Birth story - Cassie and baby Freyja

I had a fairly smooth pregnancy with no issues. At the end of my 3rd trimester, my fundal height was measuring small so I ended up getting a few extra ultrasounds per the midwives recommendations. Every time baby girl was measuring perfectly on track. Based on her movements and my intuition I never had any fear/doubt about her growth or my delivery! I just had a very strong conviction that we could do this.

At 40 weeks (Monday) I had an appointment and check. I was fully effaced and baby was at a 0 position in my pelvis, but I wasn’t dilated. I was mentally prepared to go past 41wks. as that’s normal for first time moms. That Thursday afternoon (40+3) I lost my mucus plug and shortly after started having some waves. They were not strong but consistently around 15minutes apart. I spent the evening relaxing with the husband, bouncing on my birth ball and just distracting myself. I wasn’t convinced yet that it was true labor.

By 2am the waves were about 4 minutes apart. My doula suggested we contact the midwives. The waves weren’t super strong - I could still talk through them and was just using up breathing and bouncing. The midwife on call decided to have me come in and evaluated. I felt like it wasn’t time but we went in anyway. I had requested to NOT be told how dilated I was throughout labor - to me that seemed like more of a mind game and I wanted to focus on trusting my body + baby. Not a timeline. But at this point I was only 1cm, so back home we went. At home I got in the bath to relax and get some sleep for the rest of the night.

That night and the whole next day my contractions slowed down. I relaxed in the bath with some clary sage + lavender essential oil. Or in bed trying to sleep in between waves. Throughout the day they got stronger to the point where I had to sit up and focus on my breath each wave. I was also pretty nauseous so I kept peppermint oil around which helped so much!

By Friday night (24hrs. Into labor) I was getting pretty tired. But it never crossed my mind that I couldn’t do it. I was listening to Rainbow Relaxation and different affirmation tracks all day and just repeating to myself “I trust my body, I trust my baby.” Or “My body knows what to do, and I follow it’s lead.” I was having trouble eating/drinking though because of the nausea. That night my waves got back to 3mins. apart so we headed back into the birth center around 4am. Now I was at 4cm - but again they didn’t tell me this. I was pretty dehydrated though so at the midwife’s recommendation, I got some fluids. I was unsure, but used BRAIN and it ended up being a great decision. It gave me a boost and got my body working well, so my contractions became super effective. The birth center wanted me at 6cm before we stayed, so I went back home to rest and labor a bit more.

As soon as I got home I was going to try and sleep. Right when I laid down, I had a strong wave and my water broke haha! So we called the birth center back and they said to head in at 7am when the new midwife was on call. As soon as my water broke things picked up a TON. I had to be sitting forward and LOUDLY breathing through each wave. My husband helped so much by saying “deep breath in, down & open” for me during each one. It really let me focus on my breath and staying loose, not tense. By 6am I was starting to think “I can’t do this” but at the same time, I knew that meant I was probably in transition. So I just let the feelings wash past and kept focusing on up breathing!

We left for the birth center at 7am. It took a lot of coaxing to get me to walk to the car because each wave was so strong. I had to stop and breathe/moan through a few during the walk. As soon as we got to the birth center I wanted to be in the tub so they started filling it up. My midwife also checked me and I was at 10cm! I had gone from 4-10cm in about 3 hours, which is why you never know how fast things are going to be!

In the tub, the waves got even stronger. I was still breathing through each one, and the water eased the intensity a TON. But my breathing was more like really loud, deep in my throat yelling moan. Baby did great the whole time though and was never in any distress. I labored in the tub for a bit but then I got super hot so I wanted to be on the bed. (I expected to want to deliver in the water, but I just followed my instincts and what felt right at the time!) I never really got the urge to “push.” But the midwife helped guide me with pressure on my perineum so I knew where to focus my energy - which was exactly what I wanted. According to her I was a very effective pusher. I tried a few positions (on my side, squatting, in the tub) but weirdly ended up being the most comfortable in bed, kind of sitting up. The one thing I thought I wanted to avoid! But again, I just followed my instinct.

I pushed for about 1.5hrs - but only 6 or so waves. Then her head came out! She had a bit of shoulder dystocia but the midwife spun her and I grabbed her & pulled her onto my chest with the next wave. She was perfect and healthy and I felt so blissful - I didn’t even notice tearing or any pain. My midwife, doula and husband were so helpful in guiding me to breathe + push while also letting me really trust and follow my body. I did get some stitches for a 2nd degree tear. I also got a shot of pitocin because I was bleeding a little much. But everything was fine and we got to hang out and cuddle at the birth center for a few hours before we headed home as a new family!

I seriously had the most amazing birth experience. It was long (almost 48hrs) but I never once got fearful that things weren’t “working” or that I couldn’t do it. The course and specifically listening to affirmations everyday really cemented my mental strength and my belief in birth as a natural process. I also had an amazing birth team who made such a difference. So thankful for that and my sweet Freyja June.