| The Birth of Anela By Sadie Riveria |
| I have 3 children previous to this birth. All prior births were in hospitals, with an OB and with an epidural. In all three experiences, I never had the sensation of birth or felt I had a say in my own labor. After each of my children was born they were whisked away by nurses to be clean, measured and weighed. I felt like I was a part of a cookie cutter process. I felt my births and labors were generic and un-participative. With the birth of my fourth child I felt it was time for a change and time for something different. Sunday Evening July 13th I had been experiencing tons of stalled labor since the Thursday prior, so when I started experiencing contractions around 7:00 Sunday evening, I thought nothing of it. I went to bed that night and woke up with contractions that were 7 minutes apart and bloody show. I called my midwife around 12:30 that night. My midwife assured me that what I was feeling was normal and told me to go back to bed. I did and I slept until 6:00 that morning. Monday Morning 8:00 am I called my midwife that morning to tell her the contractions stopped completely. She said she was going to come over anyways to check my dilation. She arrived around 9:30 that morning and I was dilated around a 3..4.. My midwife suggested walking and herbs. My midwife waiting and knitting patiently I had to come back every hour from walking (remember, I’m in Arizona and its HOT!!). The herbs and walking worked. I was at a 5. My midwife sent me out walking again. Throughout the day, I was laughing and joking around. I would pause slightly with the contractions, but nothing that ever took my breath away. There was more pressure than pain. Around 5:00 that evening, she checked me and said I was around 6 or 7 dilation but I still didn't feel too much discomfort. I was tired from walking and I welcomed dinner because it was a chance to eat and a chance to sit. After dinner, my midwife sent me out walking –again-.. I made it up the street and quickly turned around to come back. I was exhausted!! The more I walked, the more I was met with painful contractions. They were about 3 minutes apart, but lasted only 30 seconds. When I came back from my last walk I was exhausted. My contractions hurt, but weren’t the excruciation contractions I had braced myself for. My midwife checked my dilation and I was back at a 5.. the baby’s head was at a plus 2 position but I had regressed. I was discouraged and felt my whole days work was for nothing. I was so afraid that my labor would stop and I would be back at square one. I was afraid my labor wouldn’t happen and I would have to give up my homebirth and go to a hospital. My midwife suggested I go to bed and rest for the night. Everyone left my house around 11:30. My midwife said to call her when my contractions started up again. She lives only about 3 miles from my house. She said to call if I needed her or if my water broke or contractions picked up again. I dipped myself in a warm bath and lay on my couch… and I slept… 1:30 am Tuesday morning -Awake- That hurt. It only lasted 30 seconds… I’ll keep trying to sleep Wow, these are on top of each other… but only last 30 seconds at a time. This will suck when they last longer I toss and turn I have to get to a warm bath again I lay in my bath and whimper through each contraction. They hurt and I go into each contraction... I become a part of each contraction. I relax into the contraction and tell myself it will be over soon… I get out of the bath with help from Louie. I have to lean on him through each contraction as I dry myself off. Still only 30 second contractions. I shouldn’t call my midwife just yet- I have to wait until they last longer. So much pressure I whimper I have to go to the bathroom The contractions go to the next level. They are still short but I find myself making un-human sounds.. almost caveman like.. I don’t even recognize myself. I hope I dont wake up Branson and Brianna who are asleep in their rooms. I make my way to my trusty couch. I finally tell Louie to call my midwife. I have an over whelming sense of pressure and I begin to feel an urge to push. 2:01 am Call the midwife I wait and I know in my head that I am probably only dilated to a 7 or 8 because the contractions are still very short and the pain is still manageable. 2:16 am Midwife arrives. I yell to her that I feel like I have to push "I am by myself and its best to have the baby in the bedroom” (She had everything set up there before she left. She told me there was no time for her assistant to get there) (Who’s having a baby, I’m probably only dilated to a 6????) They get me to my room and as I hunch over to get on the bed WHOOSH Water breaks I feel the head and urge to push “Sadie, I need you need to be on the bed” “I CAN’T” “I CANT MOVE!!” Luis picks me up and puts me on the bed I have to push. I can’t stop. I push No ring of fire. Just pressure…. No pain 2:21am 3 pushes and I welcome Anela Grace into the world as she lies on my chest. |
Ahhhh....Enjoying a delicious salad
