Roanna Sue

Roanna’s Birth…as told by her mom, Ashre

Our love, Roanna Sue was born at home, Friday, 5/14, at 6:18pm. She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz, and was 20 inches long…here is her story…and the story of my transformation into motherhood….

Roanna’s birth began on Thursday, when I lost my mucus plug and began to have mild contractions about 15 minutes apart. I thought I could be in early labor, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up, so I continued with my regular plans for the day. The contractions were only mildly distracting, but they remained constant throughout the day while we took some belly pictures (just in the knick of time) and ate dinner with family. We went to bed around 2am, our normal time, and I told Todd that I thought something would be happening very soon. I was due on the 15th, which was also our 5 year wedding anniversary.

I woke up at 6am with contractions that I had to quietly moan thru. I decided to get into the tub to see if they would subside or increase in intensity….they got stronger. I woke my husband at 7:15 am and told him to prepare for a birthday and do his “morning routine” so he could assist me. I called Christy about 8 am and told her my contractions were 5-7 minutes apart and that I was managing them by moaning thru them. As soon as I hung up with her I had a large amount of bloody show, and my surges picked up dramatically. I got back into the tub and asked my husband to time them. My contractions were lasting a minute and coming 2-4 minutes apart. I told him he’d better call Christy back and tell her she ought to come over. I knew she had a 12:30 appointment she was trying to keep, but I thought I would need her by then. She arrived at approximately 11:30 am, and found me on all fours hanging over some pillows on the bed. I told her I had given up moaning, and rocking and abdominal breathing now became my new strategy.

I gave Christy permission to check my cervix, and I dreaded being told I was 2 cm dilated, but I thought I’d be happy to hear I was at a 4. I couldn’t believe it when she checked me and said I was fully dilated. Labor had not been as bad as I expected it to be, and I felt like I’d dealt with it very well. My bag of waters was still intact, so she told me to go bear down a bit over the toilet to see if it would break. I hung over my husband’s neck and gave a little push and my bag broke like a water balloon exploding…clear fluid. I was very happy. I thought, “I’m going to have this baby in the next 2 hours.” However, Roanna had other plans for us.

Ilyssa, the assistant midwife, arrived as I began to push shortly after noon. Pushing felt great. I was surprised by the intensity, but it wasn’t painful. I pushed with all my might thru each contraction, although some of the contractions weren’t strong enough to be much help. I pushed in every conceivable position…supported squat, lying flat on my back, laying over pillows on all fours, hanging from my husband’s neck, on the toilet, on a make-shift birthing stool Christy and Ilyssa crafted out of yoga blocks, pulling on a bungee cord while Ilyssa held the other end….literally every conceivable position. I was making progress, but Roanna’s head was presenting in an unfavorable position and was not coming under the pelvic bone. We all decided I needed a break, so I lay on my side and tried not to push and just relax for an hour. Roanna’s heart rate never dropped or gave us any reason to worry about her. She was so strong.

When I was done with my “nap” Christy jostled my pelvis to see if she could get her head in a better position. She also decided she needed to manipulate my pelvic bones by pulling them apart while I was pushing to help get Roanna’s head to come under it. I did not like that feeling, and I remember telling her so. She replied with a very sympathetic “I know, but I really think it will help.” After some nipple stimulation, it seemed like I started to make some progress. I could tell by Christy’s voice which pushes were working. I fought hard to maintain that progress, but some of my contractions weren’t very helpful. I was a bit confused because it was taking so long. Christy and Ilyssa were telling me I was doing great, but then in the next breath they were telling me I needed to dig deep and push harder. I already felt like I was pushing as hard as I could.

It was suggested that I walk around with Todd’s help and so I did. I could feel the contractions getting super strong. I ended up lying on the floor, flat on my back, with my knees by my ears, and my pelvis pointing to the ceiling. I’ve heard this position is effective for getting a baby under the pelvic bone, and it started to work for me. I could hear the excitement and encouragement in their voices as Roanna’s head started to present itself and not recede between pushes. Christy and Ilyssa kept telling me how strong I was being and how I was such a determined Momma. I silently agreed. I never thought I couldn’t do it, and they always appeared to have confidence in me as well. They held up a mirror and I could see her head, about the size of a silver dollar, with a ton of dark hair. I was encouraged. After a while, they told me to reach down and touch my baby’s head. It was out to the brow. I did, and I just said “Oh My God!” At that point I knew she was really coming. My surges were also doing their job by coming long and strong, and I could really feel that my pushes were working. Finally, I felt the “ring of fire” I briefly thought I didn’t want to tear, but it felt so good to push into it, so I didn’t care. Next her head was out. I heard her making some noises, probably clearing her airways. I thought “how surreal to have her half inside of me and half in this world.” As her head came out, it was obvious why the pushing stage was taking so long. She had her hand under her chin. Christy gently reached in and pulled the arm on through. The rest of her slid out, and Todd reached down to help Christy place her on my chest. I was so relieved and so elated to see her. We learned her sex at that time, and I was so happy to hear she was a little girl. Pure adrenaline and excitement rushed thru every cell of my soul.

However, it wasn’t over. After over 5 hours of pushing, Roanna was in a bit of shock. She was breathing and whimpering and her heart rate was good, but her limbs were limp. Christy breathed a couple breaths into her, and I rubbed her back and told her I was so glad she was here and how beautiful she was and how happy we were to meet her and welcome her into this new world. She was given a bit of oxygen and her color turned normal and she looked up at me and reached out for my face, licked my nipples a bit, and I was totally and utterly in love. As I waited for the placenta to come out, I just stared in amazement at her and in awe of the wonder of life. With the placenta came more blood than usual, so the midwives gave me some herbs to firm up my very tired uterus and prevent too much bleeding. I was never worried for a second. I knew I was in good hands, and in good health.

Once I birthed the placenta and it stopped pulsing, Roanna and the placenta were moved to the bed and Todd cut the cord. Roanna had pooped meconium all over me as she came out, so we both needed a bath. We took a wonderful herbal bath together. She was very alert and looking around. Christy sang her a beautiful song, and I had to turn Roanna to look at her more easily because she was straining her neck to look toward the music. Roanna floated about like a little angel and latched onto my breast. I was surprised at the intensity of her suck.

Christy examined me, and even though Roanna’s hand was under her chin, my perineum was totally intact, and I required no stitches for the stress marks around my labia. After cleaning up after the birth and showing me how to breastfeed Roanna lying on my side, they gave Todd some instructions for caring for me, and headed out. Christy and Ilyssa couldn’t have been happier for us and I could tell they were genuinely proud of me.

I give thanks to God, my wonderful and attentive husband Todd, and the caring hearts and knowing hands of my wonderful midwives. I knew I could do it, and I’m grateful they all believed in me as well. The care I received by Christy was always thoughtful, sympathetic, and extremely knowledgeable. I always knew I was in good hands with her, and I totally trusted her all the while taking full responsibility for my health and my experience.

May 14th was the best day of my life and I love being a Momma to this lovely little girl.