Jennifer & baby Breea

Mommy: Jennifer
Baby: Breea, 7lb 1oz
Birth: September 29, 2012, 11:14pm

On Saturday September 29, 2012 I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Breea DeVon. On the morning of Breea’s birth (one week before her due date), we went as a family to Nauman’s Pumpkin Patch. Our son, Emmett (almost 2 years old) was pretty grumpy and spent most of the time in his stroller but we had fun looking at all the pumpkins! We purchased four pumpkins to make a ‘pumpkin family’ for Fall decorations. Because of my struggle with back pain, it did not take long for me to be uncomfortable and sore while walking around. We planned on spending the rest of the day at home to relax.

Around 4:15 p.m. I had my first ‘bloody show’ while my husband, Russ was out getting a few groceries. I did not have any contractions at this point but it reminded me of my birth with Emmett so I called my primary midwife, Pooja around 5:40 p.m. to let her know and give her a ‘heads up’. I made some phone calls to family and arranged for Emmett to spend the night at my parent’s house ‘just in case.’

Once the house was quiet, Russ and I had supper together and started to watch a movie (Blast from the Past). My contractions started around 7:55 p.m. while we were watching the movie. We began to time them. They were very bearable at this point (just felt like tight period cramps). I could tell when they would start and finish but they were not painful. The contractions were approximately 1 minute long every 5 minutes. They were consistent but bearable. I had a shower around 9:00 p.m. We called Pooja again around 9:45 p.m. to tell her that things were progressing and she came at 10:00 p.m. to check my dilation. I was only 1-2 cm dilated around 10:05 p.m. Pooja decided to bring her equipment in and set up the room in case things progressed quickly (my last birth was very fast). We set up in the master bedroom where we planned to give birth. While Pooja was setting up, I talked on the phone with my mom about when she should come over to help (I wanted to have her at the birth again) but since I was only 1-2 cm dilated we thought there was more time and she could come over later. I was managing okay on my own with Russ at this point.

After setting up her things, Pooja decided that she would leave for a bit. She said that she would return once I was “a little less happy”. Contractions began to get more painful but still bearable. My pain was in my lower back (felt a lot like my achy back pain when it was at its worst). Pooja thought that the pain in my back was indicating that the baby was doing some turning. I laid on the bed to rest and then the contractions began to get more intense. Laying down seemed to help the baby’s position and pain moved away from my back and more forward. While laying in bed, I was BBMing with my sister and friend during my contractions. The contractions quickly intensified to the point where they were more difficult to talk through and more painful. At 10:30 p.m. I went to the washroom one last time as contractions were getting more difficult. My last BBM message to my sister and friend was “It is getting harder.”

I continued having contractions in the washroom with help from my husband. I remember having a large contraction leaning over the bathtub on my hands and knees. From here, we moved to the nursery because I wanted to try being on the floor and using the rocking ottoman for support. The room was dark with very dim lighting. I found that the rocker ottoman worked well for support, and I could rock through the intense pain. At 10:55 p.m. we called Pooja to come back. At 11:00 p.m. I had an urge to push and screamed, “I can feel the head!” There was no crowning yet but this was a very intense time, and I was finding it difficult to control my breathing. Apparently Russ was freaking out in his head but he did well at remaining calm for me. We were both very eager for Pooja to arrive!

At 11:05 p.m. Pooja arrived and went straight upstairs to find me kneeling on the floor using the ottoman for support in the nursery. Pooja checked that it was safe to push and I began pushing. Russ and Pooja quickly moved the shower curtains from the master bedroom to where I was in the baby’s room. They arranged the rest of the towels and organized Pooja’s birth equipment.

After a few pushes, the baby’s head arrived and was looking straight up. (I was still on my hands and knees at this point using the ottoman for support). A few more pushes after that and the rest of the baby arrived!

Breea DeVon was born at 11:14 p.m. on the floor of her own bedroom in our own home—drug free! She was 7 lb 1oz. Pooja passed the baby between my legs so I could hold her. We checked for the gender and Russ declared, “It’s a girl!” (we did not find out the gender prior). Russ and Pooja cut the umbilical chord and then I leaned back and sat on the floor, propped up by pillows. The placenta came at 11:17 p.m. Julie (my second midwife) arrived at 11:25 p.m.

Both midwives were super amazing with clean-up, guidance, drawing a bath, weighing Breea, etc. Russ called my mom shortly after giving birth to tell her that, “We have a daughter!” She was in shock and surprised that it had all progressed so quickly! She came over to help and arrived just as I was getting in the bathtub with Breea. (It was at this point that Russ and I confirmed Breea’s name and spelling).

After having a bath with Breea (she pooped while in the tub!), I went to my bedroom and sat up in bed to nurse Breea for the first time. This is when Breea was weighed for the first time and the midwives did a few other things with her. We spent the rest of the evening cuddling Breea and recapping her intense, exciting arrival.

I remember Breea slept very well the first night. We are so thankful for the care and attention we received from our midwives at St. Jacobs Midwives.

What an amazing experience!