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I sat in the bathroom anticipating the positive test result. I knew I felt different. As my husband and family sat patiently outside the door, we soon found out we were expecting our first baby! We were so excited and preparing mentally for the gift that was given to us.
We decided we wanted to have a home birth because it was something that I grew up with, and was involved in at a very young age. At age 16 I witnessed the beautiful home birth of my cousin CJ. Observing the comfort delivering your baby at home gives you, and the beauty of the experience, I knew it was something I wanted for myself. What made it even more special was that my midwives were the same midwives my aunt used. How amazing is it to have the same midwives take care of generations of our family?! I had a great pregnancy with Savannah and as her due date approached we were getting more and more excited. It was the holidays and being in your third trimester during the holidays was a lot of fun, and I will never forget how festive and exciting that was.
My due date was December 23rd and I was 11 days past due. My midwives suggested an ultrasound to check my fluids. Everything looked great and healthy so we waited a little more. Little did I know labor was approaching very soon. My midwives were so patient with the baby and me. My baby and I were in perfect health, which allowed us to deliver at home and continue on this process.
It was 4:00 am on New Year’s Day and contractions woke me up out of bed, but I really didn’t know if they were the real thing. I was so excited and a little in denial that it was really happening. I woke Chris up and told him I thought labor had started and that we needed to get up and get motivated! We got breakfast going and started setting everything up. We blew up the birthing tub and straightened up the house. Little did I know I should have kept resting like everyone told me. It was going to be a very long day! But who in their right mind could rest with this excitement!????
Because it was New Year’s Day everything was closed but the grocery store and a few other places. So Chris and I went to the store to buy some food for labor and some cake mix to make for Savannah’s birthday! We also went into TJ Max and walked around. I wanted to get a cute shirt to labor in. (HAHA) Oh, the things we imagine! Little did I know I would be in the buff the whole time and HOT!!! No clothes for me!
I remember the contractions getting stronger (or what I thought was strong because I had nothing to compare them to). I called my mom when I got home to tell her that this was really it, and things were happening today. She was thrilled and a little in denial herself. She started getting ready to come over and be with me. I was relaxing the whole day and cooking eggplant parmesan, along with a birthday cake. I remember my mom coming in the door, earlier I was telling her how intense the contractions were getting, and once she saw me she knew I had a lot of time. My mom also had natural vaginal births with my sisters and me. She had experienced the intensity of birth four times, lol.
I labored throughout the day and at 5:00 pm we decided to call the midwives to tell them what was going on. The contractions were lasting a minute and about 3 to 4 minutes apart. The midwives came over and I was laboring in bed. Chris was busy filling up the tub and getting things ready. My mom was talking with the midwives and we decided to have them check me. I was only at 3 cm dilation. I remember how discouraging this was because I was starting to get tired from being up all day. At about 7:00 pm the contractions started getting a little stronger. I remember getting really nervous and a little teary eyed because they were getting to the point where they hurt, and I needed to really concentrate. My husband was right there with me and made me feel like I could do anything. He kept encouraging me and giving me the strength to keep going. From that point on everything gets blurry. Once I got into transition I labored in the birthing pool. This was something that helped me tremendously. The warmth of the water was so soothing and took the edge off. I will never forget these moments in the tub. These moments were so raw and will be forever imbedded in my head. While laboring in the tub I would hold onto the sides and rock back and forth moving/humming through each contraction. I remember thinking to myself “Krystal stay calm and keep it together”, I could now understand every commercial, movie, or mother explaining how these moments felt. I remember praying to God to give me strength and to help me get through these moments. I could easily see how I could have lost it at any moment. My midwives had asked my mom to go in the other room because they could see that when I would look at her I would give her the “daughter wants to be saved by her mom” look. I remember thinking where in the world is my mom???!!!
The midwives kept checking the heartbeat under water and Savannah’s heart rate would decrease depending on the position I would lay. So I would switch positions and she would recover right away, which assured the midwives that everything was ok and we could continue laboring at home. Alice, my midwife, checked me and I was dilated to 8 cm and that’s when my water broke. That was such a relieving feeling. They decided to have me push in different positions to get things going. I remember pushing on the toilet and how uncomfortable that was. That really progressed things and I later was on the bed because of how exhausted I was.
It was midnight and my mom and husband each held one leg while I pushed. With every push I yelled because I didn’t have the energy to push any other way. I remember finally understanding how to push. You feel like you are trying to push the biggest poop out of your butt and your whole bottom seems like it’s going to explode!! I pushed for two hours with Savannah. When I got her head out, the midwives were expecting the cord to be wrapped around her neck because of the heart rate decreasing in certain positions. I remember Alice looking at me saying, “Krystal this next push you need to get your baby out.” With the next push Savannah came flying out and was crying healthy as ever. It was music to my ears. My mom, Chris and I were so emotional seeing our baby for the first time. The pregnancy and labor was so worth it. The midwives soon yelled out it’s a girl! Although we thought for sure it was a boy, we were overjoyed to see our baby girl. It was so amazing holding my baby in my arms. Savannah was absolutely beautiful and I remember looking at her in awe knowing we made her and I gave birth to her. It’s truly a miracle!
That night in Santa Barbara, California we had some unexpected thunder and lightning! If anyone is familiar with the weather of Southern California, you know that was not normal! We would expect nothing less from our Sassy Savannah, but to come into this world on a stormy night, ready to take on the world. She is amazingly driven, sweet, smart, funny and full of life! Savannah has taught me so much about life. I have learned to be selfless with her, she has taught me patience and most of all what pure unconditional love is all about.
Me and my husband were going through a major life shift when Savannah was born and I have to say that she was our guardian angel and most precious gift. We love you so much Savannah Grace. You make mom and dad so very proud!! XO
I want to thank my Santa Barbara Midwives team, these ladies are a pure gift to women. You gave me the biggest gift of all and I am forever grateful!
I also want to thank my husband Chris for being my rock during pregnancy and labor! What a gift he is. I want to thank my mom for being there for me in one of the most sacred times in my life. You have and always will be my person.
Lastly, I want to thank my aunt Anne for allowing me to witness the beautiful home birth of my cousin CJ. You gave me the confidence and inner peace, knowing that every woman is capable of such a thing. I love you!
