| Shelby's Birth Story Story |
| Shelby’s Birth What a shock to find out I was pregnant! I hadn’t given birth for ten years and that was in a hospital. I was frightened at the thought of giving birth again. I hated my hospital experience and would rather not have to go through that again. There had to be a better way. I found a wonderful midwife (Jude Melton) who helped me realize my dream of birthing naturally at home with Ryan, the baby’s father, and the grandmothers in attendance while the rest of the family wandered about. What an amazing birth! This is Shelby’s birth story. February 14, 2007 We celebrated our fourth anniversary at home because the contractions had begun and the discomforts of the final days had begun to take their toll. Shelby and my body were making sure I was more that willing to give birth. I was nervously waiting for my mother to arrive from Memphis. I just knew she wouldn’t make it in time for the birth. March 8, 2007 My mother had been with me for two weeks by now and she was begging me to go into labor. She was talking to the baby- giving lots of encouragement for her to make her arrival. I wasn’t overdue. I wasn’t early. I was just very pregnant and very cranky. The contractions were steady and five minutes apart, just as they had been for weeks. I was so uncomfortable. I had a long battle with sciatica and it was winning again. The pains kept me from sleeping and on top of that, one of the children in the house had given me a cold that I had only just gotten over. Jude informed me that when my body was ready, and I was not sick, I would have my baby. I took a long bath and cried. After lots of hugs and kisses from Ryan I got ready for bed and cried myself to sleep. March 9, 2007 My son, Tony, was still attending public school, and so I got up bright and early after the most wonderful night’s sleep I had had in six months. We had a bite to eat, and I watched Tony as he got on the school bus. It was only a half day since this was the last day of school before spring break. I decided since he and Ryan’s two older children would be home in four hours that I might as well go lie down and sleep a little longer while there was still some peace and quiet to be had. I lay down and it woke Ryan who kissed me good morning and got up for the day. About an hour and a half later, I felt/heard a weird pop and felt the ever familiar urge to pee. I stood up and a good bit of amniotic fluid rushed out. I was elated! I turned around to see Ryan sitting at the computer and said, “My water broke!” His response still makes me laugh: “You’re kidding!!!” As if he never really expected me to ever say those words. He came to my side to see my little puddle and check on me and then he called Jude. So it is 9:30 A.M. and I am prancing across the house to my mother who is sleeping in my son’s room, “Mom… guess what?! I’m in labor. My water just broke!” She asked me how I felt and I tried to say, “Great” but a great big contraction made me shut up real quick. It suddenly dawned on me that I would be having a baby today and that I needed to sit down and collect my thoughts. I went back to my room and found my rocking chair. I spent a few moments praying for a gentle labor and even more gentle birth. I wanted twelve hours and three pushes! Today, I was pregnant exactly 9 calendar months. Today, I would meet my second child. Today I would find out the sex of my new baby! Ryan knew. I did not. My midwife did not. We were in for a treat. Jude arrived very quickly. I had the rare luxury of having my midwife live only four miles away. She checked me over. She listened to the baby’s heartbeat and once again gave her prediction that it would be a little girl. I was still talking normally, breathing normally, and happy as a clam that this day had come. Jude went back home, since I didn’t show any sign of delivering immediately, and she knew I wanted my privacy. I didn’t want to eat, though I knew I could. I didn’t want to sit or lie down. This drove my mother nuts, so to indulge her a bit, I lay down on the bed (no easy task since it is like three feet high) and as soon as the next contraction began I knew I had made a terrible mistake. The pain was excruciating and I wasn’t able to breathe as easily. So I hopped up as soon as I was able and told my mother to not say that I needed to lie down again. Now imagine me strapped to an uncomfortable hospital birthing bed for 8 hours being loaded with pitocin! I could barely handle one early contraction in that position. I was again so grateful to be home and free to roam about. I watched a Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD with the kids when they came home and the two grandmothers. We had a blast. Ryan was wonderful. I could tell he was nervous, but he had been to every prenatal visit and knew exactly what I needed and was truly a blessing to share with in this experience. Jude came back and checked me and the baby. She asked me if I wanted to get into the hot tub. I think I was about 5-6 cm at this point. I got into the hot tub and the contractions were unbelievable. I was mooing and crying and mooing some more. The neighbors were wonderful. They either were ignoring me (I was outside in the back yard after all) or knew what was going on and left me to it. We had forewarned everyone that I might be loud. I was in the hot tub for about 45 minutes or so. The contractions were so intense at this point that I actually told Ryan, who was just outside of the hot tub holding my hands, that I wanted to run away now. I don’t want to have a baby anymore. I want to go now. He laughed at me, of course, and said it must be. By now, it is 6:00-6:15 and Jude asked me if I wanted to have my baby in the hot tub. If I wanted to go inside I needed to get out before contractions were to strong to move anymore. I decided to move inside where I felt more comfortable. I was ready to get out of the hot tub. I was willing but not able. I was a whopping 218 pounds this fine day and it was no small task getting me out of the hot tub. Ryan, 135 pounds, was having the hardest time maneuvering me out of the water. Jude, always encouraging, told me what I must do so as not to have my little bundle in the back yard and I did it and I walked slowly and nauseously back to our bedroom. I had transitioned! I had to potty. Not pee. Jude sat on the floor next to me in the bathroom and talked to me while I thought I needed to go #2. It was, of course, the baby wanting out. I remember the nicest conversation about motherhood and gentle birth with Jude while I was having a couple of contractions on the toilet. I have never felt so loved and encouraged as I was by Jude and Ryan during my labor. Between Jude and Ryan, they got me back to the bed and Jude checked my cervix. At this point, I am fully dilated but a small lip is over the baby’s head. She offers to push it over during the next contraction and I agree it would be best. I didn’t want any more contractions than necessary and waiting for the cervix to move on its own would take another half an hour or so. This is when the assisting midwife came in. She was nice and strong which is exactly what we needed. The next contraction came, and Jude moved the cervix for me while I pushed. It hurt! But it was done. All of the sudden I wanted to push like I have never wanted anything before in my life! I got to push one good time and the baby came down in a rush. It was hurting and I couldn’t help but to scream. I needed up. Jude and Allison, the assisting midwife, got me up and I was panting heavily, and searching. They asked me where I wanted to birth. And I had no clue. Jude said I was pacing a bit and looking here and there like a mother cat searching for the best place to drop her litter. I decided to use the birthing stool that Jude brought. We had discussed the possibility of using it for some pushes but I had my reservations. I was glad it was there. I sat down and felt the next contraction and the tremendous need to push. I pushed, and my baby’s head emerged. Jude described the natural way I breathed my baby out. Ever so slowly…. And the baby, with her head just out, turned to ease her shoulder out. I felt like sleeping and asked Jude to please catch our baby. And the baby was almost out. Ryan looked over to see the little hairy head and tight face. Another breath and my baby was out and I looked down just in time to see my angel take her first breath and her body become instantly pink with life. She immediately passed some meconium and Jude scooped her up for me to examine. I lifted her little leg and saw it was a little girl. I began to cry, “I have a little girl!” “Mom, I have a little girl!” And I looked up to see my mother shedding huge tears and holding her cheeks. I looked at Ryan and told him I had a daughter and he laughed at me and said, “I know.” I forgot he had previous knowledge. The entire room was in tears of joy for my wonderful baby girl. She was beautiful and looked up at me right away. I loved her before I knew her, and when I saw her trusting, inquisitive eyes I knew why. Jude told me after we had finished cleaning up that it was amazing how I was the only person at my daughter’s birth that maintained a smile through the labor and the birth and that I never lost control. I remember feeling so in charge of me and my birth. It was a beautiful birth with my loving partner and close family by my side. My midwife made every part of my labor a good memory. With Jude and Ryan I found great comfort and a new respect for my own abilities. We plan to have another child at home in the near future. Shelby Starr, Slusher March 9, 2007 6:45 P.M. 8 pounds 12 ounces 21 inches long |
