Jemma Alyssum's Home Breech Birth Story

It was a regular Wednesday for Eden and me. We decided to go for it since we had lots to do and were hoping to encourage baby sister out (and the midwife was back in town! ) After we dropped my husband, Eric, off at work we went to Target to get baby hangers for the nursery, the mall, and the Co-op for some yummy food. Next we stopped at Mom's to kill a little time before we went to see some kittens that I had taken Eden, our daughter, to see get born just a couple weeks before. Mom laughed at my pregnancy snacks of the day a big banana, a quart of fresh Co-op half & half and string cheese! Nothing like good rich milk when I am pregnant! Next stop kittens, and Eden's gymnastics! At the gym, like usual she ran all around and was wild as heck! I felt heavy and achy in my cervix as I ran after her.

I was checked at 35 weeks at my home visit, I was 6 cm dilated and 75% effaced. I was put on modified bed-rest in hopes of making it to 38 weeks and for my midwife to get back in town! Thank goodness I had the Olympics to entertain me each night! I knew I would be dilated but was shocked to hear I was that dilated. I had many more noticeable contractions this pregnancy unlike my first pregnancy with barely noticed contractions that had me a walking/running 8cm before going into labor with my first baby. I never experience much discomfort. The contractions were often and strong but not painful. I surprise people with my descriptions of contractions and the efficiency of my uterus. I wished that I had delivered with my midwives the first time so they could have seen what labor and birth was like with my first daughter's birth! As it was, I was a walking 6 for a month and then a 7 and so on, this pregnancy too all before labor began.

Fortunately, I ended up with just enough time to get my henna done! 














Eden's too! ; )

















And my Blessingway!
 



A few maternity shots!
                  




 

And my belly cast!

 

After gymnastics we came home and my mom, sister, and friend came over. Eden nursed which gave me some contractions like it often did. I think she even took a nap for me! My contractions just kept coming and there was no real break as my uterus just stayed hard all the time. I'd think one contraction was still going and another would start. I walked and bounced on my birthing ball and sipped on a mango smoothie. Eric was going to be off work soon so I had my sister pick him up. My mother kept thinking my water was leaking and convinced me to just give the midwife a call. So I did and she told me she could be there as soon as I needed. I told her I would call her back if something changed. Around 9 pm or so she called me and convinced me to have her come by and just check on things. I agreed, being convinced was really the case as I never was quite sure I was in labor. The contractions were not painful, no other real signs of labor had occurred. I had experienced non stop contractions many evenings that had always faded. I was just making sure I wasn't making a big deal and calling up for a false labor. She arrived around 10 ish, I think, and when I saw her I just started crying. I don't know why exactly I just felt very emotional and was really glad she was going to make it for our birth. By midnight, we had established a couple of things; I was 7 cm dilated and 90% effaced and the baby was breech....Surprise!  I think I smiled and then even laughed... I stared at her with disbelief. I was half sure she was mistaken as I never felt a big shift of the baby. I had been the practice belly at multiple midwifery student's study groups and had my baby in my belly palpitated many times by many people and midwives. I and many others had been very hands on during my pregnancy. The night before Jemma"s birth my midwife said she was very certain the baby was breech, called the other midwife and checked again.


By 1am it was decided, after all options were discussed, we would go to bed and see if I could hold off labor for an ultrasound that would show me more in the morning. I was worried about her cord and she was so engaged in my pelvis and for so long that turning her was not really an option, nor was I very comfortable with trying at 38 weeks and 2 days, all things considered.  I most certainly felt a risk with breech delivery but I felt just as much with a c-section. It amazes me how at this time Eric was so strong and had so much faith in me. He didn't want a c-section for us and knew I could do it. He never even doubted me and advocated for at least trying to deliver her as long as things were going good during delivery. I just had to try! Fortunately she was frank breech (bottom first), the best type, and a good size. At that point my midwives left and I attempted sleep with everything heavy on my mind, I had strict instructions to call if I felt anything different.
 

   Around 3:30 am I awoke and felt a sort of vibration in my head with a contraction and they felt a little deeper in my cervix. I waited, longer than my midwives had instructed and then sent a text. They were back by 4am (ish) and I was 10 cm and complete, I had slept through transition! It's crucial to be dilated to 10 cm before the baby descends into the birth canal, with the head being the largest part of the baby, descending sooner poses the risk of head entrapment. Another risk of breech delivery already alleviated. I was told to lay for as long as I was comfortable. At this point we just decided to proceed with the utmost caution, completely ready and willing to transfer the the hospital at any point if necessary. My midwife was confident scoring me very high on a scale for breech birth candidates, I had a proven pelvis and the strength and mindset to do it. Everyone planning to attend was called and the house buzzed with excitement as the pool was being filled and candles were being lit. Finally I got up and nothing much really happened. We were planning on leaving the bag of waters intact if possible. I labored contently, got in and back out of the pool. I went for a walk as the sun was rising with Eric and we looked at our garden and then I picked a few blackberries that tasted divine. Eric made breakfast and the rest of the house came back to life. I snacked on garden tomatoes, cucumbers and cottage cheese, peaches, watermelon and coconut water.

At last we proceeded to rupture my amniotic sac after being fully dilated for around 4 hours, it proved to be very strong after not breaking with three attempts! I expected her to come quickly, and for things to get very intense and uncomfortable but they didn't really. I stood and squatted on the birthing stool bringing contractions around 3 minutes apart. Each contraction I had to completely surrender and let her come down by herself and not push. I had to focus and sway but it felt like the only way to labor with any contraction in any birth. Eventually I felt a similar sensation to a baby coming through my pelvis only much softer. She was close now and I was told to softly urged her to come more with soft pushes.

 

 Eden awoke and looked like a rested angel and dove right into the birthing pool with me. She was so pleased that she had a pool in her living room. I labored as she swam and played joyously behind me. Eden got out and fed me mango popsicle and eventually when her bottom began to emerge Eric got in the pool and held me.  

I reached between my legs and felt her tiny bottom. I saw her little bottom and girl parts in a hand mirror. I held my hand over my skin next to her body as my midwife supported my perineum and I pushed her out slowly, feeling her whole body move past my finger tips, her heart always chugging along strong and perfectly. I felt empowered and was surprised I was pretty much delivering her myself into my own hands. At last her head was all that was left to come and I pushed it out into my midwife's hands with a resemblance to a champagne cork! The cord was loosely wrapped around her neck once. Then she was on my chest and looked so different than her sister, and from what I expected! I talked to her and rubbed her head and she took her first breath, we all took it with her, and she let out her first cry!

  

 

 

It was so wonderful to look into her sweet little face and meet her for the first time lying in Eric's loving, strong arms. Eden hopped right in to meet her and was adorable and amazed!

 

We did it!

Though Jemma's birth was a surprise breech she and I are living proof that breech birth is another version of normal! That a natural breech birth is safe and possible in the appropriate situation! I am truly glad and blessed that I have had the pleasure of birthing our sweet little girl breech. Thank you to everyone who loved and supported us through our pregnancy, labor and birth journey! And especially thank you to my wonderful husband who always believed in us and my midwives who helped us make it happen! 

Welcome Jemma Alyssum

born August 16, 2012

7 lbs 6 oz 

22 in long

at 11:24 am at home!

 

For a photo montage of the whole birth! 

http://www.youtube.com/user/WiseWomenCare/feed?filter=2

It's a GIRL!

On April 2, 2012 Eric, Eden my Mom and I sat in the waiting room with the last minute decision to find out our second baby's gender! I have not been that anxious in I don't know how long! I truly thought that we would stick with the decision to wait until the birth! But Eric caved and we were convinced, not that it took much! She was breech, (not an issue this early on) and very curled up with her feet up by her face! We had a very thorough ultrasound with at least 15 minutes of it recorded. Eden insisted in nursing during the ultrasound and soon our sweet baby's face appeared on the screen! At the very end she decided to open her little legs and reveal that she was a little girl! We are so excited and happy to have a little sister for Eden. I can't wait to see the joy and happiness she brings to our family, like the sister before her does daily! The other Dr., the head of the place, came in and looked for a bit and also said she was a girl so I am pretty certain with two opinions that she is a little lady!
19 weeks along, ultrasound estimated 18 wks 3 days, approx. weight of 9 ounces, normal sized head, good size belly!
I dropped Daddy off at work. Then went by Baby Gap and felt a little Euphoric while browsing the adorable baby clothes for girls! We went to lunch with Gammy, Jo, Chase and Adalyn at El Arrio. (sp?!)

Later that week...

April 6, 2012
We had our next prenatal on this day and shared the news of our sweet little girl. I have successfully gained 10 lbs by 20 weeks, quite a feet considering how much I have to consume to gain weight, be healthy and continue to make breast milk for Eden. I have never been so proud to have gained 10 lbs in my life! The baby's heart rate was good and strong and in between 140-150 bpm. The baby kicked the doppler and someone else noticed how active she is. I measure 21 cm. A great check up. Eden also heard her "baby" with the doppler!

The next couple days were also great with my birthday Saturday and Easter on Sunday. So much good food and wonderful time spent with family and friends. I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones. Eden found her Easter basket with great enthusiasm and also found 17 eggs of approximately 40 with three kids hunting! Everything was wonderful despite our colds!

March 25, 2012

Well hello there again. It has been quite awhile since my last post!
Updates in the Stapp house hold are as follows; Eden turned two and is a genius, and is also potty trained and loving her weekly activity of gymnastics. She is also looking forward to becoming a big sister this August 28! And she has started a gluten and dairy free diet at the begging of this month which seem to have fixed her potty issues instantly.
Eric is still working hard at Costco and helping me maintain our house hold. This weekend we remodeled the utility room and spring cleaned about as much as we could. Still we have lots to do before our next sweet baby arrives! Eric and I have also started a huge, varied spring garden and are looking forward to the produce! We are also getting ready to start stuff for the summer garden as well. Aside from our huge gardening project we will be preparing our selves, our family and our house for our home birth.
I have my birthday, 20 week ultrasound and next prenatal all coming up in the next two weeks so we have much to look forward to. I will be 18 weeks along tomorrow and can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going.

18 months

It seems like a blink on an eye, the last 6 months flew right on by. We traveled to Germany, Austria and France. We created a yard for Eden, and we got more chickens. We decided we would welcome another pregnancy when the time is right for my body. We rearranged our way of handling finances and have made new friends. But best of all we have watched Eden grow. 18 months old today and she has pushed that 4th molar right on through. Eden understands that when I count to 3, 2 comes after 1 and that if she says two she can have not one but two dolls as she often requests. She has been swimming in pools, playing at parks and climbing everything imaginable. She talks in sentences such as the following, "I need it, I need that doll, oh no, go, go!" We have lost count of the words she can say. And I swear she got up from nap and grew, she was taller than when I had put her down. She loves music and dancing and I showed her, her first movie Happy Feet which she liked a lot. She loves to dig in my hope chest where she found many of my girlhood treasures that she now treasures like the magic attic dolls, a Madeline doll, princess crowns and a jewelry box with a dancing ballerina! Eden is a dream come true and her laughter is like food for my soul. Never forget how much I love you baby girl! Now off to make you some homemade popsicles <3

New Year Resolutions...

This seems overdue and yet it is still January and I feel these resolutions already slipping out of view! Let this be my reminder and here we go 2011! Happy New Year!
*We will put God at the center of our lives creating a safe haven, filled with positive speech and actions. We will pray together, tithe more regularly and have devotionals...
*We will improve our health by making healthy food and environment choices. We will spend more time outdoors, being active in nature and the garden!
*We will make good financial decisions and get a better hold on our finaces and investments.
*We will do things together creating a healthy happy family and model the life behaviors that we wish to teach our child!
*We will organize and improve our home one room at a time and the yard!
*We will take care of all health issues and get into the best health and shape we can to prepare us for another baby!

Joy in my world

On a positive note, regardless of the drama that seems to be ever present in my life, Eden ever brings me joy! Yesterday she told me thank you when I handed her a piece of sweet potato! And the day before that she said Dada and I told her that he was working. I then asked her where her Dada was and she responded workin, I said "he is workin?" And she said "jyeah"! She is so smart I am blown away!
She also had an appt. and weighs 24.4 lbs and is 29 in long! She added cute and pretty to her huge vocabulary and you can now see all four of her first teeth. I thank God I was able to interpret what he had planned for me. Having Eden was urged by God and each day I am reminded of why he urged me.

Lessons learned...

The last week has found me in various situations where I have been honest to a fault, relieved, offended, worried, saddened and downright unsure of what to do or say. I never knew I would learn so much out of college. This being said I am sure of these things; one has to stand up for what they believe in if they want to be able to look at themselves in the mirror when the day is done, the right thing to do isn’t always the easiest, people often can’t handle the truth so sometimes it is better left unsaid.
All things considered if one can be honest to a fault can one also be too right or faithful or educated? I would say yes…
Telling the truth doesn’t always set you free.
Knowing the right thing to do doesn’t mean people will do it.
Having too much faith in another person always leads to disappointment. I have learned you can only trust the God that is in people.
You can’t rely on others to be happy; it is something you must find within yourself.
It is better to have no company than bad company.
No one person will ever think entirely the way you do. But another person may feel they are the only one who feels that way, just like you.
Telling people the way I feel this week and being honest with them was a huge relief to finally let it all out. I don’t have to pretend nothing is wrong or act as if I am okay with things that I am entirely not. But I also learned that I need to correct and express myself out of love rather than with the “fist.” I should wait to tell people things when I am no longer angry, if I should tell them at all. Though being honest seemed like it was the best thing to do at one point, it relieved me of some anxieties but it hurt others, pushed them away and in one case mended a relationship.
I guess the true challenge here is deciding what is worth being honest about. If it affects your daily life in a negative way and slices through your own set of established morals like a knife, I think it is. I can only treat others the way I want to be treated and hope they will do the same. Family is family and should be treated so. But one must stand for what they believe or they will fall for anything.