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by Kristin Lewis, AAHCC, Certified Doula(DONA)
Rose Olivia Lewis made her arrival at 6:18am on August 31st, 2005. Her birth was an incredible experience for me! Here three days afterwards, I feel so good and so blessed to be a mother of six! Having a wonderful birth experience has left me energized, encouraged, and happy to care for the needs of this new little one. Her birth will be a wonderful treasure that I will think about and share with others often!
My first contraction awoke me at 3:18 am in the morning -- it was very slight and lasted less than 30 seconds; but it sent me to the bathroom for a while. I think I tried to climb back in bed; I had been having night episodes like this for a couple of weeks so I was not thinking that this was labor. I had another short contraction with a bit of a round ligament cramp, so I got up and walked into the living room not wanting to disturb Brian. While sitting on the couch, I had another short contraction -- not requiring much concentration but, I began to feel cold and a little shaky. I do not think I had felt cold one single time during this pregnancy, so I knew right then if I was cold I must be in labor.
I walked back in the bedroom at about 3:50am. Brian instantly sat up and turned on the light. I said I thought I was in labor. While I went back to the bathroom, he got busy doing all the things he needs to "do" to while I labor :-). He took a shower, made up the bed, got out the cameras. While he was busy, I made my way out to our swimming pool in the back yard to see if the water was warm enough to labor in.
After sticking my toes in, I concluded that the 90 degree water felt great; so I labored my way back to my room to get my swimsuit top, my robe, the phone, and asked Brian to set up the CD player by the pool. He walked me back out to the pool and turned on my music. I climbed in and got comfy floating upright in my big pink inner-tube. Brian then decided that we needed a couple of gallons of milk for the children for breakfast; so he ran off to the gas station.
While Brian was gone, I made the needed phone calls to Kristi (my sister-in-law), Tanya (my doula), and Sharon (my midwife). Kristi arrived before Brian got back -- she lives two doors down. She sat with me while I labored; and when Brian returned they set up the video camera. Within a few minutes, Tanya arrived as well. With the women here, Brian felt the need to run one more errand to fill up our big van with gas? We had 3/4 of a tank --- I was amused and a bit perplexed as to why it needed to be done at 4 something in the morning ... but Tanya said let him go. I think it must be Brian's way of dealing with a bit of labor anxiety; and his activity was entertaining for the rest of us.
About the time Brian returned my contractions seemed to pick up. I never timed them and up to this point they did not require too much concentration but I could feel myself drifting into labor land. I was going back and forth in my mind -- "Oh, no -- I do not want to do this" and "Take it one at a time -- it won't be long." I looked over and saw Brian standing by the side of the pool, I asked him to get in with me.
He went and changed and came over to me in the water. He put his arms around me and prayed for me. I instantly felt very comforted. The contractions intensified, but I had Brain to hold on to. Because I was in the water, I was able to move during my contractions. I swayed, stretched, and turned in the water to find the best position.
Sharon arrived. She listened to the baby. She and Tanya set up the birth supplies. I began to feel the panicky feeling of the end of labor. I was feeling like I could not handle the contractions anymore. I began a mantra with my contractions of "Lord help me. Help me get through this."
The Lord provided the strength and in a contraction or two I felt my body pushing. I was still floating in my inner-tube holding on to Brian; yet, I made my way closer to the steps. I had my legs apart and my feet touching the bottom of the pool. I could feel a powerful opening and stinging sensation.
Sharon asked if I wanted to take off the inner-tube (so I could catch) -- but I couldn't move. Brian couldn't catch either because I was holding onto him. So Sharon climbed in the pool in her clothes to help. Within seconds the head was out and quickly followed by the shoulders and body.
It was a flurry of hands, pulling off the inner-tube, moving over to the stairs, passing the baby under my leg, and wrapping her up in a towel. I held my baby and climbed out of the pool to my chase-lounge. What relief and joy! We sat for a while meeting each other.
Tanya brought me my labor drink; and after a little while, Brian got to hold Rose while I moved to the birth stool to deliver the placenta. Then we made our way inside to our bedroom. Within a few minutes the rest of our children were up and came down stairs to the surprise of a new baby sister. All five of them climbed up on the bed to meet her. Their faces were lit up with excitement.
Little Rose had made her arrival on her sister Dawn's 3rd birthday -- and her measurements were exactly the same too ... 8lbs 10oz & 21in! Rose's peaceful
birth set the stage for a pleasant and easy transition into these new days of life with her in our family. Every moment with her is a joy.
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