Gina's Story- 10 lbs., 1 oz.- Birth Center

10 lbs., 1 oz.

22 inches

34 cm head circumference

Birth Center (in Florida)

Mother's Height: 5’ 4”

How was your pregnancy?  AWESOME!

How did you feel about your upcoming birth?  Anxious, excited, ready to see baby

Description of your birth experience: 

After laboring through the day, visiting with family, making spaghetti sauce, and having lunch, it was time to get down to business.  We called our mid-wife (Vicki) around 3:00 pm just to let her know that we were probably going to have a baby that night.  We called back around 6:00 pm because the contractions were getting longer and shorter between contractions.  Vicki listened to my breathing and told me to climb into the tub, chill out, and let the contractions get even more intense.  Because Nathaniel was sitting in the middle of my lower back, I could not lay down or sit in the tub.  I had been standing for the majority of my contractions the entire day.  But, we tried the tub to see if I could somewhat sit back – no way Jose!  That did not work at all.  So, out of the tub I climbed.  I labored until about 8:00 pm at home and my husband called Vicki to let her know that my contractions had reached the desired length and timing.  Vicki listened to me over the phone and told us to come on up to the Birth Center.  So, my husband, my sister (and her 7-month-old who was still nursing) climbed into the car with all our gear and off we went.  We arrived at the Birth Center about 45 minutes later at 9:00 pm.  By that time, I was ready to have this baby!!  Vicki examined me and I labored on a birthing ball until the tub was finished filling.  Because I could not sit down, I had to labor in the tub on my knees the entire time. Not entirely the relaxing experience I was hoping for but better than standing.  My husband, sister, and Vicki kept reminding me to keep my moaning low and to breath through the contractions.  It wasn’t too bad in the tub and Vicki would check me periodically.  After one check, I decided it was time to start pushing.  I kind of got excited at that point because I figured Nathaniel would arrive about and hour or so later.  Well, 2-1/2 hours later, I was still pushing.  I was tired and apparently looked exhausted because Vicki suggested we think about going to hospital to possibly get some rest.  As she went to call the on-call doc, my husband and I discussed it.  This was about 2 a.m.  My sister and best friend (who arrived shortly after we did) kept cheering me on and telling me that I could do it without the hospital.  While I appreciated that, the hospital was sounding better, the more tired I got.  When Vicki came back, we were discussing the hospital option, when I had to push again.  And, while I was pushing, it hit me – I would have to do this in the car the whole way to the hospital.  I finished that contraction and asked Vicki to check me because there was no way I was doing that in a car for 30 minutes!!  She checked me and could feel quite a bit of his head.  That gave me the incentive I needed to push the little man out.  After finally figuring out what I need to do to get the little man out, I pushed for 30 more minutes and he arrived.  As he crowned, Vicki had me breath through the pushes while she tried to wiggle his hand away from his head.  He wasn’t having any part of that and out he came with one fist beside the temple on his head.  Of course, I tore a bit because of his elbow but Vicki did a wonderful job stitching me up and I can’t tell that I tore at all.  When Vicki weighed him and told us that he was 10 pounds, 1 ounce, I was shocked and said “Go me!!”

How did you feel after the birth (first month)?  Sore for the first month but able to get around and do anything that I needed to do.

How did you feel six months after the birth?  Wonderful. No problems at all.  One year?  Wonderful. No problems at all.   Now?  Wonderful. No problems at all. 

What did you learn from this birth?  It reinforced my belief that I can do anything – it made me realize that I have the power within me to tackle anything if I set my mind to it.

Any words of wisdom to impart?  Relax, do pre-natal yoga, listen to your body, find a trusted mid-wife that will help you deliver in a natural way.