Ana’s Birth Story

I had had two other children in the hospital. One with pitocin and an epidural – one with a gas mask. I really wanted home births with all three of my kids, but I got talked out of it with my first two. With this one I was determined to do it the way I wanted to. 

With my second baby, the labor was only a couple hours long so I had a feeling this one would go the same way. I went back-and-forth about setting up the water tub but something told me I wasn’t going to need it. 40 weeks came and went and with a Christmas Eve due date, I was very anxious. 

December 29th I picked the kids up from school and decided to go to Pizza Ranch. I started feeling contractions, but I had had some in previous days so I wasn’t too concerned. They didn’t stop through dinner and when my kids wanted to go to the arcade after I said, I think we should go home so I don’t have the baby in this restaurant. I was kidding but part of me knew. 

4:09p I text Melinda that I was pretty sure I was in early labor. We discussed the contractions and I told her “It’s been 7 years. I hope I’m not downplaying it and she just comes out”. It did go something like that. 

4:45p I told her I was positive “this is it” and she said she would head over. 

5:01 my water broke. I remember getting the kids together to take one more “family of 3 photo” because I’m nostalgic like that and having to pause for a contraction in between getting my phone out and taking the picture. 

5:29p I text my midwife supports that bright red blood was coming down my legs. At this time, I was sitting on the toilet and it just looked like so much blood. But what I realized after was that you just don’t see it in the hospital because you’re not up walking around. 

5:49p Jennifer arrives and I told her that I’m worried about all the blood so she got her stethoscope out and put It on my stomach. I was able to hear my daughter‘s heartbeat and she was fine. That helped calm my nerves. 

Jennifer asked me if I wanted to have her where I was and I said no, not particularly over the toilet, so I got up and in the 15 feet to my bed I had another contraction. I literally jumped in the bed and pushed what would be my first out of four pushes. The first two pushes were chaotic and urgent. Jennifer reminded me to breathe with purpose. I dug deep and blocked everything out. The third push got her head out and it was a very connected spiritual experience. Jennifer asked if I wanted to feel her head and I’m like let’s just do this!!! The 4th and last push I felt every curve of her body come into the earth and it was absolutely magical. 

6:06p Ana Marie was here. At that minute Melinda arrived and she walked me through pushing out the placenta. I eventually cut the cord and that was awesome. Ana latched and we just hung out- not bothered by anyone. I got up right away to rinse off because it was quite messy and the two of them cleaned up my surroundings and help helped wipe my leg legs off. I had a clean space to come back to. They were so kind and calm. 

It is such a cherished memory and I 100% would do it again. I also really enjoyed that they came back to me over the next few days to check on us as part of the aftercare. 

I almost had her alone, but thank God they made it!