Home Birth in Wildomar, CA
This was SUCH a highly anticipated birth in the community!
Valerie is a chiropractor in the area at a clinic that specializes in newborns/children and pregnant people! So to say the ENTIRE clinic and patients they see were on pins and needles waiting for Valerie to birth her baby was an understatement.
the call.
They texted me in the middle of the night at about 3 am but of course I didn’t get it since I was sleeping 🙃 She had been having surges since the previous evening and they were working on them beautifully together in the comfort of their own home.
Her husband Blake called me at about 6:30 am Wednesday morning and I accidentally hung up on him with my sleepy eyes trying to focus and not wearing my glasses 🤦🏼♀️ Sorry Blake! Thankfully he immediately called back and once we connected I got ready to head out the door.
Surprisingly Sam was already awake and getting ready for work so I didn’t have to try and wake him up without waking up Killian at the same time to make sure he understood that I was leaving. I can’t tell you how many times sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night for a birth, I’ve woken Killian up while trying to wake Sam up to tell him (because Sam literally sleeps through anything) 🤦🏼♀️
the labor.
I got to their house at about 7 am and the entire birth team was there: her sister Veronica, and their two midwives Amanda Latham from Heritage Midwifery and Christina Sanders from Transformative Birth Midwifery.
She was laboring in her bed, surrounded and supported by her husband. Her sister making sure she was hydrated and as comfortable as possible.
Then came the birth pool. She made sure everyone knew prior that she did not want to birth in the pool, only labor in it. Birth pools/water (also called the “aqua-dural”) are fantastic as they allow the belly to suspend a little bit in the water. Taking some of the weight off of it and allowing for deeper relaxation to happen.
Being at home allows you the freedom to move around and listen to your body better. You’re more comfortable and not bound by “rules.” So with recommendations from her birth team, that’s exactly what Valerie did, she moved between rooms, between levels in her house, and was able to communicate what her body was feeling. Even if it was just a “this hurts.”
the pushing.
She first really starting the urge to push while she was sitting on the toilet (remember that’s that “dilation station” 😉). She began pushing on her bed for about an hour, and then went back to the toilet to sit there for a bit and allow gravity to help move baby down through the birth canal.
After sitting on the toilet for a bit, she moved back to the bed but decided to get on all fours and lean on a birth ball. Again, using gravity to help with all her amazing effort of pushing.
It was so beautiful to witness how supported she was. Her frustration was validated and even when she felt like progress wasn’t happening, a simple look at the back of my camera every so often showing her how much more of her baby’s head we could all see seemed to help.
Her husband Blake was adamant on catching their baby boy and through his support and touch, was waiting at the ready.
And after almost 3 hours of pushing, her baby boy Gary flew into this world! Like literally, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a baby born as fast as he was, but Blake was so on top of catching him! In less than a second, Gary went from being snuggly in a birth canal, to laying gently on a bed (and on his way, amniotic fluid flew everywhere) 💕
postpartum.
There’s something so special about the immediate postpartum. When you return to your body, and your brain catches up to the events that just unfolded. Everyone is smiling and on an oxytocin high.
Tears follow from family.
Phone calls and texts happen to let loved ones know all is safe and everyone is happy and healthy.
Valerie and Blake laid on their bed snuggling Gary, reveling in the being their love created.
It was pure joy, happiness, and love all wrapped up into one snuggly new little squish 💕
