The Homebirth of Abigail Elizabeth!

mommy~to~a~bunch wrote: The Homebirth of Abigail Elizabeth

Baby #6
EDD: 12/16/06
Birthday: 12/28/06
Gender : Unknown

My pregnancy was going great, with no problems at all. I was researching and reading on homebirths almost as soon as I found out I was pregnant. She is my 6th baby, so I've had plenty of experience. I found 2 great books, The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer and Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth. I knew I could birth at home without any problems, so I found a midwife through a friend. I switched from OB care to my homebirth midwife (HB MW for short) at around 28 weeks.

Let me tell you, the care I received from my MW was FAR better than what I ever got with a doctor. The check-ups were at her house, I brought the kids with me. She did all the standard stuff (UA, BP, weight, fundus, check baby's heart rate & position) plus discussing nutrition, water intake, my past births, the upcoming birth, where I think I might want to birth (in water, on the bed, the floor, etc.), what supplies I needed, and just talked as friends. DH came with to a few apppointments too, and thought she was great! He was hesitant against having a HB at first, but he said the more he talked with her, the more comfortable he was.

I was due on Dec. 16th., but I've always gone past the EDD, which is just an estimate anyway . So that came & went, no big deal, but I couldn't have a HB if I went past 42 weeks, which would be the 30th. So I requested my records from my OB, and read the U/S report, whiich put my EDD as the 21st, so that gave us more time if needed.

The 28th was just like any other, did the normal routine stuff. DH was getting pretty irritated with me for not having the baby yet, I wanted to kick his butt . So that afternoon I told him I was going to relax in the whirlpool tub for awhile, mostly to try to calm down from DH. I was stressing that I'd go past the 42-week mark, then I couldn't have my HB. So I relaxed and enjoyed feeling the baby wiggling, and spoke to him/her that it was time to come out. I also did some nipple stimulation, which can help bring on contractions. I almost fall asleep, I'm so relaxed, which doesn't happen often LOL. SO I get out & get dressed. DH already made supper.

Right after supper, right at 6pm, on the 28th, I have my first contraction. I didn't think much of it, I just noted the time. So DH & I go into the livingroom to watch the news. The contractions keep coming about every 3-4 minutes. No big deal, I've had episodes of false labor before. DH kept staring at me, and after an hour, he asked if I should call the MW. I said, yeah, I suppose, just to let her know I'm having a lot of contractions. So I call her at about 7:10 or so, and let her know what's going on, and she asks if I want her to come. I said, yeah probably. She lives about 45 minutes away, so she said she'd be on her way shortly.

The MW gets here at about 8:15 or so, and I'm in the glider rocker, still laboring, holding an ice cream bucket since I felt pukey. I've told the other kids that the baby was coming tonight, and told them they could watch a movie. They picked Cars LOL. They were all so excited too! DH freaked of course, wondering what he should do. I just ignored it and went into my own little world. The MW times a few contractions, and I ask her "It's too early to feel pushy, right?" and that caused some excitement ! The MW, the assistant (a fellow EMT co-worker of DH's), and DH start getting the bed ready. I would've liked the tub, but there was no time to fill it again (takes FOREVER).

I move into the bedroom, take off my lower clothes, and lean on the bed for awhile. The MW checks the heart tones occasionally, and the assistant writes it down. I'm feeling the urge to push, and the MW reminded me to not to push until it was that overwhelming urge, which I knew well. I started pushing shortly after that, and after a few pushes my water broke. It only took a few more pushes after that, and the baby was born! I immediately held him/her close to me, and s/he got wrapped in warm baby blankets. The other girls wanted to see the birth, but DH chased them out of the room, which upset me some. They were so excited about seeing the baby born.

I just held my baby, smelling that wonderful smell, and then the other kids came in to see. Then we finally check the gender, and it was a GIRL!!! I started breastfeeding her then, and just relaxed with our new baby!! I felt SO WONDERFUL!! We named her Abigail Elizabeth! After the placenta was delivered, the MW gave us some alone time, to enjoy our new baby. After an hour or so, the MW came in & weighed & measured her. We each took a guess as to the weight. I guessed 8lbs 4 oz, the MW guessed 8 lbs. 14 oz., and DH guessed 7 lbs. 9 oz. She weighed 9 lbs. 2 oz, and was 20.5 inches long! Wow! My biggest babt yet!!

The boys went to bed, the girls fell asleep on the floor. DH moved them to their room. And the MW slept on the couch. She did all of the cleaning up, got me a meal, & plenty of water. It was a wonderful, amazing experience, something we will truly remember forever!!!

My3LilMonkeys replied: Sounds like a great experience! I am LOL at



My DH was the same way when Brooke went 9 days past her due date.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: Yeah, men! I forgot to put that she was born at 9:02 pm, after only 3 hours & 2 minutes of labor!

A&A'smommy replied: Oh how wonderful and perfect!!!! I always wished that I could have a homebirth, they seem SOO much more relaxed and you don't have to stay at the hospital!!!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Sounds perfect and wonderful, Mollie.

When are we going to see some updated pictures of your crew?

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
Thanks Aimee & Jessica!

I'll share pics soon!!

Mommy2Isabella replied: TFS . I would have loved a complete homebirth ... after two days it was unsafe

kimberley replied: sounds like the perfect birth! i am so happy you were able to do your home birth.

and i told you waterbirth is too difficult lol

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
Maybe next time!!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Sounds wonderful, Mollie.

Not that I'm having more kids...but if I was to ever get pregnant again, it's something I'd definitely like to try.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
You could do it Rocky! Compared to my other births, it felt the most normal. It felt wonderful to do what I wanted, where I wanted.

Next time I might even consider a UC (unassisted childbirth).

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
my others were mostly natural... didn't really get to use the drugs... although the laughing gas was pretty nice at the end with Emilie... lol Kinda wish I'd gotten it sooner.

Yeah, for sure i could do it.

The hospital and staff were pretty good about letting me do what I wanted though, i have to give them that.

But i'm not having any more kids.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: That sounds like a wonderful experience. You know I love her first name but turns out we share middle names too! My name is also Abigaile Elizabeth

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: I guess we have good taste in names, huh? That's really cool Abby has the same name as you!

Calimama replied: Sounds awesome!! Congratulations.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: Thanks! It was TOTALLY awesome!!