My new niece is about to be born. As her mom, my sister-in-law, is nearing the 24-hours in labor mark, I’m reminded of my two baby’s births. Each one was as unique as they are. Today I will focus on my oldest.
My five-year old was a breech baby. I tried every available technique to get her into the ideal position: acupuncture, chiropractic, even the manual version, which I don’t recommend to anyone ever. There was a ton of pressure and painful twisting, not to mention the uncomfortable hallucinogenic medication I received. My baby girl wouldn’t budge. Each day I felt her hard head pressed against my ribs and little flickers of her feet near my pelvis. Her head was close to my heart.
A home birth was ruled out and a cesarean was scheduled. But just like my little headstrong five-year old, she chose her own birthday. On a Friday at 4:30 in the morning, my water broke. I rested a while longer in bed. I had a small breakfast, and then we headed to the hospital later that morning.
It was a blissful birth experience. Her fetal signs were strong and I was relaxed. It was kind of amusing and annoying when the nursing staff kept putting the fetal monitor on backwards. They were actually putting it on the “normal” way, but she was a breech baby. I was surrounded by my husband, doula, midwife and rockstar OB-GYN. It was a “gentle cesarean.” The lights in the operating room were softened. I had my iPod playing my birthing music. We welcomed her around 2 p.m. that afternoon. Everyone in the operating room stopped performing their job for a moment and welcomed her. It was heartfelt and special. She was hungry and began to nurse immediately while they sewed me up from the operation.
When she was a young toddler, every night she would rest her head against my chest and fall asleep while I gently rocked her. It was a cozy time, and I still have fond memories of it. She will forever be close to my heart.
Healing Insights 