Malcolm's Birth Story - Part I

For those of you who want the short version, here it is: Malcolm was born. In water. At home. And he is absolutely perfect.

But for those of you who want the little details, this is for you (but mostly for me because I like details). I'm afraid that reading this might actually take longer than Malcolm's birth did, but oh well, here we go . . .

Monday, August 29, 2011 - I was now 42 weeks and 1 day pregnant. According to The Boy's ultrasound last Thursday and my appointment with my midwife Alison Haasch, we were both completely healthy and if we wanted, we could continue incubating until the next week. I was the only one on the face of this earth that wasn't worried about anything. Elliot had given me a blessing the day before my "due date" (due date=August 14) which just made me more comfortable and reassured me that I was making the right decisions and I knew that they were mine to make.

I was comforted this specific morning by a scripture I read in 1 Corinthians 2:5. So many people were concerned that I was 2 weeks overdue and continually told me (and my husband) that I was making the wrong decisions. I understood the concern, but I trusted the Spirit more.

In talking to Elliot this morning and planning our week, we talked about Alison possibly breaking my water to start labor. She had already stripped my membranes the week before without any changes, but I knew that breaking my water was a definite labor starter.

9:00 a.m. - I made an appointment with my friend's aunt who is a reflexologist. She was kind enough to come to my home, knowing that if I happened to go into labor, that I'd want to be at home. I'm fairly certain that I fell asleep and who knows what kind of weird sleeping noises I make. It wouldn't be the end of the weird noises of the day. She said that she has pretty good results with women and putting them into labor and was excited either way just to have my feet rubbed.

I had promised a loving and concerned family member at the beginning of my mission for a natural birth that I would include my husband in my decisions. I knew that besides getting increasingly impatient with my lack of labor, people felt it necessary to share birth horror stories with Elliot. This naturally made him worry. In the end, he trusted my decisions, which I appreciate. However, I knew that with his 2 extra weeks of incubation, by this time our baby would be healthy and would be on his way soon anyway.

Alison was in constant contact with me through our regular appointments and texts. Seriously, I never got any texts from my OB. One more reason to have a midwife. Alison texted me to see how I was feeling that morning. I told her about the reflexology and how my pressure waves hadn't increased or decreased at all, but that I got a little nap. I told her that Elliot and I had discussed maybe breaking my water and instantly she responded immediately with, "OK, what time do you want me to come over?" Apparently she was ready to help me birth my baby as well. So we scheduled to break my water around 2:00 p.m. and I was instructed to take a nap, eat a good lunch, and drink a lot of water.

1:30 p.m. - Elliot came home and we took a little nap together and made sure arrangements for Stella were made with Grandma Dibble after school. I had done everything else I was instructed to do, so I went over the house one more time to make sure everything was totally clean and birthing supplies available for my birthing team before they came. Alison had an appointment in Gilbert that ran late and she informed us that she'd be to our house by 4:00.

3:15 p.m. - I got a call from Stella who was on the verge of tears. She always sounds so much younger when I'm talking to her on the phone. Grandma told her that I was going to have the baby and she may have gotten a little nervous (or dramatic as is natural for her). She said, "Mom, remember how you told me that we can have tears that are happy tears? Well, I think that's what I'm going to do now."

We decided that since Alison wasn't there yet, that we wanted Stella to come back home to see us and see that everything was as it should be before she went to Grandma's for the night. We cuddled for a little bit and tried to reassure her that next time she came home, she could hold her brother!

I think she was excited about the whole thing, but got nervous again when we walked her out to the car as Alison arrived. Alison gave her a hug and also tried to reassure her, but Stella still gave me at least 3 more hugs and kisses before Grandma drove away with our big girl.

At the beginning of our plan for a home birth, I had discussed with Stella what we were going to do and she even watched some documentaries with me and some home births online. She was fascinated and so excited that we didn't have to go to the hospital. Elliot and I had contemplated allowing Stella to be present during the birth, but we decided that I needed Elliot's full attention and with Stella there, I wouldn't get it. Also, it turns out that I'm sure she would have been more than a little traumatized by the noises I'd be making later that evening.

3:45 p.m. - Alison and her assistants Althea and Kat arrived and brought in their luggage full of birthing supplies. I changed my clothes and finished my preparations for one of the most amazing nights of my life.

(stay tuned for Part II of Malcolm's Birth Story . . . or don't stay tuned if pictures of me in labor might make you uncomfortable . . . no worries, they're blog appropriate . . . I didn't get all Ricki Lake on anybody)