My Heartbeat birth story - Lydia Joy
{ My Heartbeat birth story }
After delivering my first baby in the hospital, I was so moved by the attentiveness I received prenatally through Heartbeat. Jenna, Kelly, and Carmen were never rushed and always happy to answer my many questions.
By my 41wk ultrasound, I was having regular contractions, but my baby was still high and I wasn't dilated much, so I got a membrane sweep. Afterward, my contractions became tight and consistent, though not painful, and I just knew my body was ready and in control.
I relaxed at home and did exercises to help baby descend. Around noon, my water broke while I was doing a tuck. I stayed in close contact with my doula (Red) and the midwives. They encouraged me to nap, but I was too excited. I called my husband home, ate a hearty lunch, and soaked in sweet time with my first child while slowly tidying the house and breathing through contractions.
Around 5pm, Red came over and we did Spinning Babies exercises. My contractions spaced out for a bit, but intensified when I labored on the "dilation station" and played my worship music. Thinking only of relaxing my face and shoulders through contractions helped tremendously.
When the contractions grew intense and long, the shower on all fours felt amazing. The hot water ran out around 8:45pm though, and I doubted I could cope. Red called the midwives and got the car ready, but suddenly contractions came back to back. I moved from toilet to standing to squatting. I asked my husband for hip squeezes, but then yelled for space. I felt a big drop and gush and knew I was about to push.
There was no making it to the car. I leaned against the tub on all fours, and with the next contraction, Lydia Joy was born. Thankfully, Carmen and Kelly arrived at record speed. Though I hadn't planned a home birth, the postpartum care and support were beautiful.
Thanks to Heartbeat, Lydia's birth was intuitive, peaceful, and everything I had prayed for. My final appointment was bittersweet, but it's only "til next time."