When I Saw Her Face, I Started Crying: A Birth Center Birth

Birth is an amazing, beautiful thing! The birth story of Evangeline Lily began on February 28th, 2017. Actually, it began a few months before because I always said I didn’t want a February birth day. On Tuesday, February 28th, I realized a would get my wish of a March baby. I told my friends and family that we need to make it to March 1st. In no way did I think I would begin labor that early because our baby had been measuring small my entire pregnancy. I was fully prepared to go past my dates and told my family that the previous evening.

Tuesday evening, Aaron and I were hanging the last decorations in the nursery. The bags were ready to go, just not packed. I had a list of things to get done the next day before the baby arrived such as organize the freezer, monthly budget, last minute shopping, and purchasing more nursing bras. Ha! That evening, Archer, our dog, was acting very strange around me. He wouldn’t stop looking at me, sniffing me, always had to be touching me, and even jumped on our bed twice, which he’s never done before. Aaron and I joked that maybe I was in labor and he was the only one that knew. Boy, was he right!

The next morning, Wednesday, March 1st, I woke up at 5am to losing my mucus plug and having bloody show. I later texted our midwife and she said that it could be early signs of labor or could still be weeks away. I tried not to get too excited because I knew it could still be a while, but these were the first actual labor signs I had besides Braxton Hicks contractions for the previous few weeks.

Around 9am I began having what felt like period cramps, which became stronger throughout the morning. I had a lot more bloody show but still didn’t think I was in labor. The contractions began at 10 minutes a part, which I thought was pretty close together. We were told that early labor could take hours, I would be chatty and full of energy, and contractions could be anywhere from 15-20 minutes apart. Around 11am I ran to the bank and my contractions were about 5-6 minutes apart. At this point, I had been talking to Aaron about what was going on, but still didn’t think I was in labor. It’s supposed to take a long time, right?

Driving in the car on the way back from the bank was rough. I had to really concentrate and breathe through contractions. I needed to go to the store but decided to stop by the house to pick up a few things. Around 1, I told Aaron that I was not feeling well. I was hot, nauseous, and having to breathe and sway through the contractions. The funny thing is, I still kept saying I don’t know if I’m actually in labor or not. The contractions were happening about 5 minutes apart and lasting for 45 seconds—not what I thought “early” labor looked like! I finally told Aaron I thought he should come home because I was not doing well. I also updated my midwife and doula, still telling them I didn’t know if I was in labor. He called me on the way home and I couldn’t talk through my contraction.

By the time he got home at 2pm, he had to call the midwife because I wasn’t able to talk. They said to come in and they would check me, if I was 1cm they would send me home. I told him I don’t know if I’m being a wimp or not but we needed to go get checked. I quickly had him throw the rest of the bag together and out we went. He was probably only home from work for 20 minutes. We had a 35 minute car ride and I timed the contractions on the way. They were happening every 2 minutes and lasting for 45 seconds. By the time we got to the birth center, they took one look at me and said “yeah, I think you are in labor, you’ll be staying”. When we got up to the birth room, they checked me and I was 8cm! I asked, “So we are staying, right?” I did NOT want to do that car ride again! I was laughing and smiling so much when they told me how dilated I was because I didn’t think I could handle things if I wasn’t in actual labor.

We arrived at the birth center around 4pm. Our doula was amazing. Anytime I had a contraction she was right there, rubbing my back, which helped with the pain immensely. I got in the tub soon after I got there. The water was amazing and made my body relax and float. I switched positions and places a few times while laboring. I sat on the toilet for a while, which was so difficult and scary, but very effective. I labored in bed while leaning over the birth ball. Aaron was by my head the entire time. Telling me what a good job I was doing, holding me, putting washcloths on my neck and face, and the rest of my birth team did the same. There were a few times during transition when I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore. I got sick and threw up. My body knew exactly what to do during this whole process. It was in my mind that I had to talk to myself, pray, and let my body take over. It is true that you go “inside yourself” during birth. I was hardly talking to anyone and was fully aware of what was going on, but it was a different instinct that took over.

I never really knew how far or what stage I was in during labor, it just happened on its own and my midwives didn’t keep me updated on progress. A part of me thinks it would have been more helpful to know what all was happening, but the other part knows it allowed my body to do its job and shut my mind off. When I was laboring on the bed, they told me I could start little pushes if I felt like it. I did that for a while then got back in the tub. The water helped my body relax and float because I was getting really shaky on the bed. I pushed in the tub for a bit and it was really difficult. They told me later I was pushing really hard. I could reach up and feel my baby’s head at this point. Her heart beat was so strong during the entire process. They had me get out of the water because for the amount I was pushing, the baby wasn’t making much progress. Kim told me I could go get in bed if I wanted to slow things down. She said I was having a very fast and intense labor, but I just wanted it to be over. I got on the toilet and this was one of the hardest parts. I thought something was wrong with the baby, but they assured me she was fine. I labored on the toilet for a bit, threw up again, and could really feel the baby coming down. At this point, I got scared and didn’t think I could do it. I remember thinking I either wanted to die or get the baby out. Anything to stop the intensity. I don’t remember there being overwhelming amounts of pain at this point. Sure, it hurt, but mainly just the most intense and difficult thing my body had done. The pushing contractions reminded me of when you have to throw up and your body just takes over, only much more intense.

Meredith asked me to move positions off the toilet because she didn’t want me to have my baby there. I got up and could hardly walk because the baby was between my legs. I got on the bed and laid on my back and left side. They helped hold legs up and I pushed in this position. I was way more vocal than I thought but tried to keep my sounds low. It was a very intense and scary moment as the baby was crowning. I could reach down and feel her. At this point, I definitely felt pain. They had me stop and breathe in between contractions to avoid tearing. They said I did a great job at this even though I didn’t even realize it! The most encouraging part was when Aaron told me he could see her head and she had a lot of hair. I didn’t know how much more I could take, and this made me realize I was almost done! Once her head came out, it was the most amazing feeling of relief. Her head was out and I was waiting for the next contraction, she started to cry and Kim told me I needed to push her out. Once her head was out, her body slid right out. She came out crying and Aaron and Meredith helped put her up on my chest. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the baby had her hand by her head when she was born. That’s one of the reasons my body was pushing so hard. Meredith realized it when I was on the bed and she checked for a cord.

When I saw her face, I started crying. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Aaron cried too because he realized we were both healthy and safe. We laid there for a few minutes, all of us crying. At this point we didn’t know if we had a little girl or boy. We checked together and she was a girl! Those first few moments together were something I’ll never forget. Evangeline Lily Teter was born at 7pm on March 1st, 2017. She was born to the song “Over the Rainbow” by Iz. Even while pushing her out I smiled when I heard this song playing. She weighed 6lbs 12 oz and was 18.5 inches long.

I am amazed and humbled at how the Lord created life and my body to do this. The whole time, I never really felt like it was “me” doing anything, but my body. I know he created all of the processes to work together from conception to birth. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. I am so thankful for the safe, positive, and encouraging atmosphere that she entered the world in. Never was there a moment of interruption or panic. The lights were dim, candles lit, beautiful music playing in the background, and a birth team full of love and confidence. They encouraged, supported, and affirmed me the entire time. I had a husband who was strong and reassuring. And I had God who promised to give me strength and to never leave me. I am so thankful for such a wonderful, healthy birth of our daughter.

Birth experience and photograph submitted by Sadie T.