Testimonies
Lisa greatly enjoys taking an active role in training new midwives. The following story is of a woman who chose to use an intern midwife, under Lisa’s supervision. We are very grateful to all the women who have honored us with the privilege of learning and making it possible for midwifery to continue !
The Birth of Rachel Elizabeth!
By Rosie
After visiting Kelsey and Lisa at the birth center on Thursday 7th August, I
was very encouraged to find that Rachel (well, we didn't know it was Rachel
then!) was at + 1 station and I was 3cm dilated. They were very sweet,
encouraged me through some tears and promised to pray for me.
At 2am I woke up with contractions 10 minutes apart, and they continued for
several hours, Josh and I both thought Rachel was coming soon. Kelsey came to
see what was going on and found that although I was not in labor, I had gone to
4cm since she saw me 24hrs before and was effaced more.
These contractions continued Saturday, Sunday, and by Monday night, I had decided that nothing was happening imminently. I reassured Josh that I was not going into labor that night so he needn't worry. In fact I would probably be pregnant forever.
I was just falling to sleep a around midnight when I felt a gush, and knew my
water had definitely broken. I can honestly say that this was one of the most
exciting moments of my life - I was going into labor on my own, and my baby was
on its way!
Josh arrived home around 12:40 just as
the contractions started coming about 4 minutes apart. So Kelsey, Lisa, Heidi
and Peggy headed over. My contractions were all in my back, so Kelsey had me
drape over the birthing ball, which was sooo, much better. She massaged my back,
and she's REALLY good at it.
We made it upstairs, I was 8cm and baby at a +3, and that's when things got
really hard, I thought things like 'I'm crazy, I'm really crazy. Why am I doing
this' .....I decided that I couldn't get through these contractions in a car,
so I figured I was stuck at home. I knew if I lost control, it would hurt more
and be harder so I just kept talking to God.
I finally could feel babies head really low, and figured I give pushing a try,
even though I didn't have an urge, but I discovered that it felt ALOT better
than not pushing, so I carried on. I did lots of little pushes which turned out
to be a good thing since it helped prevent tearing a lot with Kelsey working
hard with warm clothes and oil to prevent also.
Kelsey told me she could see dark hair and I was in shock because Esther was
bald and blonde! I saw her hair and touched her little head and was encouraged.
Soon out she came, caught by Josh and I just held her and forgot to even see if
my baby was a boy or a girl!!!
Once I knew, I looked at her and told Josh, 'This is Rachel' and he agreed that
it was indeed! It was so exciting to have a surprise baby and to not have
settled on a name - Just to be able to name her when we saw her.
Unfortunately, I began to hemorrhage, but fortunately, Lisa,
Kelsey, Heidi and Peggy, knew what to do and impressed me so much - they are
not only great at delivering babies but they are very highly trained and
efficient when dealing with an emergency. They had pitocin on hand, and soon
slowed everything down. I had an internal tear so they got that sewn up.
Rachel nursed right away - she new exactly what to do! It was so lovely to have
her cuddled up in bed with me, nursing, in my own bed. After a little while, we
weighed her and she was 7lbs 15ozs and 19 3/4 inches long. So sweet and
precious.
Having a homebirth is definitely a wonderful and beautiful experience, while
its true that natural childbirth is hard, it is painful, the benefits to mom,
baby and the whole family are so worth it.
I could see a big difference in Rachel - she came out at her own time and pace, and drug free which I feel made her calmer, more alert and made nursing easy for her. The first week of her life she spent being held close, either in bed with me, by daddy or by a friend or family member. It seems to me that it is where they belong, it seems so traumatic for a baby to go from being inside their mother to being, like Esther was, laid naked in a plastic bassinet under a bright light with no touch.
It was better for me, I was in a comfy bed of my own, with my husband able to sleep next to me. Esther did not have to be away from me for several days, she got to be home when the baby was born, and stay at home. I think that contributed to the tender feels and love she has for Rachel, other than learn to share mommy she hasn't seen Rachel as a rival. She knew Kelsey and all the midwives and knew that there was a connection with the baby in mommy's tummy and they had been to our house before, so when she saw them it was familiar and made sense. The baby was born at home, so it made sense to her that this is where the baby belonged.
Kelsey came and visited me at home after 2 days, and then Lisa and Kelsey came
out to a 2 week visit. I cannot express how grateful I am that I did not have
to try and get out the house with a toddler and tiny baby so soon.
I have come to feel like the midwives at family birth services are family, and
I am going to miss seeing them! They have been friends, they have prayed for me
and spent time talking to me and encouraging me. They also were the people who
helped me have a birth which I can truly say was the most beautiful experience
of my life.