Jodi, Glenn and Andrew's Birth Story

Our Labour in total was 13 hours and 23 minutes, which is not exactly short, but not extremely long. I was at home with my mom when my waters broke at about 5:00 pm. and it was around 7:00 pm. when I felt the first contractions. Glenn was still at work and I waited until the contractions started before I called him as I didn't want him to rush home unnecessarily. So he arrived home about 9:00 pm (after stopping at the grocery store to make sure we had everything we needed).

I had already called our midwife to let her know where I was at and said that we would call when we felt that she was needed. By the time Glenn got home my contractions were about 3-5 minutes apart and lasting for about 45 seconds. So we decided it would be a good time to call the midwife. She arrived around 10:00 pm and I was only 3cm dilated. I was also participating in a therapeutic touch study being done on women in labour. Camille was the practitioner so I believe Glenn called her and she arrived somewhere around midnight and I had my first session with her shortly after. It was quite soothing and centering to have Camille there.

My labour progressed through the wee hours of the morning. I laboured mostly on my knees, by the bed, sometimes in bed on my side and in the shower. My midwife gave me some blue cohosh in orange juice a few times to help speed things up as I wasn't progressing very fast. It was around 7:00 am when she checked me again and I was still only 4-5 cm dilated. At which point she recommended I get into the shower, try to relax and concentrate on getting the contractions stronger. She also mentioned if things didn't start to progress we might have to think about going to the hospital.

I almost instantly felt the contractions get stronger when I got into the shower and my body suddenly wanted to push. After 1/2 an hour in the shower with Glenn we got out and I went back to the bed, lay on my side and had another therapeutic touch session with Camille. I remember asking if it was okay if I held my leg up and within 23 minutes, Andrew was born.

He had a pretty big head for his size, the midwife figures that was why he took so long to descend. I think it was almost decided that I would have to be transferred to the hospital (I didn't know this though) so it was a bit of a rush to get everything together in the end, but the midwife was amazing. I never felt anything but the fact that everything was fine and completely under control. I really felt that I had the most perfect experience and when all was said and done I could just go lie down in my own bed with my son by my side.

Thank you to my midwives, Camille, Glen and my mom!

Jodi