Birth Stories: Parker Reese

Parker Reese Werhane’s Birth Story

Before our first son, Mason, was born Doug and I had many typical preconceived notions about birthing babies – go to the hospital, get the epidural, and have the relatively painless birth. Unfortunately for us, it didn’t quite work out that way. My labor was induced by our Ob/Gyn at 41 weeks with Cytotec overnight, followed by Pitocen and breaking my waters to “speed things along.” I then had an epidural that lasted 2 hours out of a 13 hour labor….just stopped working. The artificially strong contractions due to the Cytotec/Pitocen combo were so unbearable that I don’t remember most of my labor. Doug tells me random details, but I hear it as someone else’s birth, not my own. I do remember “C-section” being encouraged by the Ob/Gyn toward the end of my 13 hours laboring. Eventually, heart deceleration was the deciding factor in an emergency c-section. I clearly remember the fear on Doug’s face and our hands separated as I was rushed alone into emergency surgery. My last memory was the gas mask put over my face. Mason came into this world without my conscious presence.

Mason’s spirited personality and extensive food allergies, as well as his birth experience, led us to a more natural way of parenting and birthing. I stopped listening to mainstream advice and naysayers and learned to follow my own intuition. When I became pregnant with Parker, I read everything I could about homebirth and midwifery. I interviewed with Laurie and immediately understood that I was on the cusp of a new journey, a whole new way of experiencing pregnancy and birth.

Throughout my pregnancy, I looked forward to my visits with Laurie. Her vast knowledge and experience with birthing babies was consistently obvious. But what I loved the most was the time, energy, and emotion she put into each and every meeting we had. These wonderful qualities were exactly what I needed to help me through the challenges and triumphs of labor and birth.

My labor with Parker started on my due date, New Year’s Eve, waking me at 7:20am. Those first contractions felt similar to strong menstrual cramps. They were quite different than the tightening sensation of the Braxton-Hicks contractions I’d experienced frequently throughout my pregnancy. So, I knew this was “it.” Mason, sleeping right next to me, was awoken to “Ow…..ow…..ow,” and quickly headed into the kitchen with me to tell Doug the good news.

I called Laurie, timed contractions, called Laurie back, then heeded her advice to go for a walk to help baby into a better position. Doug, Mason, and I walked around our backyard, stopping during each contraction so I could lean on Doug. I can’t describe the peace I felt out there, all of us together in my early labor. It filled me with the strength I would need for the progressing labor. I went from 7 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart during the walk. Laurie said she’d be on her way soon.

Laurie arrived around 11:00am. My mom and stepfather looked after Mason as Doug and I retreated to the bedroom. We continued walking and leaning, and contractions were strong and frequent. I rested on the bed for a bit which slowed down my contractions, then got into the bathtub at 1:20pm. Until this point, I had been struggling more and more to stay on top of the pain. In the water on my hands and knees, I was able to go inside myself completely, welcoming the pain of each contraction, silently telling each one to push the baby lower. I was in a transe-like state, and gained back control of the pain. Thank you, endorphins! While in the bath, my water broke with a pop/gush of clear fluid and I felt the baby’s head descend further. Around 2:00pm, I told Laurie I was feeling like pushing. She called Faith, another amazing midwife, to come assist her.

Out of the tub and onto the birth chair, I found that I was not ready to push. I started questioning how much longer I could keep the pain and intensity from overtaking me. I was trying every position, location, and strategy to make the contractions more bearable. Laurie reminded me to find my courage and willingness. She told me to find the positions that lengthened and intensified the contractions, not make them milder. This was exactly what I needed to hear. I didn’t want to prolong my suffering, I wanted to get things moving and meet my baby!

Around 5:00pm I got on the bed, on hands and knees, and found those longer and stronger contractions. By 5:50pm the real pushing urges started, but I told Laurie I was exhausted. At 6:20pm I had my first good involuntary push. At 6:45, I was completely dialated, but with a cervical lip remaining. This got me revved up again! I was encouraged to get on my back, holding my knees, since I was having problems getting his head past the pubic bone. Laurie held back the cervical lip as I pushed. The whole time I was thinking to myself, “I’m done with all the pain, I just want to meet my baby!” Eventually I pushed right through it. Parker came into this world partially posterior and with a fist next to his face. It’s no wonder I pushed for two hours!

The placenta was delivered shortly after the birth, then we nursed for the first time. Laurie and Faith cooked an herbal “soup” on the stove and prepared our bath with it. Parker and I stepped into the bath in nothing but candle light. As Parker enjoyed his first bath, Laurie and Faith sang a beautiful song to us in perfect harmony, with Doug watching on. Doug, my rock, was right by my side the entire labor. He anticipated my every need, and I could not have done this without him. I will never forget that bath, those midwives, Doug’s strength, and my homebirth as long as I live. The experience made me a stronger person, and it healed the emotional wounds of Mason’s birth.

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