With my last four pregnancies, I had been induced. Over time, I started to question whether my body even knew how to go into labor on its own. I longed to experience that moment, the surprise of realizing, this is it, baby is coming.
Two of my children have May birthdays, and I really hoped to make it to June this time, just to give them a little space. So when June 1st arrived, I felt ready. I welcomed the idea of baby coming whenever they chose.
That day, I pulled up a YouTube video with labor-inducing exercises, not to force anything, but just to help baby get into a good position. Afterward, I settled into my recliner and fell asleep for a nap.
About an hour later, I woke up with some cramping. At first, I tried to ignore it, unsure if it was anything meaningful. But soon, I had to get up and move. The sensations quickly picked up in both intensity and frequency.
I texted my partner, letting him know I was having contractions, but I still wasn’t convinced it was real labor, it could have just been Braxton Hicks. I called New Birth and spoke with Krys, explaining the same uncertainty. She advised me to keep them posted and check back in within an hour.
I called my partner, and while we were on the phone, I had several contractions in a row. That was enough for him, he quickly called my mom to come get me and bring me to the birth center while he rushed to meet us there.
I reached out to my doula, who happened to be getting an oil change at the time. She immediately arranged for her backup to meet me at the birth center.
Then Krys called me back. After reviewing my chart and seeing my history of precipitous births, she told me to come in right away.
While waiting for my mom, I tried to eat a quick bowl of ravioli, but the contractions were too close together to manage more than a few bites. When my mom arrived, we left right away, but in the rush, she accidentally took the wrong route, and we ended up stuck on 169 through construction. It felt like it took forever.
When we finally arrived, Krys brought me back to the Haven room. I told her again that I still wasn’t sure if this was truly labor. She calmly reassured me, “This is definitely the real thing,” and began placing the IV I had requested.
The tub was already filling. Shortly after, Travis arrived, and my mom headed off to pick up the kids from daycare. One of the students showed Travis how to apply counterpressure, and he supported me while I leaned over the bed, waiting for the tub.
Still in a bit of disbelief, I asked for a cervical check. Within moments, we had our answer, I was already 6 centimeters dilated.
I tried sitting on the birth ball, but my body immediately rejected the position. Instead, I got into the tub and felt instant relief.
Travis stepped out briefly to arrange care for our dogs, but just as quickly, Hannah went to get him, things were moving fast.
The urge to push came on suddenly and powerfully. Travis rushed back in, and I took a deep breath and followed my body. With one strong push, I felt him moving quickly, like he was almost torpedoing out.
In that moment, everything happened at once. He came into the water, and I reached down between my legs as the team guided him up to my chest. His cord was short and wrapped, but they handled it swiftly and calmly.
He cried immediately.
And I felt an overwhelming wave of relief and pride, I had done it. My body had done it. I had my dream birth, completely on my own, with my last baby.
We moved out of the tub, as planned, for hemorrhage management and to deliver the placenta. My doula arrived shortly after.
From the very first contraction to the moment he was in my arms, it had only been three hours. No complications. No tearing. Just an incredible, powerful experience.
The most perfect final chapter to complete our family.