Cadence Faith

I guess we have to start with the prodromal labor that started around two weeks before Cadence came. Nothing major just noticeable contractions (ctx) every 5 to 7 mins that never get closer or pick up in intensity. I hated but loved them all at the same time...hated because I soooo wanted to meet my baby!!! Loved because it was getting things going for me without a lengthy labor.

I am not sure of the timeframes of things nor all the things "outside" that was happening so I am sure that my midwife (MW) or the assistants (assts) will chime in and correct me and I'll revise the story as necessary (read the midwife's version here).

The Thursday before Cadence came, I was sure that I was in labor...but it turns out that I was in some continued form of "extended prodromal torture." I called the MW and she and the assts were here within minutes. Good for us the kiddos were sleep and I was ready!! Well I laid down to nap somewhere around 11 pm or midnight-ish and woke up at 6 am...to NOTHING!!! I was sooooo bummed! Christal (MW) assured me that it was OK and happened all the time. I felt so guilty about calling her and having her come over to the house with the assts for NOTHING! She came over later that day to check on me and said again its ok it happens don't be afraid to call me if anything changes...She texted and checked on me several times a day (I love midwifery!!!)

Fast forward to Saturday, Cadence's BIRTHday...

Saturday was a normal day...nothing out of the ordinary aaaaall day. Finally, I laid down for a nap around 5:30 pm. Eric (DH) had called and said he was coming home early because he wanted to spend time with me and the kids. I got everyone dressed and laid on the couch waiting for him to get home. EVERY vehicle we have happened to be down at this time. Either no air condition, running hot, overheating, mechanical issues you name it! I asked him to just go ahead and get us a vehicle on the road with air!! My friend Octavia called around 6:45 pm, I remember because I looked at the time because as the phone rang I had a ctx. We stayed on the phone for a while and cut up as we usually do, laughing and joking! I even facebooked at some point that day saying "the day is young could we have a baby today?" or something...so we hung up around 8 pm maybe later and Eric was home but in the back yard. I got up and immediately I had a rush and it was "different." But I had this voice reminding me of Thursday and I was like this cant be it or I'll call her later.

I tried to get dinner on for the kids as I had slept through dinner. While I was doing that, Eric walked in and I had a ctx and he was like you sound different. I assured him it wasn't labor that I needed to use the bathroom and take a bath. I used the bathroom and got in the bathrub and things seemed to pick up. But I didn't have my phone or the inclination to call Eric for my phone. I still was in some sort of denial. I got out of the tub and went to my home...THE TOILET!

I stayed there until Eric came in and was like what is going on and I said "I can't stop pooping and I'm ctx'g!" Eric asked if I called Christal and I said "no I can't find my phone, you call her..." I called her and all I could say was "I think you should come..." she asked how long I had been this way and I told her maybe an hour, I really had no clue...she threatened to beat me and I said "please don't!"

Shortly after the asst got to me before Christal. She checked baby's heart rate and I just stayed in the bathroom on the toilet. Eventually I went to the "Birth Room" and spent some time on the floor rocking and moaning. Christal arrived very shortly after - wonder if she was speeding? I asked if I could get in the tub and she said "...you can do whatever you want to do..."

I got in the tub (I do remember getting in with my dress on!!) I can't vouch for what happened here...moaning, breathing, trying to recover. I remember my ctx coming so fast and hard that I felt as if I wasn't getting a break. I remember feeling inside and feeling the bulge of the water bag. At Christal's suggestion, I turned from my knees to my sitting on my bottom and things just went rocket fast from there!

I immediately felt her head coming down and I remember saying "I cant do this!!!" Everyone was so great: "You can!!! You are doing it!!! Get back in there!!!" So I did... One of the assts and I just had a wonderful chemistry together and I was so glad she was in attendance! She held my hands the WHOLE time!!! She'd remind me to breathe and that burning is good, baby is coming, and that I am doing such a good job...I HEART her!!

I didn't want a hands on birth and my wonderful MW remembered that. She didn't touch me once other than to reassure me and comfort me. I never "put my hand down there..." before with my past babies. This time I wanted so bad to be aware and experience EVERYTHING about my birth (maybe that is why this is characterized as my most intense birth yet...) I put my hand down and felt her head coming out and as she was crowning my water broke and BAM!!! Her head!!! I rubbed her head and said hi baby!! Amazingly I felt her rotating inside of me to get her shoulders and body out...it was all so amazing!!! Then I began to support her neck as her body was born I caught her precious little self and pulled her to my chest.

I caught my baby!!!

I did it at home, in peace, with NO INTERVENTIONS!!!

I got to spend uninterrupted time with her and daddy looking at her and loving on her! This is how babies are supposed to come into this world...In love and in peace... I am so blessed to have experienced this. Special thanks to God, who gave me this sweet passion! Eric who supports this sweet passion! Christal who took a risk that others would not have taken and now she has a crazy lifetime friend!!! Betsy, I have no words for how much of a blessing you were to me...THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Julie Ann, your sweet quiet spirit and creative spirit made it all complete with the most wonderful pictures!!! I love you all!!!!

Cadence Faith was 7lbs 4oz

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Cadence Faith's Birth Diary
The Midwive's Version

Mommy and Cadence Faith's Birth Story

Hi, I'm the midwife...

As soon as I relocated to the area from upstate NY, (my husband and I are retiring to the area and I wanted to be around my grandchildren), I met Shlonda.

This was early July, and Shlonda was due August 31st. She and I talked over the phone and in person, and then met, and decided we wanted to work together. Medical records and history was sent my direction, and regular prenatal visits commenced.

While it was risky speeding up the 'getting to know your client' process at such a last minute, she and I clicked and have enjoyed much laughter throughout the past two plus months.

We had one what I like to call, 'dry run' a week or so before real labor started. This is not unusual at all for labors to start and stop. I don't like calling them false alarms, because there is work being done, there is a uterus toning and working readying itself for the real thing, its softening the cervix, and hugging baby in preparation, so I never invalidate these calls.

We went to Shlonda's and soon thereafter she fell asleep with contractions slowing down then eventually, stopping. Everyone went home, as I kept in contact, it became evident Shlonda's intuition was telling her it would be the next weekend. I never invalidate that, either.

At close to 9:30 pm on August 27th, I got a very breathless phone call, it was obvious to me Shlonda was in the middle of a large contraction while she said haltingly, and in a very low voice, "I...think...its...time...for you to...come." I asked her how long she had been laboring and she said about an hour. I jokingly said I was gonna beat her up (She has fast births according to her past history and we discussed prenatally calling me at the slightest hint of anything - ooops).

She said "please don't" and we both laughed and I was out the door calling my assistants.

Betsy and Julie Anne arrived before me since they lived closer. Betsy got great heart tones, both on tap with great labor support. I arrived expecting a very quiet, laboring Mama, since her husband, Eric mentioned his recollection of her labor history was that she labors very quietly. Nothing could have been further from the truth on that one (at least for this birth) I walked in to find Shlonda on her knees, leaning over onto the couch in the birth room, while Betsy was softly encouraging her and rubbing her back - no doubts Shlonda was heavy into hard labor. Lots of wild woman moaning, groaning and hard working contractions!

Things were moving fast, and when Shlonda got into the tub, Julie Anne hopped right in and began doing hip presses to help relieve Shlonda's backache. It was a beautiful scene, being with woman. Eric was still settling in the other children, so from my quiet place in the room, I stood in awe while the four of us held that spiritual and sacred place in being "With Woman."

Eric came in and got into the tub with Shlonda, Betsy was rushing around like a chicken with her head cut off, charting (I had asked her to do this as part of assisting) and Shlonda and Betsy seemed to have a tender connection going that I absolutely did not want to intrude upon. I have decided Betsy is the absolute best assistant in the entire world, and is going to be an excellent midwife, and I appreciate her SOOOO much!!!

Heart tones stayed great throughout labor, and I noticed a subtle change as Shlonda's voice got very low, and there was a small catch at the height of her contractions, (or 'peak') I knew she would be pushing soon. She was on her hands on knees but so low near the tub's bottom she did not seem comfortable, and there was not much room for baby to emerge, so I quietly suggested she change positions. She had already begun pushing.

barely had time to get heart tones. Shlonda stated rather loudly "I can't DO this!!!" and we all told her she was doing this woman's work, and that she could do it. She immediately changed her perspective and said out loud several times, "Yes, I know I can do this, I am doing this" and I watched this strong, courageous, beautiful woman dig deep into what must have been generations of women behind her as several emotions flickered across her face - the reckoning within occurred quickly, and her resolve was evident - yes she would do this, she was going to have her baby. On her own power.

I gently reminded her about their birth plan and initially she said "No, I can't think of catching right now, let Eric," then she reached down to feel the little one's head crowing. We reminded her to blow baby out, breathe the baby out, let her uterus do the work so she would not tear.

The bag of waters broke, and Julie Anne actually was able to capture this on film and the picture is awesome. Waters were clear, nothing amiss. Shlonda guided little Cadence Faith out of her own body, and up onto her chest. Cadence needed a little help to come earthside - she came so fast! that being said, baby came around beautifully, as it should be when there is a trained midwife in attendance.

Little Cadence Faith crying loudly was a joy to all in the room, and once we got Mommy out of the tub, with the placenta and cord still intact, she shimmied up Mama's belly attempting to self latch, but we ended up waiting because Shlonda was having some bad back pain waiting on the placenta and had a full bladder. Once we resolved these issues, little Cadence nursed like a champ, and is the cutest thing ever!

Birth is a beautiful thing, a miracle. There is something profound about birth. I am blessed to have been invited into their home to watch the miracle unfold. If you ever think you have to go to the hospital first, before you can do it at home on your own power, if you are low risk, rethink that negativity and get educated.

Chris

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Cadence Faith's Birth Diary: Reviews

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