Reese's Birth Story (Homebirth after 2 cesareans)

 ***I am not anti-cesarean or anti-hospital.  I did not do this to make a statement or draw attention to myself.  Cesareans are a beautiful thing when they are used at the right time and place. As is induction, medication, and other medical interventions. This story is my journey to finding my voice and learning that my body is not broken. This story is about showing women that they DESERVE evidence based care and have the right to make the choice as to what happens with their pregnancy, birth, and their baby. Labor is not just about having a baby. It is the journey of a woman into motherhood. It is a hard road, I daresay the hardest a woman will travel, to become a person that she has never been before. Whether it is her first or tenth child, each experience changes her.***



 I started my journey the second Saturday of March this year. It is when the pregnancy test said "Pregnant". I knew after all the complications I had with my two previous cesareans (physical and emotional) I didn't want to go that route again if I could help it. I do not regret my Sarah and Natalie's birth. Hindsight shows me the experiences with them were just stepping stones to give me courage to take this leap.  Their births ended in two healthy little girls and that is more than I could have prayed for.  I struggled with PPD (post-partum depression) with both, and with each birth it was getting worse. This time around I wanted it all to be different. So I started researching a VBA2C (vaginal birth after two cesareans), and I found that it is recommended that even after two cesareans women should be given a TOLAC (trial of labor). This was the spark that started it all.
 I met with my first OB and at my second visit I asked him about doing a VBAC. He looked at me and said, "You want to have more children right? If you do this you will kill your baby. So it's best we just schedule a cesarean at 39 weeks."  I asked him about a trial of labor and he told me that he had only ever done two VBACs and they both ended in a uterine rupture and hysterectomy.  I left the appointment frustrated and confused.  I had a fear of uterine rupture, but not as much fear as a third cesarean and the major risk for myself and my baby that came along with a third surgery.
 I talked with my good friend, Mary Carol, a Certified Nurse Midwife  who specializes in home births about my options. After thinking it over and a scoring my risk I was found to be medium risk and had over an 80% chance of success at a vaginal birth.  After much prayer and discussion with Sam, we felt at peace to transfer my care to her and go for a home birth.  It was not a half weighted decision. I spent hours researching case studies, personal stories, ACOG guidelines, and other evidence to know exactly what decision I was making.  Even after two cesareans, my rupture rate was still below .01% (which is NORM!), and majority of ruptures came from induced labor.

Fast forward to November 9th.
I was 39 weeks and 5 days, and feeling every bit pregnant. After weeks of bedrest from pelvic symphysis, and very painful false labor that had started at 37 weeks-- I was over it.
My mental strength was draining and I was exhausted physically. So I talked to my midwife on that Sunday and said if she didn't come by 41 weeks I was having a cesarean. I just couldn't handle it anymore. Mary Carol said above all she wants healthy mom and healthy baby, and that includes mental health for mom. So she and Sam supported my decision.

39 weeks 6 days- Braxton hicks because painful again and started at 7am 15 minutes apart, and lasted ALL DAY LONG.

40 week- Braxton hicks moved to closer, more painful contractions and I had my 40 week appointment at 4pm. I had dilated to 3cm.

40 weeks-right before heading to my appointment

6:30pm- I called Mary Carol because the contractions were getting really painful and I couldn't get comfortable at all. I was still thinking it was early/false labor. But I wanted to know if I was progressing or not.  I really wanted to be in the birth pool. Mary Carol said she would be there shortly, so I moved between the bed and birth ball until I couldn't move anymore.

8:30pm- Mary Carol arrived and checked on Reese (perfect heart rate through contractions and between) and she checked me... I was 4-5cm!! Baby Reese was coming!
The contractions at this point were totally different and painful; but they were not intolerable. I was still able to talk between them and even joke a little. They went to work setting up and filling the birth tub. When I sat down in it, it was the biggest relief! It took the edge off the pain. So while I labored in the tub, Sam put down plastic on the floors and made the bed....Mary Carol made some coffee and it was just peaceful and quiet.

11:55pm-Aundrea (my secondary midwife) arrived and they moved me to the bed. They checked me and I was 9cm and my water broke on Mary Carol's hand. There was meconium, so they just started monitoring Reese more often and she was never in distress. If there had been any sign of distress for either of us, we would have been whisked away to the hospital for the safety of myself and Reese.

1:00am- I felt a strong urge to push. Mary Carol checked and I had a hard cervical lip that was preventing Reese from descending. So during my contraction she pushed the lip around Reese's head (not the most pleasant feeling) and Reese came down.

1:20am-I pushed with everything I had...and I felt Reese leave my body and watched as she was immediately put on my chest. The relief was immediate!! I had done it! I had done what I had been told my body could never do--birth my child! I was in shock! The transition for Reese was so peaceful she didn't even cry until the next day. She was awake and breathing, but resting calmly on my chest.

The moment she was put on my chest...I will never forget it!

Sweet Relief

Couldn't have capture a better moment

I chose to delay cord clamping for an easier transition, and it helped pink her up and give her all the extra blood cells she needed. After I delivered the placenta, I was helped up and put in MY OWN BED! I was given medication to help prevent hemorrhage, and was examined and then given an ice pack. Reese was placed on me skin to skin, and we just rested. She fell asleep almost immediately and then woke up and nursed on her own like a champ.

The best support I could ask for.

Sam was wonderful through the entire thing. He knew exactly when to touch me, when to back off, and when to talk. He held me, kissed me, encouraged me, and was so strong through it all. He was able to hold Reese while I was moving to the bed, and then do skin to skin with her when I got up to pee the first time.  It was perfect. It was peaceful. It was in our home. I could not have done it without him.

I only ended up with a 2degree tear that didn't require stitches.

Mary Carol stayed until 1030 the next morning monitoring me and the baby. She finished her paperwork, slept, and cleaned up. No one would have guessed we had just had a baby a few hours before.  She helped me to the bathroom so Sam could sleep, fed me oatmeal when I couldn't because I was nursing and on my back....and made me breakfast (eggs, toast, and yogurt).  It was wonderful and meant so much!

Anita Reese: 8lb 13oz 21" long

Now I am four day postpartum. I am amazed at the ability of my body to heal so quickly. I am tired and sore, but nothing compared to the post-op feeling I had with both my cesareans. Nursing has gone so smoothly (after Reese had her lip-tie clipped), and since Reese and I were never once separated we are both on the same sleep cycle. I wake up 5 minutes before she does (long enough to go pee LOL) and then nurse her and we go back to sleep.  I am able to get out, clean, cook, shower, and do normal things. I am taking it slow and still resting, but the beauty of natural birth is amazing.


I am so proud of myself for accomplishing this. I am not broken. My body knows how to do what God designed it to do.  I am capable and strong. It is just amazing.

I could not have done this without being given evidence-based care by Mary Carol and her support. She always gave me a choice and if there was anything high risk or dangerous we would have gone a different route. It was always my choice how I would birth....and that is how it should be for all women.


Also a HUGE thank you to Natasha Clark with Natasha Clark Photography for being at my birth and taking some amazing pictures. It meant the world to us!!

You have a right to choose how your care is before, during, and after childbirth. Unless medically stated, you are not broken and you are not stupid...you are capable and are able to birth how you want (and no, BIG BABY is not a medical reason to not get a birth you want).  I leave you with my list of resources where I did majority of my research that encouraged me throughout this journey.

For if you don't know your choices, you do not have any.

http://vbacfacts.com
http://birthwithoutfearblog.com
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org (great case study resource)
http://www.acog.org/Womens-Health/Vaginal-Birth-After-Cesarean-VBAC

Changes are coming...

  February is here! Only 11 more months left in 2014, and I am looking forward to what is going to fill them. I know there will be a lot of bumps in the road, and sorrow and sadness to fill plenty of days; but this year I am looking to not focus on those days as much as the bad. There is so much planned, and so many changes occurring in my life, my family's life…and life is just too short to dwell on the bad.
 This month I am going to be reading Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. It is written as a diary of a girl from 16 until older married age, and it is how she learns to trust God in all times and have a true relationship with him.
My mom got me this book 10 years ago to read but once I got to the portion of her being married and beyond that I lost interest. Now I am married, I have children, and I believe this book will take on a whole new meaning as I read it. This year I plan to read 1 inspirational book that points my mind to Christ a month. The more I focus on Him the better wife, mother, friend and person I will be.


Sarah over the last couple days seems to have blossomed even more. She LOVES dressing up and puts on her "gwasses" and shoes and trots around the house like she owns the world.
We were eating lunch yesterday and she had a glass of milk. Sam and I were having a conversation and wasn't paying much attention to her when she started screaming like someone ripped off her arm. We look over and she had spilled milk all over herself and in the floor. We quickly tell her she is ok and get her cleaned up, but she was just total heartbroken over the fact she spilled her milk. I have never in my life seen a child so sensitive about such things. But it is that same sensitivity that causes her to go check on Natalie if she is crying. She will brush her hair, give her toys, and fix her hair bows.  The same little girl who will pet the dogs and tell them they are OK, or give me kisses when she thinks I am upset. I do hope she keeps her tender heart, for God can so use a tender heart in His service.
She has now started taking her dolls to the potty. She will pull up their skirt and point saying, "Mommy, need poop". I will ask her if she needs to poop and she will say no, her doll does.  So she will trot into the bathroom, hold the doll on the potty and say, "Good girl, potty"….pause…pause…pause…"Good job princess!!! Now flush!".
  ……...Now if only I can get her to poop in the potty…..


 Natalie has learned how to clap and wave. It is so fun to watch her grow and change. It is amazing to me to see how different the girls are. The difference is more and more evident as Natalie develops her personality. She is so fiery. She also has taken to table food much better than Sarah did. Sarah love her baby food, but Natalie is not so excited about it. She would rather have whatever is on your plate and will eat just as much as you do it seems. She is being evaluated on Monday for being behind on her gross motor skills and a few other things. Between her lack of weight gain (constantly on a curve then falling off over and over) and her not doing several things as a 9 month old would do, she is being evaluated to see how far she is behind. It is hard for me as a mom to admit something might be amiss with my child; for in my eyes they are perfect in every way. But it is best to catch something early if she is so far behind on a few things that therapy is

needed. One thing for sure, she is not behind on her social skills. That child will talk, smile, laugh and play and is just so happy all the time. God has truly blessed Sam and and I with amazing girls.

Sam will be starting school in the next few weeks, and thus starting the chapter of a new life for us. The darkness of the unknown is never fun, but we are both looking forward to what will happen for us once making this step.
So as February begins…a month of change, birthdays, love, and adventure…I am thankful that this year bring us new beginnings.

When Daddy's Away...

Today Sam flew out to NY to meet with the people who helped get him Maggie. So seeing that we had a weekend, the girls and I decided to make a quick TN trip to visit with my in-laws. Today is Dad Schultz's 55th birthday, and we wanted to surprise Mom Schultz.

So bright and early at 6am Sam and I were up getting ready. We opened the door to the girl's room and announced time to wake up to go see Mamaw and Papaw. Sarah sat up and announced she did not want to see anyone and then dove under her little pillow and tried her hardest to fall back to sleep.

...seriously, do not blame her...

...not many people I really want to see that early in the morning :).

We went to Chik-Fil-A for breakfast and enjoyed our morning together.
 Sarah walked in and said, "Kissit pweese", that translates to biscuit please :).

Soon we were off to the airport. Sam and Maggie were safely deposited and the girls and I hit the road. The long 4.5 hour drive.
I was determined to not stop, so I made sure both girls were fed and dry. The drive was nice, no traffic really and we cut about 30 minutes off our time.

We surprised Mom Schultz at the house, which was great. Then we had a dinner party that night for Trevor and Dad Schultz's birthday.
Sarah had been so excited to see Papaw on his "hirfday" that she had been singing "happy hirfday" from the moment we left to go to see them.
 Saturday morning we went to see the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge. That day in history has always interested me. Going through the museum and seeing the artifacts pulled from the ocean floor and walking up a full scale of the grand staircase is always surreal to me. Me, with my very vivid imagination, could close my eyes and visualize myself in 1912...walking down the grand staircase; unbeknownst to me that the Titanic would sink within the first few days at sea. The only time I had such a surreal experience was when I went to the Flossenburg and Dachau concentration camps in Germany. It is just a heavy feeling that is hard to explain unless you are there yourself.
 Sarah also picked out her Titanic bear in the gift shop. I found out that there is a children's book about the Titanic bear that is based on a true story...

Since we had left for TN Sarah had been asking to ride a horse. Some moments the asking was to the point of tears.  So Papaw and Mamaw took her to ride on the carousel at the Island, Pigeon Forge. It was about 20degrees that night, but seriously felt like about 5. We bundled up everyone and took Sarah to ride. She laughed and giggled the first few go arounds, and then started shivering uncontrollably. So the next go around she rode in the carriage with me. While the carousel was going around she laughed and said, "This is UHHH-mazing!" After that she looked at me and said, "Mommy, horse pooped". I laughed and asked her, "It did?". She wrinkled her nose and said," Yes, it stinks". haha...my kid.

Sunday morning we went to Tim and Kristi Mitchell's church. This church they recently took over and is small in number, but not small in spirit. I was glad we could go and be a part of their service. Sunday afternoon was quiet, and the girls and I got ready to head back to get Sam. The girls slept most of the way home....and we were all glad to get home. We love seeing family, but nothing like your own bed...and blankets :)

"She ate my hotdog"

Sarah and Maggie having one of their in-depth conversations

Today was a very cold, very grey day. Sarah had woken up crying last night because she was "hungwy". I laugh now, but at 2 in the morning it was not remotely funny. She was genuinely hungry. So I made her a snack and some milk, and she snuggled up on me and told me the story. If you have spent any time around Sarah, her fill in word is "nananananananana". So between the "nanana's" I got that Maggie ate her dinner. (The story I tell you Sam actually filled in the gaps). She was apparently eating her hot dog at her little table when Maggie came up while Sam wasn't looking and stole it from her. Both dogs are not allowed in the kitchen while we eat, so Maggie must have moved pretty stealthily around the corner to where Sarah's little toddler table was. When Sam had originally asked her what happened and Sarah sometimes gets yes and no mixed up and she told him no. Poor kid. Although I would have loved to have seen her face when Maggie just walked up and grabbed it.

Natalie went to work with me today. She always makes anything so much more enjoyable. She is such a happy girl, as long as she is on me. Babywearing is definitely one of my passions. I think it does both mom and baby wonders to be in contact as much as possible, plus it makes getting things done easier.

             On the off chance that I get to put her down, she usually entertains herself.

 I am just so thankful that I have a job that I can take my girls. To be able to work and contribute to my home financially, but at the same time still be able to be a mom is everything to me.
 So on this gloomy day I chose to look around and see the beauty in it. So even though I was up feeding a 2.5 year old at 2am, she was so funny and happy. Natalie keeping me entertained at work, and coming home to see Sarah's smiling face. Walking in the door hearing her say, "MAMA! I HAVE YOU!" makes the day beautiful.

"Mama, I fly!"

 As I sit here in bed as quiet falls in the house, I think about all the events of the day and think, "It was a great day".  No, nothing major happened. I spent the morning home and an uneventful afternoon at work; but today Sarah learned she could "fly".

 

 As a mother, and one who has always had a vivid imagination, I have always hoped my children would use their imagination to the fullest (healthiest) extent. So to see Sarah start to show fruits of that brings great joy to my heart.  She will color a circle and tell me it is a "frog" or a "horse", or she will act out scenes and sing songs from her favorite movie when the TV is not on.  So today when she started running in a circle, belly laughing and screaming to the top of her lungs, I knew something magical was happening. 

My beautiful, red-headed girl was running small circles in the living room and giggling. She said, "Mama! I runnin'" and I smiled and said yes. My simple acknowledgement fueled the fire.   She took of spinning and spinning, raising her arms up in the air. I watched as she spun until she was on the floor, a pile of laughter and smiles. She looked at me and said, "Mama, I fly!".

Just the look of pure excitement thrilled me. She was so proud of herself, and I cheered her on.  The more I cheered, the more she "flew". This went on and on until she finally decided flying was interfering with her princess duties, and off she went on another adventure.

Oh, this moment has passed...but what a memory it made! She discovered in her world of imagination that she can do anything. That is the confidence I want both her and Natalie to carry through their lives. That they can do anything, accomplish anything, be anything! God created them beautiful creatures, and their paths in life can take them anywhere!

 Sarah will go on to discover something new tomorrow. But I will never forget the day that I saw her fly.