My Positive All Natural Birth: Luca's Birth Story

My Positive All Natural Birth

Luca's Birth Story

Gosh! You guys...it's been a minute since I've blogged, so I apologize if I'm rusty. Let's jump in. My second little man is officially here. Currently fighting the sleep next to me and staring me down to make sure I don't leave the room. He's two months old now. Wow, how this newborn stage is just flying. I almost forgot how quickly they grow. We'll get more into the newborn stage in another blog. I hope to keep this thing going with more consistency if you all are enjoying it--please leave feedback and give reviews. Helps me to know I'm not just blogging for myself hah. 

Birth Preparations

When I was about 35 weeks pregnant I started seriously prepping. Like more than just kegels and crossing my fingers. As you can read in one of my first blogs, my first experience with birth was hard, scary, and gave me a lot of PTSD. So, as I neared my due date I knew I had to do a lot of self work to not go into this birth thinking what if history repeats itself..what if I hemorrhage again? What if it takes over 30 hours of labor to meet my little guy? I'm a big believer in how the mind can influence the body. And how those sort of negative thoughts or fears could get in my mind and I'd unknowingly set myself up for a similar experience. 

Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing practice usually begins at 32 weeks. I started a little later and did things a little differently. But, I am now a super advocate for it. Totally recommend whether it's your first, second, or more baby. Hyponobirthing is not being hypnotized as many people have asked me. It's actually a series of breathing techniques, body positioning, meditation, relaxing music, and positive affirmations. I found plenty of the music and affirmations on iTunes. And I began listening to these over and over again. I found youtube videos online for breathing techniques. I would do my breathing and meditation each night before bed. Writing this makes me realize I could probably use some of it now. The affirmations really helped me believe that I could have a wonderful birth. I incorporated prayer into my affirmations and meditations. I prayed for my little boy's health and safety and for my own. I prayed that we would have a positive experience together. 

Labor Begins..Or Does It?

Prodromal labor...drives a very pregnant woman crazy. My labor began on a Thursday night while my husband was at work. As this wasn't my first rodeo, I decided to bounce on my labor ball and feel out my contractions. They were decently strong, but very spaced out. I text my husband that I would keep him updated. I ultimately decided to try to go back to sleep as they seemed to just get further apart and I knew sleep was definitely necessary if we were having this baby soon. I slept okay considering a contraction would come every 30 mins to ever hour. I woke on Friday morning and decided to take Elias for a walk around the neighborhood to help get things moving. And basically contractions just were hitting randomly throughout the day and into the night. I, again, decided to attempt to just sleep through them as they didn't seem to be moving. Saturday came and it was officially Luca's due date. Would he be a due date baby??

Terrace House and Dinner

I took Eli for another walk around the neighborhood on Saturday morning. We went through a regular day. Danny made dinner and we watched Terrace House. In between bites of dinner, and watching how young adults do things in Japan, my contractions picked up intensity and timing. They were getting closer and closer together. "This is happening..." I told my husband. I bounced on my labor ball and called Danny's parents to come on over. As soon as they arrived, we were out the door and headed to the hospital. At about 9pm we arrived to the hospital.

6CM and Soothing Tunes

They measured to see how far dilated and we were at about 6cm. I just bounced on the ball and breathed through each contraction. Talking in between. Danny would give me a sip of water, or be giving me some very helpful counter pressure on my hips during the contractions. I sometimes wonder how women can go through labor laying down. Each time I had to lay down for them to monitor Luca I was extremely uncomfortable. My midwife and nurses gave me space to labor. We put on some relaxing hypnobirthing music. Danny started the bath for me and while it was filling up we sort of danced through my contractions. This moment was some how romantic and sweet for me. I was in the mindset of the contractions being productive and not in the mindset of them being painful. I welcomed each contraction as I knew it was bringing me closer to holding Luca. 

Bath Time and More

As I got into the tub, I got into a comfortable squatting and then kneeling position. I was facing Danny and I had my arms around his shoulders and we just were rocking bath and fourth as the music continued. It's the closest I've ever felt to him. It was the perfect support and what I truly needed. I was praying in my mind for God to just protect us and give us a beautiful birth. All of a sudden my water broke. It was super intense from in the tub. I looked up at Danny and said, "it's time. He's coming. Get the midwife!" He ran out to the door to get help. I stayed in the tub and suddenly felt the urge to push. The nurses were telling me to get to the bed. I told them, "I don't think I can make it, I need to push." I waddled over to the bed while Luca was crowning. Myself and the nurse holding him. I got into an all fours position with my head on Danny's shoulder. I took a deep breath and his head was out. The nurse told me to just listen to my body and to push when I was ready. I waited for the next contraction. Took another deep breath and out he was. My active labor was 1 minute! Wild, right? I looked in between my legs and there he was. I saw his little legs kicking and heard him crying. I was so relieved. 

He's Here?!

My midwife came in and was so shocked. The rest of the nursing team came in as well. When they took him just to suction out his nose, I laid down. And was just in a blissful wave of shock. I can't believe I just had my son. They did start some Pitocin that I had agreed to when I arrived to decrease my risk of hemorrhaging. They handed Luca back to me and he latched within minutes. He was beautiful. He came out perfectly. He was healthy and with the sweetest cheeks. I was just overwhelmed with so much love. Thank you, God for this wonderful birth and sweet baby boy. I was just so surprised birth could be like this. It was about a 6 hour total of labor and only one minute of active labor. It was ideal honestly. If I could've foreseen the ease of this birth I would've loved the opportunity to have a home birth. But, just didn't want to chance a hemorrhage. 

Birth Shouldn't Be Feared

I just felt I had to share this story as I know birth gets such a bad rap sometimes. And most people think I'm crazy for not wanting to do an epidural or any medications for pain relief. I believe my body was made for this. And the hypnobirthing helped me with the proper breathing and relaxation technique. Putting my mindset on a positive birth. And stopping the whole fear>tension>pain cycle from even beginning. I did not fear birth. I did not fear contractions. I welcomed them. And I really believe that contributed to such a speedy labor. 

I hope you all enjoyed reading Luca's birth story. If you have any questions, comment, or blogs you want me to write in the future. Please comment or message me. I love hearing from you! 

Oh and Luca missed his due date by only 15 mins! 

So close to being a due date baby. 

Fashionably late just like his Mama...

Until next time!

Photos by Leslie Wright

XOXO, 

Jacqui