Birth Story 2
Felicity Addisyn Carys Stanley-Hutchinson's Birth Story
By Andrea Stanley
Let me start by saying that this birth experience was made so fabulous by the midwives, that I wish I could be pregnant and/or giving birth at all times! I’m not exaggerating.
The actual day I went into labor, I had an appointment where Lora performed a cervical massage (I was a week past due). I walked out of the office with some mild cramping, which continued to grow stronger as time passed. There was some paperwork I had to complete at the office, so I went in, talked with my co-workers, all while the pain was growing more and more intense. I even convinced my mom to go to lunch with me, but as soon as we got to the freeway, she turned around and headed back to the office, telling me that I needed to go home and get some rest.
I barely made it home, I was in so much pain.
The instant I got home, I waddled up the stairs and fell into bed. I curled up into the tightest ball I could and called my husband. I needed someone to be with me, not because I was in labor, just because I didn’t feel good. Little did I know….
After Aaron got home, I reluctantly settled in for a nap, which lasted until about 4:30pm. We had made plans to celebrate his birthday early at Racha Thai. I kept having these “waves of pain”, which Aaron dubbed contractions. I was obviously in denial, and cried when he suggested we stay home. The crying won him over, and we headed to the restaurant, where we ate a full meal of green curry and pad thai. I kept having to stop, put my fork down, relax through a contraction, then eat. It took longer than a normal meal. By this point, I accepted the fact that I was in labor, but still had a few errands I wanted to run – Target, Top Foods, Borders, the list goes on. We went to Target first, and I doubled over in an aisle during a contraction. Aaron decided that was the end of our shopping excursion!
We got home around 8 pm, I called Constance, and she confirmed that I was in early labor. The contractions were coming about every 5 minutes or so. I waddled around, setting up the food downstairs, putting away laundry, tidying up. My parents came over, and my dad was shocked to see me walking around. “You’re in labor!” he exclaimed, “What are you doing walking around? Shouldn’t you be in bed?” He works for a hospital, so the concept of me hanging out and chatting with my mom around the dining room table while I was in labor was a very foreign concept to him!
Not too long after that, the contractions got more intense. Aaron and my mom made the bed, rubbed my back, and helped me find a comfortable position to labor in. I had really intense back labor for some reason, so I’d pretty much kneel into Aaron, and my mom would put pressure on my back. This continued for a couple hours, until Constance and Lora showed up around midnight. To be honest, I noticed their presence and felt relaxed. They were so warm and flexible to my needs. They truly worked with me.
At some point Constance checked me and said I was 7cm dilated. I remember being so bummed out, but everything moved very quickly from that point. The contractions became more intense, and it was getting increasingly difficult to focus. This is when I had my “fantasy of a c-section.” It sounds so silly now, but I think I was in transition at that point, and all I wanted was for the contractions to be over!
Constance suggested I move to the shower, and that’s when the pushing started. It was so involuntary, a little scary – this sensation that my body had just taken over and I was just going along for the ride. No one can prepare you for the sensation of pushing. Aaron was a trooper and got all wet rubbing my back while I was in the shower. The baby started to crown, and I was just ready to have her right there in the shower, but Constance convinced me to move back to the bed.
I got on my hands and knees, which seemed to be the only comfortable position for me to labor in, and pushed for what seemed like 5 minutes. I know it was short. All of a sudden, Felicity was born - crying, beautiful. It was an amazing experience. I’ve never felt so in tune with my body or so not in control yet so empowered. I’m thankful to the midwives for their expertise that allowed me to have this powerful experience at home. I wouldn’t choose to have a child in any other manner, and I honestly can’t wait until I’m pregnant again, so I can experience the joy of giving birth all over again!
By Andrea Stanley
Let me start by saying that this birth experience was made so fabulous by the midwives, that I wish I could be pregnant and/or giving birth at all times! I’m not exaggerating.
The actual day I went into labor, I had an appointment where Lora performed a cervical massage (I was a week past due). I walked out of the office with some mild cramping, which continued to grow stronger as time passed. There was some paperwork I had to complete at the office, so I went in, talked with my co-workers, all while the pain was growing more and more intense. I even convinced my mom to go to lunch with me, but as soon as we got to the freeway, she turned around and headed back to the office, telling me that I needed to go home and get some rest.
I barely made it home, I was in so much pain.
The instant I got home, I waddled up the stairs and fell into bed. I curled up into the tightest ball I could and called my husband. I needed someone to be with me, not because I was in labor, just because I didn’t feel good. Little did I know….
After Aaron got home, I reluctantly settled in for a nap, which lasted until about 4:30pm. We had made plans to celebrate his birthday early at Racha Thai. I kept having these “waves of pain”, which Aaron dubbed contractions. I was obviously in denial, and cried when he suggested we stay home. The crying won him over, and we headed to the restaurant, where we ate a full meal of green curry and pad thai. I kept having to stop, put my fork down, relax through a contraction, then eat. It took longer than a normal meal. By this point, I accepted the fact that I was in labor, but still had a few errands I wanted to run – Target, Top Foods, Borders, the list goes on. We went to Target first, and I doubled over in an aisle during a contraction. Aaron decided that was the end of our shopping excursion!
We got home around 8 pm, I called Constance, and she confirmed that I was in early labor. The contractions were coming about every 5 minutes or so. I waddled around, setting up the food downstairs, putting away laundry, tidying up. My parents came over, and my dad was shocked to see me walking around. “You’re in labor!” he exclaimed, “What are you doing walking around? Shouldn’t you be in bed?” He works for a hospital, so the concept of me hanging out and chatting with my mom around the dining room table while I was in labor was a very foreign concept to him!
Not too long after that, the contractions got more intense. Aaron and my mom made the bed, rubbed my back, and helped me find a comfortable position to labor in. I had really intense back labor for some reason, so I’d pretty much kneel into Aaron, and my mom would put pressure on my back. This continued for a couple hours, until Constance and Lora showed up around midnight. To be honest, I noticed their presence and felt relaxed. They were so warm and flexible to my needs. They truly worked with me.
At some point Constance checked me and said I was 7cm dilated. I remember being so bummed out, but everything moved very quickly from that point. The contractions became more intense, and it was getting increasingly difficult to focus. This is when I had my “fantasy of a c-section.” It sounds so silly now, but I think I was in transition at that point, and all I wanted was for the contractions to be over!
Constance suggested I move to the shower, and that’s when the pushing started. It was so involuntary, a little scary – this sensation that my body had just taken over and I was just going along for the ride. No one can prepare you for the sensation of pushing. Aaron was a trooper and got all wet rubbing my back while I was in the shower. The baby started to crown, and I was just ready to have her right there in the shower, but Constance convinced me to move back to the bed.
I got on my hands and knees, which seemed to be the only comfortable position for me to labor in, and pushed for what seemed like 5 minutes. I know it was short. All of a sudden, Felicity was born - crying, beautiful. It was an amazing experience. I’ve never felt so in tune with my body or so not in control yet so empowered. I’m thankful to the midwives for their expertise that allowed me to have this powerful experience at home. I wouldn’t choose to have a child in any other manner, and I honestly can’t wait until I’m pregnant again, so I can experience the joy of giving birth all over again!