Jacinda's Hypnobabies Birth Story
Daeja Lucia Paschoal-Thiem was born at home on Friday, July 11th at 12:07 pm with the help of two wonderful midwives and one incredible husband. Daeja was 7 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long.
We are all adjusting to being a new family. Daeja is doing her part by eating well and gaining weight. Derek is off for the summer (until almost the end of August) and has been so great to have around. I love seeing him with Daeja - it makes my heart melt.
As for the birth - it was an adventure (as I imagine all birth is). My water broke in the evening around 6:30pm on Thursday and I had mild contractions through the evening. I ate dinner, took a shower and then rested in bed. Around 11 pm or so contractions began getting more regular - I was still in bed. I listened to the early stages of labor Hypnobabies cd until around 2am. I was able to relax through early labor and even entered a light hypnosis for about 40 minutes. I think the cd helped relax me a lot. My contractions were getting more intense and we called out midwife and asked her to come.
She arrived around 2:30 and contractions intensified. I listened to the cd on the player as I continued with contractions. I soon, around 4 maybe, entered our portable birth pool. It was so wonderful to get into the water. The cd continued to play in the background. I soon finished transition and was moving into pushing. I had the mid wife change the cd to the pushing cd. I started to get too warm in the pool so we slowly moved out of the pool to the shower and bedroom. I then had + 4 hours of pushing - my cervical lip was not pulling away but with the help of the midwives I was able to get over Daeja over the lip. I was getting very tired and weak at this point and was offered an IV. I was happy to have it as I knew I would not be able to re-hydrate/nourish myself enough (despite drinking fluids and eating a little). With the extra energy from the IV and encouragement from Derek and the midwives I was able to push Daeja out. Feeling her crown and letting her head come out on it's own (without pushing it out) is a sensation burned into me forever. It was so incredibly intense and amazing. Daeja was born as I squatted in our bedroom, with Derek supporting me on one side (pre-natal yoga came in handy!). I was so exhausted that I immediately rested on the bed in relief. It was an experience like none I've ever had.