Home Birth

I was certain Aoife would be born early. My mom was due to arrive about four days before my estimated “due date” to help with the boys, and I figured it would be my luck to have a baby before she was here. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. Mom arrived and it was another eight days before Aoife was born! We had a few days where I thought for sure I was going to go into labor… and yet it was just my body prepping for the big day. Two days before Thanksgiving my dad was able to come visit and help as well, and we’re so lucky he was here (the boys loved playing with Grandpa). I think Aoife was just waiting for everyone to be here, she didn’t want anyone to be left out!

The night my dad arrived Patrick and I finally got to sleep just after midnight. Just after 2:30am I woke up with some very strong contractions. Lying in bed through two or three of them, I quickly realized that these were the real thing and we’d be having a baby soon. I woke Patrick up and had him send our midwife, Laura, a text message to let her know and put her on alert. In the short time it took me to go to the restroom, Laura quickly replied by calling. She asked me a few questions and listened while I had a contraction or two during our conversation. After accessing how I was feeling, she asked if I would like her to come now or wait. I thought about it for a minute and decided she should just head over now. Honestly, I didn’t think I quite needed her that soon, but I felt much better having her there even if she had to wait around for an hour cause the thought of having her miss it made me a little nervous. As soon as we got off the phone Patrick got to work! He made the bed with a plastic liner and extra sheets, pulled out the birth pool and started pumping it with air. All the while I just paced back and forth from the bathroom to the bed stopping and leaning on the doorway to work through contractions.

Laura arrived within about 30 minutes of our conversation and was a welcomed presence. She checked my blood pressure and listened to Aoife’s heart rate. Everything checked out, so she started setting up her equipment and checked the tub. Not long after, Gloria, the midwife in training, arrived and began boiling some water to add to the birth pool. At one point I remember sitting on my knees next to the bed leaning on Patrick’s legs to get through some good contractions. I was in this position while Laura and Gloria were down stairs checking on the water, and all of a sudden I felt a little pushy. I had this flash of “Oh my gosh my body is going to start pushing and will have to yell down to the midwifes to get back up here!” Thank goodness they came back up stairs and I no longer felt worried. Around 4:15 Laura asked me if I wanted to get in the birth pool since she knew I really wanted to deliver in the water. I said yes, and Gloria added more hot water to get it to the right temperature. The water felt so good! We talked a little about who would catch the baby, and Patrick decided that he would unless something wasn’t quite right. I was laboring in the pool on my knees and leaning over the edge, which is not the best position for someone to catch, but it was the best for me. I had decided that when she started to come I would switch positions… but we didn’t have time for that! My body was pushing on its own, even while I wasn’t contracting. I felt her crown, then looked down and saw her. Laura told me to reach down and gently lift her up and out of the water.

I’ve seen many water birth videos, and it seemed almost like I was watching another one as I was lifting her up. I almost couldn’t believe that this was real life. Patrick and Laura helped me out of the tub and onto the bed so we could wait for the placenta to be birthed. It was so wonderful to just lay in my own bed with her. Within about ten or fifteen minutes the placenta was out, placed in a plastic bag, and put under the towel covering Aoife to help keep her warm. After the umbilical cord was done pulsing, Patrick was able to do the honors of cutting it. Laura examined me and for the first time I didn’t need any stitches after giving birth! I was so happy because that has always been my least favorite part of the birth process.

The midwives began draining the pool and tidying up the room while the three of us got to snuggle in bed for a little bit. Finally I got up to use the restroom and take a wonderful shower.  After getting back in bed it was time to do the newborn exam. With both of the boys they were taken to the other side of the hospital room for their exam and I had no part in it (Donovan right away before I even got to hold him and while they were placing stiches, and Cale right after they were done stitching me). This was the first time I was able to watch and be in awe of this little creature while she was being measured and looked at. She measured 22 inches (2.5 inches longer than Donovan, and 2 inches longer than Cale!!) and weighed in at a shocking 9 pounds 6 ounces! I couldn’t believe how big she was! She was almost a pound heavier than both boys! Although our birth photographer missed the actually delivery because it happened so fast, she was able to get some great pictures of Laura examining Aoife! I will cherish those photos always.

As everything calmed down and our birth team was getting ready to leave, my mom came in to check on us all. It was so wonderful that the boys slept through the whole thing, and that my mom was there to support us. She even went down and made us breakfast (which she did every morning for the rest of the week and was a huge blessing!) before the boys got up.  

Birthing my three children has been a huge learning and growing process for me, but I would say that this last birth was absolutely everything I was hoping it would be: no hospitals or doctors, just my hand picked birth team, no IVs, no unnecessary augmentations, 100% physiological labor and delivery, no vaginal or cervical exams/checks from conception to delivery, delivered in the water at home, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin, immediate breastfeeding, no rushing, and the boys slept through everything (healing and subsequent breastfeeding are another story, but I’ll save that for another day). I fell so blessed that we were able to have this experience, especially as our last one. 

Aoife Marie
Born: November 27
4:34am
9lbs 6oz
22in