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| VICTORIOUS Birth After Multiple Cesareans Page 4 |
| Despite being in unspeakable shock, I was suddenly hit with a spurt of indescribable energy. Surely this is a dream. I remember telling Lee to grab the camera and get the kids onto the bed to be with their new sibling. His role of birth partner is obviously over as I begin barking orders and nuzzling my sticky, wet baby. I know I had wanted to look and see what gender our baby was before anyone told me, but I think I was told that it was a boy. Most of my family and friends had been sure it was a girl early on. But it only seemed right, to me, that this baby should be a boy. I am completely in love as he looks up at me with his bright blue eyes exploring me as I delight in his warm body. He was big and beautiful and all mine. Psalm 23: 5b-6a You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me ALL the days of my life |
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| For the first few minutes after his birth they showed me how to stimulate him and asked me to just hold the oxygen mask close to him so that he was getting mostly room air with a little extra oxygen mixed in during those first few moments. I love these pictures with him looking up at me nursing--the nostalgia overwhelms me. My cup runneth over! "Hi sweetheart! I'm your mommy!" (story continued below) |
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| Reclaiming Stolen Moments
This is the moment I dreamed of. This was the moment stolen from me in my first two births as my babies were whisked off to the nursery for stats, measurements, vitamin K & Hep B shots, and goop in the eyes...heel pricks, baths by someone other than mommy/daddy, you name it--someone else did it before. But this was MY baby and MY time to revel in what I just did--what we just did together as mommy and baby. I wanted time for everyone in our family to re-bond and soak up every last bit of that oxytocin (the bonding hormone) that surges in mommy and baby all during that full hour after birth. This time we snuggled with all our babies as we explored one another with wonder and curiosity. My 2 and 4 year old now knew that mommy was beyond okay despite the last few hours of groaning. More importantly in the silence of this beautiful moment, we knew they were as much a part of this birth as their new sibling for it's because of their stolen births that this moment was so meaningful for us all. (continued below) |
| Everything begins to feel like fast forward at this point considering how slow and tedious hard labor often feels. I remember J coming over to the bed at 5 minutes and saying our little boy definitely had apgars of 10 at that point. Over the next half hour, or so, the cord stayed attached until it completely stopped pulsing and turned white. Around 45 minutes after birth, J told me that the placenta was "right there" just waiting to plop out. J suggested I could go ahead and push it out. I'm thinking, With WHAT?! Although the rest of me was in hyper mode, I don't believe that my stomach muscles work anymore. So I garner whatever energy I figure could possibly be mistaken for a "push" (basically a grimace and grunt) and let it loose -- thank goodness just one small pretend push did it. This part was fun because we got a little anatomy lesson on the placenta and membranes. Pictured below is the membranes bag that held baby. I remember J showing us how it can never be stretched out as far as it was stretched to hold a baby. Isn't that crazy?! After the anatomy lesson, daddy clamped and cut the cord. You can see our little boy was already sucking his thumb straight out of the womb (see picture below). |
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| J checked me to see what kind of stitching I might need and much to our surprise there had been no tearing whatsoever, just some skid marks. Yep, in my advanced maternal age, I had pushed my over-9lb baby over an intact perineum! Hmm, guess I didn't need that episiotomy after all. J said it probably helped me tremendously that I did a lot of the "breathing baby down" type pushing from hypnobirthing rather than giving it my all and pushing baby out in a much shorter amount of time (what is called "purple pushing" where you often have hospital staff counting aloud while you push on demand). Working with my contractions gave my skin time to stretch and prepare for birth. Wonders never cease! |
| We took our first after-delivery bath together. He loved it--just looked all around and reveled in the feeling of getting his thick, dark hair washed. I adore these pictures! Isn;t he GORGEOUS!? About this time J said she could show me where his head molded during pushing, but when she turned him over the molding was already GONE. Funny thing how that works. LOL |
| At some point K weighed our little boy right by the bed. The first weight she got was 9lbs 4.5oz. She looked at him and said surely he couldn't be that big (except she was marveling at his big head--LOL). So she picked him up and laid him back down on the scales again and got 9lbs. 1oz. the second time. So he was somewhere in that range. LOL He had a 14.5-inch head and was 20.25 inches long--absolutely perfect from head to toe. J explained to me what they had verified when he was born (that they figured was going on during the decels time). The cord was wrapped across his collarbone and in the pushing positions I was using in the birthing pool his chin was being forced down against the cord with each push and was cutting off his blood and oxygen flow momentarily. Trying various pushing positions allowed us to find what worked best to keep the cord from being compressed that way. A little trivia we learned: Did you know that 1 out of every 3 babies have a nuchal cord (1-4 times around the neck)? Did you know that with an attentive provider, it's usually pretty easy to recognize and manage cord compression? And did you know that one of the ways a life-threatening cord prolapse occurs is when you allow a provider to break your water (instead of allowing baby's head to naturally break the membranes when it's ready to move down)? Natural labor management is so fascinating! |
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| Also, it was around this time that my daughter came in to tell me, "It's okay mommy, that hole between your legs is going to slowly close back up." Heehee! Did I tell you that I had grown to love K (the intruder from the last leg of my labor) during my delivery? I could hear her gently teaching my daughter throughout this labor--telling her how women all over the world do this every day. I've also caught my daughter stuffing her panties with toilet paper ('cause she just had a baby and needs a pad like mommy). I think my daughter wants to be a midwife now. What mother could be more proud? |
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| There were four things I had to be able to do before leaving and I was having a hard time with one of them--urinating. So Lee took the baby (still unnamed at this point) to the livingroom while I had one last check. J told me she'd like to apply some pressure to my abdomen to release any built-up clotting that might be interfering. There's no way to describe the pain of that pressure, but I did feel much better after she was finished. The pressure released so much that had been backed up and I was able to urinate after that. She also felt my old cesarean scar line from the inside to make sure there was no undetected rupture or dehensciences (and she gave me another 10 minute drip of antibiotics in my heplock since she had placed her hands inside). |
| We were pretty much ready to go home and it had only been about 3 hours since giving birth. During that time my in-laws showed up with some fast food for everyone. They loved on new baby and the older kids while we had some much-needed sustenance (a quarter pounder never tasted so good!). My MIL sat with me back in the bedroom for a good while where we loved on baby and bonded over some sentimental discussions on birthing. |
| For the EXTREMELY avid reader... (general ramblings about lessons learned and home birthing decisions) |
| On the way home we stopped off for a yummy vanilla latte and I also ran in to Borders bookstore to use the potty and to look for a copy of Pushed. I remember thinking, How funny is this?! I'm sitting in the natural birthing section of an extremely busy bookstore having just given birth a few hours ago. WHOA! I also grabbed our emergency phone to call my friend, L, from our ICAN discussion list to share our delightful news. She wrote up an extremely touching blog on our story HERE if you haven't already read it. Now, time to go find a name for this new angel! It's babymoon time!!!! (afterthoughts continued below) |
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| Afterthoughts There are so many thoughts at this point. As I continue to process daily I hope to return to this page and update. But I can share just a little bit about how different I feel already. First of all, I am much healthier today than I was in the aftermath of my surgical "births." I love that I can take a bath by myself and sleep on my tummy the very day I gave birth. Just days after our new son's delivery, I'm out and about at the playground chasing my children. My mom (Mimi) is scolding me to stop running through the house and my midwife is reminding me to please limit the number of trips upstairs during these first few days. But I feel incredible and have even wondered why it's necessary to wait on intimacy for 6 weeks. I honestly had no idea how much my cesareans had slowed me down until this natural delivery and the quick recovery. (more below) |
| And the emotional difference...WOW! Now there's another extreme change. As with most major surgeries, there's a level of depression that often comes with cesareans that isn't remotely comparable to the "baby blues" commonly discovered after vaginal delivery. Combine the physical effects from the surgery, the surgical depression and the normal sleepless nights of a newborn and there's a recipe for disaster. My emotional health between the birthing experiences are worlds apart. Since our life-changing home birth I've encountered so much more support than we imagined possible. I cannot believe how many friends and acquaintances have said, "I sure wish WE had seriously considered birthing our children at home." Obviously there is a slow shift being made in the birthing climate of America. A wonderful awakening. But there are also a few other comments we've heard like, "You had a HOME birth? Did you MEAN to? Wow! Well, I'm glad it all worked/turned out okay." which I understand, totally, because it's probably what I would have said just a year ago. But now I see it as a pitiful way to view birth--like it's a matter of luck when birth happens outside of a hospital. But I realize that's still the belief for most people. We worship those with an MD and marginalize midwifery. It's simply unfortunate. Beyond the stats and truths we uncovered during this journey, we discovered something far more valuable: faith. After asking for guidance, begging for deliverance, and recognizing our answer, I was overcome with a peace that I have to say I've never experienced after praying before--and as the preacher's daughter and wife I've spent a good many years on my knees in prayer. I KNEW this decision was blessed as our fears disappeared and we were filled with confidence, comfort, and faith. I can't say that I've ever experienced such a "knowing" ever before. Things were so crystal clear. I don't know how else to describe it. That being said. This whole journey has made me painfully aware of the fear-driven life I've lived and how it's stunted my growth as a human being far too many times. I suppose many people come to this awareness at some point or another, but today I see so clearly how many important life decisions I've made strictly of fear: Fear of disappointing, fear of being wrong, fear of being misunderstood, fear of failure and even fear of the unknown. During this pregnancy I focused quite a bit on ancient proverbs and Biblical passages about fear and considered how it affects everyone in the end. And today I firmly believe that those past decisions I made in fear were not blessed by the Lord. I was simply doing what everyone else was doing. It's uncomfortable and often viewed as inappropriate to rock the boat, so I surrendered to the fear--sacrificing the thoughts that conjured thousands of questions. In addition, I was terrified of taking responsibility for my own decisions because of how it might look to others if my decisions ended up being bad ones. Mistakes or bad decisions of the past equalled broken, messed-up, immature person today. And I, understandably, wanted to belong--to fit--to please. It's an end of an era for me. I have been empowered. Today, I'm a thinker--I will question every paradigm I encounter, I will politely challenge any idea that conjures awkward questions. For it's those questions that usually reveal an unseen truth hiding somewhere in the shadows. My decisions will not always coincide with my dearest friends. And today, I can happily live with that. Even if making a different decision would have saved me from pain, I'm thankful for the freedom to make those decisions on my own. You never know, I just might happen to gain an appreciation I might have otherwise missed altogether in this life. Every experience, pleasant or painful, has given me a chance to grow and evolve into who I was created to be. I've found circles where it's not only safe to question the mainstream ideas of today, but it's viewed as irresponsible NOT to. I firmly believe it's only wise to take plenty of time to evaluate and re-evaluate all conclusions of the past. I've learned that you never count the time wasted even if you arrive at the same conclusions because now you know WHY you believe what you believe. You own your own decision--it's not some watered-down version of someone else's truth. It makes a world of difference to not rely on other's opinions and conclusions. Whether they have special identifying letters before or after their name, they are still simply another human being. My thoughts, faith, and beliefs are my own--wholely and completely. Please take a moment to let us know you visited our page by signing our guestbook. We LOVE hearing from guests far and wide. We'll be reviewing comments and updating the guestbook as time permits. Also, feel free to provide a link to your birth story or video. You may also visit us at our family blog: http://millermemoir.blogspot.com Thanks! To go back to the first page click here: http://www.millermemo.com/BrightonBirth.html WARNING: This form will ask you two questions after you submit your response. I won't receive the response unless you answer. If you are unable to use the form below, please post your comments by clicking HERE. |
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| BELOW: Our precious midwife |
| Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. |
| After baby had been sufficiently passed around, my mother and father-in-law took our 4 and 2 year old back to Nebraska while Lee and I took a short cat nap with baby before loading up and heading back. I don't think I slept, but the quiet room was soothing. |
| If you'd rather skip over the "Afterthoughts" section, our guestbook is at the very bottom of this page. Please take a moment to let us know you were here. Feel free to peruse the other signatures. We will continue to add new signatures as time permits :) Feel free to visit our family BLOG at http://millermemoir.blogspot.com/ |
| Name: Somer
Comments: Your story of LOVE and STRENGTH is an inspiration! The Verses from the Lord placed so eloquently in your story moved me to tears many times along the way. HIS strength, HIS love, and HIS plan for us is obvious in your message!! May many women see this and know HIS DESIGN! Name: Clara Website or blog? http://clarateaches.blogspot.com/ Comments: Your oldest daughter's upraised arms moments after the birth (photo) say it all. I keep returning to this site- and am always overwhelmed. I hold my own C-section baby, and am inspired and uplifted for next time I birth. Praise be to the Lord! Name: Tonya Comments: Such a beautiful story of faith. Mine is similar (no c- secs, but of faith and trusting the Lord for a perfect birth rather than fearing). It is good preparation for the rest of our lives, to trust and live boldly the life God has plodded out for us. I am so pleased that more and more are coming to try homebirth. It is so beautiful! Bless you and your growing family! Name: Kimberly Website or blog? http://labortrials.wordpress.com Comments: Beautiful powerful story! Name: Teresa Website or blog? http://tinyurl.com/5r2crr Comments: I'm speechless! What a beautiful, amazing, awe-inspiring, inspirational birth story!!!! You rock girl!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing the story of your journey from fear to faith. Enjoy that sweet baby. Note from Shaye: Teresa is another fellow ICAN sister. Her home birth after three c/s story was incredibly encouraging to me during my journey. I hope you'll watch her video linked above at your earliest convenience. :) Name: Kristie Comments: I loved, loved, loved reading this! I'm so happy for you! Your story give me hope for having a vbac! Thanks so much for sharing! Name: Abby Nicolai Website or blog? www.xanga.com/abibigail Comments: Loved this birth story! Really sweet! Name: Jenny Comments: I read your full account with tears of joy welling up continually. What a victory for normality and peace. When people ask me about feminism, I always talk about birth in the USA: a situation in which a woman is told that because she is a woman she is defective and must surrender her will, her body, and her safety to the hands and priorities of others and that any subsequent problems are unavoidable consequences of other people having to fix her. A situation in which major surgery is passed off as routine--but only if a woman must endure it. A situation in which a normal physiological process is described as an emergency because it's a female thing, while the people who have studied the actual process as it occurs naturally are sneered at, marginalized, even jailed--because they're treating this female thing as if it were normal (imagine that!). Look at that brilliant smile on your face. Look at your family, so happy and content. Look at that baby! BRAVO! Name: Lily Website or blog? http://pregnantwomenandbabies.blogspot.com Comments: Thank you so much for sharing your story. I've been needing some encouragement. I'm 40 weeks and 3 days. Am attempting a VBAC. This is my second pregnancy. The first was an induction that ended in an emergency C-section. My doc doesn't want to wait past 41 weeks. So, if baby doesn't come by the end of Monday, it is probably going to be a C-section on Tuesday (which saddens me). At the end of the day, I'm hoping the Lord makes a VBAC possible for me, that's safe for both of us. I just need assurance that I'm not doing anything stupid or self-serving. Name: Tenny Comment: I just read your birth story, and it's inspiring, touching, and beautiful. I love how your faith is definitely a part of it--I hope to meet God in this place, too, and seeing that He's a part of your journey helps me know that He's a part of this one, too, and that I'm not necessarily being selfish in investing a LOT of time learning about birth right now. Thanks for sharing your story in so much detail and with so much heart and eloquence. Name: Megan Comments: What a wonderful birth story! I clicked on your link from the main ICAN list. I'm a chapter leader in Tallahassee Florida. I have had 2 c-sections, and without a doubt, I want to have my next baby at home. It's so inspirational for me to read stories like yours, so thank you for sharing it :). Name: Rachel Comments: Love love loved the story. I am wanting to VBAC my next as i had an emcs with Autumn but the mw has said there is a high possibility my pelvis is too small so they will need to do pelvic scans etc to check things when i am prg again. You did so so so well, and the wee one is gorgeous. Name: Shauna Sheets Comments: Love the story. Wow! Congratulations on your victorious birth! Now, write a book! Name: Beatrice Carre-Alleyne Comments: Here I am my 27 weeks self, crying as I read this. Thank you so much for sharing such a spiritual and personal moment in your life. Thank you for aiding in my courage, despite all the grumblings to go on with my HBAC. Name: Christy Website or blog? www.thejourneyofanapprentice.blogspot.com Comments: Hi Shaye! I am Christy, from ICAN as well. Your story had me shedding tears throughout, understanding the emotions, the difficulty. All the way down to not understanding how the HBAC labor could possibly be harder than a pit-induced labor. ;) I'm so glad that you were able to experience such a life changing birth. Your son is absolutely gorgeous. Congrats dear mama. Name: Teddi Comments: This is so wonderful and enlighting! Very awesome...I've always thought of doing an at-home birth, but never researched...you can hear the peace of the entire process in your writings...thank you for sharing! Beautiful family! God Bless. Name: Lydia Comments: I found your link on the HBAC list, what a beautiful and empowering story. My second was a HBAC, 2 years later I am still giddy when I think about her birth. Name: Lauren Website or blog: http://www.freewebs.com/youhaverights/myhba2c.htm Comments: Oh this is BEAUTIFUL! I am so, so happy for you! As a fellow hba2c mama, it has been great for me to read your story and get to relive my own triumphant birth. It's been almost a year and I'm still on a high from it. I can tell that you will carry this amazing birth high with you for quite some time- forever- as well. Congratulations and great job. You worked so hard, you did it! Name: Jenny Miller Comments: oh my goodness, what a wonderful story! I felt like pushing along with you in the tub as I read your story. I can totally respect your homebirth and I think it's great for you. I had back labor with Lauren and don't want to ever ever feel that kind of pain again, so I was perfectly fine with hospital birth for ME. It's great that the options are there for all of us! ps- Can't believe you were in Borders within 3 hours! I wanted to go sleep just from reading!! LOL :o) love, jenny Name: shelly smith Website or blog? http://web.mac.com/ronshellsmiph/Site/Welcome.html Comments: I loved your story! I found the link to this page from your ICAN message posting and am considering home birth myself. I am due the first week in July and so far, due to ever-changing plans for my husband and his potential military obligations, I still am not "locked in" as far as where I will deliver, who will assist me, which state I'll be in, etc..... Wish me luck. I am so happy for you and love your expressive style in your birth story! You made me laugh and cry! What an inspiration you are. Thanks! Shelly Name: Nicki Comments: Again, Congrats on your beautiful little blessing! He is truly amazing! I loved your birth story site. I had to relook at the pictures again and again. You wrote it out so neat that I could picture the time in my mind. I am so very happy that you had such an awesome experience, I knew you could do it! Thanks for sharing it with us. Name: Honey Comments: What a wonderful story. I love how well you described everything. I am a future homebirth midwife, born at home myself. from Australia :) Name: Lexi Website or blog? http://birthislife.blogspot.com/ Comments: What a great story! Thank you for sharing this. It so inspirational that you chose to drive so far rather than give up on yourself and your birth! I am in awe of you! Name: Pam Comments: Shaye! Congratulations again. I sat crying such happy tears reading your victorious hba2c. I pray that God will help me in these last days of my pregnancy to find a supportive provider to do just what you did :) Thank you so very much for sharing your story. Your children are beautiful. The pic of you all together right after birthing your baby made the tears flow so freely.....I am so happy for you all....what a gift...the way it is meant to be. God bless. ~Pam Name: Tamrha Website or blog: www.tamrhasdoulasupport.com Comments = Shaye....You are an inspiration! I read every word of your story ( found the link on the ICAN list), cried, smiled and thoroughly enjoyed all of it. What a beautiful family you have, and what a empowered woman you are. Bravo! Tamrha Richardson CD (CBI) & mother of two born via cesarean... who hopes to have a story such as yours next time around.... Name: Holly VanTassel Website or blog? http://www.daytimesunshine.blogspot.com/ Comments: Shaye, this birth story is so beautiful! I have a question though...what would you have done, if you did need a transfer. How would you have dealt with that? I'm trying to figure that out (mostly for my dh's sense of security). He's concerned about the insurance covering the hospital if there was a transfer. blessings... Answer: Holly, it's a very fair question and something that every home birth family has to consider. For us, we learned how an attentive midwife can identify red flags early enough for a safe transfer a majority of the time. Most midwives will go over a list of emergencies that could come up in any birth and discuss what they do in each case. We weren't far from a hospital and so if we truly needed to transfer for any reason, my midwife had already mentioned it would be in the car with me on all fours. I believe the hospital knew she was delivering a HBAmC at the time, so we would have phoned while on the way to make sure the OR was set up, if necessary. Keep me posted on your birthing decisions and God bless! Name: Angela Comments: Oh Shaye, he is so beautiful and so are you! I am so very proud of you and your transformation from fear to glowing accomplishment! Name: Beth Oster Comments: You may not recognize my name, but I watched your children while you attended your Hypnobirthing class. I am so happy for you and your family. You had a truly beautiful and blessed birth. What a beautiful baby and mamma! It was a pleasure meeting you and being able to hear your story. Name: Amy Comments: All I can say is wow! You are superwoman with a beautiful family. You are very blessed, and no one deserves it more than you do, Shaye. Thank you for sharing! Xo Name: Tammy Comments: I just cried reading your story. What a journey in more ways than one. I laughed at your labor bag mainly over the fact that you didn't have a list of things for your 2 and 4 yr olds to pack or was that a separate list. Name: Treese Morford DeBoer Website or blog? www.TotalMindBodySuccess.com Comments: Loved reading your story and my husband sat next to me and read the whole thing too!! I haven't typed out my own birth story for others yet. Just wrote it out in the baby book. Now it's 2 years later and you may have just motivated me to do it! Thanks for sharing your experience, this story, your awesome pictures, and mentioning HypnoBirthing. God does work in miraculous ways! Treese Name: Jasmin Devitt Website or blog? www.myspace.com/jadeliluve Comments: Congrats!! I also have had 2-cections due to Dr.s and not medical necessity. I am pregnant with my 3rd and searching high and low for a midwife to do my home birth in November! Its not all illegal in Florida but the OBs sure treat VBACs like an expensive dirty word. God Bless you for your efforts and perseverance! Name: Angela Website or blog? www.babymonkeymomma.blogspot.com Comments: WOW! YOU GO MAMA!! What an amazing story...thank you for sharing it with the world! Name: Stefany Website or blog? http//www.angeldoula.com Comments: What a wonderful, heartwarming story. The kind that brings tears of joy :) Your story makes me want to get pregnant again. I don't think my husband will thank you for THAT <lol>. You are so ferociously strong! Name: Shannon Website or blog? http://www.withwards.blogspot.com Comments = Thank you so much for sharing your journey of faith toward a beautiful and empowering home birth. Your story has encouraged me greatly. Do you have anything saved or recorded that helped you decide that a home birth was safe and the best environment for you? My DH and I are seriously considering home birth for our next child (not pregnant yet!) but I don't know how in the world we'll tell his parents. They are very mainstream and critical in general. Any ideas would be great! Thanks! Name: Michelle ~ Mother Nurtured Website or blog? http://www.MotherNurtured.com Comments: Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Thank you for sharing such a lovely birth story. Blessings, Michelle Name: Hannah Website or blog? http://www.naturalchoices4baby.com Comments: I came across your beautiful Birth Story from Laureen's site. I am so happy for you and your family! Your son is beautiful and you look so great! Thank you for sharing your wonderful story! Name: Cat Website or blog? http://www.raggyrat.blogspot.com Comments: stunning i cried lots and super pictures too cat 39+ hoping to HBAC v soon xxxxxxx Name: Leah Website or blog? http://www.birthingmothers.com Comments: What an amazing story, Shaye and thank you so much for sharing it! I had tears in my eyes as I read through much of it! Enjoy that sweet little boy and your new family! Much love to you! Leah, a fellow ICAN sister and HBAC mama Name: Nichole Hayden Comments: Congratulations!!!! What an amazing story of hard work, dedication, and such a beautifully perfect reward in the end! Blessings, Nichole Name: Sheridan Website or blog? www.pregnancybirthandbabies.com Comments: Wow, what a beautiful story! Congratulations to you and your family!!! I collect positive birth stories and would love to add your link to my VBAC page. Name: Amber Comments: Shaye, it's beautifully written. Praise God! I am so glad you got the peaceful birth you and your baby deserved. God Bless Name: Gina C Underwood Website or blog? http://asustainedlife.blogspot.com Comments: Beautiful story. I felt like I was right there and I'm still wiping the tears away! Name: LK Website or blog? www.nemidwives.org Comments: Oh, my gosh, this is a BEAUTIFUL story! I have stayed up way past my bedtime and am so glad that I did. :>) Thank you for sharing. (Now, let's get those Nebraska laws changed!) Name: Diane Comments: Thank you for sharing your wonderful story!! I experienced two highly MD intervened births before a natural, drug-free mid-wife assisted birth in a hospital (where all the staff asked 'Did you mean to go natural??'), then a home birth, then a midwife assisted drug-free hospital birth. The body is a beautiful thing, perfectly created by God to have babies. Thanks be to God for the OBs to assist when needed, but those same OBs should leave women alone to let their bodies do what they were designed to do when they can. You go girl!! Name: Chandra Stewart Website or blog? http://www.yorkdoula.com Comments: Shaye, I cried and cried as I read your journey toward HBA2C. I could almost have written it myself. My own mourning in the loss of the birth experiences I desired has led me to become a doula, to help other women get the information and births they deserve. Thank you so much for sharing your story! Your strength and determination are truly uplifting. I hope to someday join you with a successful VBAC of my own. Name: Jan Website or blog? Nebraska Friends of Midwives Comments: Wonderful Story. I am a midwife in another state and have helped about a dozen VBACs. They are always such wonderful miracles. Congratulations on your courage to follow your heart and have a wonderful birth. Name: FR Comments: I'm a friend of Laureen's who also found wisdom and courage via ICAN & other research; had a successful HWBAC in 2006 after an unnecesarean for breech 2003. 'nuff about me - CONGRATULATIONS to you & your little one & your family - and THANKS for sharing your journey!!! May your babymoon and confidence in own thoughts and faith last forever. Blessings, FR Name: Maisie Comments: Shaye, all of it is beautiful! I'm jealous that I didn't have home births! My mother birthed 2 of her 4 children at home, I was the second home birth. She chose to have is that way, unfortunately my younger sister was a Cesarean. My mom labored for 2 weeks at home and then realized her heart was telling her something was wrong. Upon arrival at the hospital they made it an Emergency and my sister was attempting to come into the world hip first and the cord wrapped 4 times around the neck. She was my mother's last baby because the c-section destroyed her uterus and caused it to collapse. Home births should be celebrated! If only I had realized I too had a choice. Congrats to you and your beautiful family. Love, Maisie Name: Lori Comments: Shaye I am so happy for your incredible deliverance. With this child you have been freed! Your story is so moving and will be one to share and teach many. God is good and your story is one of HIS greatness - that can never be denied! I can't wait to meet your newest family member. Name: Jessica Freeman Comments: Shaye, how beautiful! I'm glad I finally found the time to read through your long but lovely story. It is really inspiring to read something so glorious, especially as I prepare for my 2nd homebirth (and 3rd birth) next month. I wish you and your family much joy as you grow together. And Amen to questioning society's norms! Name: Liz in New Zealand Website or blog? www.junglemama.co.nz Comments: What a wonderful story, it was a pleasure to share. well done everyone! I linked to your story from L's blog Name: K Comments: Thank you for sharing. I'm a VBAC mom planning a homebirth this summer. Your story is an encouragement to me. I really appreciate the scripture! Many Blessings on your family. Name: Deborah Comments: I love your triumphant birth story. It is so inspirational. And that little baby boy is just amazingly beautiful! I am so happy for you and your loving family. I hope that you continue to live in peace. Name: Mimi Comments: I loved the birth story. I wept. I laughed. My mother, your Nana, always spoke of the "valley of the shadow of death," how close we are to death as we bring in new life ... and how in that valley, "we fear no evil." What sacrifices mothers are willing to make so that their babies can experience God's world! I am so proud of your Christian faith, my daughter. I am so proud of you and yours, happy to be your mother, humbled that you are carrying on the bloodline with such strength and determination and discipline. Your Nana would be so, so proud. Name: Jenn Reidy Website or blog? http://www.knittedinthewomb.com/ Comments: I LOVE your story, so inspiring. Beautiful family as well. BTW...you don't "need" to wait 6 weeks. ;-) Even my OB for my first 2 births said "when the bleeding stops and you feel ready." Name: Linda Sandefur Comments: Loved reading this again as I'm reading everything I can get my hands on right now about different birthing methods. Diving into it all again and loving it! It helps to hear that you had a few moments of doubt during the actual birthing process...can my body really handle this or will I soon just pass out from exhaustion? I had those same doubts during Luke's birth and even had problems with hyperventilating, and now I feel the fear again...more than ever before, I think...because I remember how hard it was and how I had such a hard time getting my breathing under control. I've got to get my mind prepared and know that I can handle it again and keep my breathing under control. I KNOW I need to take another birthing class. Any specific suggestions? I saw you mention the "hynobirthing" a lot... Share your thoughts! Love, Linda Name: Anna Comments: Beautiful and inspirational Name: Maxine Comments: Thanks for sharing, you have a beautiful story, and beautiful pictures. Having 9 homebirths myself I can relate to much of your experiences. Thank the Lord no C's tho. Wish more mothers/families could experience the total awesome of what "Birth" really can be! |
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