Welcome Micah Anthony

Micah Anthony

January 13, 2011 at 3:45 am

7 lb 1 oz and 21 inches

Micah's Birth Story

Dear Micah, After weeks of regular and irregular contractions I was not sure I was truly in labor the night of Jan. 12th. But as your dad and I went to bed that night at about 10:00pm contractions began.

Earlier that day all my "nesting work" was complete and your older brothers and I sat around reading books for 3 hours. The house was clean and laundry was done I didn't know what else to do. Although I still felt you were a week or so away from gracing us with your presence I also had just finished the child birth books I wanted to read.

After regular contractions, increasing in strength, for about 2 hours I decided to call my midwife to let her know I was in labor (midnight). After assessing me over the phone she instructed me to try and sleep and check in an hour.

I managed to rest for about an hour. You were giving me a lot of back pain but laying on side seamed to help. As the contractions grew in length and intensity I focused on what was happening with my body. I prayed prayers of thanksgiving for what my amazing body was doing during the contractions and rested in the comfort of the Lord between.

At 2:00am I got up to go to the bathroom and wow things pick up. I woke up your father and told him I needed him and to call our midwife and tell her to come!

Intense labor began at that time. As I visualized you moving from your home in my womb for nine months, down the canal, I instructed my cervix to thin and open for your arrival. I relaxed and let my body take over trusting it that it was doing exactly what it needed to. I enjoyed this amazing act that God designed for us women to give life.

Your dad was an incredible support. He sang words of strength to me, prayed with me, held me and encouraged me.

The midwife arrived just in time. As I believe you wanted to enter the world before she arrived, you patiently waited until she got her stuff set up! Your head emerged with one push and within minutes we saw your beauty, 3:45am.

Although we had wanted your dad to catch you, everything moved so quickly and his hands were a huge comfort in mine.

Your cord was rapped loosely around your neck 3 times and you emerged with your little hand resting on your face. You cried and dad told me you were a boy. Then you came to me and I feel more deeply in love.

Your brother Taydem woke up when he heard you cry. Dad went into his room to share with him the good news of your arrival and soon after dad took you into see that voice that had been talking to you, loving you and waiting for your arrival. Brother Creighton was woken up after the midwife left and the five of us snuggeled in bed for hours as we decided the best name for you, marveled in amazement at what just happened, and gave thanks to the Lord for answering our prayers and blessing your birth. Taydem kept saying, " I can't believe he is here, I can't believe he is ours!"

Despite everyones hope you were a girl, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends were overjoyed to hear you were here and healthy.

Why we had a home birth

After two smooth hospital births we were introduced to the idea of home birth. Even before our third pregnancy we had looked into home birth and decided that is where we wanted to deliver our next child.

Both Taydem and Creighton were born naturally without medical drugs or intervention. I knew even at 21, when Taydem was born, that I did not want to cover up or interfere with the natural process of delivery. I wanted to follow and submit to the innate events of child birth.

But over the years I have learned that my hospital birth experiences were, unfortunately, uncommon. Both Taydem and Creighton had midwives guiding us through my pregnancy and birth in the hospital. It was a good experience. But the majority of mothers I met and read about do not have smooth labors and deliveries.

I came to desire a wonderful birth experience. I wanted to be in total control without the agenda or pressures of anyone else. I also began to feel that birth was more than something to "get through" but something to enjoy. It is truly an act of how amazingly and purposefuly our Creator designed us. I wanted to embrace that, enjoy that, and give God glory through it.

From 2 cells to 70 trillion cells. In 9 months. With no medical help. No human intervention. WOW... read that again... Only God's power at work in my body. He designed that. WOW. We wanted to work with that power not against it.

For us, prenatal care and a home birth, mediated by a skilled midwife, was the safest option. The care I received from my midwife was amazing. Each prenatal visit was 1 hour long. She really got to know us, love us and care for us. (Perhaps the appointments were that long because Taydem spend a good portion of the time talking!) My care was very thorough and we had great trust in our midwife's abilities to assess the safety of delivering at home.

Want to know more about Natural Child Birthing?

Ina May's Guide to Child Birth is an incredible resource for an expecting mother. The first half of the book is stories from some of the 2600 births her and her staff have attended and the second half is the "proven wisdom that has guided thousands of women through childbirth with more confidence, less pain, and little or no medical intervention." No matter where a couple plans to birth this is an empowering resource. This was the most helpful child birthing book I have ever read. (see below how I utilized what I learned from this resource)

Pregnant in America is a educational and entertaining film that "prepares excepting parents for their uncertain journey of being pregnant and having their baby." It also clearly lays out the REALITY of birth in America. I thought it was more informative then the Business of Being Born. I do strongly recommend watching this move if you are expecting, have children or know someone who is expecting. However, I do not recommend you watch it right before you go to bed like I did. It is very powerful!

Have you been told that you are high risk or your body can't handle a natural pregnancy? Unfortunately, you may have been lied to. If you are interested in a home birth, contact a midwife practicing home birth to find out more and let her determine your suitability. Home birth is not for everyone and a skilled and highly trained midwife will not jeopardize you or your babies safety.

My Preparation for Labor

In preperation for this labor and a home birth here are some resources I found very useful

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

Ina May's Guide to Child Birth by Ina May Gaskin

Pregnant in America

The Business of Being Born

Orgasmic Birth

the following I have not read but looked good

Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz

Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read

Statements and thoughts I focused on during Micah's labor: (from Ina May's Guide to Child Birth)

Being Grateful and Amused

Instruct my body on what to do

trust my body

Let go and let my body take over

Contractions are like waves of pleasure rippling through the body

Extremely pleasurable and rewarding

Let Go. Surrender

Go with the flow

Don't fight this. It's bigger than you

Physical Tips to stay relaxed and reduce pain: (from Ina May's Guide to Child Birth)

Laughter- the most effective form of anesthesia, assists in opening sphincters

Deep abdominal breathing

Relax abdominal muscles

Relax jaw and throat, open mouth

Low pitched moan

horselips/ raspberries

Arm wrestling between contractions (I win)

Shaking the leg muscles (I also found shaking the arms helped)