On the evening of October 8th, Jocelyn thought, “Well, I guess I was wrong! Not today, apparently!” She was disappointed because she was sure that God had told her the baby would come on the 8th, even though her official due date was the 15th. Not 45 minutes later (around 8:00pm), Jocelyn felt her first real contraction. God surely must have a sense of humor. She called me (her doula) for some advice, and then began timing the contractions. Later, she called the midwife who encouraged her to try to get some rest and to wait until the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart, lasting a full minute, before coming down to the birth center.
Jocelyn and Steve met up with me at the birth center around 3:00am. When the midwife did her exam, they found out that Jocelyn was 4cm dilated and 100% effaced. That was good news because it meant early labor was over (usually the longest phase). But Jocelyn was a little disappointed. She thought she’d be farther along than that, and she wondered if she should’ve stayed home a while longer.
We walked the halls for a while and tried several other things to help her cope with the contractions, but they were getting so strong that they were making her nauseous. The midwife suggested she try getting in the tub. When she did, the warm water felt so good that Jocelyn stayed there until after the birth. Steve sat close by holding her hand and encouraging her.
About two hours after getting to the birth center, Jocelyn’s water broke. At that time, she was only about 5-6cm, but then things began to happen quickly. Within 30 minutes, she was complete and ready to push. For the next hour, that’s all she did. It was the most difficult part of her labor. But even though it went slowly, she was able to avoid an episiotomy (which surely would have happened at a hospital) and had no tearing at all.
Josiah was born at 7:04am in the water and immediately placed in Jocelyn’s arms. He was 7lbs, 13 oz and is 19" long. He had a full head of dark hair, and he cried just a little bit as he looked around the room. Steve cut the cord, and then Jocelyn moved over to the bed. Steve made the phone calls while Jocelyn began to nurse for the first time. Then, after a couple of hours sleep, Steve and Jocelyn went home with their precious baby boy.
Jocelyn and Steve met up with me at the birth center around 3:00am. When the midwife did her exam, they found out that Jocelyn was 4cm dilated and 100% effaced. That was good news because it meant early labor was over (usually the longest phase). But Jocelyn was a little disappointed. She thought she’d be farther along than that, and she wondered if she should’ve stayed home a while longer.
We walked the halls for a while and tried several other things to help her cope with the contractions, but they were getting so strong that they were making her nauseous. The midwife suggested she try getting in the tub. When she did, the warm water felt so good that Jocelyn stayed there until after the birth. Steve sat close by holding her hand and encouraging her.
About two hours after getting to the birth center, Jocelyn’s water broke. At that time, she was only about 5-6cm, but then things began to happen quickly. Within 30 minutes, she was complete and ready to push. For the next hour, that’s all she did. It was the most difficult part of her labor. But even though it went slowly, she was able to avoid an episiotomy (which surely would have happened at a hospital) and had no tearing at all.
Josiah was born at 7:04am in the water and immediately placed in Jocelyn’s arms. He was 7lbs, 13 oz and is 19" long. He had a full head of dark hair, and he cried just a little bit as he looked around the room. Steve cut the cord, and then Jocelyn moved over to the bed. Steve made the phone calls while Jocelyn began to nurse for the first time. Then, after a couple of hours sleep, Steve and Jocelyn went home with their precious baby boy.
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