Anna's birth story

Below is a letter our doula, Karen, wrote to Anna to describe her birth: that is, her "birth story." It is a wonderful account of her birth and I wanted to share it with everyone.

However, I will make two amendments" 1*) in paragraph two she talks about concern about my concern about having early contractions... that is true, but it wasn't with Owen's birth it was "false labor" contractions I had had about a week prior. 2**) apparently, according to photos Karen took at the birth, Anna was probably born a bit after 6:05. They must have approximated the time (which is fine with me) but photos would prove she was born slightly after the rounded out time of 6:05 pm.

Enjoy!


*****

August 31, 2007

Dear Anna,

Happy Birthday! I had the pleasure of witnessing your birth today, and I’d like to tell you the story. I was your parents’ doula, and met them several months ago when they decided to hire someone to help them with your birth. I came to your parents’ house to talk about their plans and desires for your birth, and my doula partners and I kept in touch with your mom through email during the last weeks of her pregnancy. Your parents and brother Owen seemed very prepared for your arrival and were getting excited about meeting you.

I received a call from your mother at 11:30 this morning. She told me that she had woken up today with mild contractions that were about ten minutes apart. She had gone into work, but didn’t really want to go into labor in the office, so she’d returned home. With Owen, she’d had some early contractions that had gone away after a few hours, so she wasn’t convinced that this was “it,” but she wanted to give me a heads-up*. I told your mom to keep me posted, and two hours later she called me back to say that the contractions were now coming every five minutes and that she and your dad were going to go and see the midwives. Your mom told me that she would call me back if she was admitted to the hospital. Less than an hour later your dad called me from the midwives’ office to say that your mom was already five centimeters dilated and that they were heading over to the hospital. I told your father I would meet them there as soon as I could.

I arrived at the hospital just after 3:30 p.m., and joined your parents in Labor and Delivery room number 2007. Your mother was hooked up to an IV and was getting some antibiotics because she had tested positive for Group B Strep earlier in her pregnancy. She and your father seemed very calm. There was some relaxing music playing on the CD player, and your mother was breathing through her contractions while your dad was rubbing and pressing on her lower back. Yvonne, the nurse, was asking your mom a long list of questions, and your dad was answering most of them, since your mom was too focused on her labor to talk. Your dad was being his usual funny self, and doing his best to answer questions like when your mom last took her prenatal vitamins, even though he didn’t really know the answers. At 4:00 the midwife, Liz Itote, checked your mother’s cervix, and found that she was now seven centimeters dilated, 80% effaced, and your head was at a -1 station. That meant that your mom had made progress since she was at the midwives’ office, but there was still some work to be done before you could be born. Liz had another baby to deliver, but told your mom that soon she would be ready and waiting for you to be born.

Your mother used the bathroom once she was disconnected from the IV, and then said she felt hot. She decided she wanted to sit on the birth ball, so we sat her down and she rested her head and arms on the side of the bed. Your dad sat on a stool right behind your mom so he could maintain his constant pressing on her lower back. I got some ice and put it in a wet washcloth, which I rubbed down your mother’s back to keep her cool. For the next hour and a half, your mother labored in this position. The lights were dim and the blinds were closed against the afternoon sun. The beautiful, calming music filled the room. Your mother kept her eyes closed most of the time, and breathed and rocked and moaned through her contractions. Every once in a while, Yvonne would come in to check your heart rate. Every time, your heartbeat was strong and steady. Your mom really seemed to be going deep within herself, staying very focused and relaxed. It was amazing to watch your mom labor. I would slip her some sips of water between contractions, but she never really lifted her head off the bed. If your dad slacked off on his lower back pressure, or moved his hands to a different spot on her back, your mom was quick to tell him to push harder, or lower, or whatever she needed, but otherwise wasn’t speaking much at all. Your mother seemed very in control, and knew exactly what her body needed to move through the labor.

Around 5:30 your mom’s labor seemed to be getting even more intense. Your mom told me that she was feeling very nervous. I tried to reassure her, telling her that she should trust her body, and that her body would know exactly what to do. We called Liz into the room for another cervical check. Liz reported that there hadn’t been much change, and that your mom was still dilated to seven, maybe eight, centimeters, and your head hadn’t come down any further. Liz offered to break your bag of waters, but your mom wasn’t quite ready for that yet. Yvonne suggested that your mother get into the shower, because the warm water might help her relax and would feel good on her lower back. Your mom didn’t really seem to want to, but agreed to give it a try. Your dad put on his bathing suit and joined her in the shower. He was very sweet, holding your mother up, and working to keep the warm water spraying on your mom’s back, despite her frequent change of position. She was really working hard now, moaning and swaying. When she felt a contraction, she would bend her knees and squat down a little, and just a few minutes after getting into the shower, her water broke during a strong contraction. It was 5:45. Liz had said that once your mom’s water broke, she thought the labor would go quickly. I went and told Liz what had happened, and Yvonne came to check your heart rate with the waterproof Doppler. Again, you were doing just fine.

Your mother climbed out of the shower and got back on the bed so Liz could check her again. Your mom had pushed for four hours when your brother was born, and felt that she had never quite “gotten the hang” of pushing. She kept telling us, “I don’t know what to do!” We all assured her that her body knew what to do, and that she was doing everything perfectly. When Liz checked her this time, your mom was fully dilated, and ready to push! Your mom told us that she needed our help to guide her through the pushing stage. At first she was lying back on the bed and breathing out during her contractions. Then Yvonne worked with her very closely, telling her to take a deep breath and hold it “like she was swimming under water.” Your dad was right by your mom’s side, encouraging her to hold her breath. Despite your mother’s fears, she turned out to be a natural and very strong pusher. It wasn’t long before your head was clearly visible during the contractions. We knew your mom had wanted to see you being born, so one of the nurses came in with a mirror. I told your mom to tuck her chin and open her eyes while she was pushing, and that’s when she first saw the back of your head as you descended into the world. You were born at 6:05 p.m.** on August 31, 2007 and placed right onto your mother’s chest. Both of your parents looked completely thrilled to see you. Your mom kept saying that you were so soft, and that she was in shock that it was all over so quickly. Your dad cut your cord, and a few minutes later, your mom pushed out your placenta. Your mom wanted to make sure I took some photos of the placenta, and your dad joked that you probably wouldn’t ever want to see those shots! Your mom hadn’t torn at all, so she didn’t need any stitches. You were a very calm baby, looking at your mom’s face for the first time, and hardly crying at all. You were having your first snack by 6:15, and latched on like a pro from the very beginning. Your mom said that it already felt like she’d never even been pregnant.

After a while they weighed and measured you, and at a perfect 8 lbs, 2 oz and 18 inches long, you were exactly what your parents had been waiting for these last nine months. Anna, you are a lucky little girl to have your parents, who welcomed you with love into a calm and peaceful environment. Your mom was amazingly strong, focused and determined throughout her labor, with your dad supporting her completely. It was an honor and a delight to be a part of your birth story.

Wishing you joy and many happy birthdays to come,

Karen E. Lenz, CD (DONA)
Birth doula

The life of a baby

Here are various shots of Anna doing baby work: sleeping.

In her bouncey seat:














In her stroller (the double decker jogging stroller):



















In her car seat:



















Again, in the carseat: