Asher's Birth Story

Asher's story really begins shortly after we found out we were expecting another baby. After Weston's birth, I started thinking about the pros and cons of doing a home delivery, and by the time I was pregnant with Asher, I had decided that I seriously wanted to check out what it would take to do a home birth. I found a certified nurse midwife in Laramie who was willing to do our prenatal care and birth and when we met her, we instantly liked her. She had a ton of experience and assured us that we were great candidates for a home birth. Sean and I talked and prayed about this decision a lot and when both of us felt complete peace about it, we decided to give it a go! The CNM, Penelope, came to our house to do all the prenatal visits which was wonderful! It is so much nicer to sit in your living room and visit with a practitioner than sitting in a clinic for hours to see someone for about 10 min! My pregnancy was totally normal and so we went ahead and got everything we needed for the birth.



I totally expected to go at least full term if not over, but on Aug 30th, I got the flu bug. I was pretty sick Monday night and Tuesday and I got fairly dehydrated. I am not sure if this had anything to do with labor starting, but I am guessing that it did. On Weds I felt much better and cleaned my house to try to get all the "bad bugs" out. Tyler also got sick but Weston and Sean never did. On Weds night, I just didn't feel quite right but I thought it was probably just a left over bug although I have to admit I was thinking I might be having the baby soon. We went to prayer meeting that night as normal and then came home and went to bed by about 10:30pm. I woke up at 1:27 am (funny how you remember the exact time in situations like this!) and I was having contractions that were pretty hard. I had been having a lot of contractions, but these felt different and I couldn't sleep through them. They were about 10 min or so apart. I tried to sleep but then I decided that I was in labor so I got up and got our guest room ready for delivery. I figured if it wasn't real, it would be real sometime soon and it wouldn't hurt to have the room ready. I put a mattress protector and old sheet on the bed and got out the chux, blue towels, blankets and warmer, clothes and diapers, and all the other supplies I needed. It was a little strange setting everything out instead of packing everything up to go to the hospital, but it was also very relaxing knowing that I was going to be in my own house to welcome this baby into the world. When it was all set up, I went to the couch and tried to sleep, but they were about every 5-7 min now and pretty hard.



Sean's alarm went off at 5 am so I went in and told him that I thought I was in labor. He wanted to know if I was sure because he had to make calls to set things up at work. I was not completely sure at this point but I told him to go ahead and make the calls. By 6 am I called Penelope and she said she would be here by 7. So I took a walk. It was a very chilly morning! I talked to Angie the whole time and she timed me at about every 3 min or so. They were getting pretty hard by this time and since I had Weston so quickly, I was thinking it would not be too much longer. Ha!! I was so wrong!



Sean started an IV at 7:05 am (I was group B strep positive) and he ran in penicillin. Penelope arrived at 7:15 am and she got all her stuff ready while I was still sitting in the chair getting PCN. At this point, my contractions stretched out to about every 15 min and I was getting scared that this was all for nothing. When my IV was out, Penelope checked me and I was only at about 3 1/2 cm. I started out at 3 cm. So then I really wondered and I was also a little depressed because the contractions were so hard already. Penelope left and Sean took Tyler to preschool. When he came home, we walked Weston down to Aunt Jo's house. Let me tell you how nice it is to live so close to your brother and sister-in-law! When they were all safely delivered to their destinations, Sean and I went for a long walk. I am not sure how far we walked, but it was so nice to be outside walking together. We got to talk a lot and I was having contractions at least every 3 min. Again they were hard and I was really hoping they were doing something! When we came back, I sat down again and they again stretched out. When Penelope came back around noon, I was only about 4 cm. This was extremely depressing for me! So we walked some more. We went to visit Tyler who by this time was home at Aunt Jo's from preschool. My parents were also over there helping. Tyler was very concerned so we didn't stay for long because I couldn't keep the pain from my face when I was having contractions. They were really painful for not doing much! Eventually we made it home and I sat in my rocking chair. Penelope came back and she and Sean watched a movie together. How cool is that!? We all just got comfortable (well I was far from comfortable, but they looked pretty comfy!). I sat in the chair with my eyes closed concentrating through each contraction. They thought I was sleeping but believe me I was far from sleeping!



The movie ended around 4:30 pm. I was getting really tired and a little discouraged. I went to the bathroom and was able to feel my bulging bag of water. Penelope had gone out for a walk, so I decided that if I broke my water this would end much faster and I didn't think I could take it much longer! So I broke my water and let me tell you, that is not an easy thing to do! I don't know how they ever break on their own! Anyway, that instantly made my contractions even worse which at that point I really hadn't thought was possible! I headed to the room and laid down. Penelope came back and I was 7 cm. I don't remember much from that point until I felt the urge to push. I do know that my mom came and stood in the corner and that Penelope, Sean, and her assistant, Linda were in and out of the room. Thankfully, it didn't take very long before the irresistible urge to push started coming with each contraction and I sent my mom out to bring everyone in. With Weston, I pushed too hard and tore when he came out on the first push, so Penelope encouraged me to take it slow. I think I pushed maybe 4 times before his head came out. My other two just pretty much slid out once their heads came out, but Asher's cord was wrapped all around his body and over his shoulder, so he kinda got stuck. I pushed one more time and he was out! It was 5:38 pm when he was finally born. What a wonderful feeling!! Sean handed him to me and he took his first breath. I can't describe to you the relief I felt! He was pretty purple, but absolutely perfect!



Several blankets had been warming up on the warmer so they covered him and rubbed him to get him crying a little more. Pretty soon he started to pink up.

I was so tired at this point, but so happy to have another healthy little boy! I was able to nurse him right away. He latched on well and ate for about 30 minutes.

Penelope and I shortly after Asher was born. I did have a small tear that was a bit of a problem because of a gushing vessel, but thankfully Penelope was able to stop the bleeding and put in two stitches. I did have to take it very easy for the first couple of days and keep my legs together to prevent the vessel from opening up again. Let me tell you, that was very hard for me. I have a great respect for anyone who has to endure bed rest!!

Asher getting weighed and measured and checked out. He was a healthy 6lb 14oz perfect baby boy.

Sean was awesome throughout the whole thing. He really enjoyed the home birth as well.

And he loves his newest son!

It was getting kinda late when I was finally stitched up and ready for the other boys. They walked down with Grandad and Tom and Jo. It was so good to see them! Tyler was immediately in love with Asher. He did cry a little bit though because he had really wanted to see him born. But as soon as he got to hold him, all was fine.

Weston didn't really know what to think of the baby, and he is still having a hard time a week later. All he wanted was Mommy and I couldn't let him crawl on me since we were still worried about the vessel opening. After everyone left and we were alone together, he did hold Asher and he was fascinated with his tummy, toes, and fingers.

If I ever have another baby, I will for sure do it at home as long as everything is normal with the pregnancy. It was so much more relaxed than it is in the hospital and it was so nice to spend our first night in our own bed without having people come in at all hours of the night to check on us. I think that is what I liked the most, the freedom to do what we wanted to do. I wasn't hooked up to monitors, though she monitored him sufficiently to know that he was handling contractions like a champ. When we walked, we walked outside instead of around and around the halls of the hospital. I was in my own environment and even though this was my worst labor by far, it was also the most relaxed. So there you have it, my home birth story!