"You're braver than you believe.  Stronger than you seem.  And smarter than you think."                                                                         -Christopher Robin

MEREDITH
A Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section

From the very beginning everything about Meredith was unplanned, but that is about par for Jeff and me.  Our son had also been unplanned and his birth was anything but what was expected.  After the terror of his Cesarean birth, I was very reluctant to become pregnant again.  The thought of another birth experience like his was mortifying.  So when I began suffering from persistent nausea, I denied the possibility of pregnancy.  After about four weeks of queasiness, I felt a lump about the size of an orange just above my pubic bone.  I then admitted to myself and Jeff that I was pregnant.

I read Silent Knife and realized that I did not have to have cesarean birth.  Then as fate would have it, my husband talked to a man whose wife had a homebirth.  I was afraid that because of my previous Cesarean a homebirth would not be possible, but I began a search anyway.  I soon discovered that my conclusions were wrong.  I finally decided upon Jane Hitch as my midwife.

The remaining months of my pregnancy seemed to go remarkably well.  I began prenatal care at 19 weeks gestation and had nine prenatal home visits and one doctor’s visit.  I saw the doctor as my back-up physician.  The only thing that occurred during my pregnancy was anemia which I corrected by making changes in my diet and taking herbs like yellow dock.  At 35 weeks gestation all supplies for the birth were ready.  I had nothing to do but wait.  Waiting is the hardest part.

On November 3rd I began latent phase labor with diarrhea.  The contractions were intermittent for the next two days.  I felt very anxious during this time.  Jane came over to check on me.  I also got to hear the baby’s heartbeat for the first time, since I had requested that Jane not use a doppler and use her fetoscope up until this time. We talked about some of my expectations that might be holding me back.  After she left I tried to get some rest without much luck.  I decided to go on with my life as usual.  When I laid down to sleep that night, the contractions were coming heavier. The pain got so bad that at 1:00 am I called Jane.  We talked for awhile on the phone, because I did not want to cry at my birth, but she assured me that it was all right to cry if I needed to.  Jane arrived at my house at 3:30am. She felt I was doing well.  She worked with me on dealing with my contractions and relaxing.  When she checked me I was 4 centimeters. I then got in a tub of warm water to relax.  I would cope well for five or six contractions then yell, "Jane help me", and she would talk me through the contractions.  I tried sitting on the toilet. I tried deep breathing and relaxation. I tried visualization.  I tried anything and everything to relieve the pain.  Not until transition did I realize labor was suppose to hurt.

When transition stage came, my body just seemed to take over and do the work without giving my mind time to worry about the pain.  After releasing a primal scream my bag of waters broke with a gush.  I was completely dilated in a few more contractions.

Although my second stage lasted only 32 minutes, I never felt that overwhelming urge to push. I tried pushing in the kneeling position at first.  I was uncertain when to push.  I would waste 15 seconds of each contraction making certain it was really a contraction.  I switched to hands and knees.  All during second stage I yelled and grunted.  Jane did perineal support with hot compresses. Jane caught the baby.  I reached down and touched her face and said, "Mommy has a baby girl."

I picked her up and tried to nurse her, but she was not yet interested.  Jeff cut the cord then took her from me, rocked her in the rocking chair and talked to her while the placenta was being delivered.  Then he handed her back to me and I again put her to my breast.

I did not realize how wonderful my birth had been until I started to write this.  It has been fantastic remembering one of the best moments of my life and sharing it with you.  I look forward to one day having another beautiful homebirth.

WILLIAM “CASH” 
June 12, 2006, 12:17 A.M.
7 lbs. 14 oz
19 ¾ length
 
My first 30 weeks of pregnancy were what most people would consider as standard or the norm.  I was interested in natural childbirth and purchased the book Natural Childbirth: The Bradley Way.  Bob, my husband, and I spent the next couple weeks reading it and our views towards childbirth started to mature.  After several weeks of thought, we discussed our desires to have a natural Bradley birth with my obstetrician. Unfortunately, our doctor was not supportive of the Bradley method.  I knew I had to make some decisions soon, as I was about 34 weeks pregnant at the time.  Bob and I looked for midwives on the Internet.   This would be our first baby and we didn’t know anyone who used a midwife or much less anyone that had a home birth. The first webpage we found had a story of delivering 11 pound baby by vaginal delivery, all naturally.  We were instantly intrigued. I called several midwives, but I didn’t really click with any of them except Jane.  We decided to meet with Jane and we had a lengthy discussion with her regarding our needs.  It didn’t take us long to decide that she was the one and interestingly enough, it was Jane’s webpage that we first visited.  I truly desired a home birth and Jane accepted us as clients.
 
My pregnancy continued normally and my due date came and went.  I had consultation visits with the obstetrician Jane’s works with and Bob and I decided we would have an induction at the hospital if I reached 43 weeks gestation.  On  Sunday, June 11th I was 42 weeks plus 4 days pregnant.  We woke up at 6 a.m. that morning and we went for a walk in our neighborhood.  On the walk, I noticed small contractions unlike the previous ones I felt earlier in the week. These were pains very much like exaggerated menstrual cramps.  After our walk, I took a hot shower.  I was encouraged because the contractions were becoming more frequent and stronger.   Jane called around 10 a.m. to check on us.  We told her about the morning’s events and she thought I may be going into labor.  She came over to our home, examined me and said I was dilated  3 centimeters.  Jane stayed and the day continued with small contractions, but with slow progression.  Jane suggested I do something to take my mind off the labor – go see a movie, take a walk, etc.  I had no desire to go to a movie and it was just too hot outside to go for a walk.  She had the good idea for us to bake a birthday cake.  So, Bob and I went to the grocery store to get a mix and we also grabbed some dinner to bring home.  My contractions were feeling a little stronger through all of this.  We ate dinner and then started to make the cake – I mixed the batter and put into the pan. Before putting the cake in the oven, I asked Jane to do a vaginal exam.  My water broke about that time and my contractions really started to get intense. 
 
I couldn’t even finish the cake!  I remained in bed with the contractions until around 7 p.m.  They became very strong.  Jane recommended I shower to help me relax through the pains.  This worked great for me and I spent most of my labor there.  I remember feeling dazed and somewhat out of it – I was also very adamant about being in solitude and not bothered.  Despite my feelings, Jane really did have a magic touch.  She would intermittently caress my legs during my hardest contractions.  I don’t think I could have made it through some of those without her.  Jane called Sherry, her assistant, around 8 p.m.; I was about 6 cm dilated.  I was still in the shower when Sherry arrived.  Jane and Sherry were both so attentive to my needs.  I had my own personal birthing team.  

I asked for help getting into the bath tub when I was 9 cm.  It was in the tub I started to get the desire to push.  Around 11 p.m., listening to my body, I crawled out of the tub onto the rug in the middle of the bathroom floor.  I pushed on all fours and stayed in this position for almost 30 minutes.  I moved to the bed to finish the pushing contractions.  I pushed with everything I had – all I could think of was how bad I wanted to have him out of me.  At 12:17 a.m. I finally got the blessing that we had been waiting for.  When Jane caught him and placed him on my chest, I was speechless.  I saw was realization of the life that had been growing inside of me for almost 43 weeks.  All I could do was touch every part of him in disbelief.  This was everything I had worked so hard for and the moment was more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined.  I felt so truly blessed –with a healthy baby boy and a wonderful, positive birth experience.

I know in my heart that had I remained with my obstetrician, I would have been prematurely induced when my cervix was not ready – thus resulting in a cesarean section.  The decision to have a home birth is one of those critical forks or decision points of my life.  Cash is lucky to have been born in his home and to have only been touched from the moment of birth by hands that love him.

I want to note the special people that supported me and helped make my birth experience a positive one. Thank you to Bob because he only wanted what would make me happy.  Thank you to Jane and Sherry for being my labor “team”.  They were awesome.  Jane is so talented at what she does.  She is not only skillful and knowledgeable but she is also loving - and this is truly reflected in her work.
Julie C.

ANDREW PHILIP  "Drew"
December 9th,  7:13 p.m.
7 lbs. 2 oz.,  20 ¼ inches long

Drew wasn’t due until December 15th, but I really wanted him to arrive early so that his birthday wouldn’t get too mixed up with Christmas. On Saturday, December 6th, my prenatal appointment for 39 weeks included a stretch and sweep of my cervix and membranes, which I requested…maybe within 24 hours I would go into labor because of it. Well, the first weekend in December came and went - I only had an hour and a half of mild contractions every 10 minutes which died out when I fell asleep Saturday night. However, Monday I was so weepy, I really didn’t want the baby to come any later than Tuesday, but I did have an inkling it could be soon as I’ve heard of other women becoming extra moody just before going into labor.

That night, I woke up to use the restroom - every hour and a half - as I had been doing for some weeks. As I climbed out of bed, I felt some liquid dripping down my leg. I said to myself: I know there’s a lot of pressure on my bladder, but I didn’t feel myself pee…I hope it’s not my water breaking! I’d better find that nitrizine paper Jane gave me…oh, well, I’ll check it next time. So, I changed my underwear and went back to sleep - I wasn’t having any contractions. I woke again at 3:00 a.m. to use the restroom again and decided to look for the test strip of paper. I wasn’t leaking then or having contractions, so I just tore a little piece of the strip and pressed it on the wet underwear which I had taken off earlier and left on the bathroom floor. It turned purple immediately! DARN IT! I really didn’t want to start labor this way.  Ugh, I guess I have to call Jane. I checked my prenatal information folder from Jane, my midwife, to see if I had to call her…yes, I did, so I did. She told me to get some rest since I still wasn’t having contractions and to call her when I awoke. I knew my clock was ticking - I was disappointed - my labor last time was so long that I wasn’t sure if I’d give birth within the safe time frame of my water breaking this time in order to not have to be transported for birth. I so much wanted to have a homebirth again. [It was so weird…all the ladies in my childbirth class who’d had their babies already had all started their labors with their water breaking in the middle of the night!]

I woke up and called Jane. Still, I was not having any contractions that I could feel, though I was aware of my uterus contracting. She called the back up obstetrician to consult about my water breaking and his on-call schedule…he said, "Y’all go and have a wonderful home birth." I had until 6 a.m. Wednesday to be in active labor before he wanted me to go in to the hospital.

Paul, my husband, and I spent the morning letting our labor support team (my mom and our friend Ulli, who were to take care of our 3 ½ year old son, Aaron, at our home during labor) and his office know about the impending labor, and kept ourselves busy with things around the house. The day was sunny and quite warm for a December day, approximately 75 degrees or more. What a great day to be in labor - at home - great for walking, etc.

Jane came over around 1 p.m. while Paul and I were eating pizza for lunch. I still was not having "labor" contractions, but was having regular painless contractions roughly every four minutes which were about a minute long - I had to really stop and think about it, putting my hand on my tummy, and trying to time them as best I could. At 3:00 p.m. Jane and I decided to check my cervix for any progress and get a base line. She confirmed a "hind" leak of amniotic fluid - my forewaters were still intact. My cervix which was at 3 cm dilation. After the check, I started feeling mild contractions - finally!

Paul and I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood and every fifteen minutes I took drops of black cohosh and blue cohosh to stimulate the labor contractions. At that point, contractions were every 3 minutes for 75 seconds, but were mild enough to walk and talk through with no strong defining starts or stops. Paul and I returned home after the 45 minute walk and spent some "honeymoon" time in our bedroom while listening to the soundtrack from Bolero. It was a sweet romantic time for us.

Contractions were picking up, so we decided to try to walk again. This time, I only wanted to walk from our driveway to the neighbor’s driveway so that we wouldn’t be far from home. At each contraction, I leaned against Paul’s chest and moaned as he supported me. We walked briskly this time - the contractions were every minute and a half or two minutes for 80 - 90 seconds with definite beginnings and endings. When the sun had started to set and we went inside.

I spent a few contractions on the bean bag chair while Paul got himself something to drink and made me a protein shake. I drank the shake and spent a couple more contractions side lying on the bed. While I was on the bed my forewaters broke, Jane checked me again, I was at five centimeters - that was at 6:30 p.m.

Ohhh! Things were really picking up. The contractions really got strong. I couldn’t stay on the bed. As soon as I got up, a big one came. I leaned on Paul and groaned…I really needed him and he was such a wonderful birth partner! I managed to walk the width of the bed and another strong contraction came.  Paul knelt on pillows on the floor, holding me with one arm and bracing himself using the wall with the other arm, while I leaned over him hanging on his neck swaying in deep squats and moaning as the intensity increased. At that point, I told Jane, "This has got to be transition!"  I told Paul between contractions that I understood why women in the hospital would ask for drugs at this point…but I knew I was so close and that I could do it as I had done before in my first homebirth with Aaron. A contraction or two later, Jane asked me if I felt like pushing. I said no. Then Jane suggested that Paul and I get in the shower as water can be soothing. Even though I’m not much of a water person, I decided to do it as I knew a change in position or such can move things along, plus I had friends who bore testimony to the wonders of water during their labors.

We got in the shower, I was shivering - cold?? - I knew that was part of transition.. I asked to have the space heater on.  Paul knelt in the bathtub as he had in our bedroom.  I continued to lean on Paul and sway into a low squat while moaning through the contractions - I positioned myself so that the stream of warm water hit directly on my lower back. Then, I got too hot so we called to Jane to turn off the space heater - Paul said he’d do it, but I couldn’t stand for him to leave me nor did I want him to touch it while he was wet. Then, I felt there was a little more delay between contractions than what I had been experiencing. I had learned that sometimes there is a break between transition and pushing.  Could I be starting the pushing stage? I experienced a contraction that had more pressure in my pelvis…is this a pushing urge? I thought to tell Paul, but didn’t as I wasn’t completely sure of the feeling because I didn’t have the pushing urge with my first child. I felt another contraction like that and since I knew it was the beginning of the pushing stage, but couldn’t articulate it during the contraction, I decided to change the tone of my moaning as to alert my midwife and her assistant. She immediately recognized the change and came rushing to the bathroom. I pushed the lever on the tub so that it would start filling up and asked Paul to move behind me so that I could kneel in the tub. Another contraction came - I felt the urge to push and did. Jane asked me if I was pushing…I managed to say "the baby’s coming" during a contraction. Jane asked if I wanted to stay in the tub or go to the bed. Not wanting a tub birth, I practically flew out of the tub and ran to our bedroom and climbed onto our high king size bed. I had envisioned being in the semi-sitting position for pushing, but when the time came I remained on my hands and knees as I had climbed unto the bed. Jane saw the baby’s head at that time and marveled how I managed to move to the bed and so quickly at that! Paul stood beside Jane behind me and dashed to and fro watching the baby’s birth and checking on me. He was so excited.

One pushing contraction - I felt the "Indian sunburn" burning sensation as the baby crowned and then I felt the baby’s head emerge - I reached through my legs and touched his head and face - I looked down through my legs at him. Jane and Paul said "come on, keep pushing"…Paul had placed his hands under the baby’s armpits…I pushed once more and Paul guided Drew from my womb. I was looking in the mirror of our vanity chest which stood along the wall next to our bed…I could see the baby and feel him come out…I saw his scrotum…that confirmed it…he is Drew! [7:13 p.m.] Paul hadn’t even checked the sex of the baby, but handed him to me through my legs, then assisted me in turning over as I lay Drew on my chest. I held him and attempted to start him nursing as Jane placed a warm blanket over us. Aaron and Mom were in the bedroom greeting Drew just seconds after the birth. What a sweet baby! Aaron was happy his baby brother "came out."

What a beautiful birth! What a beautiful baby boy - so alert with lots of brown wavy hair, big slate blue eyes, a cleft chin, a sweet round head with no molding, long feet, slender hands and lots of vernix. We waited 39 weeks for him with longing and finally here he was in our arms…we’d been in love with him from the beginning!  

FORREST LUKE
12:42 AM,  March 28th,  8 lbs. 6 oz.

Three years ago in April, I had a horrible childbirth experience, I vowed never again to have another hospital birth. When I was pregnant again I started the process of a homebirth. The decision to hire Jane Hitch as my midwife was easy.  She made all the check-ups enjoyable, offered encouragement when I needed it, and most importantly she was open and honest. I was not just a number and just a source of income to her but a real person with real concerns.

March 27th was the beginning of a new beginning. My water broke at 10:00 PM. I was on the phone with Jane at 10:25 PM. when my contractions started. While waiting for her to arrive at my home, I readied the place I chose to birth in and the supplies. Jane arrived at 11:00 PM. and she checked me and the baby. I was 5 cm dilated with the baby’s head at +3 station. I walked around my home during contractions. Walking and standing was how I felt most comfortable. When Jane’s assistant arrived, my labor was well established. So I kept on walking until a little past 12:30 AM when I felt I had to push. I waited a couple of more contractions until the urge got stronger and then I joined in with my body and pushed hard. At 12:42 AM, March 28th, Forrest Luke was born in what was the ultimate birth experience for my family. It never could have happened without the caring sprit of Jane Hitch.

BRIANNA CORINNE
8 lb. 8 oz
20 1/2 inches length

 My labor began around 4:00 p.m. on February 24, but it wasn’t until around 6:45 that the contractions were strong enough to require my attention. They came every 6 minutes and were 30 - 60 seconds in length. During the stronger contractions, I did pelvic rocks. I spent some time writing about my two older daughters births and how those births reflect each girl’s personality. I wondered about this baby’s personality. The biggest difference between this labor and my previous experiences in labor was between the contractions I could interact with the people present, as opposed to disassociation from people and my surroundings. At 9:43 p.m. I was nearly completely dilated with only a tiny rim of cervix left to open. I was surprised because the labor had not really gotten hard. There were some tiring and tough contractions but most were not too severe. I moved around frequently during the labor. I sat on the toilet, reclined in my bed, walked, or squatted depending on what seemed to be most comfortable. After the last dilation check, I felt a desire to find a birthing position. I got off my bed and asked Darin, who was the perfect birthing partner, to bring me a stool to sit upon. Right away, I knew it was not the right position for me to assume. Then I had a contraction and felt a strong pushing sensation. Not a desire or an urge to push but rather something pushing on its own. With Darin’s help I stood up. Darin supported me during the next contraction and I felt the pushing again. "It’s pushing, it’s pushing. I’m not doing it. It’s doing by itself", I exclaimed. Then a huge scooping, squeezing feeling overcame the lower half of my body. I felt my waters break as the baby moved through my birth canal. My baby pushed on my perineum and then the head was born. Darin had to shift his position to hold me up and help catch the baby. My body kept on pushing while Jane and Darin helped me birth. The baby was handed to me immediately and then I laid down on the bed with the baby on my chest. I checked to see that the baby was indeed the girl we expected and thought how astonishing it was that she was here already. It was 9:50 p.m.

ISABELLA CATHERINE'S BIRTH  5 lb 14 oz.

I gave birth to my daughter, Isabella at home on June 22, 2008.  This was my first pregnancy and originally I planned to have my daughter in the hospital.  I began seeing an OB soon after learning I was pregnant and since I was already interested in natural childbirth, I talked to her about a drug free labor.  Around that time I heard about the documentary, The Business of Being Born and after watching it on Net Flicks, I knew I had a lot more research ahead of me.  As I dug deeper, much to my surprise, I discovered there was an amazing experience to be had in natural child birth.  My husband and I considered the many different birthing options, including hiring a doula for a hospital birth, going to a birthing center, as well as having a midwife to give birth at home. 

Around the 6th month of my pregnancy, we met and interviewed our future midwife, Jane Hitch.  The meeting lasted a couple of hours, while she patiently answered all our questions.  After a couple days of deliberation, we decided the best choice for us was a home birth.  I notified my OB of our decision and immediately transferred my care to Jane.  The next few months were wonderful as I experienced the difference between the personal care of my midwife versus the care I had received in the OB office.  Both professionals offered excellent care; however Jane provided the opportunity to build a relationship with the person who would help me give birth to my child.  Our prenatal appointments often lasted 1-2 hours, and were held in the comfort and security of my own home.

Fear does not have to be a part of the beautiful process of childbirth.  My labor and delivery experience was amazing and after going through the entire process, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I came away from my first childbirth experience with a new sense of strength and a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.  

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