From the WBWC Blog:

Birth Stories

Everetts Birth Story

A  Midwife Helped Me Out By Sommer Souther It’s true.  Emily Joubert to be precise. I had hoped it would be Emily.  I had prayed for it to be Emily. She may not know me from Adam, but the kind words she spoke to me almost three years ago, when I was in the middle of breastfeeding hell with Eliot, changed my life and sealed the deal on where and who I wanted to deliver my next baby. I was sitting in on yet another lactation consult at WBWC, meeting with Rebecca Costello for the first time, when I passed her a sheet of paper. “I’m not good at speaking up for what I’m feeling or advocating for myself, so I wrote down how this past week has been for me.” She read it quietly to herself and looked up at me with sincere compassion.  The paper I had handed her had detailed all the times that week I had felt worthless, helpless, used up, lonely, afraid, and broken.  The numerous times I had questioned whether I had made a mistake in trying to be a mother, because I surely was not one.  All the times in the past 4 months that I had tried to look forward with optimism to anything in my life and was greeted instead with the abyss. Rebecca reassured me, promised I was not alone, both in the community of other PPD/PPA sufferers as well as support people and groups who could help me through this.  Then she went to get Emily, to see if there was anything else we could do, any last missing piece of the puzzle we could find on why breastfeeding was not working out for me. Emily came in and talked through my issues with me, and asked me if we had family support for my breastfeeding. “It can make a big difference on if you’re able to continue or not” she told me. “No.  They all think I should’ve given up a long time ago and switched to formula.” “And what do you want to do?” “I want to give him the most that I can.  There have been a lot of dark moments in the past few months, but when there’s a good moment it’s good enough to make me want to keep trying.” “Well if you were my daughter I would be proud of you.  What you’ve … Read More

Olympia’s Birth Story

By Sarah Swandell “What can I do NOT to induce labor?” I asked the midwife at my 38-week appointment. My husband Jordan was flying to Ohio to interview at a med school that week. He’d be gone two nights. What if my body chose that time to go into labor? The first night Jordan was gone, I took some time to pray and reflect on all the year had brought – our first baby, whom we’d miscarried, and the baby who now kicked happily in my stomach. I thanked God for the journey, with all its ups and downs. Moments later, I went to the restroom, looked down, and discovered I had passed my mucus plug. A quick Google search reassured me labor might still be days or even weeks away. I decided not to tell my husband. But as the night went on, I started feeling something wet in my underwear. I had heard plenty of women say they couldn’t be sure if it was their water breaking or they were just peeing, but when I sat on the toilet and felt liquid come out, I could only laugh – I was definitely not peeing! In the time it took to fetch an adult diaper, more amniotic fluid ran out of me and I had to mop up the floor! Now I was noticing back pain, and mild contractions. Going off other women’s advice, I tried to relax, taking a bath and talking to the baby in my belly. Alas, I never could fall back asleep. Our house was 80 minutes away from the birthing center. I decided I wanted to spend my labor in a hotel near there rather than attempt a drive later, during active labor, especially if my husband wouldn’t be around! I waited ‘til 7 a.m. to call the midwife. She advised me to come in that afternoon, 12 hours after the water broke, for a non-stress test. I hurried around packing up the rest of the birth bag and scarfing down breakfast. While I ate, my husband called, just before his interview was to begin. “How’d you sleep last night?” he asked. “Oh…you know…” I hedged. Thankfully he didn’t catch on. I wanted him to get through at least day 1 of interviews before telling him the baby was on its way. Perhaps he could make up day 2 later. I drove to Chapel … Read More

Soren’s Birth Story

By Amy McKee There had been some signs over the previous few days that Soren may have been on the way, but the power of denial is real. My friends put on a “baby brunch” for another pregnant friend and me on July 9. I told them all that I thought I was having some prodromal labor, and even had to lay down for a minute while I was getting ready. Later that afternoon I experienced some spotting, so I called the birth center. I told work I was taking the next day off to rest and drink lots of fluids, per advice from Laura who was the midwife on-call, and that I would probably see them on my next scheduled workday. Monday morning I began waking up off and on to some mild contractions that gradually became stronger and more frequent between 1:30 and 5:30 AM, when I could no longer get back to sleep in between. At that time, I woke up my husband, Matt, and told him we should pack our bag. Unfortunately, by the official due date on the records, Soren was considered late preterm at 36 weeks and 6 days, which meant it was a day too early to deliver at the birthing center.  So, we made our way to UNC-Chapel Hill where Laura met us and wheeled me in. I was clearly far enough into labor to skip triage at this point, and once in the room it was determined that I was “very close” and 9.5 cm already. Soren was born no more than 20 minutes later. This birth was so very different than our first, who presented at 39 weeks 2 days with water breaking an hour before contractions began and not delivering at the birth center for another 11 hours. However, it was the closest to having a delivery at WBWC I could have hoped for at UNC. I am so thankful to have had Laura there to talk me through this “fast and furious” delivery, catch Soren, and help me pull him straight onto my chest at 7:59am in a state of complete shock and awe. 

Iris’s Birth Story

By Missy Swanson As a mom of three WBWC babies and a nurse who had attended a few hundred WBWC births, I thought I had seen and done it all. Then along came Iris to show me just how unpredictable birth can be. My fourth pregnancy was pretty straightforward. I felt sure I was having a girl and was looking forward to having another daughter to balance out the family. My blood tests and ultrasounds were all normal. However, as I approached 35 weeks, the baby kept flipping out of a head-down position. My third child had also liked to play that game, but he had settled down to vertex around 39 weeks and stayed. This child had other ideas. I did all the baby-turning things (moxibustion, acupuncture, inversions., etc.), and sometimes she was vertex, but she never stayed. Every time I came to work, I had the midwife put her hands on my belly. Every time, the baby was in a different position. Sometimes she’d be breech at the beginning of a shift and transverse by the end. My due date was September 1. We made a plan to schedule a version followed by a midwifery induction on September 7. As luck would have it, the baby was vertex on September 7, so I got to skip the version. My cervix was essentially closed, but Sarah bound up my belly and sent me home with a regimen of herbs and castor oil, and hopes of an easy birth. Sarah had been at all of my labors and caught two of the three. Those babies also had to be induced with castor oil, and although that part was disgusting, my labors were quick. My parents came to take care of the big kids, and my husband Andy and I had a nice morning to ourselves. We went for a walk, listened to music, and relaxed. After a few hours of herbs, the contractions kicked in a bit. I finally got the nerve to take the castor oil around 3 PM. By 5 PM, the contractions weren’t very strong, but I headed over the birth center to get checked and make sure the baby was still vertex. Sure enough, she was still head down, and I was 4 centimeters dilated! Sarah swept my cervix, and we headed home to eat dinner with the family. Shortly after dinner, the castor oil kicked … Read More

The Birth of Weston Paul

By Dana Jarmon Weston feels like a miracle baby. In November of 2017 we lost a baby to a rare cervical ectopic pregnancy which resulted in a uterine artery embolization. Due to this embolization, I was told that it was quite possible I would lose my fertility and not be able to have any more children. Only time would tell, so we were surprised and over the moon when we got pregnant our first time trying in May of 2018. It was a beautiful pregnancy, free of complication, and we felt so grateful for the amazing care we received from all of the sweet midwives. I dealt with some anxiety after having a challenging birth with our first son, Beckham, and they helped me work through the ins and outs of a subsequent pregnancy after birth trauma and loss.  On Saturday, January 26th at 5:15 AM, I got up to use the restroom and had a contraction on the toilet. It was noticeably different than the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been having, and I was surprised when another one came just six minutes later! After a few more contractions, I decided to take a shower to see if they would continue before waking up my husband, Joseph. Sure enough, they continued to come every six minutes! By 10 AM, they were coming every 3 minutes, and my doula (and best friend) Morgan had come to join us. Although the contractions were close together, they weren’t intense enough to make me feel like it was time to head to the birth center yet. We ate together, I rested, bounced on our birth ball, stood and swayed while I held onto Joseph, and we laughed and chatted and wondered aloud what this baby’s birth would be like.  Then by 12:30 PM the contractions fizzled out. I found myself getting frustrated. Why were we going backwards?! If we are having a baby, let’s just have a baby! We went on a walk around our neighborhood, tried some Suki’s Labor and Delivery Blend, and had some time alone to make out with my man. None of these things helped labor to pick back up, so I called the birth center and talked with Emily to see what I should do. She told me to relax and enjoy our day and to stop trying to stimulate labor. She said that whatever happened throughout the day, … Read More

Mahri’s Birth

By Leeanna Brickhouse My early labor, active labor, and delivery were not easy. As this was my first pregnancy, I didn’t really know what to expect so I stayed as strong as I could for my son, my husband, and myself. My 37th week mark, I lost my plug. The few days after that, my Braxton Hicks contractions worsened, and the only way I could cope was to be in fetal position or pacing back and forth. My husband and I hadn’t slept in four days until finally, Wednesday night at 11:30 pm, my water broke. We packed our belongings and went to the center. My midwives were there ready to comfort me and prepare me for my son’s arrival. I was 4 centimeters dilated when I got there and in an immense amount of pain. My midwives then helped me out with some relief so I could sleep. By the time I woke up, I was 9 centimeters! He was definitely coming! My original plan was to have a natural water birth, but Baby Mahri had other plans. My son’s head wasn’t positioned correctly so my midwives did as much as they could until they couldn’t anymore. My son’s life meant more to me than the wishes I had, and my midwives reminded me of that because my mind was all over the place. After being at the center for 12 hours, we then went to UNC hospital where it took 3 hours for my son to come. An hour and a half of that was the pushing. Rebeca and my husband delivered my son at 2:18 pm on July 12th; he weighed 6 pounds and 4.5 ounces. After seeing my baby boy, nothing else mattered. Not the needles, the pain, the obnoxious nurses and doctors, none of that. My baby was born, and I was one happy mama. Thank you WBWC.❤

The Day Aminah Came

When we came to the center my mom technically was going through labor or was just having contractions. I would say I was a little nervous but positive that everything would be okay. My sister and I were playing with fortune tellers and playing games on our electronics. My mom was going through labor for a few hours then hopped in the tub because she thought she was having the baby. There was no baby yet. A couple of minutes later my dad ordered Jimmy John’s so that my mother could gather some energy to push. She took a few bites and then it was time. My mom got in the tub and started pushing.   I was nervous. She started moaning and roaring like a lion. After the third roar, I had to get out. My stomach was killing me so I stepped out for a minute. My younger sister stayed and cried a little as my mom was pushing our new baby sister out. I think she was nervous, excited, and scared all at the same time. While Mrs. Amanda, my mom’s friend, was making coffee, I came out of the room to take a break from all the action. I went back in then after the next two or three lion roars Aminah came. My mom held her and Aminah looked straight into her eyes. My younger sister Brooklyn was now crying happy tears. My mom got out of the tub and laid on the bed, while my dad took the baby. She finally got to eat and get some rest.   The End LOVE, Nona  

Sabrina Noelle’s Birth Story

By Samantha Harrison I decided I would stop working right before my due date, enjoy a few days of relaxing and anticipation and then somehow begin labor “on time”.  Meanwhile, lurking in my mind was the nagging dread of the suspected long, difficult car ride through traffic to the birth center while laboring.  As it turned out, neither of these ideas were true. I was convinced I would not have much time waiting at home, especially because Sabrina had “dropped,” and I was having regular Braxton-Hicks contractions.  I worked all the way up to three days before my due date of June 20th and had been enjoying the days prior to her due date relaxing and nesting at home with family.  It was a sweet, peaceful time. For days leading up to her due date, I was getting contractions that felt different than the Braxton-Hicks I’d experienced before, happening nightly around 10 PM.  I would have a few contractions and then they would fizzle away.  On Sabrina’s due date, I had a massage scheduled just in case I wasn’t in labor.  The time came and I was still pregnant, so I went to my massage appointment and felt great.  We spent the rest of the day buying a kiddie pool and floating around, not realizing that we still had eleven days yet to float. The next day we had our 40-week appointment. We talked about all the things I could do at home to get labor going. We scheduled our 41-week appointment just in case I still hadn’t had Sabrina, but I remained sure though that we would. Days kept passing and my patience began growing thin.  I was anxious and ready to meet my baby.  I’d been doing all the things to get things going including eating 6 dates a day (for the last 28 days), drinking lots of red raspberry leaf tea, eating spicy pineapple, taking evening primrose oil, walking, sex, yoga, squats, etc.  Nevertheless, at 41 weeks I was still pregnant. Our 41 week visit on June 27th included an ultrasound to make sure Sabrina had enough amniotic fluid, followed by a non-stress test.  Everything was well.  Sabrina declared she was perfectly content right where she was for now.  At 42 weeks, I would not be permitted to give birth at the birth center, so we discussed with our midwife how we would proceed getting into labor before … Read More

Birth Story of Hayes Walter

By Lindsay Osterhoudt This baby is my fifth baby and also my fifth time using Hypnobabies to prepare for my birthing time. My babies have come into the world on or before their guess dates, anywhere from 37 weeks onward. I was hoping this little baby would do the same because the waiting is always the hardest part for me, especially in those last few weeks. After my guess date came and went, I kept repeating to myself, “Babies are born on their birthdays, not when doctors decide!” I scheduled an encouraging birthing massage with a fellow Hypnobabies instructor for a week after my guess date. My midwives did not seem very concerned but scheduled a non-stress test and ultrasound just to check on things approximately ten days after my guess date. Luckily, we never made it to either of those appointments… All of my nesting had been completed for weeks. The baby clothes were washed and put away. The baby diapers were neatly organized by the changing table. Many freezer meals were stocked in the freezer. I had been listening to “Baby Come Out” and done several “Fear Clearings” but yet baby was not ready. At 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, I put my older two children to bed and then I got a chill. I just couldn’t get warm despite putting on more substantial pajamas, so I went outside in the warm July air. That helped, and the feeling passed, so I got ready for bed while my husband took a shower. About 9:40 p.m. shortly after my husband got into bed I felt a wave. I had been feeling Braxton Hicks for more than a month, but this one felt slightly different. I got up to use the bathroom because sometimes that would help and then I could go back to sleep.  I returned to the bed and about 10-15 minutes later, I felt another wave.  This is when I started to think this could be the start of my birthing time, or things could just settle back down. Another 10-15 minutes passed, and I had my third wave. It was now about 10:15 p.m. and I thought things might be starting so I immediately got my headphones on and started listening to “Easy First Stage.” I also had my husband call his mother, so she could go and get her own mother who wanted to be … Read More

Elinor Lane Young’s Birth Story

By Sybil Young Elinor is my fourth child and my third WBWC delivery: due 8/1/2017 and born 7/25/2017. This was an unplanned and unexpected pregnancy that was stressful simply because I was woefully unprepared to add another little to my trio. My third was only 18 months old when I learned I was expecting, and as a mom accustomed to a very comfortable 4 year gap between kids this terrified me and absolutely destroyed my husband’s nerves. Poor Mary Lucile (my third) just wasn’t ready to be ousted yet! I settled into our reality, and accepted that I would be embarking on another 42 week metamorphosis into a sleep deprived, cranky blimp. I just knew I would be carrying this little one well past my due date just like her brother and sisters. However, this little darling took pity on me. The morning of July 24th I just didn’t feel great. My Braxton Hicks had been intense for weeks, and I had developed a fabulous penguin waddle thanks to the cranium lodged in my pelvis. I timed my contractions and they were coming regularly every 7-10 minutes. I took a bath and expected my contractions to stop. They didn’t. So I drank a bucket of water. No stopping. Not to be convinced that my body could possibly be ready to eject my little passenger, I headed to work. All morning I was certain I was peeing on myself, convinced that the same little head causing my deep waddle was squashing my bladder into oblivion, rendering me incontinent. Oh sweet denial! After consulting with Belinda, at the urging of the nurse practitioner and physician I work with, it was decided that I was not losing my bladder function but in fact was leaking amniotic fluid like a slow draining bathtub. After being given the option to wait it out or come in for some “midwifey magic” I chose the latter, excited that I could for once arrive at the birth center before transition! I made the calls, distributed my kids to various places, and headed to Chapel Hill. I was so nervous as this was the first time I was going to be laboring for longer than an hour or two at the birth center; I had always come at the last moment with my other babies and was in transition by the time I waddled through doors. We arrived at … Read More

Clara Mae’s Birth Story

By Grace Middleton The week of my birth, I knew I would be holding my baby by the end of the week. My body was ready – hopefully my baby was too! On the Saturday I turned 39 weeks, I bought Suki’s blend from the Boutique and started taking it 2-3 times per day. My Braxton Hicks became much more frequent, and by Tuesday nesting kicked in big time – I cleaned for hours. I scrubbed toilets, was down on my hands and knees mopping the kitchen floor, vacuumed, and everything in between. My house was shining, though I don’t think the baby cared if it was clean or not. I watched Netflix while knitting a little yellow baby hat for our surprise gender baby. By Wednesday I was getting bored (and still having lots of Braxton Hicks) because this was my first week of maternity leave. I drove from Chapel Hill to Raleigh to get Vitamin K drops for the baby – I mean I had to have them and was starting to freak out because I didn’t. Those last couple weeks of pregnancy you go crazy! Wednesday evening, the Braxton Hicks felt a little different, but I was able to go to bed at midnight telling my husband all was good. Contractions woke me up throughout the night, but they weren’t too bad, and I was able to fall back asleep. I texted my mom in Ohio around 2:30 and told her things seemed to be picking up and for her to be ready to come to NC. Around 7:30, my contractions started feeling like bad period cramping and were much lower. Being inexperienced, I told Wyatt to go to work. I told him to come home after he was at work for less than an hour because I lost my mucous plug! I had him get groceries so I could eat something nutritious for energy. He complied, although I think he was a bit of wreck. I had some bloody show over the next hour or so and called the birth center. They told me to prepare for a day at home and call when things changed. I tried to relax and work through the contractions. My husband made a great lunch, which I ate in shifts, since the contractions were getting more intense and closer together. We took a short walk, and when we got back … Read More

Eli’s Birth Story

By Bruna Novais On Thursday, March 22nd at 00:40, I started to feel some mild cramps. After weeks of Braxton Hicks and light cramps, I knew that this time, something was different. I waited about two hours until my contractions got stronger to wake up my husband. We called the birth center and decided to go there to check the baby’s heart and how dilated I was. At that time, I was just 3 cm dilated and the baby was fine. We decided to go back home and wait for the show to begin. At around 4 AM, I puked for the first time and started to feel very strong cramps/contractions. The only place that felt comfortable for me to stay was sitting on the Pilates ball. Around the same time my husband decided to call my doula and tell her to come to my place. My doula/angel arrived around 5 AM and helped me with massages and with her calmness telling me that everything was going just fine. Every time I had a contraction, I remembered to vocalize and open my throat. I puked twice more before deciding to take a shower (that’s when I think my water broke) and go to the birth center. We arrived at the birth center around 8:30 AM, and I was 5 cm dilated. Shortly, I decided to go into the bathtub and check if the warm water would help with the pain. Sadly, the bathtub was not the most comfortable place during the contractions, as every time I tried to find a position, nothing worked. After a while, I felt like pooping and I told my doula that I needed to go to the toilet. At that point, I knew the show was about to start. What I felt and thought was like pooping desires, was really pushing. My body started to push and I could not control that. I told my doula what was happening and she called Lydia, the midwife. Lydia asked if I wanted to sit at the birth chair, where I stayed for some pushes. After that, Lydia asked if I wanted to try staying on all fours on the bed and I decided for that, and it was the most comfortable position so far, and after that I just remember pushing for a while and hearing my husband saying that he was seeing the baby’s head! The … Read More