Natural birth inspite of complications
Are you looking for natural child birth? That’s what we wanted. My husband Reggie and I wanted to have a baby! And we wanted everything to be as natural as possible, or so we planned. Every prenatal visit was marked by good notes and positive feedback about the progression of this growing individual inside of me. What a miracle God has blessed us with! The due date grew nearer and nearer. We were ready to meet our little one, to touch his or her face, to kiss her lips, and to play with her fingers and toes as she gazed at us and grew to know us as mom and dad.
On January 7th, 2009 I arrived for another “normal” prenatal visit at Metro Partners in Women’s Health. I really looked forward to these visits now as the February 6 due date became closer and closer. The past month had gotten harder for me, I began swelling in my ankles and feet, and my hands became numb and tingly. I began retaining lots of fluid and I was getting quite uncomfortable. This visit ended differently than the others. My midwife, Mary Gadbaw Davis showed concern as she ran extra tests and sent me home that day. The call came just after noon on that Wednesday. I was beginning to show signs of toxemia and I was to check myself into the hospital that evening. What? How could this be happening? We wanted a natural childbirth!
Later that evening I was induced. My water broke at 7 am and “natural childbirth” began. After the induction medicine I received nothing further. My contractions started immediately and increased in intensity and frequency with each passing hour. I began to have back pains as I was going through the contractions on my back. Mary encouraged me to move into whatever position I felt comfortable. So, I proceeded to my knees as I squatted on my legs with my arms gripping the head of the elevated bed in the labor and delivery room. (We were planning a birth in the Alternative Birthing Center of Providence Park in Southfield, Michigan. Because of the induction, they brought the ABC to us in the Labor and Delivery Room.)
Ava Jane was born at 11:45 am on January 8, 2009. She was perfect! My labor pains lasted 4 hours before I began pushing. I pushed on my knees for 45 minutes.
When asked later what motivated me to go through the pain and progress with natural childbirth, I answered “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” If you are considering natural childbirth and are afraid or influenced otherwise, please reconsider. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing husband, my outstanding nurse, Dee, and Mary, my midwife.
There is nothing like the amazing blessing of a child. But, when you have the support of amazing people, there is no other way than as natural as possible. I cannot imagine giving up the feeling of the entire experience for temporary pain relief. And if you are anything like me, I would strongly recommend seeking out Mary Gadbaw Davis at Metro Partners in Women’s Health in Novi, Michigan. You will be blessed and eternally grateful that you did! I wish you the best and I hope your baby will be as healthy and perfect as our little Ava.
Natural Birth of Twins
Chapter 1 ~ At the end of week 37 of the pregnancy, Katie started showing symptoms of cholestasis, a common liver disease associated with elevated hormone levels when carrying multiples. After consulting with our midwife, Mary and OBGYN, Dr. Marback, we decide a scheduled induction would begin 11/1/08 at 9AM.
Chapter 2 ~ Saturday, 11/1/08 We arrive at Providence Hospital & the water is broken for Baby A (EVA). Katie’s body tries to get in a rhythmic pattern of labor contractions, but after 5-6 hours a suggestion is made to introduce a very small amount of pitocin to get the party really started. After much prayer & deliberation, we agree. Around 7PM, Katie’s body takes the hint from the pitocin & things get moving. By 10 PM, we are fully dilated & move to birth in the OR. Hospital policy dictates that all multiples must be born in the OR ~ just in case there is a need for an emergency c-section. A huge crowd of doctors & nurses accompany us to participate in the birth, if the need arises. Our midwife Mary negotiates to allow Katie to deliver in her hospital bed, as opposed to the standard procedure on the OR table. Phew! What a relief to be in a comfortable bed to give birth.
Chapter 3 ~ Eva is born al~natural on 11/1 at 11:35PM!! She weighs in at 6lbs 13 oz and is 20 inches long. Wesley accompanies her to the warmer to get her stats & welcome her to the world. Shortly after an initial evaluation, she is on Katie’s chest & the wait begins for brother Eli to enter the world!
Chapter 4 ~ Eli quickly slides right into place, head down and directly above the cervix. His heart beat continues to be strong & healthy. Suddenly we begin to realize that he is not going to be born before midnight! We all laugh & joke in the OR about the twins having separate birthdays. As the clock strikes twelve, our midwife Mary suggests that we go back in our labor & delivery room to birth Eli. Dr. Marback agrees that we can get out of the OR because all is going well with Baby B! YEAH!!! We go back to our little ‘birthing cave’ and start working hard to help Eli be born.
Chapter 5 ~ On Sunday, 11/2, at 1:25 AM Eli joins us peacefully and naturally!! We all laugh about having these twins in two different places on two different days! Both placentas detach fully and we all breathe a huge sigh of relief! Eli weighs in at 7 lbs 6 oz and is 20.5 in. long.
Chapter 6 ~ Around 2:30 AM the room is finally quiet and both babies are happily nursing in tandem. Wes & Katie both stare into each other's eyes. What a night! What a journey! What a blessing! Every prayer has been answered and there is no doubt that angels are present in abundance. We offer a very humble prayer of gratitude and try to get some rest! We are certainly going to need it.
Twins born Naturally
I simply must write to tell you of the exceptional birth experience we had at Providence Hospital. I would like to thank God and everyone at Metro Partners for the wonderful experience.
When I found out I was pregnant, I spent months interviewing different doctors from different health care systems. Being 44 and expecting twins, I was looking for a system that was interested in what my hopes and dreams were, and I had a lot of them. I was hoping for as little interventions as possible and ultimately hoping to avoid a c-section.
With Dr. Marback and Mary Gadbaw Davis on the team, I was able by the grace of God to have the birth I had dreamed of. Mary was available to me by cell phone for any questions. She also has lots of experience with twin pregnancies. She has a wealth of knowledge that helped this first time Mom feel at ease.
Being new at this she did not make me feel that any question was ever stupid. Mary pointed me to many excellent resources such as When Your expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads by Barbara Luke, Tamara Eberlein. With the information in this book, I was able to deliver full term twins with weights of 6.8 and 7.2 pounds!
Dr. Marback was so gracious and knowledgeable, she really listened. When it came time to deliver our Sons she came in for the delivery even though she wasn't working that weekend.
Did I get everything I wanted, no but with the caring professionals at Metro Partners I was able to get everything my Sons and I needed. It truly was the birth experience I dreamed of, I was able to deliver our Sons vaginally, with no epidural (my choice), and no episiotomy. We were discharged 48 hours after our arrival, fulfilling another hope of mine that we would all be able to go home together.
At my prenatal visits, Dr. Marback suggested that I meet all the doctors in case I delivered when she was not available. At each subsequent prenatal appointment, I was able to meet each doctor and I determined I would feel comfortable with any one of them attending the birth of our twins. In fact Dr.Thai was on call that Saturday. It was great to see her and Dr. Marback work together with Mary as each moment unfolded. Also the nurses were compassionate, knowledgeable and caring.
Our birth plan was read and adhered to which made us feel respected and understood since we spent about three months putting it together pouring over the details that were important to us eventually organizing it to a one page document that was easy to understand. Some of our requests were quite unique, even with that; those details were followed and respected. We were not berated or belittled for refusing some of the recommended shots or procedures as I have heard others parents have been at other hospitals for doing the same.
My husband thoroughly enjoyed the birth experience as well. A Doula or Professional Laboring Assistant was recommended to us while we were at the birth class at Providence. Employing her is one of the reasons I believe my husband and I were able to enjoy the birth experience so much. In my opinion Bonnie Miller (PLA) was worth her weight in gold (with fees much less than that:) she gave us two birth classes, was available by phone anytime and had many good recommendations for resources such as The Thinking Woman's Guide To a Better Birth by Henci Goer, Rhonda Wheeler.
When it seemed overwhelming, she even provided us with sample birth plans (a format we eventually ended up using). She also had great follow up even providing us with sample letters to submit to our insurance company to request reimbursement. Even though she is not an employee of the hospital, Bonnie was welcomed as part of the team at Providence as she is at other area hospitals.
When my water broke Bonnie came to our home and assessed my progress and labored with me at home which allowed my husband to do the necessary things to prepare for our trip to the hospital and soon homecoming, including cooking! I believe without Bonnie it would have been a much more stressful event. Because Bonnie was there, I was not expecting my husband to support me in ways he neither knew how or was not prepared to do. With Bonnie to help me (over 40 years of experience) it freed my husband up to enjoy the experience and not be exhausted by it. He was truly exhilarated by watching the two Sons God have given him come into the world.
Having had the opportunity to interview different health care systems, I can truly say that Metro Partners is among the best in our area and would highly recommend them to anyone. Their caring compassionate staff are truly focused on helping you have the best birth experience possible.
Happy Mom,
Kimberly Beane
Another book that was very helpful was Supernatural Childbirth by Terry Mize
My First Baby Alexa's Birth
On Thursday March 26th in the morning at 2:15 am (I was 37 wks- 2 days) I started having contractions and they continued all night. They ranged from 6 mins to 12 mins and were non-stop. My husband Greg woke at 4 am and saw me on my birth ball listening to my hypnobabies scripts on my ipod and asked what I was doing and i told him I think I'm having contractions and she might be coming early. I had my 37 wk appt scheduled for that afternoon. I called my midwife Mary at 8 am and told her how my night went and she said to come in and get checked. I took a shower to relax- still having contractions and then had to pack some things for me and Greg and the baby. We didn't even have the car seat put in the car yet. So I did the packing, and Greg put the car seat and base in the car, ran to get gas cuz the tank was empty, and then packed the car. We both really thought I would go to 41-42 weeks before the baby would enter the world so neither of us did what we should have. So we drove to my Mary's office and i had to be wheel chaired in. I was only dilated to a 1 but i was 100% effaced and she said if I went to the birth center and labored in the tub for a bit I'd go fast. So we drove to the Alternative Birth Center in Southfield about 30 minutes away and the contractions were then about 6 mins apart. I couldn't sit still in the car and was sitting on my knees hugging my body pillow, listening to my Hypnobabies Easy First Stage Labor script, and moaning through every contraction. We got to the birth center at 1030 am. The first nurse there we met was Dee and she was so sweet and wonderful!! First Dee had me labor in the shower and then birth tub then the contrax were coming very fast and hard. I had some back labor and in my thighs and butt. I was in the tub for about an hour or so and I felt urges to push. Dee often checked for the baby's heartbeat. The nurses had me get out and checked me and said that it was very close. I had to breathe through the contractions and wanted to push but Dee said not yet. During one contraction I had it was so strong and my water bag popped. It was an interesting feeling. I pushed in a few positions, squatting on the bed, side laying on the bed, and leaning back against the back rail of the bed holding and pulling against Greg and my doula Megan. It was so intense. The crowning was amazing, not as painful as I imagined. It was awkward when I would push and her head was coming out, then it would go back in and I would have to push it out again. I couldn't get the energy to hold her head there, I was so tired after being up all night with the contractions. I pushed for a total of an hour and a half. Alexa was born at 3:03 pm and she was posterior! Her cord was wrapped around her foot and it was hard to push her out cuz her foot was being pulled in by the placenta still attached to me and the short cord. And because of this I had a lot of abdomen pain. During the final pushes the nurses and my doula Megan were putting warm towels on my abdomen which did make it feel better. My midwife Mary put hot oil on me which helped me stretch to avoid tearing. Greg was wonderful at helping me relax and massaging my back and neck. I did it all with no IV, and no drugs. And I had no tearing!! It was amazing and the most wonderful experience ever. She came out alert and nursed right away. Shortly after my placenta came out without any issues. Alexa stayed attached to the placenta for about 30 minutes after she was born to absorb all the nutrients from it. She weighed 6 lbs 7 oz and was 19 1/2 inches. She is sooo wonderful and Greg and I are sooo overjoyed!!! I cant believe how good it feels to be a mom!!!!
I dreamed for so long of a natural birth with no drugs, and no other interventions such as constant fetal monitoring. I wanted to be able to walk around during labor, labor in a birth tub and shower, eat and drink freely, all without having an IV in my arm. And I successfully did it with the great team I had that helped me--- my husband Greg and my wonderful midwife Mary and my nurse Dee and the other nurses. I could not have done it with out them. It was the best thing I have ever experienced, granted it was the hardest thing I've ever endured, but SOOOO worth it! I hope my next baby can be delivered by Mary at the birth center and without drugs or interventions as was this first birth!!! You helped me achieve what was the most special experience of my life!!! I could not have done it without you!!! From the bottom of my heart thank you!!!!
First Baby Born in ABC
At 11pm on Sunday April 12th, I asked Mary our midwife "how much longer till this is all over?!" Mary rubbed my back and sweetly said, "Yes, giving birth is work"… 11 1/2 hours later at 10:25am Monday April 13th, our amazing baby girl was born into the world! The ABC staff were like angels to me while I did the “work” of labor. Even though I was focused inward and unresponsive for most of the 17 hours of labor, I remember vividly the attentiveness, kindness and gentle strength of each nurse. Thank you Dee, Mary, and Judith for being amazing nurses! And thank you SO MUCH to Mary Gadbaw Davis for loving life and the women in your care. ABC allowed me the opportunity to give birth exactly the way I had imagined it since being a young girl, with my husband, mother, 3 sisters, and supportive staff by my side. Thank you for creating an environment where women are empowered during birth. You are all heroes to me!
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