The last two nights we've put my tiny boy Grady to sleep in his big boy toddler bed. Each night I tell him "now you stay in your big boy bed, you don't get up, OK?" to which he replies "Otay mommy." Melts my friggin heart. Last night, after we sat on the couch listening to him list his family members in a little song that goes "Mommy, Daddy, Keaton, Beba, Beba, doggies, Anna, Mommy, Gran-Gran, Seth, Daniel, bye bye Daniel" or something like that, I started crying. Crying! With hormonal mommy emotions! Ridiculous. Never thought that would be me. I told Justin I was just so sad that he couldn't roll around and kick the back of his crib like he has done while falling asleep since he was like 8 months old. He's always been the best baby to put to sleep. I can count on my fingers the times he's actually cried in his bed. Excuse me, I guess I shouldn't say baby. We've got a new baby, which means Grady is a boy. I can't say kid yet. He still sucks his "pasheesh" for goodness sake.

Birth Details Alert

I've been staring and staring at Keaton lately trying to make myself appreciate this baby time. It's not that I hate it, despite my occasional complaint about his little baby demands. I'm more terrified that he'll be my last baby. I loved pregnancy with Grady - so easy, what do these women complain about? Pregnancy with Keaton wasn't difficult, per se, but when we got the news of my Anti-Kell status around 10 weeks gestation, and my Googling and maternal-fetal specialist visits began, so did the stress. It wasn't until 24 weeks, when I finally gave in and got the amniocentesis that told us that, hallelujah, he was Kell negative like me meaning I could have a normal remaining pregnancy, that I could justify complaining about the little discomforts like a normal pregnant lady. Before that I just felt guilty. But by the end of my pregnancy, with my symphysis pubis creaking at every step, and my bladder with a capacity of two teaspoons that wasn't terribly understanding of the trip I had to make down the stairs to empty it, and how frigging impossible it was to just take a breath, I did my fair share of complaining. I was just. so. tired! I was sure he was going to be a giant baby, due to the new stretch marks that joined the ones from Grady, which had only recently faded. And then, of course, he was transverse! C-section, OMG. Thank the Lord he turned head-down by the midwife visit at which they were going to try to wrestle him into position. But oh difficult child! He was posterior at my 39 week check! OMG back labor! Pain! Possible C-section!

So I did my research and bought an exercise ball, religiously rolled and swayed my hips on it, bent forward to rest my arms on it and let my belly hang, because the websites said that would help his little body spin into position so he would have a chance of coming into this world correctly. I didn't even get to go back to the office before, several days late, I realized I was in labor on a Friday night while sitting on the exercise ball watching "2012" on instant Netflix and timing my irregular contractions on some handy dandy webpage. After Justin got home around midnight, I decided that was the time to vacuum and mop the downstairs rather than to sleep. If you've ever met me, that was a more definite sign of labor than water breaking. I don't choose anything over sleep. I joined Justin in bed for a couple hours, but a really good contraction woke me and I was UP. I soaked in our teeny bathtub while rereading my favorite parts of Ian McEwan's "Atonement." I took a long, hot shower, but had to eventually sit down because standing through those contractions was rough.

After I got out, I called the Birthing Center, got answered by a lady in my nursing classes who paged my midwife Phyllis and had her call me. It was 5:30ish am. Although the contractions were still pretty far apart, she said get ready and come on in. So I went upstairs to rouse the baby daddy. I told him "we've got to get ready to go," and, like an 8th grader on a Monday, he said with his eyes still closed "It's Saturday, I don't have to go to work." I sorted his shit out. Grady was still sleeping, so Mom and Gwen met us at the house, Gwen stayed there with Grady and Mom followed us to the hospital (after slipping on the ice, glad that wasn't me!). When I finally changed and settled in, the nurse checked me and said "wow, you're already 6 or 7 cm, I'm going to call Phyllis and make sure she's almost here." Hooray for me, BUT the problem was I had tested Group B positive, like I had with Grady, and needed IV antibiotics during labor. They started it right away. I labored all Saturday morning, got in that fantastically large hospital jet bathtub, sat up in the bed, laid down in the bed, lavender oil foot massages, Mom brushing my hair, heating pack here, heating pack there, but NO PAIN MEDS.

That's right, I did it au natural. I was fully dilated when my water broke - POW- like a busted water main straight across the room. Justin almost died. Phyllis told me I had to hold my pushing til noon when the IV drip would be over or Keaton would need additional testing to make sure he wasn't infected with the Group B Strep. Eek. So I asked them to turn up the drip. There's no way I could wait that long to push, but there was also no way I was allowing them to traumatize my newborn. They turned it up and I tried to just let the contractions flow through my body, head back to avoid pushing.

When the drip finished at 11:30, I could finally push! It was such an amazing experience, and so very different from the intervention-ridden purple pushing I did when Grady was born (which I fully believe was due to the minimal amount of Pitocin, that evil stuff). No one told me when or how long to push. No one even held my legs back. Everyone sat in silence while I and my body cooperated. I pushed as much as I felt like through about 3 contractions and right through that "ring of fire" (it does suck) before little Keaton Philip Locklear arrived crying at 11:42 am on November 6th.

He was placed straight on my chest to latch on almost immediately (I might add I had stripped all my clothes off about an hour before. No shame). I got to hold him and nurse him while Phyllis stitched up my one little first degree tear, which, although it seemed to take forever, was far better than the millions of stitches I received after my second degree episiotomy with Grady. The nurses gave him the Vitamin K shot, heel stick, and eye drops all while he nursed so he barely flinched. And after all those new stretch marks, he weighed exactly the same as Grady - 6 lbs 12 oz. Every nurse we had for the rest of the stay told me that my labor and delivery nurse had been telling them all how beautiful of a birth it had been. Beautiful, maybe not, but lovely, I'd say so. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

"You still here? You haven't popped yet?"  As I walked down the hall of my church I wondered if that was the only thing people could think of saying to me when they saw me still pregnant, overdue and huge.

  In fact I went 11 days over due. I had an irritable uterus for around 10 weeks, and the past two weeks I had been having contractions off and on. Sometimes rough ones sometimes close together but they always ended with no baby on its way. At my 40 week check up the baby was still transverse so Ann (my midwife) did a version and told me to go walk my hide off. I was miserable and grumpy but I obeyed and at my 41 week check up she was head down, and in position to be born! I was actually thankful to be overdue, I didn’t care that I was a week late; emotionally at 41 weeks I was in a very good state of mind, better then at 40 weeks and so thankful that my baby was going to come when she was ready and not be forced out because of impatience or somebody’s schedule. People felt sorry for me, they automatically assumed I was an emotional wreck and so I understood, I was horribly uncomfortable and miserable, physically but what really matters is what was going on in my head. I was fine. God had blessed me beyond my wildest dreams with this pregnancy and I was going to be patient and happy and wait on His timing.

Colleen Faith’s Birth Story:

I woke up Sunday on October 23rd feeling different. Usually I’d wake up, get up and start the day. That day I woke up and stayed down. I was nauseous, tired, irritable and having stomach problems. I felt weak and smells bothered me, and I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t pin point it but deep down I knew this was the beginning of my labor, but I didn’t want to say it out loud. I called my birth team one by one to let them know of my condition. My doula suggested me trying to eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich and getting lots of rest. Nubun suggested that I should take a walk.
I just glared at him.
He only mentioned it once.  All I wanted to do was sleep! Nubun took care of everything and made sure I got my rest. When I woke up from my nap I ate a sandwich and started feeling better, so I decided to roam my neighborhood sidewalks. Nubun and the girls walked with me. It was beautiful outside and the sunshine and fresh air felt good on my skin. Throughout the whole walk I was having contractions and I felt a lot of pelvic pressure. I knew it was almost time but having so many false alarms made me doubt at the same time. I grabbed Nubun’s hand as we were nearing the house. “I know I am in the early stage of labor, I just know it! But…” I said a little disappointingly “I just wish I could have a CLEAR sign!”

 About 3 minutes later at around 6:50 that Sunday afternoon I leaned up against our SUV to rest and I felt a gush!     Whoooosh! Out came the Amazon river! I think about this moment and I get tears in my eyes. It may sound silly to some but with every pregnancy I have always wanted to have my water break on its own at home announcing the beginning of my labor so that I could be able to say:

 “Nubun! My water just broke!” Well, God gave me my little silly desire of my heart AND my CLEAR sign!

  Nubun ran up to me and looked at the wet ground. His eyes were big (Imagine that! Ha-ha) and he said “Are you sure?”  I nodded my head with a firm “Uh yeah!” I smiled and walked inside the house leaving a trail of evidence. His voice followed me as he kept on repeating “Are you sure? You sure? ANDREA, ARE YOU SURE!”  I just giggled with glee and headed towards the restroom. My amniotic fluid just kept on coming and coming. I had more water in me then the average 3 pregnant women! I guarantee it! Nubun ran and got his camera and took a picture of my trail of water, or what was left of it. I called Ann and she drilled me with questions.

“Are you having contractions?”

“Yes, but not very painful ones.”

“Does your water have a bloody show?”

“No ma’am” (a couple of minutes after hanging up with her I got the bloody show)

After a few more questions she hung up with instructions to call her back when my contractions got stronger. I had noticed there were little white specks in with the fluid and Ann told me that it was vernix from the baby. After I hung up with her I waddled over to my camera totting husband. “Nubun! Come look!” and I showed him the little white specks and proudly said: “That is vernix from the baby!” He jumped with excitement. “Oh how cute!” and started taking pictures of it.

I called my doula, Hannah. “I will come over right now if you need me.” I looked in the mirror at my giant baby belly.

“I’m fine now.”

“Don’t try to be brave.” That tickled me because I’ve never thought of myself as being brave before. Before she hung up she told me to call her as soon as I felt I needed her. I started going over my mental list of things we needed to take to the birth center, instructing my husband coach “Don’t forget my yoga ball, or my cupcakes, or my jar of honey. Where is my gallon of water?”

Nubun was Posting on Facebook our progress. That was fun!

Then I took a quick shower and went into the living room. That was the end of my easy labor. Nubun was grabbing a bite to eat when my painful contractions started. After only 2 of them I knew it was time. “Nubun, I’m calling Hannah!”

I was already having trouble talking on the phone but she was on her way. My contractions were getting noticeably stronger and I was upset that Nubun was eating. I hollered at him:

“NUBUN! Oooooh! Nubun!!” and he came as fast as he could but it wasn’t fast enough for me. I am ashamed to say I yelled at him in the hall and started slapping at his arm with frustration:

“You said you were going to be by my side all the time! You… Oooooooooh!! It hurts!” He didn’t get upset at all, he’s a natural birth trained coach he knew the signs. When wife starts beating you, SHE IS IN TRANSITION, he just smiled and said:

“Call Ann we need to go” I shook my head; I wanted Hannah to get there first.

But I did call Ann and told her my contractions were strong but still about 5 minutes apart. I could still talk through my contractions, with difficulty but I could.

“Do you feel pressure on your bum?”

“No ma’am”.

Just mere minutes later, I DID start feeling strong pressure and my contractions jumped to 1 minute apart and were unbearably strong. I couldn’t talk through contractions and I was in full blown transition!  Nubun was back on the phone with Ann: “She is feeling pressure on her bottom and contractions are 1 minute apart.”

“Oh No! Get her here NOW!”

I had been laboring on my yoga ball but by the time Hannah got there I had moved over to my hope chest leaning against it in a kneeling position. She came in and stood by my side. I was having a huge contraction that left me trembling and sweating. I looked up at her and said:
 “I am in the praying position.”

She smiled and said “That’s a good position to be in right now.” I trembled through another contraction and Nubun and Hannah looked at each other. They both knew they had to get me out of there. After that contraction was over Nubun got me up and walked me to the hall.

"Nubun, did you get my cupcakes?” Nubun was very worried by now. “Don’t worry about them. We have to go.”  I took two more steps when I felt another pain coming. Hannah told me to lean up against my husband and so I did. Again I was trembling and sweating through the giant wave of pain.

After that pain was over they were both ready to sweep me off my feet and carry me to the car, (I think that would have been impossible) and then I said the dreaded words.

“I have to go to the bathroom”

Nubun about panicked “But we have to go now!”

“I have to go to the bathroom!”

And so I went and sat there for a while. “Well,” I said “I guess I didn’t need to go after all” Hannah handed me a Depends to wear of which I was very thankful. My water had quit leaking because the baby’s head was in position and serving as a cork, but soon she would move and the flow would start again. I walked back to the hall when again I stopped at the same place and leaned up against my coach to labor through another pain. When it was over I halfway turned to go back to the bedroom.

“I don’t want to go!” I was dreading that 40 minutes drive to the birth center.

“Ok” Nubun said “I’ll call Ann to come!”

“No wait!” I said visualizing the warm soothing birthing tub at the birth center.

“I’ll go.” And I slowly headed towards the door.  “Did you get the cupcakes?”

I finally made it to the car and Hannah had so thoughtfully put a big blue pad on the seat. It was around 9pm. This was not a good time to be heading anywhere, right smack during transition. My contractions were lasting longer then my breaks in between and the pressure in my bum was stronger with each one. I should have listened to my coach when he told me we needed to leave the first time. I was half sitting and putting a lot of weight on the hand rest and grabbing a hold for dear life!Nubun immediately reached down and turned on some soft relaxing instrumental music.

After two notes I growled, in a grizzly bear kind of voice, "Shut up" I couldnt find the words to say anything else. He quickly fumbled to turn it off and back out of the driveway at the same time.

And then he was driving superbly, he was as smooth as butter and I didn’t even know he was speeding, but I did notice he was in and out of traffic passing people right and left, that should have given me a clue he was going fast.  Hannah had a hard time keeping up, she was driving in her car behind us, they were both worried about cops we didn’t have time to stop or slow down, but God took care of it all.

What a ride! Nubun was so calm and wonderful he would tell me to relax during contractions and for some reason he had to tell me again during every single contraction because I’d forget from one time to the next and RELAXING DOES HELP! It’s like magic, but it isn’t easy to do.

Every time I’d see a curve in the road or our exit coming up I’d holler out “Don’t turn!” because when he turned I would lean and it HURT. But you really can not drive anywhere without making a turn. With every contraction I’d yell it “Don’t TURN!” then in between contractions I would apologize. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you.” And with the very next labor pain “Don’t turn!

Nobody said a laboring Mama was reasonable!”

It was 9:12 and dark. I looked over at Nubun: “How much longer?”

“15 minutes sweetheart” I looked at the clock. That meant 15 more contractions in the car. I squeezed my legs together dreading all 15 of them. But when they would come I’d concentrate on what my body was doing, I visualized my baby getting lower and in a comfortable position to come out. I imagined each contraction was giving her little lungs a massage preparing her to come out and take her first breath. A lot of things flashed through my mind. I remember looking at the lights outside and looking away so I could pay attention to the task at hand. I was tired and worn out for I was laboring and it was the hardest work I had ever done in my life!

And then, we were there! Nubun started to turn into the birth center in spite of me yelling out “Don’t turn!” and then he realized he turned into the office side and not the birth cottages which were across the street.

I was horrified and hollered out “You didn’t turn! Why didn’t you turn! You forgot to turn! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!!”

When we got there everybody was in the parking lot waiting for us, my three midwives Ann, Michele, and Jenee and Hannah was there too. My chiropractor Dr Taylor was on her way. Ann opened up my car door and saw me. She just knew she was going to deliver that baby right there! I was paralyzed in a strong labor pain. I couldn’t move and she told me to just wait till it was over She asked me something I can’t remember what.

it was but I answered her back in a weak sounding voice:

“Yes ma’am”. She said I didn’t have to be polite, that a lot of Mama’s cursed at them. I never cursed and wasn’t going to start then. Also, I’m pretty sure it takes more effort and energy to get angry than it does to stay calm.

Ann told Nubun to undue my seatbelt and I don’t know how I got out of that car but I did and Ann was holding her hands out and I grabbed them and with my head held low and concentrating on the ground I followed her holding her hands as she walked backwards into the birth center. I was leaving another river of amniotic fluid behind me with every step I took. It was a hard slow walk but I made it, as we were entering my room I had just finished a contraction and I finally noticed Ann’s shoes, she was wearing sneakers. I remembered that at several of my pre natal visits either Nubun or I would ask Ann: “She has so much water in there, what does that mean? Is it bad?” And Ann would smile and she would always have the same calm answer: “All it means is that I am going to have to wear my rubber boots to your birth”

As I was taking my final steps to my beloved birth tub I said: “You forgot to wear your rubber boots.”

The birthing tub was ready it looked warm and inviting Jenee asked if I could get in by myself. Boy! could I? I stepped into that warm soothing water and it felt good! The lights were low and they had all the candles lit. Ann leaned over and in a low soothing voice she said to me: “Andrea, I noticed you have been tensing up and holding back. You are here now, just let it go and do what your body feels like.”

What a relief! I had not had one single vaginal check throughout my whole pregnancy, which is what I had requested, yet I already knew it was time to push. I just knew it! When she said that I immediately got on my knees and with one hand holding my weight up and the other hand across the side of the tub (a possition my natural birth instructor, Donna Ryan had highly recomended) I submitted to my contractions and started working with them. I started pushing. I had heard that pushing was a relief and that it felt good to push but I under estimated HOW perfect it felt and then I couldn’t stop pushing.

I could hear hushed voices talking around me. I was quiet because only with absolute silence could I concentrate on what I had to do. If I made any noise I knew I would lose it. I was experiencing the worse back pain imaginable; I was having back labor, although I remember it like big waves of pain sweeping my entire body and not only my back. What really helped was Jenee and Nubun taking turns pouring hot water on my back.

I didn’t even think about pushing, I didn’t tell anybody when I was having a contraction and that I was going to push, I just knew that was the next step and pushed.

I heard Michele say:

“Is she pushing?” Then I heard somebody else answer: “Oh yeah, she’s pushing!”

Nubun was right beside me and he kept leaning over and kissing my arm, "You are doing good Andrea!" he kept repeating lovingly.

Hannah was in front of me and when I would start to push she could tell by the look on my face, she would nod at Ann to let her know I was pushing. After a few pushes I remember thinking that I had to make some noise because I wanted them to know I was pushing so Nubun and Ann would be ready to catch the baby when she came out, so I would grunt at the beginning of every push. Nubun was behind me saying sweet things to me, of the which I never heard. Hannah was in front of me telling me I was doing a good job, I never heard her either. I was in the zone; I wasn’t listening to anybody or responding to them when they’d give me instructions on what to do. Ann was telling me to move a little to the left of the tub so she could reach me, but I had a hard time concentrating on what she was telling me, and what was worse, I don't know my right from my left!

When I was going through my contractions Ann was praying for me, what a comfort! What a blessing!

Ann told me that when the baby started crowning to give little pushes and to slow down so that she could help me not tear. When the time came I heard her say “Ok Andrea I feel the head, you are not but 10 minutes away from holding your baby.” But it wasn’t but a couple of minutes away when she had to tell me: “Give me little pushes here comes her head.”

Hannah repeated her and I tried, I really and truly tried but when that giant wave came washing over me there was no power on earth that was going to stop me from giving the biggest push of my life, actually I am not sure if it was me pushing or my uterus was doing it on its own, but nonetheless she was crowning! I was waiting for the ring of fire, and the burning feeling everybody talked about but although I did feel it (vaguely) my back labor pain overpowered and over ruled everything. Ann told Nubun and he got in position to catch her. Not even 20 minutes after arriving at the birth center and Colleen came into our lives. She came out posterior and shot out like a rocket! All 8lbs and 14ozs of her! And she landed in her Daddy’s loving hands. He handed her to me and it all happened so fast I barely heard Ann say: “Andrea reach down and grab your baby.”

It took me a little while to pop out of ‘the zone’. I never actually FELT her come out, I wasn't even sure she was out till I noticed my contractions had stopped and Ann was talking to me. I mentally shook my head and looked down as Nubun was handing me my baby, I reached down and picked up my little Colleen! And there is no feeling in the world like it as I cuddled her little body next to mine and kissed her little sweet head. I cried, I had waited so long for this moment. I had already loved her ever since I found out I was pregnant! And now, she was safe and sound in my arms. It was better then I had ever imagined!

She had her cord wrapped around her neck but since she had such chubby little chins they covered it up and it took a few seconds before Ann and I saw it. They just calmly lifted her up and Jenee just pulled the cord over her head and gave her back to me.

Nubun was hovering beside us; he was a happy and proud Daddy. “You made it look so easy honey!”

She was perfect! No problems with her, all 10 fingers and toes accounted for, a perfect little bundle of love. I had secretly wanted a big baby because for the last trimester I had been having intestinal problems and I was afraid my baby wasn’t getting the proper nutrition she needed and I knew that if she came out tiny I would feel guilty even if it was out of my control. But she was robust and healthy as she could be!

I did tear but very little. I had 4 stitches but I was happy and on cloud 9, I didn't care except for the fact that I couldn't hold my baby during the process, but Daddy had a grand ole time cuddling with his youngest!

We were having a party afterwards, talking and having a good time. My sweet friend Tori Gillit came, I could hear her in the hallway. Then she saw me lying in bed and she ran and jumped on the bed beside me and kissed my cheek. What a wonderful friend she is! I was so happy for her to come by, and share my joy. There is nothing like being happy and having a room full of people to share your happiness with! Tori brought her camera with her and took some amazing pictures of our little family.  My chiropractor and dear friend, DR Taylor, gave Colleen and I adjustments just mere minutes after Colleen was born. Thanks to that adjustment I am feeling so much better after this birth than after having given birth the last two times. I have no tail bone pain this time around! Yay!

Afterwards my baby and me soaked in our herbal bath, in a cute little claw footed bath tub. It was amazing! Nubun scrubbed Colleens head with a little baby brush until she fell asleep. It was such a sweet time and moment for us! I was covered in huge towels so Tori could take pictures and Hannah could video tape the whole thing, we laughed and had a good time talking about what had happened in the past few hours.

I also had to be catheterized afterwards (Ann told me that I was the first Mama she has ever had to cathiterize at the birth center since it was open, years ago) because my bladder got lazy on me and decided to take a rest. I was still on my natural high I didn't care! Hannah held my hand throughout the whole process and it was a relief!  They got 4,800CCs out of me! That is almost a gallon and a half of liquid. Ann just kept on shaking her head.

“I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it. You know they will never believe me when I tell them how much came out of you!” I laughed, and told her that my family would believe her. We were water drinkers! The whole process took like 30 minutes.

Nubun was there and he said: “Andrea labored. Andrea Pee peed. Guess which one took longer?”

One of the things I enjoyed so much about having my birth at Gentle Beginnings Birth Center is I knew exactly who was going to be there, and I considered them all my friends and when the time came they were genuinely happy and excited for me and they were all smiles. We really did have an after birth party, talking and laughing and giggling like an 14 year olds pajama party! 

I don't have a picture of Tori at the Center because she was taking all the pictures so here is Tori Gillit my friend and AKA Adele Photography.

When it came time to leave the birth center and go home, I couldn’t contain my excitement! I couldn’t wait to show my little treasure to her two big sisters! When Evie and Jasmine did meet her for the first time, WOW! What fun! They instantly fell in love with her just like their Daddy and I did.

Childbirth Education Classes? What’s that you may ask? Shouldn’t I already know how to birth a child? Well maybe, especially if this isn’t your first child. However, while the body becomes autonomic during labor, it maybe hard for you to allow yourself to go into the mind frame of birthing. It has by far been the most mysterious and inspiring moment of my life.

Childbirth Education classes can be taught by just about anyone. There are several options out there: Hypnobirthing, Hypnobabies, Birthing From Within, The Bradley Method, Lamaze, Hospital, or Birth Center. Most Hospitals and Freestanding Birth Centers have their own child birth education classes that you can choose or you can do any of the above or several of these. What are all these classes? Well lets look at them.

HypnoBirthing

Hypnobirthing uses a long term training (start early in your pregnancy), of putting yourself in a sort of trance by using a set series of touches to help you deal with your contractions. There are classes you can take taught by certified people or there is a home training that you can do. Here is their website to learn more: http://www.hypnobirthing.com/

Hypnobabies

Hypnobabies similar to Hypnobirthing but rather than use touch as the corner stone for the self hypnosis it is using actual hypnosis to help through pregnancy and labor. It helps you learn a closer bond with your baby and makes it more of a symbiotic process rather than autonomic. This can also be taught by a certified trainer or by a home class using cd’s. Here is their website for more information: http://www.hypnobabies.com/index.php

Birthing From Within this class uses imagery and visualizations to help you move through pregnancy and birth. The class is taught by a certified trainer, but there is a book that you can buy to do your own self study. Here is the website for more information: http://www.bfwnewmexico.com/index.html

The Bradley Method

The Bradley Method is often referred to as the Husband Coached Birth. This was created to allow spouse to be more involved in the birthing process. Again they are taught by certified trainers who have used this method or taken an extensive training program to become certified. Here is the website for more information: http://www.bfwnewmexico.com/index.html

Read about one mom's experience with the Bradley Method

Lamaze

Lamaze has long been used in labors as a breathing technique to get through labor. The organization has grown from just birth to doing more about pregnancy and raising children. This is taught by a certified trainer. Here is their website for more information: http://www.lamaze.org/

Most Hospitals and Freestanding Birth Centers also offer a childbirth education class. These may include little bits of all the above or their own information. As with choosing a birth center, finding a birthing class that fits you will be come the next most important decision. Ask your care provider about the class that they offer. Another thing to consider is the cost of the class. There maybe a significant price difference between all the options.

Go back to Step #5: Tests and Ultrasounds

Go ahead to: Step #7: Developing a Birthing Plan

When you come home with baby, it is good to be prepared as possible and enable things to taken care of as the first few weeks with baby will consuming, exciting and tiring. A few things to do to prepare is:

• Have meals ready in the freezer
• Have the baby stuff set up ahead of time
• Have  friends setting up a meal train for the weeks after the birth is awesome! It means you and your partner can focus on the baby.
• See if friends or family can do a load of dishes, swap laundry, watch the baby so you can nap or take a shower.
• Perhaps line of up outside care for your other children to give yourself a break
  
• See if your partner can take a week or 2 of holidays

Go back to Step #8: Preparing for the Big Day

 Finally the day has coming near so you need to make arrangements for what to bring to the birthing center and care for any children or pets not coming.

What to bring to the Birthing Center

Your provider may have already given you a list of things to bring with you. If not here are some items that you may want:

• socks
• bathrobe
• music on mp3, cd,
• any medications you are on
• your partner’s medications
• changes of clothes especially if you will be staying a couple of days
• clothes for the baby
• diapers especially if you are choosing to do cloth diapers
• snacks that you love
• toiletries
• pillow
• panties that you have chosen for your post partum bleeding
• pads for post partum bleeding
• laptop
• camera
• books
• knitting, things to occupy your hands or to do while you wait etc...

Here is an extensive list of things to include for yourself and your newborn: http://thebirthingsite.com/birthing-places/item/309-what-should-i-pack-in-my-hospital-bag?.html

If you do forget anything, don't panic because someone can always run back and get whatever you need.

Care for Other Children or Pets

Ensure you have a plan for your older children when you go into labour. Most birthing centers allow children but it may be a long wait for a young one. It is a good idea to pack an overnight bag ahead of time for them to take if they are going outside of your home. It is hard to determine how long you will be in labour so it is a good idea to be prepared in case you cannot get home in 24 hrs and you may want someone to check in on your pets as well.

Go back to Step #6: Developing a Birthing Plan

Go ahead to Step #9: Preparing for Coming Home

Creating a Birth Plan is a great idea no matter where you are birthing. This makes sure that you and your care provider are on the same page in terms of what you want for and from your birth. This is a great place to write whether you want interventions or if you want as few as possible.

This will take some time to document but it helps you decide what you want for your birth and baby. This is everything you want in your birth. Here are some suggestions of things to include:

• your desire for a doula
• delayed cord clamping
• keeping your placenta
• who will recieve the baby
• allowable or not allowable interventions
• what type of envirnment you want
• who you want at the birth (i.e. If you do not want any other people in the room but your care provider and and necessary support staff, you should state this.)
• immediate latching/breastfeeding/skin to skin desires
• what to do in certain situations such as breech, cord wrapped around the neck, etc.

Go back to Step #6: Childbirth Education Classes

Go ahead to Step #8: Preparing for the Big Day

Now that you have scheduled your appointments, it is important to find out how they do tests, what tests, and when. If there is informed consent then you should receive a form that states why it is recommended, whether statistically speaking is worth while, any possible side effects or contra-indications to the procedure or test.

Also, not all tests are mandatory, some are and some are not whether it is dictated by local government, care provider policy or hospital policy. If you are not sure, ask. They will tell you if it is mandatory, recommended or simply voluntary/encouraged. Ensure you know your options and are comfortable with everything going on in your body

On your visits, your care provider will probably have you pee in a cup and will check you protein and glucose (sugars) levels, many midwives will even let you check your own. The purpose of this is to monitor for a conditional called pre-eclampsia. Blood pressure evaluation using a bp cuff, fundal height measurement (this is a measurement using centimeters going from the top of your pelvic bone to the top of your uterus), this measure meant is a way to see if the baby is growing along the way it should without relying on an ultrasound at every visit.

Your provider will also listen to the babies heart beat either by using a hand held doppler or using a fetoscope. The doppler uses sound waves to detect the heart rate and depending on the unit may be played so you can hear it. A fetoscope is a stethoscope style listening devise that has a horn attached to the end that gets put on your belly, while the headset portion has ear pieces to be placed in the ears to hear the heart rate. Some styles of fetoscopes have a double headset so that the care provider and someone else may hear the heart beat. The down side to fetoscopes is that they typically can’t hear a heart rate until 20 weeks, where as dopplers can do it around 8 weeks.

At your initial appointment or even the second appointment, your care provider may ask to do blood tests and a pelvic examination. The blood test is looking for several things:

• Complete blood count (to see if anemic and if so what level)
• Hemoglobin (the amount of hemoglobin per re blood cell)
• Hematocrit (the percentage of red blood cells o\per total blood volume)
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (specifically: HIV/AIDS and Syphillis, Hepatitis B and C)
• Rubella titers (to see if you, the mother, has immunity from German Measles. If this titer check comes back low you may be recommended to get a booster but at no time should it be administered while pregnant.)
• Blood Type (to help determine if there is a conflict with the Rh Factor. Mostly when Mother is negative and Father is positive in the Rh factor)

In the pelvic examination your provider may do a pap smear if it has been more than 2 years since the prior pap smear. This helps look for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and HPV (Human papilloma virus). The other purpose is using pelvimetery (a specific set of points to measure how big your pelvis is) which the provider can use as an indicator as to whether or not vaginal birth is right for you. Please note not all providers use this form of measurement, and if you ‘measure small’ doesn’t mean a vaginal birth is off the table. The pelvis does amazing things when in labor.

Around 20 weeks an ultrasound may be suggested since at that point and time everything is well developed and visible. The bones can be measured to get a slightly more accurate picture as to your estimated due date. The heart is fully visible and you can see that everything is there. This is also the check up where gender can be determined with fairly accurate readings.

At 28 weeks the tests at that point are Gestational Diabetes (GD). Gestational Diabetes is an inability to use glucose. This is a process of either drinking a glucose drink or eating 18 jelly beans or having a cup of apple juice (depends on brand) and then drawing blood after an hour. Depending on the results additional testing for GD maybe done.

Group B Strep (GBS) is something that 30% of the female population carry. It is a bacterium carried in the vagina and rectum. GBS doesn’t cause any problems to the carrier and is treated using antibiotics during labor and after birth.

The majority of these test can be done in both types of Birth Centers. However, depending on circumstances, the Freestanding Birth Center may refer you out for some of them, like the ultrasound. Other tests such as Quad (Alpha-fetoprotein screening) testing (genetic testing looking for specific malformations like Down Syndrome). This is typically offered around the 20 week mark but has a 20% false positive rating. Amniocentesis should only done when there or other indicators from the earlier tests. Most of the tests here have very little impact on you and very few side effects or risks. Make sure you ask any questions with your provider and research yourself to see if they are truly right for you to take.

Here is an additional resource to read over on Prenatal Tests.

Go back to Step #4: Schedule Appointments With Care Provider

Go ahead to Step #6: Childbirth Education Classes

So you have decided on your provider. Congratulations!

Now you arrange your appointments. Up to 28 you will probably see your provider once a month. Then at 28 to 34 weeks you will probably seeing your provider every two weeks. At the 34 week visit you will start seeing your provider every week until you deliver.

Your provider will also schedule you in if you are having problems or if you need the extra support.

Go back to Step #3: Schedule Interviews

Go ahead to Step #5: Tests and Ultrasounds

 Most Free Standing Birth Centers will offer a meet and greet free of charge. This will include a tour of the facilities and possibly a video about births in birth centers. Just to give you an idea as to what to expect. Hospital Birth Centers may ask for a co-pay you can verify when you call for an appointment.

Be prepared for your meeting with questions that are important to you so that you can have the birthing experience you really want.

Here are a few suggestion questions:

• Transports/Transfer rate (how often a laboring woman is transferred to the hospital)
• Reasons for transport
• Episiotomy rate (a surgical cut into the perineum to help avoid tearing).
• Cesarean Section Rate within transports
• Who is on staff/ Who will be attending your birth
• Are Doula’s allowed/welcomed
• Waterbirth ability
• Postions for delivering
• Pain Relief Options
• Medications/Oxygen for hemorrage or resuscitation efforts.
• Co-Care with an Obstetrician
• Back-up care
• Twin or other multiples, Breech, VBAC options
• Who can visit
• How long do you stay after the birth
• Breatfeeding support

Here is a list of other questions you may be interested to ask.

Keep in mind that this is a meet and greet and you should not feel pressured to commit to anything. Go with your gut and ensure you feel comfortable with the facilities and care providers before making any final decisions.

This may also be a good time to interview Doulas if that is something you are considering. Interview a Doula is very similar to interviewing your care provider so you can ask them many of the same questions. Here are a few qualities to look for in a Doula.

Go back to Step #2: Deciding Between a Hospital Birthing Center and a Freestanding Birthing Center

Go ahead to Step #4: Schedule Appointments With Care Provider

So to decide which you want, search on the internet, poll your friends or ask your local medical center to see if they have any information or first hand experience with any of the Birth Centers in your area. You can also use things like Yelp.com or google.com for other people’s insights regarding the Birth Centers. Once you have gathered your list of facility options, make a list of what you is important to you such as your expectations, facility's ambiance, care provider background, intervention tactics, common practices and procedures, etc, 

Schedule initial meet and greet appointments with the ones that meets your criteria and make a list of questions you want to ask. Here is a list of questions you may want to start with or include in your own list:

The biggest differences between a Free Standing Birth Center and a Hospital Birth Center is the closeness to a hospital and whether the people working for them are constrained to hospital procedures,  timelines and the type of medical staff work for the facility.

Free Standing Birthing Center

As these facilities are not affiliated with a hospital, they are ran by midwives, either Certified Professional Midwives or Certified Nurse Midwives. Nurse Midwives have gone to nursing school and then have done an additional study course specifically just on birthing and helping mothers and babies. Certified Professional Midwives have typically gone through a midwifery program and then spent a significant amount of time within an apprenticeship studying under a senior midwife.

In comparison to a hospital or Hospital Birthing Center, a Free Standing Birthing Center has the autonomy to establish custom procedures and have more flexibility regarding timelines and protocols regarding birth. This often gives the pregnant mother comfort if they have experienced rushed hospital deliveries in the past. However, the facilities are often moderated by a local government body thus have to abide within a framework of medical limitations. This also means that they have limited resources should a serious medical emergency occurs that requires a hospital, but often the facility is within close proximity to a hospital specifically for that reason.

Hospital Birthing Centers

Hospital Birthing Centers are run by employees of a hospital such doctors, OBs and nurses. These facilities act as a subsidiary of the local hospital and the employees are an extension of the hospital staff, often from the maternity ward. As an affiliate of the hospital, the facilities must follow the protocols established by the hospital but given a few more freedoms over the hospital’s maternity ward. For an example, the facility's rooms often are equipped with birthing pool and showers, allow you to move around more, allows more people to support you through the labour and have more flexible timeframes and protocols with birth than maternity wards.

Either place also allows you to bring in a Doula who can be with you every part of the way and it is highly encouraged. Here is a link to help you decide whether a Doula is right for you.

Go back to Step #1: Locate all Birth Centers in Your Area

Go ahead to Step #3: Schedule Interviews

Go back to: Birthing Methods Menu