Hospital Drop Off...A Birth Story
that’s not pee.
I was texted Wednesday evening around 9:00 pm with a picture of wet pants and the words “Hi! I *think* my water broke.” There was no denying it was her waters as it looked like she had poured an entire glass of water on the crotch area of her pants. With light surges and a full belly, at about 11:00 pm I reminded her to ignore them as long as possible and to call me when she needed me. It was getting late and she should try and sleep.
She called me at 2:38 am the following morning (just a short 5.5 hours after her waters released) saying she needed my support at her home. I arrived a little before 4 am and she was in good spirits and working through her surges beautifully. Her husband was being an amazing support person, consistently offering her a drink of water after every surge, reminding her to eat a few bites of palatable food, and reminded her to use the bathroom every hour. Within 20 minutes of me being there I could tell she was so focused on tracking the surges that I reached over and closed her phone, “we want you listening to your body and what it’s telling you.”
20 minutes later, her surges intensified. We hung out in her living room and just let her body work. She breathed through the surges, her husband rubbed her back in between surges, as she made it clear she didn’t want to be touched during one.
fresh air is good.
I eventually brought up taking a walk around the block to get outside, get some fresh air, and to get that pelvis moving. We walked the block in the crisp quiet air for about 30 minutes before coming back to her house at about 5:50 am. She had one more surge in her driveway where she began to vocalize, it was agreed upon that laboring on the toilet would be beneficial as it seemed like another increase in intensity had happened.
Sitting on the toilet of course made everything even more intense because we automatically relax our pelvic floor muscles through muscle memory which allows those surges to be more effective. She began to vomit, which as much as it sucks, it correlated with what seemed like an increase in intensity (a hormone surge). No one wants to be told that vomiting is a good sign, but birth likes to do that to us. I mean birth workers smile when you tell us you have to poop.
After toilet sitting for surges and then standing and stretching in between, I brought up having her lay down in her bed to rest for a little bit. At about 6:20 am we got her set up with a pillow in between her legs, lights turned down, and her husband cuddled up next to her for some oxytocin release so I left to the living room to give them some privacy.
facilitate oxytocin production.
Within 20 minutes of sitting in the living I could hear the shift in her voice as she began to vocalize even louder. And there was a pretty big shift. I walked back into her room and found her back on the toilet, vomiting. Her sounds were more deep and guttural. She was only on the toilet for another 15 minutes or so before making the decision that she wanted to head to the hospital. Surges were about 2.5 minutes apart and a minute long. By the time she would get to the hospital they would’ve been happening for about an hour (that sweet spot we’re told by hospitals of showing up to the hospital at 3-2-1 for first time parents).
let’s go!
We started getting her dressed and grabbing things to pack in the car. She needed her phone charger and birth ball, her snacks and vomit bucket (aka the bathroom trash can). It took about 10 minutes to move the car out of the garage and load everything and everyone up. I got in my own car and followed them to the hospital. It was surreal doing this drive, one that I’ve done so many times, following parents in labor, but this time I wouldn’t be able to join them inside. This time I would be dropping them off.
Because of the covid pandemic, we wanted to be sure someone could be with her in the event that her husband wouldn’t pass the screenings. We arrived at the hospital at about 7:20 am. I drove to the parking structure to wait and offer any support virtually if they needed it. They were admitted at about 7:35 am. She pushed for 25 minutes (about 4 or 5 surges) and their beautiful baby boy was born at 9:02 am in the birth centers queen size bed. Exactly what she had wanted and they prepared for.