Birth story - Rosario and baby Amalia

We had a very healthy pregnancy. We were able to conceive as soon as we started trying. We knew from the beginning we wanted to try something as natural as possible for birth.

Soon, we got to know that home birth is illegal in El Salvador and so we found a beautiful midwife in Guatemala and planned a home birth with her. The idea was to move to Guatemala (4 hours driving) and rent an Airbnb to wait for the baby.

Around month 5 we had a moment where we realized we were not very comfortable to have the baby in Guatemala. First, the idea of home birth was not so important, as we were not going to be at home. Second, it would mean to be far from home for a very long time, as we wouldn’t be able to return until all the papers of the new baby were ready, and dad has a restaurant that he would need to shut for a long period.

So, we started looking for a new option. This period was really hard for us. We knew that we were not going to find what we were looking for, and that we had to adjust our expectations. We tried to work out what was non negotiable for us, so that we could try to go for that, at least. We were really frustrated in those days.

By this time, I heard about hypnobirthing and thought that would help me. I bought the pack and went through it. It helped me a lot to accept what we were going through. Accept that we were going to give birth to a Salvadorean girl, and that came with these complexities. It helped me understand what I could still request in hospital, and the stories were really inspiring.

We changed doctor many times, because at the end they all showed preference for C-section, and finally decided on one that attended in a hospital with a pool by week 32. By week 36 we had planned a new appointment to define birth arrangements, but we tested positive for Covid after new years eve. We were able to have that appointment on Friday week 37. Everything was ok so we planned a new appointment for week 40. We were told by the doctor that if the baby was not born before that time, she would induce it. I was comfortable until then with waiting longer for the baby.

With Covid, I had more time to prepare for the arrival of our baby and enjoyed having some extra couple time before the baby. But that Friday I decided that after the weekend, I would start implementing every natural induction technique to try to avoid induction. The day after, I started having surges, but they felt like cramps, or something that was causing me to be uncomfortable, but that I could not track as I didn’t know when they started or finished.

Saturday night, we had a baby shower made by our neighbors. When we got home after that, I felt the surges were clearer now, and downloaded Freya app to start tracking. I took pillows, the ball, the computer and moved to another room as I felt there was no possibility for me to sleep. Surges were between 6 and 10 minutes apart.

Sunday, we stayed home and only left for a walk in the sea in the afternoon. I was tired and uncomfortable by that time. Surges got stronger after the walk but still didn’t come any closer. By midnight, I suggested to my partner that we go to a friend´s house closer to the hospital to spend the night. We had planned that as an option, and by that time I felt it was a good moment to drive before the surges got worse. We were still thinking that this could be a false alarm, that could stop at any time, but it didn’t feel like that.

We got to that house. I was extremely tired and really needed to rest, but there was no position I could stand but walking. I went twice into the shower to have some relief with hot water in my back. I was so tired I felt like I could faint any time. But what happened that night is that I felt the process was not fluent and that had to do with me. So, I decided to focus on the positive affirmations that night and try to let myself go with the process. I made my own positive affirmations and kept repeating that. ¨Anything that I can rest is welcomed¨. ¨I had a healthy conception, a healthy pregnancy and will have a healthy birth¨. ¨I am not going anywhere, here is my body and I am a path for Amalia to come home¨. ¨I have a good genetics and plenty of women in my family have done this before¨.

By 4 am I decided to check again, and surges were between 2 and 3 minutes. I woke the doctor and my boyfriend by 5, and we headed to the hospital.

I sent a message to my family to tell them what were going through. I felt I needed the energy of my family with me. We were checked by 6.15 am. Baby was perfect, and I was 4 cm dilated. Without asking, the doctor did a sweep and they started to prepare the pool.

I was able to get with my boyfriend to the pool. We had the music we had prepared, and we were left alone most of the time, that was something we really wanted. Doctor only came when she saw I was having a surge to check progress. The pool was amazing. Surges were stronger but not that close, and I kind of fell asleep between them. I believe it was around 10 that we left the pool.

I started feeling like I needed to go to the bathroom plus I needed to eat. I was not allowed to eat or go to the toilet. This was the hardest time; I was tired, and the doctor mentioned something might be wrong and that the baby’s head couldn’t make it down the birth canal. I was confused and tried to push. I wasn’t sure what was going on and every big push was also making me feel concerned. The Doctor mentioned that I would need a cut to help, and I felt the same way. Suddenly, in a push the baby was there at 11.20.

She was out into my chest, dad waited and was able to cut the cord. I was given stitches, we were able to convince the pediatrician not to take her from us, and we went to the room to have lunch and a nap. A few hours later we were feeling a lot better and still couldn’t believe that this was real.

It´s been 5 days and I am here writing and also trying to organize my feelings. We were able to empower ourselves in a way I could have never thought possible before the pregnancy. We wanted to have a natural birth and we wanted to stay with the baby after birth, and we succeeded in both of them. For the rest, we also realized how important it is so have support to the families, such as birth company and the community. Together we made it happen. Hope we can advocate this in our future.

Also, the change of mindset that hypnobirthing proposes seems to be a tool I will implement in many ways, and many more times.