Birth Series - Waterbirth with midwife at her home

Birth Series - Waterbirth with midwife at her home ^Featured

I am normally the one posting the birth stories on Moomie and now I have the privilege to write one of my own.

For purposes to make it easier to read, I will write this one in English.

After my first two births, I wanted to do it differently this time. We live in the Northern Cape and our options are pretty limited. We don’t have doulas, midwives and home birth options. Until I heard about Yolande Maritz in Bloemfontein (Free State). When I found out I was pregnant with my baby Neva, I phoned Yolande to inquire if she travels. She has quite a lot of clients, so it is not possible for her to travel far distances, in case one of her moms go into labour. So if I chose to go with her, we would have had to travel about an hour and a half.

Options, options

Weighing up my options (really my options were: travel vs. hospital birth), I decided to go with Yolande. My GP supported my decision 100% and I went to him for check-ups in-between. I read up a lot about home births, water births, gentle birthing, and free birthing. Some of my decisions were met with fear and concern from loving family. But I knew in my heart why my husband and myself made the decision and we had to follow our own gut instinct. I also trusted my baby 100% to let me know what route she wanted to take. I even had a bonding session with baby in utero with Robyn from Mama Bamba.

Possible early arrival

Since both my other babies came early, I was certain this one would be here by 37 weeks. My mom came up from Cape Town and the waiting started. We had one false alarm, where we packed up the whole house and kids and moved to Bloemfontein for a few days. When Yolande saw me, she said I can head back home; baby is still at least a week away.

Teachings in utero

With the waiting driving me insane, I realized my baby was first teaching me a few things: to let go. To chill. To relinquish control. This was not something I could control. This was - like all babies - a time of miracles and if you want to give your body and your baby over to nature and a higher hand, you have to trust. You have to let go. I walked and slept and walked some more. I bounced on a birth ball, I spoke to my baby, I prayed for my extending family and I had some quality time with my elder two kids.

Slow start

On 2 April, I was certain, this is it. Surges started six minutes apart at 11:00. I slept, listened to my favorite tracks and packed in case we had to go to Bloemfontein again. At 17:00, my husband and I left for Bloem to be on the safe side. The surges intensified as we drove, but after I had a spring-cleaning session (which my midwife was not impressed about :-)) and went to bed, the surges subsided.

This is it

The next morning, on 3 April, I was still pregnant. I went for a brisk uphill walk and saw Yolande at 09:00. I was 2 cm dilated and she did a quick stretch and sweep to see if anything would happen that day. By 11:00, while walking in the mall, I knew this is it: this baby is coming TODAY. I was calm and collected. I could finish my shopping walking through the surges. I drove to pick up my husband from the airport where he worked. We came home, I bathed (twice), drank tea, ate something, walked through the surges and we started timing. By 14:30 they were three minutes apart. Yolande asked me to come in and when she checked, I was 6 cm. She broke my water and placed me on the birth ball. Between surges, we chatted, I ate lollies, drank Energade and bounced. With every surge, my husband had to lift me up. The pressure was too much to take on the ball. He at least got a work-out too!

Birth pool

I think I climbed into the birth pool just after 16:00 and was fully dilated shortly after. This is where it got a bit harder. I think I have a “mental block” about pushing. It’s the most amazing thing. I could feel Neva coming down. Yolande would tell me to push when my baby was pushing, to not work against her, but with her. Yolande was so calm the whole time. Never once did she make me feel panic or fear. I was just very reluctant to push and the surges were coming quick, long and strong! I remember asking at this stage for a Panado, as if that would have helped! Haha! I also said I don’t think I want to do this anymore and Yolande said gleefully this means the baby is close. I could feel Neva’s head was very close, but still – she had to get past that ring of fire! After a few half-hearted down-breaths, I knew I had to go to that place inside where all my strength is stored. Where you go beyond anything you have done or experienced before and pull the power and strength out of the core of your body. That’s how I would describe it. Where you cease to be “you” but become a powerful force for a few seconds to birth your baby.

The last stretch

Neva’s head came out in a squatting position and my husband and Yolande turned me around so she could catch her body from the front. When I look back at the pictures, this was where I literally “roared” my baby out. I read that description once on Birth without fear and the picture taken when her body came out depicts that beautifully. When her body was birth, I cannot tell you the sense of relief I felt. I was so overwhelmed. It was all over and so quick! Neva was placed on my chest and she started breathing calmly after waking up – she was ASLEEP as she came out! She opened her eyes and sort of looked around. I just remember telling her I am so glad she is here and I love her so much. It was so nice to just lie in the warm water and stroke her little body. She was – and is still – so calm and serene.

The experience was, as all births are, just amazing. Intense, but amazing. It was me, my baby and encouragement from my midwife and husband. It was exactly like I wanted my baby's experience to be. My life has been enriched again and I am grateful. Grateful for protection, love, family and the wonder of a new life. – Jana Engelbrecht

*Books I read: Hypnobirthing - The Mongan Method, the Mama Bamba Way, 10 Moons and Spirit in Pregnancy and Birth.

Baby’s weight: 3,76 kg @ 39 weeks

Labour lasted: 5 hours

Birth date: 3 April, 2014

(Pictures taken with a phone, so quality not great.)

Birth Series - Waterbirth with midwife at her home Featured

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Birth Series - Waterbirth with midwife at her home ^Featured