Evelyn Rubin was born on June 22nd (my late Grandfather Sam’s birthday) at 4:45 pm.  I was 41 weeks and 1 day pregnant and had been having contractions on and off for about 2 weeks, so I was definitely anxious to have her.  The day before her birth, I had contractions from about 1pm through at least 9pm.  I called Jason to come home early from work, and spent the evening walking the neighborhood in an effort to get things going.  When the contractions slowed at bedtime, I decided to take advantage and get some sleep.

I woke up around 8 am on the 22nd when the contractions were too hard to deal with in bed.  Jason was about as amazing as he could be taking care of the kids and setting up a “mama’s den” in our bedroom.  I came out of the shower to find a candle burning, music playing, and the lights dimmed.  That and Netflix on the computer for a distraction.  I spent time with the kids, but loved being able to retreat to our room.  I was actually so comfortable at home with my family, that I was still unsure if I was really in labor.  Christa, our doula, came over around 10:30 am when my contractions were about 2-3 minuts apart.  She reassured me that I was indeed in labor and then proceeded to help me get down to the business of birthing my girl.  She was amazing in helping me stay calm and in using different positions during contractions to help move things along.

Better than we could have planned it, Cathy and Mike (Jason’s mom and step-dad) arrived from Georgia about 30 minutes before we decided to head to the hospital.  The kids loved seeing them and it was a relief to know they would be taken care of while we were gone.

I was 3 1/2 cm when we got to the hospital.  We turned the lights down low, put on some quiet music, and continued using different positions to help progress the labor.  Although I had to have IV access, I didn’t have to be connected to an IV.  Also, with portable fetal monitoring devices, I was able to move around the room freely and untethered.  This allowed for me to use comfortable positions like “slow dancing” with Jason and sitting on a yoga ball.  My midwife, Jenny Allen, and my nurse were the only hospital staff I saw throughout my labor and birth.  Neither woman ever questioned my ability to labor naturally or made suggestion to doing it any other way.  They seemed completely confident in me.

My water broke when I was about 6 cm.  I was a little concerned when we realized it had meconium in it, because of the risk she could inhale some once she was born.  Thankfully, no one else in the room showed any concern and all were very reassuring that my baby would be fine.  They hooked me up to some sort of “uterus flush” (my words) to help reduce Evelyn’s risk.

By 8 cm, I was in “the zone” and having a harder time getting through contractions.  Not having amniotic fluid as a cushion and not being able to move as much made them a lot more intense.  My midwife thought it would be good to get in the jacuzzi tub at this point.  The warm water and jets were calming and helped ease the contractions a bit, although they were still pretty unbearable.  I think the tub also provided the right amount “relaxing” my body needed to open up that final 2 cm.  After about 30 minutes in the water, I started begging for drugs.  I can vividly remember looking at Jason with a feeling that I would not be able to handle another minute of these contractions.  By this time, I was also having the urge to push.

When my midwife came in, she got me back to the bed, checked me, and announced that I would not be getting drugs because I was about to have my baby.  Evelyn was in a rush by this point and came out with just a few pushes.  She was put right on my chest and was able to stay there until we were ready for them to clean her up, which was so wonderful.  I was in such shock from how quickly she came out that it took me a minute to realize what was going on.  It was also hard to transition from being 100 % consumed with my body and my pain to realizing that she was born and I was done.  I think Jason was excited enough for the 2 of us, though, and I soon caught on.

Overall, this was by far my best birth experience.  The midwife, doula, and nurse – and of course Jason – remained calm and confident in me throughout the entire experience.  Having Christa there was better than I could have ever imagined.  Besides the benefit of an extra pair of hands and calming voice when Jason needed to step out of the room, she knew at every step what to suggest or how to help us get through any challenge.

Jason and I were so much more connected during this birth than in any other.  Although he has been by my side for all 4 births, he has never played such an active role as he did with Evelyn.  He wrote on his Facebook post that his calming words were my only drug.  This is so true.  He was by my side from the time we arrived in the hospital until he escorted our beautiful girl to her first bath and weigh in.  Jason was also my physical support, letting me lean on him or squeeze his hand through the worst pains.  He seemed to know all the right things to say and even made me laugh or smile whenever he could.  We truly got through this birth together.

It has been 6 days since our Evy was born, and I can’t believe it hasn’t been longer!  She is more beautiful every day, and just about the sweetest little thing I can imagine.   Ah, newborn love, it is a very powerful thing.  As for me, I didn’t tear or need an episiotomy, so I have healed rather quickly.  Since Gavin’s c-section was my last birth experience, I continue to be surprised at how quickly I have been able to get back on my feet.  My goal with this birth was to deliver vaginally and I am so proud and so happy that I was able to accomplish this.

Many people have asked me throughout my pregnancy why I chose to deliver naturally.  I feel so strongly about my answer to this question, that I am going to devote another post to it.  I will say that this birth, my only unmedicated and completely natural birth experience, was the most calm and empowering birth of them all.  Faye’s birth, which involved many medical interventions including an epidural, was many times more painful and scary overall.  I can honestly say I would go back and have all of them naturally if I could.  This was an incredible birth experience, and I am thrilled to have a beautiful healthy baby girl to show for it.  Jason and I feel truly blessed.