Rising Moon Midwifery

The nine months which led me to the arrival of my second baby were great. I was blessed with overflowing love and support from friends and family. However, I was growing anxious with expectancy wanting to meet my newest edition. My due date came and went, and baby was being elusive. I had many days of light contractions followed by nothing. Would this little creation ever come? The sporadic contractions were truly causing a mounting sense of anticipation that was rather emotional for me. I felt an urgency to get baby out and it seemed that baby wasn't cooperating. I'd already had a simply lovely natural homebirth with my first child and was looking forward to the same sort of unfolding the second time around. But as I was about to learn, every birth is a unique experience and every baby has its own special journey to take.

My fiance Chuck and I had tried natural methods for helping induce labor to no avail. We talked with our midwives Kate and Jane about other options and they said we could try castor oil if we wanted and gave us the recipe for a smoothie. This was mulled over and discussed and we finally decided to do it.

So the next morning, I woke up and drank a creamsicle castor oil smoothie. Nothing happened at first. I repeated this one hour later as advised and then tried to relax while awaiting a response from my body. I believe I dosed off and then was suddenly awakened by a strong contraction. I waited to see if more would come and indeed a pattern had begun. They were lasting the better part of a minute and were five minutes apart. So this was it! I called our midwife Kate and she said she'd be up.

Now, we were planning on giving birth at my parent's home twenty minutes away. We already had a birth room set up with a tub and felt comfortable with the decision, especially since this is where our first child was born. Everyone calls it "the birth house." However, I never imagined how terrible a car ride is while in labor. So unfortunately for me, I was not bestowed the benefit of not having to travel while having a homebirth. But alas, what seemed like a neverending ride of torment was over and I'd survived.

Chuck and I got situated and continued to breath through every contraction. They were much more intense than I recalled, perhaps due to the castor oil. Our midwives showed up and check me. It was about two o'clock and I was 4 cm dilated. We still had a ways to go, so Chuck and I labored outside awhile. We took a nice walk and admired the autumn beauty. In the meantime, the tub was being filled. I was getting anxious to go in the water because I knew how wonderful the warm water would feel. It would help to ease my labor. So we asked Kate and Jane when we could go in the tub, and Kate wanted to check me again beforehand to see how far I'd progressed. It was only a short while later, and I was already between 6 and 7 cm. That castor oil was a very expedient means of producing a baby.

Chuck and I submerged ourselves and kept breathing through each contraction. We just took it one contraction at a time, though they were getting to be right on top of one another. They were extremely powerful and I was going through a period of doubt. If the contractions got any more intense, I told Chuck, I just couldn't do it anymore. Thank God for the urge to push! While still in the water, I began pushing. Contractions with a purpose are inspiring. Knowing you're in the homestretch and will be meeting your baby soon is empowering. It was no longer comfortable in the water so we relocated to the bed. Push and push and push I did, but baby wasn't coming. I changed my positions, used the birthing stool, and pushed with all my might. Baby still wasn't coming.

Kate checked me again and found that I was entirely dilated except for a lip of cervix in the front, which baby's head was stuck on. Now I needed to use some mindpower and focus on making the cervix completely melt away so baby could emerge. Rather than pushing, I went within and through the power of thought was able to soften and move the cervix lip in order to enable a nice entryway for baby. So I asked Kate to check me again and now baby's path was all clear, except for my intact water. Time to push again. Apparently my amniotic sac was very thick, so though I'd been pushing with all my might, my water hadn't broke. A few more pushes and there was finally no barrier left.

So I repositioned to lying on my back with my legs up and kept on pushing and breathing. The head crowned, and I was so relieved that this little one was making its way out now. I could feel the head!! Kate felt too and apparently the lil' one was posterior. I kept pushing and the head came out. Yay! Chuck was right by my side the whole time encouraging me. I kept pushing and pushing, but baby's body just wouldn't budge. I'm thinking, "C'mon now!" Pushing more and as hard as I could didn't help. I could sense the tension rising in the room and the seriousness of the need for baby to be out. Kate and Jane had me flip over onto all fours and try pushing good and hard. Nothing. I prayed that this baby come out and be okay. On the next contraction, Kate put her hand in and carefully manipulated the baby, whose one arm was up causing its shoulder to be stuck. Out he came! It was a beautiful boy. They immediately gave him oxygen and had us talk to him. He came around super quick and they put him on me. Chuck was a wreck. He had a different perspective than I did, so he saw the baby turning blue, and was really scared. And baby had a difficult entrance, including his cord around his neck which we learned of afterward, so we all got a homeopathic to help us calm down.

Malakai Sage Minguez finally entered this world on November 8th at 6:18 pm, weighing in at 9 lbs. He was 19.5 inches long, healthy, had tons of dark hair, and was just perfect. My midwives teased that his hair was born long before he was. They also comforted me when I felt sensitive about the experience and reminded me that I did it. I was a birth warrior.

This birthing experience was a great teacher. I've learned my own inner strength. I've also grown much better at trusting the universe. Knowing that all babies choose a unique way to arrive was also revealed to me. And the expectations I had went out the window. Each and every moment is special and should be cherished. I am most appreciative of my support system. And God bless Rising Moon Midwifery and midwives everywhere who enable mamas to birth naturally at home. It is liberating beyond words!