My Decision For a Home Birth

From Epidural to Natural Hospital Delivery to Midwife at Home,

God Gives You Just What You Need!

Ethan Lee Buck
 

Six years ago, with my first pregnancy, I never would have imagined that I would eventually deliver a child naturally, let alone at home, especially seeing as my biggest fear in life was the labor of childbirth!  But, God is amazing how He plans our steps and directs our paths.  And, I am so thankful to have had the experience and support of the two wonderful ladies of Blessings Midwifery to successfully bring my third child Ethan Lee Buck into this world!

My road to a home birth began with the easy delivery of my first daughter, Riley Nicole (Strong and Victorious in the Lord), by epidural at Baptist Hospital in under six hours.  At that point in life, the fear of the needles and means of pain relief were just as great as my fear of labor pains.  But, with my second pregnancy, I came to realize that by prayer and preparation, the experience of natural childbirth can be heaven sent!  By “heaven sent” I mean my prayers “to labor in my sleep and wake up and have the baby,” (ha ha), were specifically and totally answered!  It was all I could do to get to the hospital that morning in 2003, delivering my second daughter Josie Lynn (God Will Add, Beauty, or combined God is My Salvation) on my own towel in a hospital bathroom floor, before I could even get admitted.  Little did I know, it was the complications following that would also aid in my decision to eventually deliver a child at home.

Nine months after my extremely speedy delivery, the surprise news of my third pregnancy arrived.  When we realized our new insurance would cover neither the pregnancy nor the delivery, my husband and I began to consider a home birth.  Though the main factor persuading our decision was this ten-month insurance clause (we could in no way afford a hospital delivery outright), we had other factors that we prayerfully considered.  Living in the country barely allowed us enough time to get to the hospital.  And, we were fortunate to have the positive influences of home birth testimonies by several church friends who had enlisted the help of Midwife Kathy Williams.  A co-worker of mine had also been researching the issue herself the year prior and had interviewed Kathy personally (though at that point, I was not even remotely interested in birthing a child in my own home).  Also in favor of the home birth was the recollection of the terrible aftershock of catheters, intravenous medications and other bedridden attempts to lower my blood pressure when it skyrocketed following my previously near perfect natural child birthing experience.  The extended stay at the hospital was not exactly easy on our family either.  I was definitely open to more natural ways of curbing this postpartum hypertension, and the hospital staff offered none.  It was a lot to consider.  But, in the presence of the Lord, the answer became obvious, as it is now to any reader!

36 weeks of my third pleasant pregnancy passed (I am so blessed!), and during the next few routine in-home prenatal visits with Kathy and her daughter Jennifer, we began to see early discouraging signs of a raised blood pressure.  This meant possibly doing something I had wanted to steer clear of—inducing labor early.  I am not normally for going against the “natural order” of things.  But, after having the dangers to the baby explained to me, I understood.  And, sure enough, at week 39, my bp hit 150/100 in a seated position with little activity.  I  called Kathy and she told me to lie on my side for 20 minutes and call her again.  (It’s amazing how stress can affect your bp levels.  I saw an immediate rise in pressure after speaking with her and hearing her concern, and it was all I could do to relax.)  After lying on the couch for a good 20 minutes, it had not bettered, once even peaking at 170/110.  I began to cry as I spoke with her a second time and she told me she was going to go ahead and come over to begin the labor process.  I thought my chance for a “perfect” delivery was over.  I had expected another baby slipping into the world with little effort.  (Third ones are supposed to be even easier, right?)  But, we usually never understand why things happen as they do until later in life….  

Kathy arrived that afternoon and we began to monitor my bp with lots of rest.  I reluctantly agreed on inducing, and began taking some natural supplements orally, first an herbal “labor startup formula.”  Kathy remained in contact with her physician consult at Northcrest Hospital, who supported her efforts and affirmed the safety of the baby for an at-home delivery.  (However, we all knew that this hospital was only minutes away, should either baby or I need an emergency trip following birth.)  My evening brought forth little movement, with simply a contraction here and there.  And, my blood pressure remained within safe limits as long as I was lying down.  It was a relaxing evening, with peaceful conversation and the comforts of home.  (I just felt bad for Kathy and Jennifer that I wasn’t progressing!)  After a night of little sleep for Kathy (she just knew I would go into labor that night), we began the next day with Cimicifuga and Caulaphyllum (small pellets of what tasted like sugar), on the hours and half hours.  My body began reacting but only with a contraction about every 15 minutes.  (Basically, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place—typically seeking activity to help further labor, I had to rely on rest to keep my blood pressure down.)  Midday arrived and still no further progression, so Kathy brought up the good ol’ castor oil once again (ugh), which I had never had and also wanted to avoid.  After succumbing, I realized I had agreed to an entire bottle of a dose, as opposed to what I thought was going to be only a tablespoon, or two.  Oh my goodness!  However, at least Jennifer and Kathy mixed it with a bowl of lime sherbet.  That only made it taste like some weird Chinese concoction—not terrible, but not something I’d ever order again.  The castor oil showed me just how stubborn my body is.  Kathy and Jennifer kept asking me, “Are you sure you haven’t felt any effects from the castor oil yet?”  I only laughed after hearing most people see some sort of results after 30 minutes to an hour.  About two hours later, though, they were able to break my water.  It took a total seven hours for that stuff to work on me (ha ha—told you my body was stubborn)!  And, then…labor began!!!  (Yes, castor oil works.)  With my last labor, I made the mistake of thinking I had so far to go, because I was in the car and the contractions were not as painful as I had expected.  (Hence, the bathroom delivery.)  But, this go around, beginning around 8pm, they came strong—again, I believe, because we were pushing the body to do something it was not yet ready to do. 

I prayed and I breathed.  (I totally recommend reading “Husband Coached Childbirth,” in addition to totally submitting yourself to God in worship and in prayer during the weeks prior, if not already a part of your daily life.)  My husband prepared for us a lovely Kobe Steakhouse-style dinner (though I could not eat it all because my contractions kept interrupting me).  And, after some time alone in bed, I realized I could no longer bear the pain comfortably on my left side, as I had been.  I really felt it was time to push, but had no idea if I was dilated enough.  So, I interrupted the group’s viewing of Survivor and hollered for my husband and Kathy to let them know I thought I was close.  (We just had a good ol’ time at the house…you know I need to concentrate if I was missing my show…ha ha).  I tried several positions (seated on the bed, all fours) with nothing feeling quite right.  Instead it felt as though I was trying to push the baby through my urethra (ouch), or through the actual pelvic bone.  So, Kathy suggested I stand up (not necessarily my favorite position, but when you’re in labor, you gotta give up the glamour and go for the comfort).  Bearing on my husband’s shoulders at the corner edge of the bed, I pushed, not sure how many times.  But, I do remember saying, “I will never do this again!”  (How funny—not at all a reflection on Kathy…only the pain.)  What relief though, when after about only 30 minutes of good labor did his precious little head come through!  It was awkward trying to step over and straddle the umbilical cord, so Kathy could place my son on the bed in front of us (it’s not awkward enough that you’re half naked already or anything).  But, when we saw another amazing gift God had created and brought into our lives, everything else faded into the background.  He was red, full of color, and clothed in lanugo—so natural, so new.  And, after a moment of unexpected, yet peaceful silence as Kathy placed him upon my arm on the bed in front us, Ethan’s life became evident (and my heart returned from my stomach).  The precious child of God opened his little eyes, as if sensing our presence, and peered into our own, like he had known us forever.

Following delivery, Kathy and Jennifer weighed our little blessing—Ethan Lee Buck (Strong in the Lord, and in the Meadow), at 8lbs, 2oz, the largest of the clan.  (You should have seen him 6 months later at 20 lbs, strictly nursing!)  Blessings surprised us with an adorable homemade cap to fit Ethan’s head, matching the “I was Born at Home” tee that we just had to put on him immediately.  Blessings did pretty much everything necessary, as in the hospital (minus shots and circumcision), within the comforts of our own home.  From the foot printing to the birth certificate, from breakfast to dirty laundry, these ladies were true servants.  And, that is exactly what we needed, for my blood pressure was seriously up, again rising in a seated position, and even more when standing.  My home birth allowed for more available help from the family, more bonding with siblings, less (hospital to home) adjusting, and uninterrupted at-home treatments to continue. 

Blessings treated my blood pressure mainly with rest, Magnesium-Calcium supplements (which were given intravenously at the hospital previously), and Epson Salt baths.  It took longer for my bp to regulate this time, making this post pregnancy-induced hypertension still an unexplained phenomenon.  Unfortunately, that plays a role in my having more children (and my shouting “I’m not doing this again!”).  If they could all slip out like my second, it may be different (and if raising 3 children was a simple task, ha).  But, knowing the pattern my body has created, it’s difficult to say what risks lie ahead for a fourth pregnancy.  That will be a prayer in the future, if we ever become ready—for with God all things are possible.  And, I know that to be true—because this woman, the same girl whose biggest fear at one point in life was laboring and delivering a child, just delivered her third child naturally at home!!!  God is incredible.

My special thanks go out to Kathy and Jennifer who spent more than 24 hours with me during my labor (even though the first 22 were a piece of cake and do not actually seem like part of the actual “labor”).  They made the journey wonderful—fabulous hostesses, great conversationalists, fantastic Christian ladies!  I would totally recommend Blessings Midwifery to anyone interested in a home birth or natural delivery.  Thank you, ladies for lending a hand in God’s work and in delivering this little miracle in our home!  May God bless you and your ministry richly!

Valorie Buck