem to be anywhere in sight (from my perspective.)
I had no concept of time. Hours and minutes blurred together. My only focus was making it through the next contraction. I could feel myself growing weary. At one point, I turned on the song “Waymaker” and in between contractions, I said aloud repeatedly “I CAN DO THIS.”
But I felt so weak inwardly.
I really needed the Lord.
At 4:00 AM. I was done. I couldn’t take it anymore. I looked at my midwife and rhetorically asked, “How long? How much longer do I have to do this?”
My midwife, in her melodic voice, continued to reassure me that I was doing an amazing job, that I was so strong, and that this labor was going really well. My doula echoed her same sentiments. I didn’t believe a single word. I needed to know how much longer. My husband, midwife, and doula appeared crazy. At this point, I didn’t know how they could possibly sit here and watch me go through this. Then I began to wonder how my midwife and doula even had natural births...and then chose to do it multiple times. All I knew was that I needed this baby out of me. In response to my midwife and doula’s commentary, I told them with great assertion that I was done laboring in the positions that they were advising me to labor in (which were all for the purposes of opening up my cervix).
I looked at Evan and told him to go get the pool ready. I needed some relief. I hadn’t gotten in the birth pool up until then because my contractions were still so irregular. Evan, my midwife, and my doula were concerned that If I labored in the pool, my body would relax too much and stop contracting all together. This happened during my first labor with Evan Jr.
But I didn’t care. I needed relief.
My midwife approved and told me to do whatever I needed to do in order to rest. With that, Evan and the assistant ran upstairs and began getting the birth pool ready. But after 20 minutes, the pool still wasn't’ ready and I was angry. I got up and told my midwife and doula that I needed to squat for the next contraction. I just needed some sort of relief.
My midwife told me to do whatever I felt was comfortable. With that, I took two steps to the living room and squatted. I endured three or four contractions while squatting. At one point, I asked my midwife to hold me while I contracted. Her embrace helped so much. These contractions were coming right after each other, which was in complete contrast to the irregular contractions that I was experiencing before.
After the fourth contraction, I got on all fours and pushed.
I felt something coming out and heard something. It almost sounded like an egg hatching. At this point, I believe my midwife thought I was pooping. But then I began doing a deep inner groan while pushing.
I heard my midwife and doula pause. I could tell that they had heard this type of groan all too often and knew what it meant, even if I didn’t. This baby was coming out...now!
My midwife yelled for her assistant and for Evan to come downstairs immediately. I heard feet hitting the stairs. But I was in such a transfixed state. I just kept groaning from deep within and pushing. At this point, my doula was facing me eye to eye and telling me to breathe. “You’re almost there sweetheart. Keep breathing. You’re doing great. This baby is coming. Yes, just like that, ” she kept repeating assuredly. My midwife was behind me. One thing I kept hearing my midwife say was, “Slow and steady. You’re doing great. Slow and steady. Push on the next contraction. Slow and steady.”
Our baby girl’s head was already out.
What’s interesting is that with this birth, unlike my first in which I had an epidural, the pushing was the best part. It felt so good to push. It felt so natural. I didn’t need advice on how to push, when to push, or what position to get into. I just knew. I knew to groan from deep within. To get on all fours. To push whenever I felt like I was supposed to push.
Within seconds, the baby glided out.
Our baby girl cried immediately! My midwife cleared her nose and lungs and then handed Ada to me between my legs. I was still on all fours. I reached for Ada between my legs and then everyone helped me slowly sit down on my bottom.
After that, everything's a blur. Her umbilical cord was cut. I do remember laying back and delivering my placenta (it happened so quickly). And I do recall giving Ada back to the midwife so the midwife could do some quick assessments. At this point, I could feel my perineum swelling up but I wasn’t in pain due to not having any tearing, praise the Lord. I’m so thankful my midwife told me to go slow and steady while pushing. My doula and midwife then helped me to the restroom to pee and to put on a diaper. Afterward, Evan guided me to the couch so I could feed Ada. Ada latched on instantly. Her body felt so warm. Her vernix smelled so sweet. And her beauty captivated us all. I bonded with her instantaneously.
Later, my doula and midwife shared with me that they knew the baby was coming the moment I said, “I can’t do this anymore.” Apparently, every woman says that right before the baby comes.
And I was no different. I’m so thankful for this experience.
Ada Rose was born on May 27th at 4:20 AM.
Looking back, I felt like there were thousands of angels in my living room ministering to me during this birth. I felt the strength and presence of the Lord so acutely. With our first child, I truly believed that I was strong enough, well-read enough, child-birth educated enough to have a natural pregnancy. The Lord humbled me real quick. With this pregnancy, I knew I couldn’t do this without Him. I actually knew—not some false humility kind of “knew.” I seriously knew I needed the strength of the Lord.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it’s typically the moment a laboring mother says, “I can’t”, that her baby comes.
To any beautiful mama about to have her baby. Eat your dates, do your squats, get chiropractic care, go through child birth education classes. But you better not forget this…
“ …apart from me you can do nothing.” -Jesus John 15:5
so pray my sister. And ask those around you to do the same.