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13. MyMaine Birth Ashlei's Holly No.7 Birth Center Birth Story Bangor, Maine · MyMaine Birth

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: I'm Angela and I'm a certified birth photographer, experienced doula, childbirth educator and your host here on the my Maine Birth podcast.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: This is a space where we share the real-life stories of families and their unique birth experiences in the beautiful state of Maine, from our state's biggest hospitals to birth center births and home births.
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: Every birth story deserves to be heard and celebrated.
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: Whether you're a soon-to-be mom, a seasoned mother or simply interested in the world of birth, these episodes are for you.
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: Welcome to episode 13 of the my Maine Birth podcast.
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: Today's birth story guest is Ashley, and she is here to share about her experience of moving from Alaska to Maine during her pregnancy and then her experience of birthing at Holly no 7 Birth Center in Bangor.
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: Hi, ashley, welcome to my Maine Birth.
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: Hi, so you have quite the story.
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: You moved from Alaska to Maine at 18 weeks pregnant.
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: So to start, will you share about when you found out you were pregnant and a little bit about you and your family.
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: Yes, so we my husband and I we found out we were pregnant at the beginning of July.
• 1:18
  Speaker 2: I found out on July 4th and I didn't tell him until the next day.
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: I just took had to check with another pregnancy test.
• 1:26
  Speaker 2: I think I actually took five before I told him yeah.
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: So then I told him on July 5th and it was.
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: We were very excited and we were also during that time in the process of he was applying for a job here in Maine and so we knew, you know, we could be having our baby in Alaska.
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: We could be having our baby in Maine.
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: We weren't really sure and then, the end of July I believe, we found out we'd be moving.
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: So we did have an appointment, or 10 week appointment in Alaska with a birth center there.
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: But I had already started looking at options here in Maine.
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: And we started looking at options and ended up I came across the Holly number seven birth center here in Maine and I was really excited about that because I was not sure if I'd be able to find a birth center, cause I know some, some places they're more available and some places they're not.
• 2:26
  Speaker 2: So we ended up moving with our dog.
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: So it's my husband, myself and our dog when we were pregnant, and we ended up moving when I was 18 weeks pregnant.
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: So we drove, we ended up.
• 2:43
  Speaker 2: We were going to be driving our Subaru with our nice heated seats, and, um, and last minute things changed and we ended up in a 2004 Ford truck with a bench seat, with my husband, our 70 pound dog and me at 18 weeks pregnant.
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: Um, and it took us.
• 3:02
  Speaker 2: We stopped along the way a couple of times to see family and friends, but, um, we, uh, it took us 15 days.
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: So it was quite the trek.
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: And um, our little baby was starting to kick my ribs already a little bit and we hadn't had any.
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: We'd only had one initial appointment and we hadn't had any other appointments.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: And so we, you know, we, we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl.
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: Um and um.
• 3:29
  Speaker 2: So it was just kind of this grand adventure with our little baby and um, we arrived in Maine, um, the end of October and then shortly after that we were able to get established, um, um, go have our first appointment with the birth center and then have our ultrasound.
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: We wanted to have our anatomy scan at 20, 22 weeks, so we ended up doing that.
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: And they're able to do that all right in the birth center.
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: Right, they have someone come in for appointments.
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: They do?
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: Yes, but we, because of our insurance, we went ahead and it would be covered if we went to the hospital.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: So we ended up having our ultrasound at the hospital, which was at 22 weeks, and it was so fun to see our little baby, and we still didn't want to know if we were having a boy or a girl, though, so we had that scan, and then later that day we received a call that there was some potential complications with our baby, and it was just really like just devastating to hear that there was a two vessel cord, which can be normal and can also be a sign of something something else going on.
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: And then there were some complications potentially with the amniotic sac and then our baby's heart, and so we had to have some further follow-up appointments.
• 4:57
  Speaker 2: From that, we ended up having to have more ultrasounds and the amniotic sac the complication with that and it wasn't like percent of previa there was just, uh, the two layers of the sac they thought were um separated, it's like the amnion chorion separation um, which that ended up not being an issue at all.
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: Um, and then the we had to have a um, an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist in Bangor as well.
• 5:26
  Speaker 2: Um and um that ended up.
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: I mean, we, we that appointment really helped us to feel a lot better because he was like this isn't going to be an issue, um, you know, for birth with there we'll just kind of keep an eye out on what's going on with your baby's heart.
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: And so it was still, like, you know, not something we expected going into, you know, pregnancy and um, but we felt really good after that appointment and, um, you just put a lot of prayer into it and a lot of people were praying for our little baby and um, and it's something that's ended up resolving and so we've just been so thankful for that and um, really, uh, just feel really blessed that we don't have to worry about, um, our baby's heart anymore and um, cause no one, no one, wants that.
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: So, through the so, from 22 weeks up until 37 weeks, we had a couple more ultrasounds, um, you know, just along with our regular appointments, we also had more ultrasounds, um at theounds at the hospital, just to kind of check on things, and for a little while there was some concern that baby was a little low on weight.
• 6:33
  Speaker 2: So we were checking that as well and he ended up being fine, but during that time we were, you know, concerned about his weight.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: We I was taking in like trying to get all the fats that I could.
• 6:48
  Speaker 2: I was like, you know, high fat yogurt and butter and milk and all of the all the good fats, which was delicious, and you know, I was like I'm doing this for my baby, and so that was.
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: You know, it's nice to be able to have something.
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: That was.
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: You know, it was nice to be able to have something who knows if it was helping or not, but it was like, you know, it gave me something to kind of work practical that I could be doing to hopefully help my baby grow.
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: And so we had our last ultrasound at 37 weeks and baby was looking really good.
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: So we we because there was some concern for a while if there was like intrauterine growth restriction, that we would have to deliver early and not be able to deliver at the birth center, which was something that we really, we really wanted that experience for us and for our baby to have to deliver at the birth center.
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: And so there was so much up in the air during that time and through all of this, we were also in the process of buying a house.
• 7:47
  Speaker 2: We had moved here and we were staying in a temporary place for a while and then we bought a house.
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: We live up in Hancock County, so about an hour from Bangor.
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: So there was just a lot going on, just such an adventure, and I'm glad that we were able to get really settled and get most of our things unpacked and get ready for baby to come, and so we were kind of getting settled in.
• 8:10
  Speaker 2: And then March came around and but overall um pregnancy was except for the concerns about um baby's health pregnancy I felt really great.
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: Um, which was really nice, like I like physically felt good.
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: You know, I felt beautiful, just, you know, being pregnant, and I was so thankful for that because, just with everything else going on, to feel physically good was really nice.
• 8:36
  Speaker 2: I mean, of course, towards the end I was a little bit uncomfortable.
• 8:40
  Speaker 2: I was getting, you know, feeling kind of big but and it was hard to like put my shoes on.
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: But other than that I felt really good, which I was getting, you know, feeling kind of big but and it was hard to like put my shoes on, but other than that I felt really good, which I was super, super thankful for.
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: Oh my gosh.
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: So how long before your baby was born did you move?
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: So we I ended up going into labor on March 13th and we had closed on our house January 13th, so two months to the day before he came.
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: So it was, which was a good amount of time.
• 9:11
  Speaker 2: But also there was just like so much like with unpacking all of our things and getting stuff ready and there's still a lot that has to be done to our house.
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: It's a really old house but it'll just be an adventure that we get to all do together.
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: So you know, my type A personality was like we need to get everything done, but you know, sometimes life doesn't allow that.
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: So it's been stretching for me in that, in a good way, all right.
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: So how did your labor start and when did you decide to head to the birth center, and how was your experience there?
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: So, sunday, march 12th, I had been starting to feel kind of I don't know.
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: Just off I was wondering if I was maybe getting a little bit sick, or if I was, my throat was slightly sore.
• 9:59
  Speaker 2: I had some.
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: I had some acid reflux a couple of days before, and so my throat was kind of sore from that, which was the only time that I had it the entire pregnancy.
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: So I had it once like a week before delivering.
• 10:18
  Speaker 2: And so the Sunday I was feeling just kind of off, and so I told my husband, like I'm going to stay home, like you go to church without me, I'm just going to stay home and rest.
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: I just really feel like I need to do that Because we don't know when this baby's going to come, and I just want to be, you know, as rested as I can.
• 10:35
  Speaker 2: And so I slept in, which was glorious that morning and just took the whole day just slowly and just relaxed, which was was really nice and ended up being the perfect choice, because the next morning, monday morning, on march 13th, I had gotten up in the middle of the night to the bathroom like normal, um, and, and then about an hour later, so about 5 30, I woke up with like a cramp that I had had.
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: I I'd felt that previously, but normally what would happen, like in the middle of the night, if I had felt that I would, kind of, you know, have this cramp feeling and then like shift, and then it would go away and I'd go back to sleep.
• 11:15
  Speaker 2: So I woke up with this cramp Monday morning and I was like, oh, that's interesting, so let me just shift and see if, like, like it goes away, cause I had just gone to the bathroom.
• 11:25
  Speaker 2: So I know, that's not it, and um, so I shifted and fell back asleep.
• 11:30
  Speaker 2: And then, about 45 minutes later, I woke up with another cramp and um, and so I was like, huh, okay, I'll just shift again and go back to sleep.
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: And so then I woke up.
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: Well, you know know about like 6, 30 and then 7, and 7, 30 and then 8, and then so around 8 o'clock I was like turned to my husband and I was like, hmm, stephen, I, I think, I might, I might be having contractions.
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: I don't really know.
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: Like this has been happening in 30 minutes, so you know, it could be.
• 12:04
  Speaker 2: And so we just kind of laid there and and then they kept coming.
• 12:10
  Speaker 2: They were probably at this point, maybe seven to 10 minutes apart.
• 12:15
  Speaker 2: They had started, you know, going to about, you know, seven to 10 minutes apart, and then about 845, I asked him.
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: I was like, oh, so maybe we should just get a contraction timer, you know, just put it on your phone, just, you know, so I can track this because this is, you know, fairly regular now.
• 12:34
  Speaker 2: And so he put the contraction timer on.
• 12:37
  Speaker 2: We kind of laid there for a little longer and they were already starting.
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: I mean, I guess they were probably about six to seven minutes at this point apart, and probably at least 30 seconds long, maybe as long as a minute.
• 12:51
  Speaker 2: And um, so I was like, okay, well, if this is labor, I want to get fueled.
• 12:58
  Speaker 2: So about nine o'clock we got up and had headed downstairs to um, get food, because I was, I want to have food, I want to be, you know, nourished and ready for whatever this day may hold.
• 13:11
  Speaker 2: And so, um, when we got downstairs, I started feeling slightly nauseous, and when I have pain I throw up.
• 13:22
  Speaker 2: So I was in like what, if I have really bad, like period cramps, I'll throw up.
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: So I was like, okay, I could be feeling this way, so I'll make a smoothie.
• 13:32
  Speaker 2: So I made a smoothie and in the process of that I was already having to like stop and like hold on to the counter and kind of breathe through and think through these contractions and they were coming about every five minutes and so I was like, okay, I don't want to call the birth center too soon, so we'll call it 10.
• 13:55
  Speaker 2: So I like set this goal like out there, which I know, 10 wasn't that far away, but I was also feeling like it was moving a little faster than I was expecting, which I know like really I was expecting it could be, you know, from super fast to super long.
• 14:10
  Speaker 2: But so I was like, okay, I'll call it 10.
• 14:14
  Speaker 2: I was prepping my smoothie and 9.45 came around and I had a contraction.
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: I was like we're going to call now, let's call now.
• 14:25
  Speaker 2: If it was just a little bit, it was a little too much, um.
• 14:29
  Speaker 2: So I uh, we, we called um, ended up getting a hold of um somebody and, um, we found out, um, one of the midwives was on call for us that day and we had our, because it was actually so I hadn't said this yet that was um, I was 40 us that day and we had our cause.
• 14:45
  Speaker 2: It was actually so.
• 14:45
  Speaker 2: I hadn't said this yet that was um.
• 14:46
  Speaker 2: I was 40 weeks that day.
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: That was my, that was our due date, yeah.
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: Which was really fun and we also.
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: I was like, okay, wow, this is our due date, this is happening, possibly on our due date, um, depending on how long neighbor goes, um.
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: And so we had an appointment already scheduled for that afternoon at two o'clock.
• 15:03
  Speaker 2: So we, we called, they said, you know, asked a couple of questions like how I was doing, could I talk through contractions?
• 15:12
  Speaker 2: Which I could talk through contractions.
• 15:14
  Speaker 2: I didn't necessarily want to talk through contractions, but I could.
• 15:18
  Speaker 2: So they said you know, call back at noon.
• 15:22
  Speaker 2: You know Chris is on call for you.
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: Just, you know, we'll see, um, you know we'll talk to you.
• 15:29
  Speaker 2: Then, you know, of course, if something came up in between, give them a call.
• 15:32
  Speaker 2: But I was like, okay, we can make it till noon.
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: So I made my smoothie, went and sat on the couch, we put on monk, um, just to have something on the background, um, and I tried to eat a little bit and very shortly after I tried to eat my smoothie, uh, I ended up throwing up and so I was like, okay, it's not really surprising, but it's a little bit of a bummer, um, and so then I had some water and I threw that up and was having to still breathe, you know, through contractions and they were about five minutes apart.
• 16:04
  Speaker 2: Um, and actually I was talking to my husband last night, um, and they were about five minutes apart and actually I was talking to my husband last night.
• 16:07
  Speaker 2: We were looking through the contraction timer and some of those contractions were actually a lot closer together.
• 16:15
  Speaker 2: They were closer to like two and a half or three minutes, but on average they were about five minutes apart and lasting for about a minute.
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: So we waited till noon and right before then I think, I had to go to the bathroom a couple times in between there too, and right before noon I went to the bathroom again and I was starting to have some bloody show, like okay, this is continuing to ramp up, it's continuing to progress, this is good but also, you know, exciting and I'm nervous, and you know all the range of emotions.
• 16:46
  Speaker 2: So at noon we went ahead and called and I remember I was sitting on the floor in the living room and we called and kind of she asked questions about like you know how I was feeling and I think I told her.
• 17:04
  Speaker 2: I threw up a couple of times and I got some bloody show and then I had been talking to her and then all of a sudden, I think, I got quiet and either she asked if I was going through contraction or my husband said I was.
• 17:16
  Speaker 2: And she was like, okay, well, why don't you guys go ahead and make your way to the birth center, especially since we are about an hour away and you know no rush.
• 17:25
  Speaker 2: But you know, go ahead and come up here.
• 17:30
  Speaker 2: You know, go ahead and make your way.
• 17:30
  Speaker 2: And so I, you know, wanted to pack a couple more things in my bag.
• 17:32
  Speaker 2: There were just a couple of things I only have, you know, a limited number of like things that fit me at this point.
• 17:37
  Speaker 2: So I didn't have everything packed in the bag, because I was still wearing some of the items on a regular basis and and um, and I wanted to brush my teeth.
• 17:47
  Speaker 2: So I went upstairs and after we got off the phone with her, my contractions went from five minutes to two and a half to three minutes, every two and a half to three minutes, like lasting for about a minute long, and I was like, oh no, this is going way too fast, like I hope that we make it.
• 18:03
  Speaker 2: And I guess I told my husband that I don't know if we're gonna make it like I hope we make it.
• 18:09
  Speaker 2: And so he was trying to get me to.
• 18:10
  Speaker 2: He was still very calm, like he handled it amazingly, but he was like, okay, well, let's go ahead and go.
• 18:16
  Speaker 2: But I was still like trying to brush my teeth and then like breathe through contractions and everything was relatively calm.
• 18:25
  Speaker 2: But inside I was just like what's happening?
• 18:28
  Speaker 2: How fast is this going to continue to pick up?
• 18:30
  Speaker 2: So we made it out of the house in about 20 to 30 minutes, which now sounds like a really long time, but I think it just took a while, because every couple minutes I was having to stand there and breathe through contractions and we had somebody that was coming to pick there and breathe through contractions, and and we had somebody that was coming to pick up our dog, um, which was awesome, um, really nice because you know we had someone take care of him and, um.
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: So we made our our way, uh, towards, towards Bangor, um, and at this point I was like, okay, I know that we have mentally prepared that if we need to deliver this baby in the car, we can, but now that we're finally here, like I do not want to deliver this baby in the car, we had towels and blankets in the back.
• 19:16
  Speaker 2: You know, just in case you know, because we wanted to be prepared for that, my husband and I are both EMTs, um, so we have some knowledge of that.
• 19:24
  Speaker 2: Um, but I was like I I'd like to deliver at the birth center, not in the car, um, and I think, I think it was probably about 35 or 40 degrees that day, so it wasn't like terrible, um, but it was not, you know, still not great weather for delivering a baby in a car on the side of the highway, um, but, um, so I was able to.
• 19:46
  Speaker 2: Once we got in the car, my contractions went back to five every five to six minutes, which I was really thankful for, um, so I got in the car, turned on the heated seat, which felt really good.
• 19:59
  Speaker 2: Um, we ended up putting on some my worship music playlist and I just kind of like sat there.
• 20:05
  Speaker 2: I had like my, my sweater and stuff, and I was like clenching my sweater and like, whenever a contraction would come, I would just like breathe through it.
• 20:16
  Speaker 2: And at this time, at this point, actually, by the time we got to the car, I was vocal, already vocalizing, already vocalizing.
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: So I would, I was able to find a really good rhythm for coping with the contractions at this point, though.
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: So it was nice, you know, that I was able to find something that really worked for for me during that time for the whole hour drive, and I think at one point, um, my, my dad accidentally called my husband and then it was on like speakerphone or something, and then I started going through a contraction and he like hung up real quick and, um, and anyways, it was just kind of funny.
• 20:52
  Speaker 2: I don't know.
• 20:53
  Speaker 2: I think that was just an accident of something that happened, but I was like, well, I'm just going to be vocalizing through this contraction, you know, no matter who's on the phone, because I can't really help it.
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: Wow, and that's a long car ride from Hancock County into Bangor, but it sounds like you were handling it pretty well.
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah it is.
• 21:12
  Speaker 2: But it ended up.
• 21:14
  Speaker 2: I was really nervous about it because, you know, listening to birth stories throughout my whole pregnancy, everyone's like the car ride is so awful.
• 21:21
  Speaker 2: So I had like really prepared mentally, I think, for OK, this might be a really challenging car ride and I think, because I had prepared so much for it, it didn't feel as terrible, which was, I guess, good.
• 21:34
  Speaker 2: So we, you know, just had my rhythm, I knew, you know, I just was focused on myself and got through the whole car ride and was actually not terrible.
• 21:45
  Speaker 2: And as we were going over the bridge there was a bump, because I, we, steven and I had talked about like we need to like not be around bumps, like if you can avoid bumps in the car, let's do that.
• 21:57
  Speaker 2: But as we were going over one of the bridges, he was like there's going to be a bump, we can't avoid it, it's across the whole road.
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: So so he, like you know, told me there's a bump coming, and so I prepared.
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: And he's like, okay, there's another bump and I prepared again, and which was really sweet of him to, you know, consider me in that.
• 22:14
  Speaker 2: So as we were coming around the corner towards the birth center.
• 22:16
  Speaker 2: I think I told Stephen.
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: I said I'm feeling kind of nervous now or like scared, because I think in my mind I was like we're going to, if we're coming to the birth center, like like this is real, this is, this is happening.
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: I mean, I didn't take into consideration that I could not be, that I was only barely progressed and they could have sent me home.
• 22:35
  Speaker 2: I mean, that was possible.
• 22:36
  Speaker 2: But I think I was feeling like, no, this is actually happening and we're going to be delivering our baby.
• 22:42
  Speaker 2: And I just was nervous, you know, with it being our first, our first baby, and um and uh, so we, we came around the corner and, um, ended up getting into the birth center and I remember like sitting on the steps there and I had to go through a contraction and they're like OK, let's get you upstairs.
• 23:02
  Speaker 2: And they checked me and I was already at five centimeters, which I was like glad about.
• 23:11
  Speaker 2: Like I was like, ok, that feels like I've done some pretty good work, like I feel like that's a good, um, a good place to be.
• 23:18
  Speaker 2: And then so they started at they asked if I wanted to get into the birth tub, and so I was like, okay, yeah, sure, let's, let's go ahead and do that, and so I got into the tub after it was all like heated up and filled and everything um, which did feel really good, which was it was nice.
• 23:38
  Speaker 1: Yeah, they check the temperature and make sure it's like the perfect temperature for you, right?
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: Uh-huh, yeah, I know it was really nice.
• 23:43
  Speaker 2: I saw them like checking it and yeah, it was good.
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: And so we put our music on in there and I just kind of got into a groove of working through the contractions there and trying to figure out like what felt comfortable, like what position, like kind of leaning back that didn't feel good, um.
• 24:02
  Speaker 2: And then I kind of sat in a couple other positions throughout my time there um, in the tub, and I kind of liked like kind of sitting leaning with my arms hanging out over the edge, which was really ended up being really comfortable.
• 24:11
  Speaker 2: And then from there I was able to kind of grab my husband's hand.
• 24:16
  Speaker 2: I really wanted to like hold his hand through my contractions.
• 24:19
  Speaker 2: I didn't want to be, excuse me, I didn't want to be touched really any, any at all, except for I wanted to hold his hand and cause I just I think I was just when I was going through contractions, like that whole day, like I was, I just had to kind of go through it myself.
• 24:38
  Speaker 2: I didn't want to be touched.
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: But when I was, once we were, you know, I was in the tub and we were going through, you know I had started going through the contractions.
• 24:46
  Speaker 2: Then I was like, okay, I want to squeeze your hand, and so I would like stick out my hand when I was going through a contraction, and then signaling like you need to grab my hand so I can squeeze your hand, because I couldn't verbalize that.
• 24:57
  Speaker 2: And so he ended up picking up on, like okay, that's what you mean, like you want me to hold your hand, so I would, you know, hold his hand through the contractions, and I think I was in the tub for about an hour and a half probably.
• 25:10
  Speaker 2: Oh, and I did forget to say, by the time we got to the birth center it was about 1.30.
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: So about half an hour before our scheduled appointment, which was just a little bit humorous.
• 25:18
  Speaker 2: So I was in the tub for probably about an hour and a half and then I think it was time At one point Aura had asked do you want me to?
• 25:29
  Speaker 2: How's this water feeling?
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: I think she checked the temperature of it, but I'm like no, it feels fine, and I think I probably just didn't want anything to change.
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: I was just, you know, like in the zone, and you know when I shift things and I have to like adjust to figure out how to cope with that.
• 25:42
  Speaker 2: But then it had been a long enough where there, I think it needed to be reheated.
• 25:47
  Speaker 2: So they're like let's go ahead.
• 25:49
  Speaker 2: And you know, let's go ahead and move.
• 25:52
  Speaker 2: Why don't you, do you want to go on the bed?
• 25:54
  Speaker 2: And I was like, okay, sure you do, you want to go on the bed?
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: And I was like, okay, sure, let's, let's try that.
• 26:01
  Speaker 2: So I moved to the bed, lying on my side with the peanut ball in between my legs, and I was just laying there.
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: And then I think there was like a little gauzy blanket or something I don't know, it may have been a receiving blanket that was just kind of up there by the pillow and I just was like squeezing onto that.
• 26:14
  Speaker 2: Um, I apparently I need, you know, that's just something that helps me to to cope.
• 26:20
  Speaker 2: So I was there for a little while, um, just going through contractions, um, and then I think I got up and went to the bathroom and came back on, you know, on my side with the peanut ball, um, you know, vocalizing through contractions.
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: And then, um, at five o'clock, um, my husband said that well, and everybody in the room I think could tell like, because I went from like vocalizing in a specific way to like this deep like in which I was like, okay, I'm pushing.
• 26:52
  Speaker 2: Now it was, it was this definitely this very like, this shift from like upper to lower, deeper pushing, and so I wasn't necessarily aware of the sound difference, but my husband said that he was, and of course the midwives were, and so I think that's just kind of cool, just how your body shifts into that second mode, and it was really crazy too to just feel like my body pushing, you know, just shifting to that.
• 27:21
  Speaker 2: So that was at five o'clock and I was still on the bed for a while with the peanut ball and then I kind of I was there for a while pushing, and then, I think, I got up and went to the bathroom and I had a couple contractions on there, um, and then, for some reason, like I think I, really like I I think it was comfortable, as comfortable as you can be, um, um, it was, you know, comfortable enough, um, and I I felt like I had to go to bathroom, like I had to poop, and but it was, it was just like that was, I mean I probably because I was, you know, in that pushing phase, um, and I apparently didn't want to stay there, even though it was comfortable, um, well, comfortable.
• 28:08
  Speaker 2: So they asked, like, do you want to sit on the birthing stool?
• 28:12
  Speaker 2: And I was like, oh, okay, yeah, let's, let's try that out.
• 28:14
  Speaker 2: So we moved to the birthing stool but I was just like so uncomfortable and just because I felt like I had to go to the bathroom but I couldn't, and I never ended up going.
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: But the birthing stool, when I got on there, it was so awful For me.
• 28:30
  Speaker 2: I know some people, you know everybody has, like what works for them.
• 28:33
  Speaker 2: It did not work for me, at least for this pregnancy, maybe for a later pregnancy, I don't know, but I was so uncomfortable and maybe because it was helping my body, my body progress, I'm not really sure, um, but it was uncomfortable and I stayed on there for a couple of contractions and I think that they had wanted to see, like if they could see the baby's head too.
• 28:55
  Speaker 2: So they, um, you know, got up and saw like that his head was there and it was kind of up a little bit higher.
• 29:02
  Speaker 2: Um, but his head was there.
• 29:03
  Speaker 2: But I was just too uncomfortable and did not want to sit there.
• 29:08
  Speaker 2: So, as we, I ended up going back to the bed on my side with the peanut ball, um, and push for a while there, but I think possibly I'm not sure how long I was sitting there again on my side, but they had asked me earlier if I had wanted to go onto my back and I just had it set in my mind like I don't want to deliver on my back, and so I had said no before.
• 29:31
  Speaker 2: And they asked me again, like do you want to move to your back?
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: And so I reluctantly moved to my back.
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: At this point I think I was just kind of like okay, well, you know, sure, like whatever, like you tell me what to do, kind of in a way.
• 29:45
  Speaker 2: But I was like I can try it.
• 29:48
  Speaker 2: So I ended up laying on my back and, you know, surprising, because I had been so against doing that, but it's kind of like the baby's going to come either way.
• 29:57
  Speaker 2: You know whether I'm on my side or standing up or on my back.
• 30:00
  Speaker 2: And so I was on my back with my legs kind of up, and they were my husband was on one side holding, um, holding one of my legs up, and then um, and then one of the midwives was on the other side.
• 30:13
  Speaker 2: I think they like switched out um, on the other side, I think they like switched out um, who was there a couple of different times, um, but, and I ended up pushing there and I think that that by that point it was probably about six, 30 or six, 45, when I moved to to my back with my legs up, and also, by this time I was able to eat, which was nice, I, because I hadn't been able to eat or drink water even before.
• 30:46
  Speaker 2: But when I, I think when I shifted from that, from, you know, diet dilating, to the pushing phase, I something changed and I was able to drink and eat, although all that I ate was I had a little bit of honey.
• 30:57
  Speaker 2: And then I was able to drink and eat, although all that I ate was, um, I had a little bit of honey, and then I was able to drink plenty of water, cause, especially during pushing, I was very thirsty.
• 31:06
  Speaker 2: Um, and then there was a popsicle which I highly recommend, um, like just those little, like I don't know those fruit, those fruit like natural fruit popsicles.
• 31:14
  Speaker 2: It was wonderful, definitely going to be getting those, you know, for any future pregnancies and labors.
• 31:20
  Speaker 2: Um, because it was great, cause it's, you know, it was just refreshing and cold and it gives you that sugar and yeah, no, highly recommend that.
• 31:29
  Speaker 2: It's a great labor snack, um, um.
• 31:33
  Speaker 2: So I was really thankful by that point that I could drink and have a little bit of substance.
• 31:36
  Speaker 2: Um, and cause I was thirsty, cause definitely as I was pushing, thankful by that point that I could drink and have a little bit of substance, and because I was thirsty, because definitely as I was pushing, you know, vocalizing through that, and just really, you know, I was trying to the whole time keep my jaw really loose, Although I'm sure there were some times that tensed up, but I had just really tried to keep everything loose and so, but still, like when you're pushing, there's just like kind of this bearing down, and so I was definitely thirsty.
• 32:01
  Speaker 2: So, so about 630, 645 is when I had moved to my back, so in between contractions I would get some more water or get a little bite of my popsicle, and which was really nice to be able to just have that break in between the contractions.
• 32:19
  Speaker 2: And I remember thinking like I don't remember the exact thought, but it was it was kind of like oh so this is, this is labor, this is pushing, like I'm doing this and I could do this and it's not as like scary or as hard as I had thought and I almost, and I almost am like, oh, I shouldn't say that but, um, I felt like really it was, it was hard work and it didn't it was, it hurt too, but it was doable, which I feel like made me feel really confident and made me feel really good.
• 32:50
  Speaker 2: So, definitely, those breaks in between the contractions were really nice, um, and I felt like when I did have the contractions, I was just really able to push with my body, which was nice.
• 33:00
  Speaker 2: But during this pushing time on my back, the baby's head was there, they could see it and it was actually still in the amniotic sac.
• 33:09
  Speaker 2: So I had my water hadn't broken yet and his head was just there and with the sack and which was just kind of ironic because there had been some concern previously which ended up being nothing but that the amniotic sack was a little unstable, but then it was obviously very strong because still intact at this point.
• 33:29
  Speaker 2: But I was pushing him and but we weren't getting very, very far.
• 33:34
  Speaker 2: And I was pushing him and but we weren't getting very, very far and I was just really tight, just my perineum was just very tight.
• 33:45
  Speaker 2: So I would, you know, push a couple times with each contraction and then he would kind of like maybe scoot back up a little bit, and so it was just like this, you know, which I think is good for stretching it out.
• 33:56
  Speaker 2: But you know, it was just like this, you know, which I think is good for stretching it out.
• 33:58
  Speaker 2: But you know, it was just that process, and throughout this time they were keeping an eye on his heart rate.
• 34:04
  Speaker 2: He had been doing really well, like the whole labor, but then, close to seven, it was probably like a little after seven, his heart rate dropped a bit, and so it was kind of this.
• 34:16
  Speaker 2: It all just happened so quickly.
• 34:19
  Speaker 2: It was.
• 34:19
  Speaker 2: It was there, was they were saying like okay, when he comes out we might have to do a little bit of like resuscitation, which you know kind of sounded scary to me, you know it was.
• 34:30
  Speaker 2: There was that and they went ahead and put me on some oxygen, I think, just to make sure he was extra oxygenated.
• 34:38
  Speaker 2: And I had been trying really hard, as I was going through contractions and stuff and as I was breathing, to like breathe deeply and try to get as much oxygen myself so that he could have it and so, but they wanted to put me, so I they put me on oxygen, they're saying, okay, we may have to do resuscitation and um, and then I even heard something about like an episiotomy, um, and it was just like so much going on, it got a little bit, um, just hectic there for a second, just cause I was like, okay, we need to get this baby out, and it probably all happened within just a couple of minutes.
• 35:14
  Speaker 2: But they ended up having to manually, um, like stretch me out, so like stuck their fingers in and like stretched around like his head between me and his head, and I think my husband had like his hand in there a little bit and Chris had her hand there and they said they wouldn't normally do that, but because his heart rate had dropped, like we just were like he needs to get out and I definitely had not wanted to have an episiotomy.
• 35:36
  Speaker 2: But I was like that point, like whatever needs to happen, like we just need him to be safe, and but that didn't end up having to happen.
• 35:44
  Speaker 2: They just like manually stretched me out, which was not comfortable, but at this point it was just like we need, we need him out, and it was really just a neat experience to see at that point, like I was able to kind of dig down deep and like this strength that I didn't I don't even know where it came from, but it was like just came from somewhere and it was able to push him out.
• 36:07
  Speaker 2: And that was just such a neat experience because it was like I don't know like where this came from, but like to take care of my baby, like I was able to to muster up this strength and, um, I felt his head come out.
• 36:21
  Speaker 2: And I think, as his head came out is when the water broke.
• 36:24
  Speaker 2: I not really I wasn't aware of when that happened, but sometime around, like as his head was coming out, the water broke and then, um, with like the next push, I like felt his body come out, which was just like the most like amazing, like feeling is so cool.
• 36:40
  Speaker 2: And his body came out and then they brought him up to my chest.
• 36:45
  Speaker 2: Yeah, they brought him up to my chest pretty quickly and he started crying right away so there was no need for resuscitation.
• 36:54
  Speaker 2: I mean, obviously he was fine, he was breathing.
• 36:57
  Speaker 2: Resuscitation.
• 37:00
  Speaker 2: I mean, obviously he was fine, he was breathing.
• 37:03
  Speaker 2: And then at that point I, I asked my husband.
• 37:06
  Speaker 2: I was like what is it?
• 37:07
  Speaker 2: Cause I've been saying he, so I've kind of given it away already but we had a boy, a little boy, um, and so that was that was fun to, you know, get to see, like, do we, are we having a boy or a girl?
• 37:15
  Speaker 2: And he checked real quick and then put him back on my chest and he was laying there and I was comforting him while he was crying and at the same time, though, I was pretty sore from having been stretched out, um, manually, um, so it was just kind of like this, like, oh, still really feeling that pain, but also like holding him, which was really sweet, um, and I birthed.
• 37:36
  Speaker 2: I birthed the placenta fairly quickly after that and and then we left the you know the placenta there with the cord intact for a while until it was white, and it was just really sweet.
• 37:50
  Speaker 2: We, my husband, like laid down on the bed next to me and we just like sat there with our little baby and he was crying and um, eventually like sat up more and tried to nurse him, um, and it was just.
• 38:07
  Speaker 2: We had that time, like I know, we had probably like an hour and a half to two hours of where, just like everything kind of quieted down and it was just just as I think you know the midwives are there like, but they were just kind of like on the, the skirts and, uh, you know, taking care of things.
• 38:23
  Speaker 2: But this was our world, you know, right there, just the three of us and um tried nursing him.
• 38:30
  Speaker 2: He was having a little bit of difficulty with that um, but chris said, like you know, we'll give it a couple hours and see you.
• 38:43
  Speaker 2: Some difficulty, um and I.
• 38:45
  Speaker 2: What ended up happening was because he was stuck for a while his whole left side was kind of tight, so like his neck, and so he had a hard time, like um.
• 38:55
  Speaker 2: Just I think he felt really uncomfortable and his hands were.
• 38:58
  Speaker 2: He had them all up by his face, which I think is somewhat normal, but it was just, I think, hard for him to get them stretched out away from his body.
• 39:07
  Speaker 2: So he was able to nurse, just it was a little bit more challenging.
• 39:12
  Speaker 2: And then later we ended up doing some chiropractic work and he's doing nursing really great now.
• 39:17
  Speaker 2: But that night it was just a little more challenging, but we ended up staying there.
• 39:27
  Speaker 2: So he was born at 7 15, 7, 15 that night, um, so my first interaction was about 5 30 that morning and he was born at 7 15, so just under 14 hours.
• 39:37
  Speaker 2: So I felt like it was a really like good, good amount of time, like it wasn't too fast, it wasn't too slow, like I was able to mentally like, uh, you know, move with everything.
• 39:48
  Speaker 2: It wasn't, you know, too too fast, um, but also didn't go on for days, which I was also thankful for, and because it was, you know, already like seven, 15 at night, and then we had a couple hours.
• 40:01
  Speaker 2: We ended up staying there that night, which worked out really well, um, we just slept in there and, um, the next morning they made coffee and eggs, and that was lovely as well, um, which was nice.
• 40:14
  Speaker 2: So we it was just, you know, sweet to just have our, have our time with our little baby and, um, his name is Lawton, which is the name of a glacier in Alaska, um, and it's spelled l-a-u-G-H-T-O-N, so kind of like a fun, fun spelling and just, we were actually able to hike that back in August, so he was able to hike it, you know, when he was like in my tummy.
• 40:37
  Speaker 2: So it's kind of a fun memory and with his name too.
• 40:40
  Speaker 2: So we, we just love him and he is five and a half weeks now, so getting so big.
• 40:49
  Speaker 2: So he was born on Monday and so Tuesday, after we got everything settled, we came back home and we had our 24-hour appointment on Wednesday.
• 41:02
  Speaker 2: So Wednesday, the midwives came out to our house and checked on him and did the normal 24 hour things like the heel prick and different things, but he, he was at that point still struggling with nursing.
• 41:18
  Speaker 2: So we, you know I was trying to, you know, do it, but it would take.
• 41:23
  Speaker 2: I don't even remember how long it was taking at that point.
• 41:26
  Speaker 2: It was taking at least an hour to get him to latch.
• 41:29
  Speaker 2: But when he would latch he would latch well, but it was just it would take so long to get him to latch.
• 41:36
  Speaker 2: So I was taking at least an hour, which was a really long time.
• 41:42
  Speaker 2: And so I was, you know, talking with Chris about it, and you know she was working with us, trying to, you know, help him to latch and help him to like position properly.
• 41:54
  Speaker 2: And, um, so it was that day, um, so Wednesday, chris was, like you know you might even want to see, about, you know, seeing a chiropractor, because he seems to be really tight on his left side.
• 42:06
  Speaker 2: So she, you know, gave us the recommendation seeing a chiropractor because he seems to be really tight on his left side.
• 42:15
  Speaker 2: So she gave us the recommendation.
• 42:16
  Speaker 2: We we ended up getting an appointment for that Saturday.
• 42:18
  Speaker 2: So we were able to get in fairly quickly, although that week between so between Wednesday and Saturday felt like so long.
• 42:26
  Speaker 2: It like I'm like now looking back and I felt like so long.
• 42:29
  Speaker 2: I'm like now looking back and I'm like it was only like four days but it felt like an eternity, just because we were really struggling with nursing.
• 42:38
  Speaker 2: But we still kept going through it and I ended up I think it was Thursday.
• 42:42
  Speaker 2: I talked with the midwives and they're like why don't you consider pumping?
• 42:48
  Speaker 2: And so, anyways, I ended up pumping some and trying to bottle feed, but I think by that point he had already gotten behind with getting nourishment Because he was nursing a little bit.
• 43:02
  Speaker 2: But it was just a bit of a struggle.
• 43:04
  Speaker 2: We ended up getting, on Friday, donor milk from the birth center.
• 43:09
  Speaker 2: So my husband went and picked up milk and brought it back just to get him a larger volume Because he was having a struggle nursing on me.
• 43:20
  Speaker 2: I think my milk wasn't coming in as quickly but he was needing more but I didn't have enough.
• 43:25
  Speaker 2: So it was just this struggle of like he needing more but I didn't have enough.
• 43:27
  Speaker 2: So it was just kind of this like struggle of like he needed more but I didn't have it, and so we ended up getting the donor milk, which was just really awesome and we saw an improvement quickly.
• 43:37
  Speaker 2: I mean, it took a little while for him to be looking.
• 43:40
  Speaker 2: It took a couple of days to be looking much better, but we definitely saw an improvement really quickly.
• 43:45
  Speaker 2: So that was on friday, and then saturday we had a chiropractic appointment and that was helpful as well.
• 43:53
  Speaker 2: We ended up having a total of like four or five chiropractic appointments and overall I think you know that was helpful, plus just the amount of time.
• 44:00
  Speaker 2: You know, as he got you know older and like learned his new skill of nursing um.
• 44:07
  Speaker 2: You was just a combination of those things he's nursing really well now, um, cause they went from like it would take him an hour to latch to then it would take him like 20 minutes to latch, and I remember thinking, oh, 20 minutes is so fast, um, but now he, you know, latches like right away, which is really awesome.
• 44:24
  Speaker 2: But postpartum has been um been pretty good.
• 44:27
  Speaker 2: You know I was definitely sore for the first couple of days, um, but felt, felt really really pretty good.
• 44:35
  Speaker 2: Um, my parents came in um about five or six days, five days after he was born.
• 44:41
  Speaker 2: They were here for a week, which was nice to have them here to help and you know, of course, this their first grand baby, so they wanted to, you know know, come see him and but yeah, I've been feeling good and he's been doing well, um getting big so he had gained.
• 44:57
  Speaker 2: He had lost weight, which of course is normal, but then he had gained.
• 45:00
  Speaker 2: Um gained pretty quickly.
• 45:02
  Speaker 2: He was to his birth weight before he was two weeks old, back to his birth weight before he was two weeks old, back to his birth weight before he was two weeks old.
• 45:09
  Speaker 2: And um, and yeah, we're almost to six weeks.
• 45:13
  Speaker 2: Monday will be um six weeks and um, yeah, I'm doing well, kind of getting into a groove although I know it's going to continue to change and we'll continue to learn more about him and what he loves and just really thankful for how the birth experience went and how postpartum has been going.
• 45:36
  Speaker 1: Yeah, so reflecting back five weeks postpartum now.
• 45:41
  Speaker 1: Is there anything you'd like to add?
• 45:44
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
• 45:44
  Speaker 2: Well, I'd say definitely just like give yourself a lot of grace, you know, through pregnancy and then through like postpartum.
• 45:50
  Speaker 2: But I'm sure, like so many people suggest that.
• 45:53
  Speaker 2: But, yeah, I think women in general are just hard on ourselves and grace we just need, you know, grace for sure.
• 46:00
  Speaker 2: Um and uh.
• 46:03
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I had a couple of things that were really helpful for me during pregnancy.
• 46:06
  Speaker 2: I read parts of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, which I liked that, and I mean I didn't end up getting through the whole book just because we had so much going on during pregnancy that I just got a little bits to read here and there.
• 46:24
  Speaker 2: But that book and then all of Mama Natural's stuff the book, the videos that she has on YouTube were really helpful.
• 46:31
  Speaker 2: And we ended up taking a birth class at the Holly no 7 Birth Center with Leanne Dunham with Adventure Awaits Birth Services, and that was really fun.
• 46:42
  Speaker 2: It was so nice to be able to do something in person, because where we we came from from Alaska too there were.
• 46:50
  Speaker 2: We lived in a rural town, so there weren't as many.
• 46:52
  Speaker 2: Anything that you did had to be online, and so I was like this is great, we can take something in person and interact with people, which I think is so important.
• 47:01
  Speaker 2: And we got connected with another couple there, which has been fun.
• 47:05
  Speaker 2: We've been messaging back and forth on Facebook and they ended up having their baby the same night that we had ours and so that was kind of fun to just have that that same connection.
• 47:15
  Speaker 2: And it's been nice to be able to talk with another mom that's been going through like this day.
• 47:19
  Speaker 2: You know it's like, oh, we're right along the same, like we're trying out the strollers at the same time or things like that.
• 47:25
  Speaker 2: But yeah, I think listening to birth stories was one of my favorite things and one of the things that was so helpful for me during labor or not labor, during pregnancy, to prepare me for labor, because I just got exposure to different ways that people birth or different things that happen during birth, or different things that happened during birth or um, different options or um.
• 47:49
  Speaker 2: So I really loved listening to um, the birth hour during pregnancy.
• 47:54
  Speaker 2: And then when you came out with your podcast, I was like this is so cool, like birth stories all in Maine and um.
• 48:01
  Speaker 2: So I've loved listening and um, definitely like that would probably be my number one suggestion to any pregnant mamas would be to listen to other people's birth stories and and it's just awesome and one of the things I think that was, you know, really surprising for me.
• 48:20
  Speaker 2: You know, even through pregnancy I, you know, enjoy listening to the stories, but then, after having experienced giving birth, like it was such a transformative experience that, like now, I'm like, oh, this is so, you know, so cool, and like I feel like I need, you know, want to continue to be connected to birth work or, you know, in some sort of ways, you know, I'm still considering, you know, still thinking of some different options.
• 48:45
  Speaker 2: You know, right now I've got like my time is pretty full with a little baby and it's wonderful, but eventually, you know, down the road, I want to, you know, see about, you know how I can continue to, to invest in and be a part of birth work, and whether that's, you know, through doula work or nutritional work or you know something, because I think giving birth, at least for me, it was just like something that changed me and I'm like this is so cool and so amazing and and I had seen that in people before giving birth and I was like, okay, well, that's, you know, that's them, that's not necessarily me, but it just changes you.
• 49:25
  Speaker 2: You know, giving birth really is transformative, yeah it really, really is Well.
• 49:33
  Speaker 1: thank you so much, ashley, for taking the time to chat with me and to share your story today.
• 49:39
  Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks so much for letting me share.
• 49:40
  Speaker 2: I really appreciate it.
• 49:43
  Speaker 1: Before you go, I just want to remind you I have a ton of resources for pregnancy and birth.
• 49:48
  Speaker 1: If you're pregnant, whether you're a first time mom or if this is your fifth baby, I want you to check out the show notes, because I have some free trainings and free downloads that you can sign up for, as well as the link to access my labor of love a comprehensive, self-paced online childbirth education course a comprehensive, self-paced online childbirth education course.
• 50:06
  Speaker 1: I created this course specifically for moms who don't want to be told what to do, regardless of where you're birthing or who you're birthing with, and I'd honestly love to teach you everything that I know so that you can prepare for an autonomous birth experience and prepare to step into your role as the leader of your birth journey.
• 50:26
  Speaker 1: So click to the show notes, check out all of those links and, if you ever have any questions, feel free to DM me at my main birth over on Instagram.