Kennedy’s Story

By her mom, Jaime

At the time of Kennedy’s birth, Gage, our firstborn, was only 19 months old, so his birth was very fresh in my mind. It also was a huge factor as to why we were at the Greenhouse Birth Center. Gage’s hospital birth was long and painful both physically and mentally. After the unsuccessful epidural, pitocin, and an unsupportive doctor, we came away thinking, there has got to be a better way to do this. While at a La Leche League meeting I met Cathy who had the first baby, Max, at the GBC.  Once we discovered we were pregnant with our second baby we knew we wanted to check out the GBC. After going to the Thursday night information session we knew we were in the right place. 

My comfort level only increased during my prenatal appointments and birth classes. So, when I was awakened by my first contraction at 2 a.m. I was excited, not scared. The contractions were fine at first but when the back labor started I had flashbacks of Gage’s birth. Gage had been in a posterior (face up) position, which causes horrible back labor. I remembered how draining the constant back pain was and the sole reason I got the epidural. I was terrified that the back labor this time was going to be too draining and that I wouldn’t be able to get through it drug-free. 

Once I realized that she was posterior, I tried to work through the contraction on my hands and knees because I remembered learning in birthing class that that was helpful in encouraging babies to turn. The contractions were so painful on my hands and knees that I became sick. After trying a few more positions I found that standing and leaning on a stack of pillows on the bed worked best for me. Once I was more comfortable, I was able to think about calling the midwives. I was very aware that the contractions were coming quickly but I didn’t feel like they were that strong. So when Kip asked if we wanted her to meet us at the GBC, I didn’t know what to do. My labor with Gage had been 25 hours and so far I had only been in labor for 2 ½ hours. I just didn’t want everyone sitting around the GBC in the wee hours of the morning if I could be doing some of this work at home. But something inside of me said to go. So, Kip agreed to meet us at the GBC in an hour. 

That was the longest 20 minute car ride of my life. It was 6 a.m. and we had had a big snowstorm during the night, so the roads were snow-covered and bumpy. I also had to be sitting and couldn’t have Adam rub my back. So when we pulled into the parking lot of the GBC I was thrilled. I walked in to find the tub in the green room filling. The lights were dimmed and candles had been lit around the tub. 

After we got settled Kip said that she would like to check me to see when to call Clarice and my mom who would be bringing Gage. Again, Gage’s birth had an impact on what I wanted to do. Because I was checked so often and progressed so slowly with Gage I felt like I was constantly let down because I would feel like I was further along than I was.  So, I told Kip that it was fine to check me but I didn’t want to know how far along I was, I just wanted to know when to call Gage. She checked me and said I was definitely in labor but it was too early to call. I asked if I could get into the tub and she said it was a bit early for that, too.  So, we stacked the pillows on the bed and I continued to work through the contractions. 

For 45 minutes my time was split between leaning on the bed and going to the bathroom. The contractions were getting stronger and my moaning was not working to distract me anymore so I asked Kip if she thought I could get into the tub. She said that would probably be a good idea. The warm water felt great at first until I had my first contraction. I couldn’t find a comfortable position and I felt like I was floating and couldn’t find something stable to hold on to. After a little tossing and turning I found lying on my side to be okay as long as Adam put pressure on my lower back. Really the only thing getting me through the contraction was low moaning and Adam rubbing my back. 

After about 20 minutes in the tub I felt like I was losing control and remember thinking I don’t want to do this anymore. When I felt I couldn’t go on any longer, something changed. During the contractions I felt like I needed to do little pushes, so I called Kip in the room. To my surprise, in walks Kip and Clarice. I had been hearing talking in the kitchen but thought that Kip was on the phone. When I told them what I was feeling, Clarice said just go with it because when it was really time to push I wouldn’t be able to control it. So with the next contraction I pushed and my water broke. 

After my water broke I could just feel Kennedy slide right down. I remember saying, “Oh my God, she is right here.”  To which Clarice replied, “Reach down and guide your baby out.”  I remember thinking that she is the one who has done this hundreds of times and that it should be her hand doing the guiding but the next contraction came and I couldn’t think; I just had to act.  With the first push I could feel her head crowning. It was so amazing to feel that life coming out of me. With the second push her head came fully out. Because she was posterior she was looking up through the water, Clarice checked for a cord around her neck.  With one final push, Kennedy was born. I reached down, scooped her up and placed her on my chest. 

She was so alert and peaceful, looking up at us with her big blue eyes. Shortly after she was born she started to root, so I tried to nurse her but her cord was intact and still pulsing, and it was too short for her to reach my breast. She turned to her hand and started to suck her thumb. Once the cord stopped pulsing, Adam cut it and then shortly after that I delivered the placenta. I got out of the tub and we all snuggled into bed. It felt like the perfect thing to do with a new baby on a cold January day. I felt so liberated and healed from the disappointment of Gage’s birth. I knew that I didn’t fail the first time; I just didn’t choose the right setting for me. We will give birth at the GBC again.