Sophie's Birth Story

Mike and the kids bonded and videotaped and I nursed Sophie right away. My two daughters had seen the entire birth. Someone asked them later if they thought it was yucky or neat, and they replied without hesitation "Neat!" They had been well prepared from all of our discussions, reading, and videos. The midwife even gave them a "lesson" on the placenta, explaining each part on it and how it worked. I feel good that my daughters, at 7 and 6, have probably developed healthier attitudes toward childbirth than most adult women.

Baby Sophie Rose weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces. We got to make a lot of choices we never got to make in our hospital births. I was hooked up to nothing--the midwife simply monitored our baby's heartrate with a doppler periodically and checked my blood pressure once or twice. I had no IV. My cervix was only checked once because I was curious how dilated I was. I got to walk freely to the bathroom and could get in any position I chose without permission. I believe the olive oil and upright position helped keep my perineum from tearing; I had required stitches in all three of my hospital deliveries.

Our baby did not have to undergo the hospital routines of vitamin K, eye ointment, blood tests, shots, bathing, sugar water bottles, or warming incubator. It was such a relief that she received no needle pricks in her first hours of birth. She was also our first baby not to get jaundiced. Our midwife believes that was because she didn't get the vitamin K shot.

I was very happy to have gotten to share this experience with my husband and children. I felt strong and proud that I birthed my baby on my own, without assistance or medication. My midwife was completely in tune with my wishes and I was glad that we chose to have this baby at home.

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