Scattered
Itinerant

Selah (Pause and think on the things of God) Raelle (Sees God, Princess of God)

8 lbs 14 0z

21" long

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

I woke up around 4:45 a.m. With the same contractions that I had been having for nearly two weeks. Of course I couldn't go back to sleep so I just sat around waiting for them to tinker out or pick up. By 6:30 a.m. The contractions started to pick up and I started to think that I could really be in labor. Brandon left for his second day at a new job at 6:45 a.m. With me telling him I would call if I thought there was anything to the contractions, and just as he was pulling into the parking lot of work I called to tell him that I was sure this was it.

Brandon came home, and got the boys ready to go to my friend Crissi's house. They were thrilled to go play with their friends, and when I told them their sister was coming it was a non-issue. It took about an hour to get the boys ready and out the door, and by that time my contractions tinkered. I paced in front of our house hoping to get contractions kick started again before my midwife showed up.

My midwife showed up around 10 a.m. And I was already in the tub. I got into the tub too early and stalled my contractions a bit. I was anxious to know that I was really in labor so I had Brandon help me get dressed and we went for a walk. The walk was all I needed. Contractions picked back up and we came home.

The next four hours were very calm and truly my dream labor. I was laughing with Brandon, my midwife, her daughter (assistant), and my friend Jenny between contractions. I used many coping techniques to get through the pain. Hypnobabies kept me focused on relaxing, worship music was so very comforting, and Brandon massaging me was the physical relief and intimacy that I needed.

At 1:30 p.m. I became very antsy about the way things were going. I thought because the contractions didn't hurt, they were more like pressure, that my body wasn't doing anything. I was ready to get things going and to have my baby.

By 2 p.m. The back labor started and I felt baby girl slide under my pubic bone. I started to have the feeling that I couldn't do it anymore, and my midwife suggested that if it felt better to push with the contractions to try pushing, but if not to wait. I tried, and it didn't feel better. I had a tiny cervical lip that was preventing her from coming down. I labored until approximately 2:45 p.m. With intense back pain, and trying to tell everyone I was ready for the hospital.

At 2:45 p.m. I started to push and our sweet baby girl was birthed into water at 2:59 p.m. I was in total shock that she was in my arms. I was instantly in love.

While everyone was admiring our daughter I started to feel pretty poorly. The last thing I remember is telling my midwife that my face was twitching. I started to have a mild seizure, they had to cut the cord and get me out of the tub. My blood pressure went too low, but I recovered quickly. I also had a significant amount of blood loss after I birthed the placenta. I had to take two rounds of methergine to get my uterus to contract faster and reduce the bleeding. Praise God all was well and I was in the hands of a wonderful midwife.

This was by far the most beautiful and intimate labor and birth I have had. I felt God's presence so strongly, and there was such a peace in our home. Brandon did an amazing job of supporting me in labor, and I really feel that we bonded on a whole new level.

I have been blessed to be a part of many wonderful births and labors. Watching women labor and birth their babies makes me worship God for His miraculous work and appreciate the wonder it is to be a woman. The births of my own children were the best and most joyous days of my life, and I'm expecting our daughter's birth to be equally as extraordinary.

However, I have never been as floored by a woman in birth as I was when I saw the "Woman Sings While in Labor" video a few months ago. This woman, and her ability to praise our Creator during one of the most difficult times in a woman's life, is my inspiration. I am incredibly thankful she allowed herself to be filmed because she is an image of beauty, strength and peace.

I have been geeking out and studying the benefits of a few different kinds of teas. Throughout my training and pregnancies I have heard that red raspberry leaf (RRL) tea is good for toning the uterus, but "good" was an understatement. I am blown away to read about the effects of drinking RRL throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. There are also a few other herbs I have learned are incredibly beneficial for the pregnant woman.

(Click on Tea Titles for More Extensive Information)

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea:

- Helps to tone the uterus for a shorter labor
- Can greatly reduce pain in labor
- High in many vitamins and minerals

In Scotland women would drink RRL tea throughout their pregnancy and then drink a very strong and hot brew as they go into labor. In the book Rodale's Encyclopedia of Natural Home Remedies several women give their account of the impact of RRL. Many women say that their labors were incredibly short and low(er) intensity, in comparison to their other births, after diligently drinking RRL tea. Here is a thread from MDC (you may want to grab a cup of tea - it's a long read)

Nettle Tea:

- Helps with high blood pressure, anemia, and pain!
- Eases leg cramps in pregnancy and improves circulation
- Thought to be the highest in Chlorophyll of all the herbs, and provides many other vitamins and minerals

(See Page 9 of the MDC article I posted above)

Alfalfa Tea:

- Helps with hypoglycemia, high blood pressure and the pituitary gland
- High in beta carotene, chlorophyll, and vitamins A & C

Peppermint:

- Helps with digestion and flavor :)
- Relieves muscle spasms
- Helps reduce pain

I will follow the Bulk Herb Store's recipe for my pregnancy tea but will start to increase the amount of RRL around week 36. I'll be the guinea pig and let you all know how it goes.

I have been a part of some beautiful births as an apprentice midwife and doula, and definitely have an idea of how I expect my birth to go. I also enjoy hearing other natural childbirth professionals plan and discuss their plans for the birth of their children so I thought I would share. It will be fun to read this after our little one is born and see how close I was.

Day Leading Up to Birth:

I imagine waking up on a day close to my due date (hopefully 08/28 as it's my favorite grandpa's birthday) and taking my boys, who both made their arrival 10 days after their estimated due date, out for a morning of fun. Then we will come home, have lunch, and all lay down for a nap. I'll make a light dinner and wait for Brandon to come home. Brandon will come home, we'll eat, he'll play with the boys, and I'll have some quiet time. We will read to the boys and put them down for bed.

When Labor Begins:

I think I'll go into labor in the evening, because that seems to be when I relax most and when I started labor with the boys. I imagine the first wave of contractions coming on between 9:30-10 p.m. and being strong but manageable. After an hour of strong contractions they will pick up and I will need to focus and start to use my deep relaxation techniques. Around this time Brandon will call the midwife to give her a heads up, and I will more than likely get into the birth tub that has already been set up in baby's room.

I will more than likely find the hands/knees position the most manageable position, but I am really hoping to be able to squat in the tub through most of this birth. I am planning for back labor as that seems to be the way my body handles labor. The idea of back labor does not cause fear as I know what to expect and consciously know that the labor will have an end.

Time to Push:

After 3-4 hours of laboring I plan to have to push for under 20 minutes. Brandon and I both hope and plan on Brandon catching and being the first to touch our daughter. I think pushing will be a calm and focused time.

Boys Introduction:

If the birth happens the way I am planning then both boys will be asleep in their beds. We will wake them once their sister is here and spend some time together in our bed as a newly expanded family. If I go into labor during the day we will more than likely call a family friend so the boys can have a fun day while I labor.

Emotional Expectations:

I have been practicing my relaxation techniques faithfully and finding Scripture for my affirmations. I am really planning on this birth being very calm, and giving me an opportunity to appreciate the wondrous experience of natural birth. I am not fearful going into this birth and I must praise God for that victory. I was terrified to go into labor with Josiah because of the length of Elias' birth (45 hours), and in the the beginning of this pregnancy I was scared that baby girl's birth would go just as fast as Josiah's (3 hours) and I wouldn't be able to get on top of the contractions.

What We Will Use to Manage Labor:

- Scripture/Prayer/Affirmations
- WATER TUB!
- Massage
- Different Laboring and Pushing Positions in Water
- Homeopathic Aconite to slow down labor if needed and it also helps reduce fear


Our Daughter's Predicted Stats:

Birth Date: 08/28/08
Birth Time: 2:14 a.m.
Length of Birth: 4-5 hours
Weight: 8 lbs 2 oz
Length: 20 inches

For the last few weeks I have watched my flat stomach morph into a beautiful pregnant belly. I have grown increasingly aware of the blessing it is to have two amazing little boys and another child growing in my womb. There is no doubt in my mind that life begins at conception and that every child is a gift from God.

I believe abortion, apart from saving the woman’s life, is wrong at every level. To the dismay of my grieving heart, thousands of babies without a voice are murdered every year. Women are left emotionally scarred and physically empty, and somehow their life continues.

I am also a strong advocate of homebirth, and my right to choose where I will deliver my children. Hours have been spent educating and encouraging women to take charge of their pregnancies, labors and deliveries. I have all but shouted that our care providers work for us and in no way can tell us what to do with our bodies and babies.

Many people are horrified at my decision to labor and birth outside of the hospital. They ignorantly believe it to be more dangerous than birthing in a hospital, irresponsible for me to take an alternative route, and barbaric when hospitals have endless technology. Many of those people wear white coats, and sit on boards that the government listens to closely.

This is where two of my biggest passions collide. The upcoming elections are pressing down on my belief system. If I attempt to tell women, with my vote, what is or is not acceptable for them to do with their children, then I wonder how long it will be before someone does the same for me. When the government starts regulating women and their choices then all choices are challenged, and we’re all left at the mercy of what other people believe we should do.

I cannot pretend to have a solution, nor do I have this all thought out. However, as a Christian well informed on pregnancy and birth choices, I cling to the words of my pastor, “you will never legislate transformed lives.” The responsibility of ending abortion should not be entrusted to the government. Pro-life supporters should be laboring to educate and be a messenger of love, grace and mercy for those who are facing the choice to abort their babies. This action may keep the government from imposing their laws on my birth choices and children, and may keep thousands of babies who may have been aborted safe in their wombs.

Sadly enough, most Christians will feel like they did their part by voting for the pro-life candidate on Election Day and their conscience will be clear.

This was emailed to me and I thought I would share....

THE BIRTH SONG

I was born in deep confusion with a band-aid on my knee, cause my Mom and I were drugged up to induce delivery I do not like being pressured when I can get out myself, and to be born in a hospital can be dangerous to my health

Obstetrician, don't you slap my butt, cause I'd learn to breathe on my time if my chord you did not cut Obstetrician, get your pliers off my head, cause I'd come out in my own time if you didn't give Mom those meds

Just because I don't have words yet doesn't mean that I'm not smart, and if I could speak your language I'd say end the patriarch I'd say birth me underwater and not under a knife, for it's time you took some lessons from your neighborhood midwife

Obstetricians, don’t lose patience with me, cause I do not need a C-section, I just need empathy Obstetricians, stop thinking you are Gods, take a tip from those two french guys, Le Boyer and Lamaze

Well I've just been on a journey and I need a little rest, but you whisk me off of Momma and her sweet warm treasured chest The lights are bright, the room is cold, it's not womb temperature, it's my first taste of your planet and I am not wanting more

Obstetricians, don't take me away from Mom, cause we're both having bad hair days and we really need to bond Obstetrician, please listen to my scream, cause ignoring my birth trauma is not good for my esteem

And while I'm venting, here's a tip about us guys, we might grow up more peaceful if we were not circumcised Obstetricians, it's transformation time, cause to birth our young non-violently is a must for humankind

Listen to it here:

http://www.compleatmother.com/audio/The-Obstetrician-Song.mp3