Quick, Easy Home Delivery

By Rachel

Well, Collin Andrew came at a totally unexpected time! We weren't ready for his arrival, even though July 19 was the due date. And this being our first pregnancy, we didn't know whether to expect him early or late.

On June 17 we went to a lake house about an hour and a half from here for our last vacation before the baby. We had a very active time, jet skiing and swimming and hiking from the lake to the house frequently. I even got on the jet ski with my husband for a turn around the lake (slowly!).

On the 19th, I called the midwife and we talked because I had seen what might have been the mucous plug and some mucous leaking slowly. But since nothing was going on, she just said, Well, let me know if anything changes.

So we continued our vacation. On the 20, the day we were heading home, I called and asked why I was continually wet, and she said that it might not have been my water breaking, but just some seepage, and that we would talk the next day.

After cleaning the house and putting away all our lake toys, we got in the car and drove home. Halfway there, my husband was tired, so I drove the rest of the way.

Around 10 p.m. that night, I had a smallish contraction that caused some water to gush and we called the midwife again. She said to get in bed, get some sleep, call if anything changes and we'd talk in the morning.

So after two hours of small but far-between contractions, they suddenly got closer together and harder! My husband called the midwife again (12:30 a.m.), who this time said she would get there as soon as she could, but she was about an hour away, and to just relax and try to get some sleep.

Since we didn't have all our birth supplies yet, we called my parents, asking them to go to Wal-Mart and pick up a few things.

Suddenly at 1:10 a.m., with only my husband there, I started pushing. The best position for me was on the floor leaning on a birthing ball with him by my side. It was amazing the difference it made in lessening the pain and pressure!

At 1:30 a.m. the midwife's assistant showed up and said to breathe through the urges to push. My parents arrived just after that, and I got in bed to try to stop pushing.

At 1:40 a.m. the midwife got there and checked me to see where I was and said, Oh my goodness, there's the head! Push, push! So, at 1:46 a.m., June 21, Collin Andrew was born exactly 4 weeks early, at 6 pounds, 11 ounces! He was in perfect health, no problems there!

Wow, a total of three and a half hours of labor! We figure it must have been the jet skiing! I think I'll do that with every pregnancy!

It was all just such a shock, especially for my husband I think. During the whole labor, he couldn't believe it was real and happening.

We are just very thankful that we came home from the lake when we did and that the midwife got there when she did. My greatest fear was that no one other than my husband would be there when the baby actually started coming!

I had no tearing, a very easy recovery and believe this was helped by using the ball. I would recommend it to anyone! It was great! We had a wonderful home birth and are looking forward to having our next one at home too!