The Birth of Daniel Walter, by Danielle

Daniel is my second child, born on July 15, 2005. My first was my daughter, Emelie, who was born on July 22, 1998. She was born in a hospital, and after that experience I wasn’t even sure if I wanted any more children. I was only 18 and scared to death, so there were really no other options as far as I was concerned.But last year my husband and I decided that if we were going to have another baby there was no time like the present. After only two weeks of trying, we were pregnant. I found out while he was out elk hunting one Saturday. I even kept it a secret when I went to work so that he would be the first one to know. He was so excited that he immediately called every family member and friend he could think of and told them.

My pregnancy was very nice and uncomplicated. I did have some morning sickness, but it was all worth it. I chose a local home-birth midwife, Sherry, for my prenatal care and delivery and it was wonderful. I received the best care possible. There is no comparison when I put her next to the OB/GYN that delivered my daughter. We quickly developed a close relationship that can only be described as mother/daughter. I have never felt that comfortable with a practitioner.I was due on July 9, and as the date approached I became very anxious. We were ready for our baby to come. I started having contractions on the fourth. I called Sherry and she told me to go over to her house and she would check me. I was dilated to two centimeters. My contractions weren’t regular, though, so she told me just to go home, soak in an Epsom salt bath, and try to keep cool. So I did, and the contractions stopped. I had some more the next day, but there was no pattern.On the sixth, Sherry called and asked me to come over. She had to see out of town patients for the couple of days following, and wanted to make sure that she had time before I had my baby. She had me drink castor oil to see if I could be induced that way. After a full day of sweating, crying, sitting in the bathroom, and just plain exhaustion, I had made no progress. Since she was convinced that I would be at least another three days, she made a quick trip to check on some other patients. I had absolutely no contractions after that for almost a week. My due date was spent at a community picnic.

Absolutely no signs of labor, but it cooled off and rained for the first time in over a month. It was soothing and gave me the feeling that, just like the rain, my baby would come when it was ready.On July 14 my contractions started again. I went over to Sherry’s that morning to be checked. I was dilated to 4 and my cervix had thinned. I took castor oil again at her request, as she didn’t want me to go too far overdue. I took the castor oil at about 1:00pm. By 4:00, the contractions were 5 minutes apart and starting to get fairly painful. I went over to get checked again at about 5:30, and she told me to stay. My daughter had gone with me, so we called my husband and he came over with my step sons, after they had called my mom and told her to come up. Mom arrived at about 7, and we sat around at Sherry’s and visited while my contractions got more intense and closer together. At about 11:00pm, Sherry checked me again. I was finally at 10cm. The only problem was, that I had no urge to push. So we visited a while longer. After about a half an hour, I felt like I needed to lay down and rest. The second I did, I got a very strong pushing urge.Sherry had already prepared the birthing room in her home, so all we had to do was go down there. All of the kids were already tucked into bed. Sherry’s daughter, who had delivered her son in the exact same room three weeks earlier, was there to take notes. Her little boy grunted with me at every push. Daniel crowned at midnight. He was born at 12:19am. The whole thing is somewhat dreamlike. I do remember Sherry doing perineal massage with each contraction and telling me that my water still hadn’t broken as I reached down to feel my son’s head emerging. I remember her breaking the bag of waters as I rested between contractions so that she could suction out his nose and mouth before I pushed him the rest of the way out. And I also remember being handed my baby so that I could put him to my breast as soon as he was born. As far as little details from each contraction, it is all a blur. All I know is that it is the most beautiful experience of my life. Unlike my hospital birth, there are no bad memories associated with this one at all.

As I watch him sleep now, almost four months later, I feel very blessed. And very sure of the fact that I am not at all apprehensive of having another baby.