Birth Stories: Zachary Warner Richeson

We had an amazing and beautiful birth. Labor lasted only 4 hours 19 minutes. Zachary was born at 2:19am on Friday, Jan. 13th, 2006.

Initially, Hava and I planned to have another hospital birth. We went back to our regular OBGYN as soon as we found out I was pregnant. In mid-August, we took a fabulous childbirth education class with Bridget Brown, who teaches the Bradley Method. Bridget has had 3 beautiful kids at home/attended by a midwife, and several of the couples in the class just raved about homebirth and midwives. Hava and I came away from that class inspired to look into homebirth.

We solicited recommendations for midwives from our friends and several of the Mommie lists we're on. After a few interviews, we decided that Laurie Fremgen would be the best fit for our family.

Hallie Jane's birth was at a hospital, and though it went well, the homebirth experience with the care of a doula and two midwives was immeasurably more peaceful. The prenatal and postnatal care we received from Laurie was also astounding. She is a wonderful support. The visits lasted an hour or so (as opposed to the 10-minute OBGYN visits) and we covered both medical and emotional issues of pregnancy, birth, and the post-partum period.

We continued to see our OBGYN through November, because there was an initial scare with low-lying placenta. When it was later confirmed by ultrasound that the placenta had moved far enough away from the cervix for a safe natural delivery, we heaved a great sigh of relief (no mandatory caesarian!) and discontinued our OBGYN visits.

We're so grateful to Bridget and all the Mamas that steered us towards Laurie and homebirth. The experience was amazing.

So, towards the end of the pregnancy, we were seeing Laurie once a week for an hour.

Our last prenatal visit was on Wednesday, January 11. I was about 4cm dilated and 85-90% effaced. We were hoping he'd come a little early — and in fact had convinced ourselves that he would — since Hallie Jane was 3 wks early. In any case, by that Wednesday we were really ready to meet the little guy.

So, Laurie suggested that I get a massage to relax my body and mind. We scheduled one with Marcela Billig (our RMT/Doula) on Thursday evening at 6:30 for Hava and 7:30 for me.

We felt so much more relaxed. Hava had come down with bad congestion and was feeling woozy, so she got into bed around 8:30pm as I got HJ down for the night.

I started puttering around. About 10 pm, I started getting mild then not-so-mild and regular contractions. I was about to wash the dog — then decided it might actually be labor coming on. I called Marcela first at about 10:15 to tell her she wouldn't believe it, but I thought the massage had kicked off labor. She suggested I call Laurie. I called Laurie and wasn't able to talk through the contractions, so she said she would head on over.

Sometime during the phone calls, Hava woke up, and with a happy and startled expression asked if this was it. I said I thought so, because I had 8 contractions increasing in strength between 10 and 10:30. I was getting through the contractions leaning on the kitchen counter and swaying my hips.

Marcela arrived around 10:45 and Laurie soon after. My contractions kept getting stronger. I got up from the couch to lean on the couch and sway my hips. Marcela massaged my sacrum through the contractions.

I called my parents to put them on "full baby alert." By about midnight, Hava called them back to say it was definitely a go and they made plans to drive up Friday morning.

I went to side-lying on the couch and swayed back and forth, with Marcela leaning over the back of the couch to massage my sacrum and Hava on the floor in front of me supporting my belly.

I moved onto the floor about 12:15 on my knees and forearms, swaying my hips through the contractions, It felt really good, but the pillows kept slipping on the floor and I was getting light-headed — probably not breathing as much as I needed to. The quick transitions from the couch to the floor probably added to the lightheadedness.

Laurie gave me something to help the lightheadedness. Marcela kept reminding me to breathe, and I could hear her take deep breaths. The lightheadedness eased up.

The contractions came very strong with almost no rest in between. Thank goodness for Hava and Marcela. Have kept me calm and held on to my belly through the contractions, while Marcela massaged my sacrum and reminded me to breathe and drink water and Recharge.

When I could open my eyes, I would glance up at Laurie, who would pause in her knitting and give me a reassuring and calm smile.

Laurie checked me about 12:45 and said I was 7cm with a bulging bag. She called GB Khalsa to come as her backup. GB arrived sometime around 1:30. What an amazing birth team! Everyone was calm, reassuring, and flowed so well together. I always felt so well supported.

The contractions alone were almost overwhelming. After I felt the first urge to push, about 1:45, it was fabulous. The pushing felt so good — and easy.

Marcela said that Laurie and GB had been knitting up until that point. When they heard me push, Marcela said they looked up at each other, raised their eyebrows, and put away their knitting to prepare the bedroom for the birth.

About 2am, we made what felt like a mad dash to the bed. I remember hoping to get to the bed without having to stop for another contraction. I clambered up onto the bed. Hava curled up behind me and held my belly. Her body behind me and her hand cradling my belly gave me a great sense of calm. I felt safe and supported.

It went pretty quickly from there. I was lying on my left side. Laurie asked if I wanted to put my leg on her shoulder and I did. At some point, Marcela braced my leg in the air so Laurie could move around and work. It was a very effective and relaxing position for pushing.

My water bag broke with a loud pop and gush.

The cord was tight around his neck and torso, but Laurie and GB were able to ease it off. He came out quickly. I remember feeling ecstatic and crying out when I felt his head. Such an amazing moment! He came out and Hava was crying with joy. I was so thrilled and kept saying, "That's my baby!" I can't describe the rush of excitement and happiness.

We got him to my chest and we just had a wonderful time holding him and caressing him. He took some moments to start breathing — though GB said his heartbeat was good and strong. GB was rubbing/patting his back. He finally let out a little cry — and we knew all was well.

He let out some really great cries. I asked Marcela what we could do to comfort him. She said he was retelling the story of his birth. GB put a little Rescue Remedy on his fontanel to help calm him.

Meanwhile, Laurie and GB were a bit concerned about my blood loss — as the cord may have pulled the placenta away from the uterus. The placenta was delivered and it turned out fine, though.

Zach played with his hands and started getting interested in nursing. The birth team had left Hava and me with our new guy. He latched on and I was so excited that I sent Hava rushing out to tell them, "We have a latch!" — and everyone cracked up.

After about an hour, the team came back in. Hava cut the cord. Very cool!

The team hung out until about 5:30. They checked little Zach again. With Laurie's help, I got in the shower, then back into the fresh bed with Zach and Hava.

Laurie and Marcela made plans with us to come back on Saturday. We took several pictures of our wonderful little guy and the birth team, then everyone said their goodbyes, leaving us to gaze at our new little guy and get a little rest.

Needless to say, we didn't sleep much.

Hallie Jane came in about 7:30. She came to the side of the bed to say good morning. I told her that Zachary had come to meet her. Her eyes got as big as saucers — and she exclaimed, "Zachary came out of your tummy!" She quickly climbed into bed and cooed over and kissed Zachary.

Zachary's first diaper change around 8-8:30 was hilarious, with the three of us fussing over him. We had poop everywhere!

A little later, HJ spontaneously sang him "Happy Birthday" as she snuggled him in her lap.

Andrea Richeson

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