So it is May 25th at 7:44 p.m. and I finally started to truly
feel better from my birth and decided to start writing my birth story. Before I
get started, it might help for you to have a little bit of background on how
this whole program works. On my last birth, I was a vbac and used hypnobabies
to have a medication free birth. For my first, I also wanted that but was not
equipped with this entire program. I only had hypnobirthing which teaches you
to have faith in a pain free birth but doesn't give you too much technique so
when it got really intense, the only thing I kept thinking was no pain, no
pain. In hypnobabies, they give you other things to think about such as key
words that relax you and set you in the right mode. It is true that when you
try not to think of something, that thought keeps recurring in your head. So I
put it into my birth plan not to even use the word pain but instead say
discomfort since that can be eased rather quickly. So the way this program
works is, when you are in your birthing time and as you're getting ready for
your birthing time, you always say release to go into a deep hypnosis state
that basically knocks you completely out. This is good for the early birthing
stage when pressure waves begin getting closer and closer together. So this was
the easiest part for me and I slept through my early labor with my second and
now my third birth. I actually started having regular pressure waves on
Saturday the 14th which was... one day after my due date. This is the first
time I'm actually sharing my due date with you all because I knew due dates are
inaccurate and I didn't want to focus my mind on pushing myself when I had no
control over that aspect. Anyhow, pressure waves continued in the evening for 4
days and were mainly 10 minutes apart until Tuesday, the 18th. On the 18th,
they were more like 4 to 6 minutes apart. They were also felt in my pelvic
region rather than just high on my stomach. Me and the boys decided to go on a
walk around the neighborhood so I could see if I could get the pressure waves
going in a rhythm. While we were on a walk, our good neighbor friend saw us and
reassured us that if we were going to have the baby tonight, they could take
the boys. As I was walking, I found it hard to walk through some pressure waves
and that is when I knew it was time. There were texts from my mom and mother in
law since Saturday asking how I was doing and how my pressure waves were coming
along so they were ready when I decided to call them and my midwife. We called
the neighbors and they immediately came and picked up the boys who were so
excited since they also love their kids. When my whole birth team showed up,
the pressure waves decided to slow down so we went for a walk and they sped up
again but I decided to lay down and almost fell asleep. She checked my dilation
and I was completely thinned out and almost at a 5. This is when you usually
get admitted to a hospital. Then my sweet midwife, Kim Flake said that I should
get some rest even if it's for a couple of hours. I told her I was sure that
they would be back early the next morning. So they left to go sleep around 11
p.m. My mom stayed and slept in my son's bed since he and my other son were
with our neighbor. At around 3 a.m. my pressure waves started one on top of the
other and they were really strong. I tried to wake my husband three times but I
basically had to shake him. He was asking me if I was sure and I said yes! Then
he called his mom and I called my midwife. I told her it was time and she asked
how long each wave was and I said that I was not able to time them but that
they were really close. Then she said she'd be there and she also brought her
assistant to be there for the baby as well. This was part of the plan when she
was sure. Next, I went into the boys’ room to let my mom know that it was time.
She came into the living room and I asked her to rub my forehead which was
another cue for me to relax. You see, when woman give birth there are 2 sets of
birthing muscles that work together. One is horizontal as it thins out, and the
other is vertical and that will push the baby down. When you are relaxed, those
muscles can work together efficiently and with minimal to no discomfort. In
hypnobabies, they call it the easy birthing time. Although, when I was at this
stage, it was not easy. My mom, had to keep rubbing it and when my husband had
finished telling his mom to come over, he had to rub my shoulder for the other
cue. The problem I was having was actually looking forward to the pressure
waves. I felt them coming on more powerfully and I started shaking like I was
getting hit by a huge electrical wave which felt good but was so shocking to
me. When they first started, and she was rubbing my forehead, they actually
felt good but then they became so powerful I started to lose my focus and then
my husband helped me regain more focus. Then 20 minutes later my mother in law
came and I lost focus and she helped by rubbing my forehead and my mom started
rubbing my shoulders. Only she began rubbing too hard which felt good on my
shoulders but it was taking away my focus. So I asked her to rub gently. As
they got stronger and stronger, I began to feel like I didn't know what to
expect next and I began to question whether I was really prepared for a
comfortable birth at all. This reminds of when Peter walked with Christ on the
water and he was doing good at first but then he began to doubt. This whole
time I was also listening to a powerful cd from hypnobabies called
hypnobirthing 1 and 2. It kept saying the affirmation, I deserve to have a
comfortable birth. As I was sinking deeper and deeper into doubt, I began
having thoughts like you don't deserve to have a comfortable birth. I even
heard more powerfully that since Christ suffered I would have to suffer but
then I remembered that that is the opposite of true since there is a scripture
in modern revelation saying in Christ words, I God have suffered these things
for all that they might not suffer. So I was able to immediately dispell that
and I envisioned giving this burden to Christ. I believe that was the moment I
began to progress rapidly. As each pressure wave would come over me, I would
prepare for it and then as it came, I would say peace which is the key word for
active birthing as compared to when you’re in your early stage. I would start
to calm it down and within seconds would feel good again. Then I would smile
and wait for the next one. I was leaning on my birthing ball. At this point, my
midwife asked my husband if she thought I needed to set up the labor pool and
my husband said you're not going to have time because he remembered from the
last time. A couple seconds later I started pushing. I pushed my water out and
there was that gush. This was at 4:09 a.m. By this time I was really sweating
profusely. I asked that my pushing baby out cd began being played. I had to stand up a couple of times like the
baby was stretching his legs to move down. As I was laboring there, I said a
prayer that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I would have the strength to
push this baby out. Then I stood up one last time and I went into a squatting
position I have not been able to achieve with such strength for longer
than a few seconds previous to my birth and I pushed so hard. I reached in to
feel how close the baby was and then pushed some more with an enthusiasm that
he was almost there. I told everyone how much I loved them. The baby gradually
began to crown all 14 inches of his head. My midwife provided perineum support
to help lessen tearing and any injuries. Then she guided him as he came out
like a slide just as the birthing cd was saying. I was so overjoyed at that
moment, as my midwife invited me to pick up my baby. I picked him up and layed
there on the floor with so much peace and excitement and relief all at the same
time. I was glad that it was all over but mostly I was happy that he was happy.
Within a minute, he let out his first cry as he got some of that flem out of
his lungs. However within those first 2 minutes, my bleeding became excessive
and they had to cut the embelical cord. Originally I was going to let the
embellical cord stay there until it stopped pulsing in order to get all the
nutrients to the baby but in this case, it was medically necessary to cut it.
After that, I was administered a few shots in order to stop the bleeding.
Within 1 minute of that happening, I delivered the placenta and then the next
min I bled some more. Kim said it was just as much as a gunshot wound, about
700 ml. I knew it was ok. I sort of felt like I had already been through this
with my second son only this time it was a little extra. Anyhow I was too
occupied with my newborn that I wasn’t really paying attention. I knew I was in
good hands as well. Right after I started bleeding again, my midwife started
massaging my stomach and got the bleeding to stop. From there, I was stitched
up on the bed for 45 minutes. I received stitches on my perineum in 3 places.
However I only had a second degree tear. While I was being stitched, my newborn
got his check up. He was born at 8 lbs exactly! I’m so glad he waited to come
out at 40 weeks and 6 days. He was so worth the wait! He was also a good 21
inches so just the cutest little legs and arms on this tall boy. I am so
grateful for all the support I have had in bringing my precious little newborn
Ambrosio into the world. I’m especially grateful to a loving Heavenly Father
for allowing His Son to bear my burdens. Without Him, this whole birthing
experience would not have been the same but thanks to Him, it was a dream come
true!
