Lorelei's Birth Story

11/13/2018

Lorelei’s Birthing Day Post #1- Two years ago today. We were at Hayleigh’s basketball game and my uterus surged. Just once. But I knew..I knew my body was starting the beautiful dance of bringing our fourth baby earthside. We dropped off the kiddos to hang out with the grandmas and went for a walk on the sewer trail. It was a beautiful fall day, a little chill on the air but the sun was bright and made the fall leaves shine like amber; and the sky was a beautiful blue. My uterus continued to hug our sweet girl every once in a while as we walked and enjoyed the beauty around us.

Lorelei Birthing Day Post #2- Two years ago...we left the park on Saturday and went to dinner with Wendi and Travis at the Drake. As we waited for our food I knew my surges were coming regularly. I timed a few and they were every 3 minutes. Still not intense so I told Heath we needed to get the kids, go home and sleep. Around 2 am (Sunday) I woke up and decided to shower. Then I went back to sleep only to be woken up at 3:30 as my membranes released. I decided I didn’t want to stay home too much longer as with the other three my labors picked up and moved pretty quickly after membranes released. So I called Emily, Alea, and Wendi to start getting ready to go and had my dad come over to watch the boys. I woke up Hayleigh and she sprang out of bed and thought her sister was coming that moment. We drove to Iowa City after everyone arrived at our house. The moon was huge and bright and as we drove I had such a peace and connection to both the moon and our sweet little girl I was working to bring earthside. I’ll never forget the moon that morning. As we arrived at the hospital parking garage I felt so supported and elated to have three of my sweet friends, my husband, and my daughter there to share in this magical day. Because what’s a birthing day without a party? Especially when you’re a doula? We checked into l&d and the nurse confirmed that my membranes released (yea thanks, fourth baby here...didn’t need you to tell me that it was indeed my membranes that released) the nurse reviewed my birth preferences and had me sign all the vbac papers. She got my iv lock easily and left us to labor....

Lorelei’s Birthing Day Post #3- We labored together throughout the morning. At first it was easy work. I second guessed myself for a moment about coming to the hospital when we did. Looking back it was a lot of fun and I’m glad I didn’t have to ride in the car in intense labor. We played Mad Libs (Alea Lobdell was so wonderful for Hayleigh and me too.) soon it started picking up in intensity-I think around 9 or so. I labored on the ball, hugging two of my favorite people in the world- Heath and Emily (thank goodness they don’t mind my cuddly nature

) and got in the tub. It was so beautiful in the tub with the candles and music. I could feel our sweet girl move down the birth path and the intensity grew. I was working hard and so was she. The room was so full of love it was perfect. And the nurses and ob really left us alone for the most part..

Lorelei’s Birthing Day Post #4- As it got closer to lunch time labor became much more intense. More intense than any of my pitocin induced labors...and this caught me quite by surprise. I was in labor all on my own, my body was doing every ounce of this work without medication. Looking back I am so very thankful and blessed by the intensity. I truly believe it was God showing me just how capable my body is- type 1 diabetes and all...my birthing body is in no way flawed. The nurse wanted to check my cervix because I was having some urge to bear down gently. I knew I shouldn’t really forcefully bear down and was following my body’s lead but I consented to the exam to give her some peace of mind. I was told I wasn’t ready to push- which I already knew and was giving gentle nudges but in all the active labor-ness wasn’t going to try to explain that so the nurse left and Emily stayed with me while everyone else grabbed some lunch in the cafeteria. I needed a moment of quiet and was so thankful for

Emily

staying with me. I was now side-lying in the bed and Emily doing hip squeezes. All of a sudden I felt the familiar pop, whoosh, and baby pushed down farther in my birth path. I’m fairly certain Emily and I both jumped and said whoa at the same time. and I said, “Uhhhh I think my water just broke...again?!” (Yes in the thrill of the moment I may have forgotten my HypnoBirthing friendly terms.) Turns out I had a rather large forebag of water that released at home and baby had quite a bit of water in front of her head yet to release. After this I felt such an intense (though not painful) power through each surge. I will never forget that power that came from within, from the universe, from my inner wisdom from all the women who have birthed before me. Baby was moving down and I knew I wanted everyone to come back soon.

When they got back I was sitting up in bed. Emily rubbed some orange and peppermint and

Alea

gave her a break on the hip squeezes and counter pressure. Before I knew it my body’s surges started the familiar downward transition and instead of breathing up with each surge I began to breathe down. Our sweet girl was going to join us soon.

At some point I needed to move positions and got into hands and knees. It was exactly what I needed. The nurse at this point was panicking because she couldn’t pick up baby (she was so low she was out in two more surges) but I’m so glad I had Emily in my ear for reassurance to continue my work. Another breath and her head was born. With the next surge she was officially earthside at 3:54 pm on 11/13/2016. Our sweet Lorelei Mae. I was in charge of my insulin the entire time-with

Wendi

and Heath helping me watch and getting me juice as I needed. I’ve learned so much with the birth of each of our children. Lorelei’s birth taught me that my body is powerful and strong-with surges stronger than I’d ever experience with a medical induction. And she came on the day of her own choosing- on her estimated due date. Happy happy 2nd Birthday dear sweet little Lolopie. Keep shining bright and I know you’ll be a bright light in this world...just like the on they day of your birth.