Ella's birth video

I started having rushes at about 630 pm on December 21st 2008, they were about 6 minutes apart.  They slowly got closer together but were very mild until my waters broke with an audible "pop" at about 10 pm.  At this point I could feel more pressure on my pelvis and I wanted to go to the birth center (the birth center was about a mile from our house) so we called Stacey and told her we were on our way.  I have to say I would never describe labor as painful, it was a lot of work and intense but I didn't feel pain.  I was in a relaxing environment surrounded by positive and calm attendants educated in natural childbirth.  Nobody was pushing drugs or telling me to lay on my back.  I did what I wanted, when I wanted and nobody bothered me.  Mark said reassuring words to me throughout labor to keep me going and everyone let us labor together, as a couple, the way it should be.  I got into the tub around midnight when the pressure was getting stronger, this was after I spent a lot of time on the toilet and threw up once ; )  We had sounds of rain, thunder, and waterfalls playing on the radio to relax me, I think I remember Enya also coming on towards the end of labor.  It only felt like an hour or so but the next time I looked at the clock it was after 5 in the morning!  I could feel Ella's hair and her head was starting to go in and out with every rush.  I remember at one point asking my midwife just to pull her out with the next rush but of course Stacey reassured me in her calm voice that I was doing great and the baby was almost out.  I'm so glad I didn't rush labor because this prevented me from having any outer tears.  I did have one small tear on the inside, they think Ella's elbow may have caught me on the way out because she did a little turn.  Ella did come out on her own time and Stacey and Mark lifted her onto my chest, more so Stacey since Mark didn't act quickly enough.  I think we were both in shock.  Mark said he didn't have time to look so I had to tell him that it's a girl!  We sat in the tub for a while staring at each other then we went to the bed where Ella started to try to nurse.  We waited a long time to cut the cord since we wanted to wait for pulsing to cease so Ella could get all the nutrients and oxygen for optimal health.  Mark cut the cord and we all snuggled up together.  We went home only a couple of hours later, I had so much energy and couldn't wait to get settled in at our home as a family!  I never felt so alive and full of energy after doing so much work, the hormones released during natural labor are pretty incredible.  Here are some photos from the labor and birth!

I do have to note that we were very disappointed that the assistant at Ella's birth stuck her fingers in Ella's mouth after birth.  We had it in our birth plan that nobody is to touch the baby except Mark and I and nothing should go into the babies mouth but a breast unless there is an emergency, which there wasn't.  There will be no touching of the baby at our next birth in May unless there is an emergency.  

For more information on birthing with the love of a midwife and/or home birth visit:

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

http://www.pregnantinamerica.com/

http://www.thefarm.org/midwives/index.html
http://www.orgasmicbirth.com/

Mark's email to announce Ella's arrival:

Amber and I welcomed our beautiful baby daughter into the world today. Ella Sabine was born at 5:42 am, Dec. 22., weighing in at 6 lbs 4oz. and was 18 and 3/4 in. long. Mom and baby are doing well, and we are so happy and thankful for a healthy birth and child.

  Amber started having regular contractions Sunday night at about 6:30 pm which steadily increased in intensity until her water broke at about 10 pm. At this point we headed over to the Bozeman Birth Center (not the hospital!) where we met our midwife Stacey who let us relax together in a cozy bed by the fireplace as the labor progressed. Then a little after midnight Amber and I moved together into the birthing tub, where Amber started doing the hard work of moving Ella out into the world, and Mark told her funny stories during contractions to keep her distracted and helped her rest in between surges.

  After several hours of Amber's hard work in the tub little Ella emerged into the water and Mark and Stacy helped her onto Amber chest. (Amber was so amazingly strong and listened to her body the whole way!) Ella came into this world wide-eyed, calm, and with barely a cry, which we largely attribute to a relaxing atmosphere and a drug-free birth. She was able to snuggle with Amber without interruption for several hours while Mark looked on with a mixture of pure joy and utter amazement.

  Amber was ready to bring Ella home later this morning, and we were home a little before 11 am. Ella has started nursing already, but Stacey will visit us tomorrow morning to help us work out any kinks. As I write this, Mom and baby are snuggling happily together in bed.

-Mark


Birth Plan for baby due in May:

-Soft lighting and music in birthing room - NO TV or radio 

-No phone calls or messages during labor- literally- phones OFF

-Don't tell anyone Amber is in labor - no posting anything on facebook - I'd like to wait until after the baby comes to make any announcements 

-Natural methods only – NO medical interventions or medications 

-Do not tell Amber how open her cervix is or check her “progress” 

-Nobody is to speak (except Monica) unless spoken to by Amber – quiet at all times, this is very important - we had a talker at Ella's birth and she drove Amber crazy

-If the door is shut nobody is to come in 

-Amber would like Monica to make suggestions for positions or techniques that might help 

-We may ask everyone to leave at times so we can be alone, just Mark and Amber

-Everyone is to use calm voices and make no extreme facial expressions, stay calm and Amber will stay calm 

-To birth in an atmosphere of gentle encouragement without coaching.  Calm, low tones, free of “pushing” prompts

-NO vaginal exams to avoid premature release of membranes and infection

-To allow natural birthing instincts to facilitate the descent of the baby, with mother-directed breathing down

-Use of oil and hot compresses - NO episiotomy

-Videotaping and pictures allowed at any time

-Anyone we want is to be allowed in the birthing room 

-Mark will receive the baby 

-Mark is to announce the sex of the baby

-The baby is to go directly onto Amber's chest from the water -skin to skin- Mark will cover baby with a towel or blanket at this point

-Nothing is to go into the babies mouth or nose - the breast should be the first thing in the babies mouth

-Mark will cut the cord only after pulsation has ceased (we will decide when to cut the cord) 

-Keep the vernix on - no rubbing or bathing of the baby for several days - we'd like the vernix to fully absorb 

-Mark and Amber will be the only ones to touch the baby for as long as they say

-To have all after birth procedures to be done while Amber and Mark are touching the baby 

-The baby will NEVER leave Mark and Amber’s sight 

-Allow necessary time for natural placenta delivery

-Immediate breastfeeding to assist in natural placenta delivery – NO formula or pacifiers!  

-For male baby we request NO genital mutilation - aka: circumcision