Jakiah's Birth Story

Our story starts on the morning of January 24th. I was exactly 39 weeks and had a routine appointment at 8 o'clock that morning. I was measuring at 2cm and was 90% effaced. Our midwife offered to strip my membranes and we had already decided that we were ready to take that step. With a VBAC, we were told that anything to help start birth 'sooner and naturally' would help us avoid the OR.

I had some minor cramping the rest of the day, but hardly noticeable. I had a feeling something was starting, but didn't want to get my hopes up. We had a special evening with Kalaya, because something told me our days as family of 3 were rapidly coming to and end. : ) We watched Kalaya's first movie (Cinderella) and had a special dinner. I went to my pregnancy fitness swim class around 8 and then when I got home, Nelson and I did my belly cast for Jakiah and watched a movie together. I had taken a long nap with Kalaya that afternoon and didn't go to bed until around 12:45.

Around 2:15am, I bolted out of bed to the bathroom, feeling my water break. From that point on, I had very intense, close together contractions. I tried to lay down, relax and breathe, but it didn't last long. I had to be up and moving. With a VBAC, we were told to get to the hospital once my water broke, so Nelson called our doula, the hospital and my mom (our babysitter) and started getting everything into the car.

While this was happening, I was in our bathroom, with the lights off, just reacting to what my body wanted me to do. I was most comfortable sitting on the toilet between contractions to rest and standing up, bracing myself with my hands on the wall, rocking side to side while the contractions were happening. The breathing techniques from our class helped me slightly, but the main thing was just saying in my head, 'each time is bringing Jakiah closer to getting here', 'everything is in God's hands', etc. There really wasn't enough time for CDs or candles. : )

The car ride was the most challenging part of this phase, since it was difficult to get into positions that were helpful. And, at this point, the surges were SO intense and close together, right on top of each other, that I was getting nervous. I remember very clearly saying to Nelson, "I am aware of what I'm saying, I am able to make a decision right now: when we get to the hospital, I WANT AN EPIDURAL." The main reason was that I was terrified I was only going to be at 4cm (or similar) and was going to be doing this for hours and hours. I was already feeling the urge to bear down and push, so I was praying I was close to being ready.

Once in the parking lot of the hospital, I told Nelson, "I have to push NOW, I'm ready!!" He was calm and told me to go with what my body wanted, helping me brace myself against the wall when the surges came, while guiding me toward the place to check in. (this was around 4am) I remember shooing people away firmly, but then apologizing for not letting them help me. (including Nelson and our doula!) Everyone was really helpful and let me go with whatever I was needing at the time.

I was deep in the 'Zone' at this point. I was acting on instinct and didn't want anyone within a 5 foot range of me. I just waved people away and directed them to Nelson. They wanted my to get on a scale (for 'anesthesia purposes') and I was NOT having that. Somehow I remembered my weight from the appointment that morning and she accepted that! I was directed to a small room to be examined, since I was telling them I was ready to push, a nurse quickly checked my cervix and, sure enough, said, "Yes, you are ready! 10 centimeters!"

I was SO RELIEVED and at that point just completely let go. (at that point, I couldn't have had an epidural, even if I wanted to, but I knew that I could get through the pushing at this point, I was READY!) I was directed into the birthing room and the nurses and midwife just let me do what I needed to do. For me, that meant up on the bed, on all fours during contractions, leaning back on my heels to rest between. When anyone would get to close, I became aware of them, but mainly, I just gave into trusting my body, breathing, guiding and pushing Jakiah closer to emerging. Nelson said later that he couldn't believe how calm I seemed. I was pretty loud during contractions and he said I looked bored in between. He'd try to tell me I was doing great, etc and I'd just wave him away. Since it was a VBAC situation, I did have to have a monitor on at all times and have an IV port put in. I had tested positive for Strep B, so I had to have antibiotics in my IV for half an hour as well, but I barely remember that, other than getting irritated at the nurse that kept trying to touch me during contractions for the IV.

While I was pushing/breathing Jakiah down, I remember every second of it, and yet, it went so quickly, it didn't seem possible to take an hour and a half. I was in the room, allowing him to move down by 4:30 and I delivered him at 5:44am. It was very, very fast!! I am so grateful that it went as quickly and as successfully as it did. However, we didn't have much time for all of the things we'd practiced in class, though when I look back, I know that my confidence and trust in my body and the process were because of a lot of the things we practiced.

Did it hurt? Abso-friggin-lutely. Power to those women who say that they didn't hurt much, maybe their bodies don't go from 2-10c, so quickly, I don't know. All I know is that once my water broke, I was ready FAST!! And, yes, I remember being in pain during contractions and when he was coming out, but honestly, I've already forgotten actually feeling the pain. I wouldn't change anything, even not having the epidural. I did have one small tear, but that was all.
When I had been pushing for awhile (real life time, around an hour or so), I started to get frustrated, wondering why he wasn't out. I knew he was 'right there' and it was agonizing not having him out! In my head, I told myself, "Okay, four more BIG pushes, I can do this, and he'll be OUT!" Sure enough: four contractions: the second push his head emerged, then shoulders (let me tell you, the longest wait was for the surge after his head, but before his shoulders!!) and the last push, I looked down and THERE HE WAS!!!

Jakiah (Juh-ky-uh) Gabriel Sigrah was 7 lbs, 9 oz, 20 inches long, with a 14 inch head. Our hospital was incredibly conscious and compliant with everything we asked for in our birth preferences; everything was delayed that we wanted, the chord stayed attached until I delivered the placenta, no pitocin was used for the placenta delivery and Jakiah latched on to nurse almost immediately after delivery. He is a beautiful, healthy boy and his big sister is doing so great with him already!!

We are so grateful and blessed that our birth went so quickly and so well. It was world's different from a c-section and though we would have been happy for any outcome that resulted in a healthy baby and healthy mama, we don't think we could have asked for anything to have gone better. It was a beautiful, wonderful birth!!