Azim
Heather hired me to doula & do photos for her first baby. She was due the end of February, and had been planning this baby for a while. As a nurse she has been researching forever about birth. She knew she wanted a home birth and hired a team of wonderful homebirth midwives to also be at her birth. We met up a few weeks ago and went over birthing plans, what she wanted, how i could support her etc. I generally try to do our in person visit closer to 35 weeks with doula clients, as well as going over what all she wants me to document at the birth. We agreed if i could get video i would try to do that as well!
Well a few days ago she said she was having contractions, but eventually they stopped and then life goes on. I thought since she was still working long night shifts as a nurse that maybe just dehydration brought on contractions.
Then on Feb 9th I got a call from a cheery Heather saying her water had broken. I let her know that sounded like labor would be happening soonish and to keep me posted on how contractions were going and if they pick up call me back. So I expected to get a call in the middle of the night because it takes a while normally for things to get going even with water broken for first time moms.
A hour later she called back and said things were intense and she could use me over to help support her. She sounded happy, but their was a little stress in her voice, a tinge of panic even. She said she wasn’t having enough of a break to finish getting everything around. I quickly stopped making dinner and loaded up my 4 boys into the car to drop off at my moms and headed her way.
When I got to her house, she was on hand and knees on a yoga mat vocalizing in-between contractions which didn’t really seem to be stopping. I think we still have time to set up the birth pool I told her, but I honestly wasn’t sure if we would.
Ahmed who was kneeling beside her looking in complete shock. So we kept encouraging Heather and started getting the tub all set up and filled with hot water. I asked if she had called the midwife, Heather said she had said to time contractions and call back in an hour. So I called the midwife s they could hear Heather vocalizing in the back group- they were on their way!
I honestly thought I may be the only person here, but soon after her the babies grandma arrived. She didn’t speak very much English, so Ahmed translated, and we quickly finished getting things set up. Soon after that the midwives arrived, they did all their medical things, heart tones, blood pressure, temp and pulse. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when they got there because it was clear she was transitioning and sounding like she was starting to push. Pushing can be minutes or hours and its hard to tell sometimes what it going to be!
I helped Heather get into a few different positions hands and knees, sitting o the toilet, The amazing midwife Celeste checked her to see where she was at and offered a few other suggestions, staying on one side and hands and knees with hip shaking to get baby in a little bit better positions. After about an hour she got in the tub.
Did you know that hot water heaters normally run out of hot water and you have to boil water on stove and fill. Did you know that also if you don’t have an adaptor for the hose to fill the tub youtube can help show you have to rig it-also always have duct tape!! All this time Ahmed was trying to get everything hooked up and the tub full of hot water!
Once in the tub you could tell Heather was relaxing, but also letting baby move down slowly with each contraction. Heather got super quiet and focused; you could barely tell she was even in labor as she calmly breathed through the contractions. Shortly after baby started crowning and then all of a sudden baby rocketed into her and the midwives’ hands and up and out of the water. The midwife helped hand off baby, and Heather pulled him to her chest! He was crying loudly, which is always a great sign!! At 10:15 Azim was born!
After some calling of family to let them know the good news, Heather got out of the birth tub and into her downstairs guest bed. Stairs are not ideal right after birth, so she was planning on hanging out there for a few days. The placenta still hadn’t been born so we just waited for that. After a while, it appeared that it was not going to come out on its own. The placenta had been in a while and the level of bleeding had the midwives a bit concerned, then after a few big clots they decided to get it out by manual removal vs going anywhere to get it out. It needed to come out now so Patricia removed it quickly- I’m not going to lie I wasn’t in the room for the whole thing. But I could hear Heather and according to her, it was much worse paid then having the baby. But the placenta was out, the bleeding under control.
The next thing was getting baby examined. The midwives check baby all over to make sure he is healthy, weigh and measuring are just a small part of that exam. After this and making sure he was latching and nursing we started cleaning up.
The pool got taken down, the towels got put in the wash. Heather has a few cats, and they were let out to roam and explore the newest family member. Babies grandma started making amazing food. Partha which is like a think deep fried crepe but drenched in honey.
By 1:54 am i was heading out into the night. It had snowed again so driving slowly thinking about new born snuggles and strong moms who catch their first baby’s! I have the best job, and I am so blessed to be part of these women’s stories!
*Because Heather is revert Muslim she does not want to be seen without being modestly covered and that typically includes a headscarf/hijab. So you’ll have to trust me that their are so many beautiful moments captured that she will have forever to remember this day but will be kept privately by her.
