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I was so excited for this birth, because after 67 births, these would be my first set of twins! These girls were going to be babies #5 and #6 for this sweet family, and I have always adored big families. At 36 weeks I was prepared and ready for the call that mama was in labor. At 37 weeks I was more ready. At 38 weeks I expected it at any moment. At 39 weeks I was in a bit of disbelief. This mama must be the superstar of all mamas, for she was 39 weeks pregnant with twins! At 39 weeks and 3 days, the call came in at 5:45pm that it was TIME, and hurry! I rushed out the door, I sped, and arrived at 6:05, just 11 minutes before Baby A slipped into the water and was lifted into mama’s arms. ELEVEN minutes! That was such a close call, I shudder to think about if traffic had been bad. I had read up on the natural birth of twins, and I knew Baby B could come hours later, depending on position. But as Baby A was snuggled in her mama’s arms, Baby B decided she did not want to wait, and four minutes after her big sister, she appeared. I think mama may have sneezed and she appeared! Baby B came so easily, I am not sure if mama really had to push! After a two hour labor from start to finish, mama had both babies in her arms, with no complications what so ever. In fact, I think it is in the running for one of the easiest, least complicated births I have ever seen! It was beautiful, and it was an honor to photograph! Enjoy the photos of this lovely family welcoming two new babies!

“Mel, come now, your VBAC mama is here and moving FAST” One of the student midwives urged quickly. I could hear the moans of late labor in the background.

“I’m already on my way for the birth class, I’ll be there in 3 minutes”

I hung up and felt giddy with excitement that this VBAC mama was moving so quickly. I rushed through the doors of the birth center and started snapping my flash in place. I flashed a smile at the students sitting there as I slowed my step to a calm, relaxed demeanor and slipped into the birth room. It was warm and steamy from the tub and the heater, and mama was busy pushing her baby out. The contractions rolled almost one on top of the other, and mama begged her daughter to give her a break for just a minute. After a short break from the non stop contractions, another started up and she pushed the head out. One of my favorite things about VBACs is the moment the head emerges. I think every VBAC I’ve been to, mamas are in disbelief that their baby will actually come out until the head comes out, and suddenly, it clicks. This baby IS coming out the old fashioned way. This birth was no different, and mama and papa giggled through tears of joy as they waited for the next contraction. A beautiful baby girl emerged from the water 15 minutes after I arrived, and 12:08pm.

I LOVE big brother’s reaction to his new sister.

36 Weeks

The Breech Homebirth of Jemma

     It was a regular Wednesday for my two year old daughter, Eden and me. We decided to go for it since we had lots to do and were hoping to encourage baby sister out (and the midwife was back in town! ) After we dropped my husband, Eric, off at work we went to Target to get baby hangers for the nursery, the mall, and the Co-op for some yummy food. Next we stopped at Mom’s to kill a little time before we went to see some kittens that I had taken Eden to see born just a couple weeks before. Mom laughed at my pregnancy snacks of the day a big banana, a quart of fresh Co-op half & half and string cheese! Nothing like good rich milk when I am pregnant! Next stop after kittens, and Eden’s gymnastics! At the gym, like usual she ran all around and was wild as heck! I felt heavy and achy in my cervix as I ran after her.

At my 35 week homevisit, I was 6 cm dilated and 75% effaced. I was put on modified bed-rest in hopes of making it to 38 weeks and for my midwife to get back in town! Thank goodness I had the Olympics to entertain me each night! I knew I would be dilated but was shocked to hear I was that dilated at 35 weeks. I had many more noticeable contractions this pregnancy unlike my first pregnancy, where I barely noticed contractions up until 8cm before going into labor with my first baby. I never experience much discomfort with labor. The contractions were often and strong but not painful. I surprise people with my descriptions of contractions and the efficiency of my uterus. I wished that I had delivered with my midwives the first time so they could have seen what labor and birth was like with my first daughter’s birth! I ended up walking around 6cm for a month.

After gymnastics we came home and my mom, sister, and friend came over. Eden nursed which gave me some contractions like it often did. I think she even took a nap for me! My contractions just kept coming and there was no real break as my uterus just stayed hard all the time. I’d think one contraction was still going and another would start. I walked and bounced on my birthing ball and sipped on a mango smoothie. Eric was going to be off work soon so I had my sister pick him up. My mother kept thinking my water was leaking and convinced me to just give the midwife a call. So I did and the midwife told me she could be there as soon as I needed. I told her I would call her back if something changed.

Around 9 pm or so she called me and convinced me to have her come by and just check on things. I agreed, she really did convince me, as I never was quite sure I was in labor. The contractions were not painful, no other real signs of labor had occurred. I had experienced non stop contractions many evenings that had always faded. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t making a big deal and calling up for a false labor.

She arrived around 10ish, and when I saw her I just started crying. I don’t know why exactly I just felt very emotional and was really glad she was going to make it for our birth. By midnight, we had established a couple of things; I was 7 cm dilated and 90% effaced and the baby was breech….Surprise!  I think I smiled and then even laughed. I stared at her with disbelief. I was half sure she was mistaken as I never felt a big shift of the baby. I had been the practice belly at multiple midwifery student study groups and had the baby in my belly palpitated many times by many people and midwives. Many people, including myself, had been very hands on during my pregnancy. My midwife said she was very certain the baby was breech, called the other midwife and checked again.

By 1am it was decided, after all options were discussed, we would go to bed and see if I could hold off labor for an ultrasound that would show me more in the morning. I was worried about her cord, and she was so engaged in my pelvis and for probably so for a long time that turning her was not really an option, nor was I very comfortable with trying at 38 weeks and 2 days, all things considered.  I most certainly felt a risk with breech delivery but I felt just as much with a c-section. It amazes me how at this time Eric was so strong and had so much faith in me. He didn’t want a c-section for us and knew I could do it. He never even doubted me and advocated for at least trying to deliver her as long as things were going good during delivery. I just had to try! Fortunately she was frank breech (bottom first), the best type, and a good size. At that point my midwives left and I attempted sleep with everything heavy on my mind, I had strict instructions to call if I felt anything different.

       Around 3:30 am I awoke and felt a sort of vibration in my head with a contraction and they felt a   little deeper in my cervix. I waited, longer than my midwives had instructed and then sent a text. They were back by 4am (ish) and I was 10 cm and complete. I had slept through transition! It’s crucial to be dilated to 10 cm before the baby descends into the birth canal, with the head being the largest part of the baby, descending sooner poses the risk of head entrapment. Another risk of breech delivery already alleviated. I was told to lay for as long as I was comfortable. At this point we just decided to proceed with the utmost caution, completely ready and willing to transfer to the hospital at any point if necessary. My midwife was confident, scoring me very high on a scale for breech birth candidates. I had a proven pelvis along with the strength and mindset to do it. Everyone planning to attend was called and the house buzzed with excitement as the pool was being filled and candles were being lit. Finally I got up and nothing much really happened.

    We were planning on leaving the bag of waters intact if possible. I labored contently, got in and back out of the pool. I went for a walk as the sun was rising with Eric and we looked at our garden and then I picked a few blackberries that tasted divine. Eric made breakfast and the rest of the house came back to life. I snacked on garden tomatoes, cucumbers and cottage cheese, peaches, watermelon and coconut water.

        At last we proceeded to rupture my amniotic sac after being fully dilated for around 4 hours, it proved to be very strong after not breaking with three attempts! I expected her to come quickly, and for things to get very intense and uncomfortable but they didn’t really. I stood and squatted on the birthing stool, bringing contractions around 3 minutes apart. With each contraction I had to completely surrender and let her come down by herself and not push. I had to focus and sway but it felt like the how I would labor with any birth. Eventually I felt a similar sensation to the baby coming through my pelvis only much softer. She was close now, and I was told to gently urge her to come more with soft pushes.

      Eden awoke and looked like a rested angel and dove right into the birthing pool with me. She was so pleased that she had a pool in her living room. I labored as she swam and played joyously behind me. Eden got out and fed me mango popsicle. Eventually, when baby’s bottom began to emerge Eric got in the pool and held me.

I reached between my legs and felt her tiny bottom. I saw her little bottom and girl parts in a hand mirror. I held my hand over my skin next to her body as my midwife supported my perineum and I pushed her out slowly, feeling her whole body move past my finger tips, her heart always chugging along strong and perfectly. I felt empowered and was surprised I was pretty much delivering her myself into my own hands. 

At last her head was all that was left to come, and I pushed it out into my midwife’s hands with a resemblance to a champagne cork! The cord was loosely wrapped around her neck once. Then she was on my chest and looked so different than her sister, and from what I expected! I talked to her and rubbed her head and she took her first breath, we all took it with her, and she let out her first cry!

It was so wonderful to look into her sweet little face and meet her for the first time lying in Eric’s loving, strong arms. Eden hopped right in to meet her and was adorable and amazed!

      Though Jemma’s birth was a surprise breech she and I are living proof that breech birth is another version of normal! That a natural breech birth is safe and possible in the appropriate situation! I am truly glad and blessed that I have had the pleasure of birthing our sweet little girl breech. Thank you to everyone who loved and supported us through our pregnancy, labor and birth journey! And especially thank you to my wonderful husband who always believed in us and my midwives who helped us make it happen!

We did it!

born August 16, 2012
7 lbs 6 oz
22 in long
at 11:24 am at home!

Our birth photographer came back to our home when Jemma was one week to do her newborn photos. She did our Maternity, Birth, and Newborn photos all in our home!

Eric and Jemma.

*You lay your scrubs out every night, down to the socks & shoes. Fumbling around in the darkness for clothes can waste precious minutes.

*You can roll out of bed, dress, and be backing down your drive way in 6 minutes flat all hours of the night.

*You keep track of the full moon and new moon schedule

*In social settings you start 80% of your stories with “This one time, at a birth…”

*You can answer your phone before you are even awake. Sometimes you honestly can’t remember the first half of the conversation.

*On nights you know there is a mama in early labor, you sleep restlessly, dreaming only of labors happening and missing births.

*You keep a change of clothes & snacks in your car at all times. You learned that lesson after the first 24 hour marathon birth without a fresh change of clothing.

*You use the words “primip”, “multip”, “earthside”, “transition”, “placenta”, “contractions”, “prodromal labor”, “latent labor”, and other birth related words multiple times a day.

*You know what SS, AF, MF, ISO, WB, RAW, & M stand for and you type them daily on photography forums.

*You warn people you are an unpredictable dinner guest.

*To flash or not to flash, that is the question. (It really is the question you contemplate and discuss constantly.)

*You have had to take pictures in such dark settings not even auto focus will work.

*You feel fairly confident if you ran across a woman delivering her baby unexpectedly in the grocery store you could probably handle it, since you’ve seen it done so many times. (assuming no complications, of course)

*You haven’t gone out of town in over a year.

*Your phone lives in your back pocket

*You double and triple check to make sure your phone is on loud each night before bed

*You can’t remember the last time your phone was on silent.

*Your children discuss childbirth over dinner.

*You have no problem snacking while editing photos full of blood, placentas, and perhaps other situations most other people would wince at.

*You can stay silent for hours, and you think you would probably make a pretty good spy, because you know how to be stealthy.

*You wish your shutter wasn’t so dang loud. It sounds like thunder crashing in a silent birth room. Sometimes it’s almost painful to click that button, even though the result is well worth it.

*You drive to the place of birth with your heart about to pound out of your chest, worried when you rush through the doors you will hear the cries of an infant. Even if mama was at 4cm, you still worry.

*You hit the jackpot one month and photograph a breech delivery, one of your proudest career moments yet!

*Photographing babies born in the caul is like photographers gold

*The shot you captured that was posted on “Birth Without Fear” really was your “crowning moment”

Shortly before 4am the midwife called and said “come now!” I rushed to her house as quickly as I could, the entire time having visions of walking into the room with the baby already born, missing the breech birth. I arrived and mama was still pregnant. She was laying peacefully in bed, talking and laughing, fully dilated. A contraction would come and she sometimes closed her eyes softly saying “oh here is another one.” She gently brought her baby closer over the next few hours, contractions never becoming unbearable or incredibly painful. Baby’s heart chugged happily along, never a waver in heart tones. Mid morning everyone decided together the next step was to break her water, as her first baby did not come until they broke her water either. It was an extremely tough water bag, and when it finally broke, things began to move more quickly, but everything was still so calm and serene, I felt like I should be relaxing at a day spa, not attending a natural birth! Mama slowly began to push, and she brought her breech baby girl gently and easily into the world at 11:24am. It was just amazing. Jemma was just as calm and peaceful as mama had been throughout the entire labor. Not only was it simply a gorgeous birth, but baby girl was born in the front room with the beautiful summer sun streaming in. Perfect lighting for photos. I couldn’t have asked for a better birth to attend, and I am forever grateful I had the privilege of being a part of it! Here is Jemma’s slideshow

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