Thread: My Home Birth and my Baby Girl!

I've been lurking lots, but only now have gotten around to writing out my daughters birth story... She was born May 31 at 1138 at 38w 4d- A wonderful home birth! This was my first home birth after 3 natural, hospital births.

I should start by explaining how my week prior went - it was HELL! All 3 kids were sick with a terrible stomach bug. I made two trips into emergency. A whole week of vomiting, diarrhea, fevers and, with my oldest, serious dehydration. By the end of the week, when I was 38 wks, I was sooo crampy. There were several times when I thought I was in labor and was about to call the midwife.

Wednesday the 26th I had my weekly appt and explained to the midwife what was going on at home. We had planned to sweep my membranes that day as I had been measuring really far ahead (5-7 weeks since I was 25 wks). My other kids weighed 10lb 6oz, 9lbs 13oz, and 10lbs 6.5oz, but this baby felt bigger to me and I've never gone less then 40 weeks. Anyways, we decided not to do anything to encourage labor at this point and she didn't check me or anything. On Sunday, the kids all seemed to be turning the corner and I was able to breathe a great big sigh of relief.

Well, I guess that relief was all my body was waiting for! Monday morning I woke up and showered, then at 0730 as my husband was leaving for work, said I though I might be in labor. I wasn't totally sure, but have a history of quick labors, and wanted him to stick around just in case.

At 0800, I was sure I was in early labor and called the midwife. She got there at 0830 and I was having regular, but painless contractions. The midwife checked me and I was shocked to find out I was 6cms!! I really wasn't in active labor at all, so I guess all those contractions the week before had been doing something! Being at home was sooo nice, I was keeping myself occupied by getting the kids up and dressed. My mom and sister came over to watch them while I labored.

After a while, I went upstairs and continued to walk around. I was starting to need to stop and focus during the contractions and wanted to been away from the activity downstairs. I know both of the midwives from my job as a maternity nurse, and we chatted and joked between contractions. After a while of pacing the hallways, I retreated to my bedroom. I hate laying down in labor, so I labored standing and leaning against my husband and also spent lots of time kneeling and leaning against the bed.

At some point I reached 7cm, but I can't remember what time that was. The contractions continued to get stronger and were very painful in the front, just above my pubic bone. At 1100, I was beginning to wonder what was going on. My last two births took under 2 hours from 2cm to birth and this was taking longer. My midwife agreed this wasn't the pattern we expected and we would recheck me in half an hour. That half hour felt like forever! The contractions were so much more painful then with my other births.

At 1125, she rechecked me and I was 8cm. We decided to rupture my membranes at that point, as they seemed to just be holding things up (the only time my water has ever broke spontaneously was with pushing when my second child was born... the other times I had AROM in labor). The first contraction after ROM, I was 9cm. I got back on the floor beside my bed and labored through a few more contractions and quickly was feeling the need to push.

At 1130, I began to push involuntarily. My midwife knew how important it was to me not to tear, because I've torn every other time. She was so amazing as she coached me through the pushing. Following her instructions was the hardest thing I think I've ever done. My body wanted to push so badly and it was just about impossible to breathe through those urges. At 1136, my baby's head was born, but she seemed stuck, so they had me move to my back, so she could maneuver a little more. She had to apply suprapubic pressure and the screw maneuver. At 1138 - with lots of pushing - my sweet girl was born.

And, oh my goodness, she was BIG! 22 inches long and a whopping 12 lbs!!! No wonder, as my midwife described, "you pushed until her knees came out!" and I only had the slightest start of a tear along my old scar that only required literally one stitch! The midwife doesn't actually feel it was a true shoulder dystocia, just a tight squeeze due to a big baby.

I am so thrilled with my birth experience and even though some might feel it was risky due to her size, I'm glad I was at home. I'm sure I would have had an episiotomy if I had been at the hospital. Instead, I felt amazing afterwards and well rested being able to sleep in my own bed. I doubt we'll have more kids... 4 was always our plan... but I would totally have an other home birth and wish my others were born here too.

What an amazing story!! And a BIG baby, wow! Congratulations on all of it!! TFS

Congrats on you big baby girl! What a great story! TFS

Wonderful story! Thank you for sharing! What an amazing job you did! Congratulations on your big baby girl! I love hearing stories like that.

Kris I am thrilled you had such a wonderful HB experience!!!! And I hope you come back and post pictures of your big baby girl. No tearing and 12 lbs.....so inspiring. I had my work shower yesterday and the topic of big babies came up (not being able to be born vaginally)...I of course threw out there that LOTs of moms birth large babies and easily too. I'm proud you DID it too. How empowering Oh, what did you name her?


Enjoy your baby moon!

What a great birth story! TFS.

What a great story, thank you for sharing it with us. And wow 12lbs at 38+4, big baby.

Originally Posted by awini8

Kris I am thrilled you had such a wonderful HB experience!!!! And I hope you come back and post pictures of your big baby girl. No tearing and 12 lbs.....so inspiring. I had my work shower yesterday and the topic of big babies came up (not being able to be born vaginally)...I of course threw out there that LOTs of moms birth large babies and easily too. I'm proud you DID it too. How empowering Oh, what did you name her?


Enjoy your baby moon!

The whole "big baby = c/s" thing drives me crazy! The vast majority of women will grow babies they can birth! Exceptions to that involve other factors like diabetes where the baby is bigger than it was "supposed" to be. Positioning is so important, but there is so much we can do in pregnancy and during labor to aid that. Anyways, rant over...

Yes, I'm enjoying my babymoon! I feel so much more rested... I don't think I ever got exhausted, because I was able to sleep properly in my own bed (I can't sleep at the hospital). We've named her Adina.

Now, I'm off to a baby shower for a co-worker and fend off questions from everyone who thought I was crazy!

Way to go Mama!! What an inspiring story Happy Baby

Beautiful story!! Congrats on your daughter and an amazing home birth!