Kayla's Story

After having cramping and some bloody show over the two days prior, I woke up to a painful contraction during the night. After the first one, I dozed back off, but when I had a second, I woke up and looked at the time. It was 2:49 am. This contraction was nothing like the cramping I’d had over the past couple days. It was intense. 

I went to the restroom and started leaking fluid that smelled different than urine. The contractions continued, a bit irregular and lasting under a minute but only 2-5 min apart. I’d prayed for my water to break so I would know if labor was for real and could call my mom, 7 hrs away, in time for her to make it. I wasn’t quite sure if this was my water, but it did seem I was leaking something. I told my husband I thought I was in labor. 

Sometime between probably 3:15-3:30, I called my mom to let her know. I called my doula a little bit later. Based on how short and still irregular my contractions were, she told me it could still be false labor and to try and go back to bed and get some rest. I didn’t argue with her—but I knew very well that these contractions were much too intense to sleep through. I texted my mom what the doula said and that it was up to her whether or not to make the trip, but that I was pretty sure this was for real. I then texted my best friend, who had had her baby, also a boy, the evening before. I did lie back down next to my husband, squeezing his hand and groaning through contractions. 

Sometime after 5, I got in the bathtub. I got in and out of the bathtub a couple times, since I would get too hot in there after a while. My contractions started lengthening a small amount, 45-50 sec instead of 30, still very close together at 2-3 min apart. I sent my doula screenshots of my contraction timer, and she said it was a good pattern and asked if I was ready for her. It was around 7-7:15 and something had recently shifted. I was no longer able to easily text people in between contractions and distractions were getting more difficult to manage. I simply responded “yes”. My husband texted the elders at church to ask for prayer and to let them know he would not make the 7:45 meeting, as this was a Sunday. Still thinking I would be in labor for many more hours, my husband called his mom, who lives 2 hrs away, at 7:53 for her to come. However, I remember telling him that I felt like things were going quickly, and I felt like I could feel my son dropping lower.

My doula arrived around 8 or a little after. Between our text exchange and her arrival, I had gotten out of the tub again and onto the bed, and was completely out of control from the pain. I felt I could only lie down as moving and being upright was too difficult and painful, and talking to anyone for any reason felt impossible. I was yelling in pain with the contractions and felt excruciating pain in my thighs and butt, honestly worse than the contractions themselves. My doula later said that she believed I was in transition at this time. She immediately jumped into action and talked kindly but firmly to me in order to snap me into focus and get me to stop fighting my body, as this would only make the pain worse. It took a bit, but with her guidance I was able to finally start breathing and feeling back in control. Sure enough, the pain lessened, though was still intense. 

She asked if I wanted to get on my birthing ball and I said no; moving felt far too overwhelming and painful. I started leaking more fluid and blood, and she and my husband helped me change into a Depend I had on hand for postpartum. After maybe half an hr, she asked if I wanted to call the midwife to see if they wanted us to go in. There was no way I was calling anyone, so my husband called and Jamie answered. He described what was going on and Jamie asked to talk to me. I just shook my head; I absolutely could not have a conversation with anyone right now. She spoke to my doula and heard me yelling in the background. “That’s a good sign!” she said. 

Jamie just so happened to be in Odessa, where we lived at the time and offered to drive to the house to check me and make sure I was far enough along to go to The Birth Center. She arrived perhaps a bit after 9, but I do not recall the time. I was still struggling with the pain at this time and she and my doula helped me move, during which my water broke. With great difficulty, I got in position for her to do a check. Jamie barely got her hand down there before she said, “Nope, you’re complete. We’re not going anywhere. We are having the baby here.” 

She looked at my husband and pointed—“That’s your baby’s hair!” My husband’s eyes widened. It was startling, but somehow I was not surprised based on how I was feeling things were going. She immediately called Kristen and had her go to The Birth Center to pick up a home birth kit and other items, although she told her the baby would be here before she was. She instructed my husband to get lots of towels. Jamie told me to push when I was ready. Pushing felt like a break from the rest of labor. Contractions eased in intensity and slowed down, but when one came I followed my body’s natural urge to push. 

Partway through, Jamie had me stop pushing, as the cord was tightening around my son’s neck with each push. I resumed once she lifted it over his head. I was told our son was trying to cry even before he was already out! I didn’t push for more than half an hour before little Ezra was born at 9:45 am with a very loud cry. It was the biggest moment of relief and joy, holding him on my chest. I had been so anxious about breastfeeding success, but almost as soon as he calmed down he started to look for the breast. Kristen helped me to latch him and he latched well immediately! It was such a beautiful moment.

We had switched to The Birth Center from my previous provider, who I honestly didn’t have any negative experience with, at 32 weeks based on where we felt God was leading us. We started praying about it when my doula had brought it up, since she said my birth plan preferences would more fit The Birth Center than a hospital. At the time, Ezra was still breech, so it was a gamble, but we took the leap. I am so grateful we did. I could have easily still had Ezra at home since we didn’t know how far along in labor I was, but would not have had a team to deliver him had I planned to go to the hospital. 

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with The Birth Center and my birth experience. Though unexpected, I had no anxiety about finishing labor at home with the confidence and expertise that Jamie had brought with her. She and Kristen were phenomenal in helping us through labor and postpartum and helping me feel confident about breastfeeding and caring for him. My doula was incredible at getting me through the last part of labor and probably helped it progress so well and so smoothly from there. She was such an amazing support. I could not imagine being with anyone else and cannot wait to experience my whole pregnancy with them for baby #2!