| Lauren's Birth Story |
| By Danielle Zilly |
I started to feel regular contractions at 5:00pm on Saturday evening. I called Jude soon after we determined they
were regular. She suggested that I try to relax and sleep as much as possible because I had a lot of work ahead of
me. I tried several ways to reduce the pain of the contractions; I sat in the bathtub which seemed to slow them down
and then I discovered that if I walked quickly through the contractions, they were easier to handle. So, for several
hours through the middle of the night, I alternated pacing the hallway very quickly through the contractions and as soon
as they were over, I slept deeply for what must have been only moments. The contractions got stronger, so I sat in the
bath and checked to see how my dilation was going; I figured it to be about 5 cm, so I called Jude at around 2:30am.
She said she was coming over.
It was exciting when she arrived, followed shortly by her assistant Tonya. They went to work putting together the
preparations, putting sheets on the bed and getting the supplies ready. Jude told me that because she was here, the
contractions might get stronger because psychologically, everything was set; and they did! They were strong and I
asked my husband Glen to go ask Jude if I could have a glass of wine. Instead she sent him back with a protein shake
which was exactly what I needed. Then, Jude showed me a breathing technique to help through the contractions which
had me sighing through part of the contraction. Once I realized that vocalizing was helpful, my moaning got louder and
louder with each one.
I started to feel the urge to push at the end of some contractions; which was much sooner than I expected. Jude,
Tonya and Glen were downstairs giving me space, but I was making so much noise that they all came upstairs to help
me and check on my progress. Around that time, I got out of the bath and I sat on my hands and knees on the bed
rocking back and forth, which seemed to help with the contractions. I continued to feel a pushing sensation. Jude
checked and said, “There’s a baby coming.” I was so excited! Jude told me that some people thought the pushing felt
good and she was right. They asked me if I wanted to push in that position and I did. They used the doppler to listen
to the baby’s heartbeat. Jude said she could see the pink healthy looking head of the baby. I pushed while lying on
my back for a little while. They asked me if I wanted to sit on the birthing stool, I wasn’t sure, but I gave it a try. While
sitting on that, I gave one good push (I think) and Lauren’s head came out; it was unbelievable and such an exciting
moment. It was hard to believe that a real baby was here; but after 9 months of pregnancy and 13 hours of labor, I did
believe it. So, I gave one more small push to get the shoulders out and Glen caught Lauren as she plopped right out
into his hands.
He and everyone were overcome with joyful emotion and they held the baby up for me to see. It’s hard to believe, but I
think she looked right into my eyes right away as if she was so anxious for me to see who she was. I immediately felt
so lucky that I had this fantastic person in my life. She was put on my chest, still covered in blood and slippery and
still warm from my own body heat while I was at the same time reeling from what I had just physically experienced; it was
a surreal and glorious moment. She was peaceful and alert and didn’t cry, so starkly different from what happens in
the hospital. She seemed to be enjoying the first moments of her life thoroughly, just taking it in.
When I spoke, she turned to look at me, and seemed surprised to recognize my voice; which was so astonishing. She
already seemed to know me and trust me. I contemplated that it would be hard work to always maintain that complete
trust I imagined she felt, but I would always try. I delivered the placenta with the cord still attached; they had wrapped it
and placed it next to me so that Lauren was still connected to the placenta while she was on my chest; which made me
feel that her transition to being born was calm and smooth. After a few moments, Glen cut her cord.
At that moment, I knew that I had done the right thing for my new baby by having a home birth. I had given her, my
husband and myself an incredible gift. I think I will always feel that as a mother, I did something wonderful for my
daughter on the day she was born.
With Love....
Danielle, Glen and Lauren
were regular. She suggested that I try to relax and sleep as much as possible because I had a lot of work ahead of
me. I tried several ways to reduce the pain of the contractions; I sat in the bathtub which seemed to slow them down
and then I discovered that if I walked quickly through the contractions, they were easier to handle. So, for several
hours through the middle of the night, I alternated pacing the hallway very quickly through the contractions and as soon
as they were over, I slept deeply for what must have been only moments. The contractions got stronger, so I sat in the
bath and checked to see how my dilation was going; I figured it to be about 5 cm, so I called Jude at around 2:30am.
She said she was coming over.
It was exciting when she arrived, followed shortly by her assistant Tonya. They went to work putting together the
preparations, putting sheets on the bed and getting the supplies ready. Jude told me that because she was here, the
contractions might get stronger because psychologically, everything was set; and they did! They were strong and I
asked my husband Glen to go ask Jude if I could have a glass of wine. Instead she sent him back with a protein shake
which was exactly what I needed. Then, Jude showed me a breathing technique to help through the contractions which
had me sighing through part of the contraction. Once I realized that vocalizing was helpful, my moaning got louder and
louder with each one.
I started to feel the urge to push at the end of some contractions; which was much sooner than I expected. Jude,
Tonya and Glen were downstairs giving me space, but I was making so much noise that they all came upstairs to help
me and check on my progress. Around that time, I got out of the bath and I sat on my hands and knees on the bed
rocking back and forth, which seemed to help with the contractions. I continued to feel a pushing sensation. Jude
checked and said, “There’s a baby coming.” I was so excited! Jude told me that some people thought the pushing felt
good and she was right. They asked me if I wanted to push in that position and I did. They used the doppler to listen
to the baby’s heartbeat. Jude said she could see the pink healthy looking head of the baby. I pushed while lying on
my back for a little while. They asked me if I wanted to sit on the birthing stool, I wasn’t sure, but I gave it a try. While
sitting on that, I gave one good push (I think) and Lauren’s head came out; it was unbelievable and such an exciting
moment. It was hard to believe that a real baby was here; but after 9 months of pregnancy and 13 hours of labor, I did
believe it. So, I gave one more small push to get the shoulders out and Glen caught Lauren as she plopped right out
into his hands.
He and everyone were overcome with joyful emotion and they held the baby up for me to see. It’s hard to believe, but I
think she looked right into my eyes right away as if she was so anxious for me to see who she was. I immediately felt
so lucky that I had this fantastic person in my life. She was put on my chest, still covered in blood and slippery and
still warm from my own body heat while I was at the same time reeling from what I had just physically experienced; it was
a surreal and glorious moment. She was peaceful and alert and didn’t cry, so starkly different from what happens in
the hospital. She seemed to be enjoying the first moments of her life thoroughly, just taking it in.
When I spoke, she turned to look at me, and seemed surprised to recognize my voice; which was so astonishing. She
already seemed to know me and trust me. I contemplated that it would be hard work to always maintain that complete
trust I imagined she felt, but I would always try. I delivered the placenta with the cord still attached; they had wrapped it
and placed it next to me so that Lauren was still connected to the placenta while she was on my chest; which made me
feel that her transition to being born was calm and smooth. After a few moments, Glen cut her cord.
At that moment, I knew that I had done the right thing for my new baby by having a home birth. I had given her, my
husband and myself an incredible gift. I think I will always feel that as a mother, I did something wonderful for my
daughter on the day she was born.
With Love....
Danielle, Glen and Lauren
