Christy's Story

Late spring 1998. A childlike 22 year old mother of a 1-1/2 year old makes the decision to try a home birth again. She is 6 months pregnant and came to me committed to anything that would prepare her to avoid a repeat of the first birth. She had been attended by an untrained midwife. Her labor was scary since she received no physical or emotional support. Her strong urge to push came prematurely; the midwife didn't know how or why to check dilation, and she ended up in the hospital with a badly swollen cervix. The doctor was unsympathetic and ordered a cesarean—no one knew to request an epidural to stop the pushing urge and allow the cervical swelling to subside and finish normal dilation. Her vision of a warm, personal, emotionally satisfying experience was never realized. The child was healthy but standing before me was a mama with a mission to birth next time with knowledge and dignity.

She explains to me that most of her childhood was motherless, that she approached pregnancy and birth with no information and a naivete she came to regret. What she wanted this time was a midwife who would teach and guide her to maturity in this area. I explain that a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) - especially one scheduled at a rural home - requires serious thought. Does she understand the risks? She tells me she feels the doctor/hospital route carries the greater risk. She wants the best chance of avoiding a repeat cesarean.

So began our relationship. In the 3-1/2 prenatal months remaining, we came together often enough to forge a mutual admiration and affection . She would come with lots of questions—good questions! I spent lots of time on her questions and lots of time supporting her goals. She put a lot of effort into preparing for the coming labor and birth. Her desire to grow as a mother and wife was so clear and so impressive.

The call comes... "Molly, I'm ready for you to come. I've been warming up since last night." I arrive with my apprentice and find her calm, happy, with contractions every 5 to 6 minutes and moderately strong. I check and find her at 3-1/2 centimeters of dilation with all systems go. The three of us spend the next few hours "visiting". She doesn't need to concentrate on the contractions yet and just enjoys the female companionship. She snacks, drinks plenty of water, moves around as her body leads her, and generally enjoys herself. Her sweet husband keeps the toddler occupied elsewhere and it is just us ladies for quite a while.

As the power builds, I find her tensing up, rising up on her toes to try and reduce the pain, and beginning to lose confidence. A quick lesson: "Drop your shoulders, breathe easy and slow, stay off your toes, stay loose and dip and sway with the rhythm of the contractions." "Oh, that's so much better!", she says. I watch her "dance" for a while in harmony with her body.

She begins to feel sleepy; she has relaxed so well. I show her she can make a nest on the soft sofa, supported at every joint and she falls fast asleep. It's so deep she snores gently. In half an hour she wakes up refreshed and focused. The contractions are obviously building - they are closer, longer and harder - she's almost 6 centimeters! Another apprentice arrives and blends into the scene.

The next two hours are spent walking, kneeling over the labor ball enjoying the midwives hands as they massage out the pain, and making numberous trips to the toilet. She is working now. She comments on the use of the term "labor". Yes, I know. It IS work. Her husband and toddler are napping in the bedroom. She doesn't mind; she is in her own world.

Another hour passes and it comes - that incredible urge to push! I check her and she is only 8 centimeters. We have rehearsed for this. She follows my lead and spends the next hour using extreme control to prevent pushing. It takes all she has. I hear her beg to be given the go ahead but I urge her to hang in there just a bit longer.

At last the cervix is all the way open and no swelling this time. She is so glad to begin pushing. She forges ahead until she realizes how much work it's going to take to bring the baby down and out. I see confusion on her face. She cries "Why is it so hard?" I remind her of the process, two steps forward, one step back. Any progress is good progress. She refocuses and over the next two hours uses multiple positions—squatting, sitting upright on the edge of the bed, sitting on the birth stool, walking, lying flat with knees up and out, semi-reclining, etc.

Cheers when we begin to see the baby's head, more cheers when it no longer slips back between pushes, and AT LAST a full crown. We watch with lots of emotion as she sees the amazing sight in the mirror and reaches down to touch her unborn baby's head. The maternal connection happens instantaneously. We've seen it so many times before but it always thrills us. Two minutes more and the head is born; two more minutes and the whole baby is born and in her arms.

A tired, proud and happy mother and a room full of amazed family and friends. Each and every time it is a miracle but THIS time it's really special. Besides the birth of a new child, we have also witnessed the transformation of a woman-child into a mother-woman through the process of her heart's desire. We are blessed.