Dylan’s Birth Story

Final Pregnancy Picture

March 27, 2018. It was 1 in the morning. I called my midwife. I had been having an hour of consistent contractions, 5 minutes apart. “ Well Samantha it sounds like you can still comfortably talk to me, I suggest trying to lay down and rest or get some more sleep.” Not the words you want to hear when you're anxious to have your baby who is now 8 days overdue. But she was right. I laid down, closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind. Next thing I knew I woke up in the morning, my contractions gone.

I was disappointed and frustrated. I was left questioning what the hell my body was doing and can I not trust my intuition? I was so confident that I was in the making of true labour. Nope just practice contractions. I called my midwife, to inquire what she thought was going on or what to do next. She suggested I come in and she could check my cervix and offered me a sweep if I was interested. I went in to see her that afternoon. She could see how distraught and confused I was. In my first two pregnancies this was not something I had experienced before. When my contractions started they did not slow or stop. My midwife stated again, as she did a few times throughout this pregnancy. Third babies can be tricky. My midwife offered a cervical check, which I agreed to. At 8 days overdue I was tired of waiting, my body and mind tired of being pregnant. Where were we at? I needed to know. I was still not dilated. She helped to encourage my cervix downwards, but a sweep was not possible. She asked if I had tried some natural induction methods. Of course I had tried all of them already. Well all except one. Castor oil. Right after I left my appointment I went and picked up a bottle of castor oil. Went home, poured myself a shot of it and gagged it down. It was like drinking the cheapest, nastiest shot of tequila that also had gone bad. Now why I didn’t mix it in a smoothie or at least with some juice. I have no idea…apparently I wanted to punish myself. Maybe at the time I thought the more concentrated, the more potent and effective it would be? It was awful, I don’t suggest that anyone drink it that way. I then went and laid down and decided to try and nap. When I woke up, to my delight, my contractions were back. Very gentle but they had returned, Yay!

I am not entirely sure what Mike and I did for the next few hours. Likely made the kids dinner and went on about our regular evening routine. After the kids were in bed we made sure I had everything packed for the Birth Centre. Let my mom know that my contractions started again. We let Caroline know we would likely need her that evening to be with the kiddos and pets. While we welcomed our third and final Smallj into the world.

Now let’s rewind back a bit into my pregnancy. Yes I was finally getting the chance to go to the birth centre. I called intake and was pretty immediately called back, that yes my same midwife would take me on again. Phew, a midwife again thank goodness, and this time I was determined to birth anywhere but the hospital. Be it at home or in my car for that matter. In order to have your baby at the birth centre, there are certain criteria that you must reach to ensure a safe and optimal birth centre birth. You must be considered a low risk birth. You cannot be expecting multiples, your baby can not be breech, low risk health concerns for birther and your baby. Getting close to our due date things were looking good. Measurements on track and our baby was head down. No health concerns with our baby. I encountered one small hiccup. My iron was very very low, I was anemic in my third pregnancy. This explained my episodes of dizziness and shortness of breath. My midwife explained to me that I would have to increase my iron levels in order to be able to go to the birth centre. With low iron, there is more of a concern with hemorrhaging. I tried everything in my power to accomplish this. First I increased iron rich foods in my diet and drank some iron rich juice. Unfortunately that did not make a significant difference. Iron pills were suggested but I wanted to avoid them. With Billie’s pregnancy it was suggested I take it, it actually increased my nausea substantially. Week after week of blood tests and not seeing enough of an increase was upsetting. I then resorted to liquid iron. Which if you haven’t taken before, it’s pretty awful too. It tastes like you’re practically drinking blood. It is the same in flavour, consistency and colour. Woohoo. After taking that for about a week or so, the midwife did my weekly blood test and finally my iron had reached a high enough level to allow for a safe birth centre birth. I was relieved and thrilled.

Back to birth event. The kids were both asleep. Mike and I watched tv to try and take our minds off the fact that our baby was going to arrive soon. We would soon be a family of 5! Relaxing was the only option because sleeping was not going to happen. I called the midwife around midnight to let them know my contractions were again, about 5 minutes apart, lasting an hour or so. We were going to try and stay home for another hour or two. Once I knew that these contractions were the real deal we called Caroline. The contractions I was feeling at this point were much like ones I remembered with the previous two births. We again called the midwife to make sure that someone would be at the birth centre before we arrived. Mike and I drove to the birth centre and my mom met us there. When we arrived around 2 am I could tell my contractions weren’t as close or strong. I felt anxious, thinking my body better not pull this on me again. The midwife checked my cervix and determined I was 8 cm, to my surprise. Thank goodness, this was in fact the real deal. I walked the hallways of the empty birthing centre for a few hours. There was no way this baby was getting cozy again, except for in my arms next. Mike and my mom took turns walking with me. When I would experience a contraction I would brace myself on a bar that lined the hallways, they were very useful.

The birth room was huge and serene. Dim lighting, a massive tub, private bathroom with a shower and queen sized birthing bed. So many amenities to facilitate the birth process. Every birth place should have these tools and comforts but unfortunately does not. Ladders on the walls, hanging devices from ceilings to support your body both above the bed and bath. Matts to place on the floor if needed. Shower, bathtub and birthing balls all to utilize and provide comfort. It was a dream. We had the entire building to ourselves too, that was amazing. Although, bittersweet. I was happy to have the privacy but also sad to think how many people don’t get a chance to use this service due to our small number of midwives and the vast number of people who are simply unaware of this birthing option.

I used the ladder through some of my contractions. I used the toilet for upright support again. Close to 4 in the morning my midwife asked me if I wanted to try the bath. Believe it or not, I wasn't sure using the bath was something I wanted, but I thought to myself this could be the last baby you have, at least try it! At some point because I knew I was fully dilated I asked the midwife to break my water. She struggled and had to have someone help her. She advised me I had a very healthy amniotic sac. She also warned if there was meconium or anything else concerning we would have to head to the hospital for precautionary reasons. I was confident it would be fine and just so ready to meet my baby at this point. Once they broke my water, it was clear with no other concerns. I then got in the tub, the water was not too warm or too cold. It was perfect. I did not feel like I was in the bath for very long, maybe an hour or two. Turns out I was in there for 3-3.5 hours. My experience with the bath was mixed. I disliked the fact I could not grip or grasp onto something in a comfortable way for myself. They had a sling I could use to hang on, I tried it and hated it. So gripping mike or my moms hand or the edge of the tub was all I had. After a few hours, I was getting close or moving through transition as I started to feel out of control and was about to get out of the tub. Then the bare down feeling came, there was going to be no moving. I think I pushed for maybe 20 minutes. Along with my contractions, listening to my body, but this time it came swiftly. Next thing I knew I lifted my right leg in a semi squat and out ejected our baby Dylan Anne Delilah. I only felt it, I did not see her come out or see the midwife bring her up to me. I either had my eyes closed or completely dazed out. I cannot recall. But wow that water really did help me to cope with my contractions and my pushing. I was astonished how smoothly and quickly she arrived.

Once I laid back in the tub they placed her on my chest and laid a blanket over her to keep her warm. She seemed so tiny in comparison to my other two babies. I stayed in the tub while I birthed my placenta, after that I was ready to get out and dry off. The midwife assessed my blood loss. I felt great, there were no concerns for myself or baby Dylan. I crawled up onto the bed where the midwife checked me. I only had abrasions and required no stitches. Another relief. Mike and I snuggled our new baby in the queen size bed together. Nanny got to meet her third and final Smallj grandbaby. We initiated Dylan’s first latch at the birth centre. Once she was done with her first feed, the midwife weighed her, 8 pounds 8 ounces. They took a foot print of hers and put it on a certificate with all the details of her birth. Dylan Anne Delilah was born 7:24 am on March.29th. She was the smallest of all the J’s. While the midwife was checking on Dylan, the birth attendant offered me tea and toast, and of course my answer was hell yeah. I felt like a queen being waited on. It was so lovely. Then approximately 2 hours later we loaded up our baby Dyl and headed home for her to meet the rest of her family. Of course she couldn’t come home empty handed. She brought her siblings a movie, Baby Boss along with some candies. Billie was so excited to hold her baby sister for the first time. Jude could care less about her existence and just wanted the candy.

I am so thankful that my body created and allowed me the journey of low risk births. I am grateful because I was able to experience many various options, from location to comfort measures etc. I am proud that I trusted my intuition and was also open to suggestions, like a water birth even though I had thought it maybe wasn’t for me. I am so happy that I was allowed to choose my support team and had no constraints and that I felt supported in my choices. I am proud that I did not utilize any interventions (even though tempting at times, especially during Jude’s birth). I believe it greatly contributed to my positive birth experiences. The natural unfolding of my births, witnessing my hormones and the strength of my body. The burst of love and connection I felt with all my babies.

The care that I received from my midwives, Mike and Mom in combination with the calm environment of the birth centre, worked together to create my least stressful and fastest birth. I can not speak enough about the quality and personalized care the midwives offered me. There is absolutely no comparison. These memories I hold dear. My heart and my mind are at ease with closing my own birth chapters now. They do say, third time’s a charm.

First Snuggle with Mom & Dad

First Time Meeting Billie

Proud Sis, Tired Mom, Jude Taking Care of Mommy.