The wonderful birth story of our third
son Canyon Jesse
On the evening of June 26th at about 6:30 my body was
preparing to bring forth a new baby. I had just cleaned the house and mopped the floors when my contractions became regular
about every 6 min. This was exciting to have my labour begin in the daylight! We all went up to Abuelita's
house to have dinner. I was only able to eat a few bites of eggplant parmesan and then I had to excuse myself back to
our house to lay down and welcome my labour. Temoc came back to the house a half hour later and I was feeling very psychedelic.
I told him to fill up the birth pool on the back lawn. I had a nice sized kiddie pool with a cushioned bottom. The midwife
was called and would soon be arriving. Temoc and I were very excited the contractions were strong and I was breathing
through them by 7:30. I watered my garden naked in the setting sun and felt beautiful and natural.
When I got in that warm pool It felt like
euphoria! I was so comfortable and relaxed with the warm water supporting my whole body. I could feel the baby moving and
I felt comfortable to decline monitoring the baby because we were so connected. My midwife Ellie noted every time I felt the
baby move. My mom arrived and everyone settled into my dance of labour. Time really was of no concept to me
as my contractions opened my womb. I remember the mosquito's were bugging me then they were gone for the evening and the
glowing moon rose through the still leaves of the oak trees above me. How lucky I was to be surrounded by nature in my
garden on this perfect night!
By about 10:00pm or so everyone was wearing blankets and I was oblivious to the temperature outside my warm tub of water.
I was moaning through contractions and it was getting very intense for me to surrender to the pain. I checked myself
to be about 7cm and I had not made any progress in some hours. I was feeling the pain in my sacrum with each contraction and
by about 1:00 am I was a prune and wanted to get out of the pool and go inside. Everyone was very glad on this chilly
summer night and getting tired!
It was difficult to stay on top of my contractions hich seemed much sharper on dry land. I hung on hubby's shoulders
with each contraction and he felt strong and familiar. This is the first time in 3 births that I found myself in extasy
and even his scent was very sensual and arousing to me. I think i was really open to the sexual process of labour
and birth this time.
I wanted to have the midwife check to see if the baby was posterior because in my mind there was
a hang up, I should have been done already. With my previous labour with Tolan it lasted an hour and a half so this labour
in comparison seemed smoother but long and I was getting tired!
Sure enough the baby was posterior and we needed to get him to turn. At that point I
was 8cm. So my experienced midwife got me on my side and she and Temoc rocked my hard back and forth to encourage the baby
to turn and face my back. Then I got on my knees and elbows and rocked my pelvis.
I never noticed him turning but at
some point he did and I felt a small urge to push. My contractions had rescinded to lasting only 20 sec and I didn't feel
like pushing. I never have had that urge. I like to have my uterus push the baby out. I still had an intact bag of water
and i wanted it to break but even hard pushes wouldn't break it. When I had my midwife break my membranes I was fully
dilated. She said that it was a very tough bag to break. So with the bag of water broken for 20 min or so and me pushing
slightly I was sitting up on my knees and felt the baby come through my bones.
I said "the baby's coming"
and Midwife said to Daddy "go wash your hands" and I said "NOOO". I put my hand on that wet
fuzzy head that was taking my breath away and Daddy opened his hands to receive. Time seemed to stand still as
the power of birth set in. His head was born and I instinctively went to my hands and knees as the rest of his body was born
behind me into his Daddy's hands. Our third son was born at 3:15am and he was strong and wide eyed. He had
lots of hair on his shoulders and back and the sweetest little spiral of dark hair on his forhead. So perfect!
He weighed 7lbs 7oz and measured 20 3/4
long.
His brothers saw him the next morning and Sol looked
so proud as he held him and Tolan wasn't quite sure what this all meant. Now they both love him and he is part of our
lives in a way that one knows from the beginning of time.
