Home Birth/ Cattle trough Success!!

Baby MK

On July 6th, 2017 I gave birth to our 4th beautiful little girl, at home in my kitchen in a Cattle water trough, with 3 wonderful midwives from Talbot Creek Midwives in Kilworth Ontario, Canada and my hubby and sister in law present to be a part of this special day.  

They were amazing and so supportive and I felt so safe, and even in those last moments, where you feel like you can't do this, they were right there for me.  I wish I could say that is was an easy delivery but I have had back labour for all of my labours, and there is no relief from that, no matter what position I was in.  However I will say that the solid sided cattle trough worked amazing to give my body the support it needed, and not depend on someone physically to hold me up.  The sides were strong enough, and I felt no fear in leaning on my trough for support.   I wanted to recap our Home Birth story.   We were so thrilled that we were accepted by Talbot Creek midwives 7 months ago.  I had tried all my other pregnancies to get into the program and was unsuccessful.  I was thrilled to be under their Care.  I was also thrilled at the opportunity to be at home, with my very fast and intense labours, being home and not having to travel to the Hospital 45 mins away, was a big deal for me.  It meant a lot less stress in travelling while in labour. If you have ever had the fun opportunity to drive to a hospital in a state of panic because the labour was getting so intense, you will know what I mean by cutting that stress out, is a huge deal. 

20 mins Old

On July 6th at 4:51 am, I had my first BIG contraction, it woke me up, but the next one was like 15 minutes later, so I didn't bother waking up my  hubby.  Over the course of that hour the contractions, when from 15 mins, to 10 mins, to 7 mins apart.  At 6 am Miss Emi-lou came into our room and had crawled into bed with us.  The contractions were still at 7 mins apart.  In the next 45 mins the contractions went from 7 mins to 2 mins apart.  We started to make plans for the kids, and got that ball rolling,  I had my list of stuff that I wanted to get done, change the sheets and cover them with protective  shower curtain and Absorbent pads.  My hubby called our midwife and she was on her morning walk, 20 mins from her car, well, she made it to her car, and headed to our birth.  

Then there were 6

Tall skinny glass of water

On her way to our birth, she probably was going a little fast, because she knew that I go very quickly, any way, She was pulled over by our finest, on the worst possible morning to be pulled over.  However, she opened her windows and said to the police officer, that she needed to attend a birth, and she needed to get going as soon as possible.   He came to the window and looked at her, and said you are the Midwife that delivered my baby last year...lets just say she got a warning, and was sent on her way.  She arrived 20 mins later then she said she was going to be there. But lucky for her baby was just enjoying the last few minutes with mommy.   She arrived just after 7:30am.  My hubby and sister in law had filled our birthing trough, with warm water, and I got in just before the midwife arrived.  I was listening to a mediation, and breathing exercises when she arrived, and I ended up taking off my head phones because I couldn't hear anything any one was saying to me.  But soon after the midwife arrived, my contractions really settled in my back, and the urge to use the bathroom was getting unbearable. I knew not to get out of the trough though, because it was not that I needed to go the bathroom, but Baby was moving down, and putting pressure on my pelvic floor.  Each contraction was about 2 mins apart, and SO intense, they were not really long about 45 seconds, but they were so intense.  The midwife said I was just feeling them at the peaks because of it being in my back.  I moved around a lot in the tub, trying to take that pressure off my back during a contraction. NOTHING HELPED!  So they started to put pressure on my butt cheeks during a contraction, it certainly helped to take the edge off.   When I started to feel that constant back pain, I knew I was getting so close, I felt this urge to lean forward, but one complication was that my waters had not gone yet, so I could not stay in that position because the midwives could not see what was going on and the waters need to be broken before birthing baby.  So I found my self in a squatting position in the trough, and upright as I could get myself, when I did that, the pain in my back lessened and I could focus on getting her out.   The one thing I had always feared when pushing a baby out was the RING OF FIRE!!   Let me tell you, it was still painful, but half of any of my other deliveries.  Water was amazing...I LOVED being able to be in the water, during a contraction, I couldn't help but drop down into the water. 

Skin to Skin time in my own bed, just minutes after having our beautiful little girl!

  My water broke, just before she was born.  It was then that the midwife realized that the baby had the cord wrapped around her neck, she popped it over the baby's head, and she was very rapidly born after that.  I think I was in shock that all that fear and anxiety was over, as fast as it was.  From first official active labour contraction to the time she was born was 3 hours.  Being at home in my own space was amazing. I had warm(from the dryer) fuzzy bath sheets ready for me when I got out of the tub. The midwives were ready if baby was struggling they had the same drugs available should i have a major bleed. I did not this time, which was a big relief, as this occurred my last birth resulting in a blood transfusion and a long recovery.  I was made and given breakfast with in minutes. I had advil and tylenol for after contractions while I was still in the tub. They were professional yet so personable, kind and they stayed as long as I needed them.  Our Baby MK was born at 9:12 am, and we ( hubby, I and new baby) were alone by 12:40pm.  We truly enjoyed our experience with the midwives and our home experience, We have just a couple more appointments, that they come to my house, instead of me hauling all my kids out the door days after having our baby.  Being at home allowed me my own privacy in the bathroom, night times were not interrupted by the presence of nurses, or over hearing conversations, I wish that I was not hearing about myself in the staff room right next to my room.  I would have done this for all of my babies if I could have, however I am glad that my last pregnancy and delivery that I got to have the experience that I had hoped for.  However in saying that, there is a place and time for the Hospital as well; With my last delivery I was glad I was in the hospital and able to receive the blood products and care I needed at that time for post partum bleeding.  I would hands down do midwives and a home birth again if I was planning on it. But I am not planning on doing this again.  I have my 4 beautiful little girls. I am so blessed, and I will treasure this amazing experience, and I will close the door on infertility in my life, and know that from where we came from to where we are now is nothing less a miracle.  I would say, This Home Birth in a Cattle trough, was a success!!  Welcome to the World my little peanut!!  Baby GIRL MK born July 6th, at 9:12 am weighing in at 8 lbs 5 oz and 21 inches long!! 

God's Blessings!!

Mommy AK