The Greenhouse Birth Center ~ Where families are born, gently.

Taylor's Birth Story
written by her Mom, Jodi

When my husband, Jody, and I discovered we would be expecting our first born child in late May of 2002, there was absolutely no hesitation in knowing where we wanted our baby to be born—the Birth Center. We felt it was the first important statement we could make as parents. Our desire was to have a peaceful, loving and personal birth experience, free of drugs or intervention. We absolutely trusted the Inborn Intelligence of my body to control and coordinate the growth and development of our baby as well as the safe delivery when the time was right.

Our baby was due in early February and in our attempt to live our lives fully, we made plans to have our parents in town on the ninth of February to see the Phantom of the Opera. It was our conclusion the baby could come at any time and in the meanwhile it would be life as usual. I awoke Thursday February 6th to find my mucus plug had broken—an incredible realization that the time was near. It looked as though the weekend with our parents may involve more than the Phantom! Both Thursday and Friday passed quickly with much to do, making preparations for our guests and entertaining. Saturday we decided to go for lunch and do some shopping. During lunch I experienced a sharp back spasm at the base of my spine that lasted a minute or so then passed. The rest of lunch was uneventful, so we continued with our day and went shopping. While we were in the mall, I experienced multiple episodes of the same intense low back pain and spasming. Each time they occurred, they would last 30 - 45 seconds and my husband would comfort me by placing his fist in the center of the spasm while I closed my eyes to focus on relaxation and visualizing the incredible gift we were about to receive. These periods of back spasms were intermittent and without a rhythm to their occurrence over the time frame of about an hour before they stopped. Later that evening during dinner, by 9:00pm, the back pain and spasms returned. This time they seemed to be occurring every 3-5mins. and still with a remarkable level of intensity. Jody continued to provide his loving touch and support as I worked through each wave of spasming with visualization and relaxation techniques. It was after 45 minutes of this cycle that we decided to call the answering service of the Birth Center. Within 5-10 minutes Clarice had returned our phone call only to find out that within that time the spasming had stopped all together. Clarice suggested the time may be near and to go home, rest and call again if we had any questions or concerns.

By 1:30am I was awakened by the return of the intense back pain and spasming, cycling every 5 minutes. If I tried to move between these waves of pain and spasming it would immediately cause my lower back to go further into spasm. This made it extremely difficult to do any of the techniques we were taught for back labor which would help the baby turn. We labored through the night moving between the bed, the floor and the shower. Jody was wonderfully supportive, massaging my back, feet, arms and temples. He did reflex points on my hands and feet and performed periodic chiropractic adjustments, all the while remaining completely focused and loving. As the night progressed, the level of intensity of the back pain remained high. By 5:30 am I had managed to awaken my house guests with my deep vocals as I moved my way through each contraction. Each contraction seemed to be 3-4 minutes apart and by 6:30am we called Clarice again to arrange meeting her at the Birth Center.

We wanted to connect with Clarice, have a sense of where we were at. Much to my dismay, after all that work, we were only at 2 centimeters dilation. She was so supportive as she explained I still had a way to go and offered suggestions as to what our choices were at this point -- stay at the Birth Center to continue laboring or return home. With the reassurance of Clarice, we returned home. The continual severe back pain was quite fatiguing and upon returning home, my husband and I returned to our bedroom while our parents patiently went about their morning, allowing us the space for intimacy to do the work necessary to bring our baby to us. We set up a nest on the floor with pillows, some water, rice bags, lavender lotion and a clock. By this point I was quite tired, so between the contractions I would close my eyes to completely relax with the soft caress of my husband, he was lying behind me, supporting me in every way he could. As the end of the 5 min interval would near, my husband would let me know the next contraction was coming so I could maintain a rhythm to my breathing and relaxation. After an hour and a half of not moving and allowing the contractions to run their course, my husband lied in front of me face to face. He told me he understood that I was in alot of back pain if I moved but reminded me of all that I knew. I had rested and it was time to do the tough work. Only I could actually do the work and I had to dig inside myself to connect with the strength that would enable me to work through the pain and muscle spasms between contractions. I had to get moving in order for labor to progress and in order to give our baby the chance to change positions and allow the back labor to pass. I remember he spoke with such strength and yet with such tenderness. It was with those words that I picked myself up and started walking through the different rooms of my house. Jody had turned on music and as we made our way through the different rooms, he would support me from behind as we moved to the rhythm of the music. As each contraction came, I would turn to him so he could hold me up and I could work through it. By 10:00am, we had a friend, who is also a chiropractor, come to the house. Both Harry and Jody would completely support my weight so I could do different moves to help encourage labor to progress and the baby to turn. I was in such a focused and determined state. I can only relate it to having competed in long distance running, I found myself in a zone. Fully aware of my surroundings and my body, yet at a such level of focus deep within myself that allowed me surrender to my body and the waves that came over it.

By 1:30 pm we were back at the Birth Center, with contractions that were 3 minutes apart. I remember having a contraction in the parking lot, being supported by Clarice, seeing the beautiful blue sky and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. Once inside, a quick examination revealed I was at 6 centimeters. I was still experiencing complete back labor so without hesitation we went into the birthing tub. I stretched out over a birthing ball, while my mother kept a warm stream of hot water on my low back and Jody held my hand as we worked through each contraction. I was very rejuvenated by the water and was able to do a lot of pelvic work between contractions. After a while it happened, something had changed -- the back pain had stopped!! I now found myself in the tub working through each contraction and at the same time able to maintain a sense of levity and humor. Susan and Kip had arrived and my team was complete. I connected with each person in such a different way. Each brought a different energy to the experience, I drew from each a source of strength, focus, peace and harmony.

It seemed the time to push came quickly after the back labor ceased. The anticipation was overwhelming as my husband and I grew nearer to meeting this special little spirit. This next phase of labor, the pushing, was all consuming at first and then it seemed to plateau. I tried various positions while in the tub in an attempt to find the one that would open my body completely and allow my baby to come. Time passed and still nothing. Then I heard Kip's voice " Jodi, maybe you should try going to the washroom." I can only imagine the look on my face!!! She wanted me to do what!?! I settled back into the warmth of the water, nestled in my husband's embrace, almost disregarding the suggestion that had been made. A few minutes later I heard the words again, only this time they possessed a distinct and directive tone " Jodi, I think you should try to go to the washroom NOW." It was not a raised voice and it was not an angry voice. It was, however, one that was not to be mistaken, it was time to go to the washroom! With the support of Susan and Kip, I made my way to the washroom while my husband used the opportunity to do so himself. As I stood up, an entire body convulsion came over me. As I held on to Susan, I could feel my whole body move our baby through me and with that our baby was on the verge of being born. In the next moment I could hear the commotion of everyone making their way into the washroom. It's such a clear snapshot in my mind -- Clarice pressed behind me between the toilet tank, Jody under the sink, Kip underneath me, my mother somewhere holding a flashlight and my mother-in-law in the doorway. In the next instant two very close together strong whole body convulsive waves came over me and our baby was born!! As I sat down, they placed the baby in my arms, the body partially covered by a blanket. I immediately brought the baby in close to me to hug, when I heard "Boy or Girl?? Boy or Girl??" I remember moving the blanket and baby's leg in one motion -- "GIRL !!"

The next three minutes seemed to occur in slow motion, like still frames moving through my mind. I heard the words "Call 911", she was not pink and squiggly, she was pale and lifeless-looking. I remember Clarice clearing her air passages and saying the words " Jodi, talk to your baby!" As I leaned towards her while Clarice worked on her, I kept repeating "Come to Mommy!!Come to Mommy!! I love you so much, it's OK to come to Mommy!" I watched as her cord blood drained and at the last possible moment, Clarice cut it and passed the baby to Kip. Jody was at my side now, "I'm OK, go to her!! Hurry!!" As I sat watching, helpless, from the washroom I felt an incredible wave of emotion come over me and then I heard the only voice who could have reached me in that moment. It was my mother, " Jodi, pull yourself together. Your baby needs you! It's time for you to be the baby's mother!!". In that moment, my placenta dropped and a powerful surge of strength rose up in me. I watched as Kip gave the baby oxygen and stimulated her, our chiropractic friend Harry (who had been waiting outside) was now at the head of the table she laid on stimulating her upper neck region and encouraging her to come. Jody was at her side talking to her, letting her know her Daddy was waiting for her. And then I heard the most incredible words "She opened her left eye!!" Kip, Harry and Jody continued to support our baby as she slowly opened her eyes to join us while Clarice and Susan helped me to the bed. In the next moment the EMTs had arrived to find a very pale baby with a very strong heartbeat. Kip, Clarice and Susan had the situation completely under control so the EMTs stayed off to the side not interfering in the work that was being done for our baby. Once it was clear the baby was stable, we were asked if we wanted her to be taken to the hospital to be checked over. We declined. With the reassurance of Kip, we decided it was in the best interests of our baby to stay with us. With that, Kip brought her to me and placed her on my chest to let the warmth of my skin and the sound of my heartbeat soothe her.

In the moments that followed, the room was cleared and we were given some time to be with our baby. To weep as a family, to give Thanks FOR our family. And so it was, on February 9th at 7:21pm, that Miss Taylor Kathleen Conley was born, 6 pounds 5 ounces and 21 inches. Needless to say, no one made it to the Phantom of the Opera that night, instead we were witness to something of much greater magnitude. Both Jody and I are so grateful for the opportunity for Taylor to have been born at the Birth Center. We recognize the divine perfection in it. We're grateful that we were able to love our daughter into this world, that we were a part of a very powerful and empowering birth experience!


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Taylor's Birth Story written by her Mom, Jodi When my husband, Jody, and I discovered we would be expecting our first born child in late May of 2002, there was absolutely no hesitation in knowing where we wanted our baby to be born—the Birth Center. We felt it was the first important statement we could make as parents. Our desire was to have a peaceful, loving and personal birth experience, free of drugs or intervention. We absolutely trusted the Inborn Intelligence of my body to control and coordinate the growth and development of our baby as well as the safe delivery when the time was right. Our baby was due in early February and in our attempt to live our lives fully, we made plans to have our parents in town on the ninth of February to see the Phantom of the Opera. It was our conclusion the baby could come at any time and in the meanwhile it would be life as usual. I awoke Thursday February 6th to find my mucus plug had broken—an incredible realization that the time was near. It looked as though the weekend with our parents may involve more than the Phantom! Both Thursday and Friday passed quickly with much to do, making preparations for our guests and entertaining. Saturday we decided to go for lunch and do some shopping. During lunch I experienced a sharp back spasm at the base of my spine that lasted a minute or so then passed. The rest of lunch was uneventful, so we continued with our day and went shopping. While we were in the mall, I experienced multiple episodes of the same intense low back pain and spasming. Each time they occurred, they would last 30 - 45 seconds and my husband would comfort me by placing his fist in the center of the spasm while I closed my eyes to focus on relaxation and visualizing the incredible gift we were about to receive. These periods of back spasms were intermittent and without a rhythm to their occurrence over the time frame of about an hour before they stopped. Later that evening during dinner, by 9:00pm, the back pain and spasms returned. This time they seemed to be occurring every 3-5mins. and still with a remarkable level of intensity. Jody continued to provide his loving touch and support as I worked through each wave of spasming with visualization and relaxation techniques. It was after 45 minutes of this cycle that we decided to call the answering service of the Birth Center. Within 5-10 minutes Clarice had returned our phone call only to find out that within that time the spasming had stopped all together. Clarice suggested the time may be near and to go home, rest and call again if we had any questions or concerns. By 1:30am I was awakened by the return of the intense back pain and spasming, cycling every 5 minutes. If I tried to move between these waves of pain and spasming it would immediately cause my lower back to go further into spasm. This made it extremely difficult to do any of the techniques we were taught for back labor which would help the baby turn. We labored through the night moving between the bed, the floor and the shower. Jody was wonderfully supportive, massaging my back, feet, arms and temples. He did reflex points on my hands and feet and performed periodic chiropractic adjustments, all the while remaining completely focused and loving. As the night progressed, the level of intensity of the back pain remained high. By 5:30 am I had managed to awaken my house guests with my deep vocals as I moved my way through each contraction. Each contraction seemed to be 3-4 minutes apart and by 6:30am we called Clarice again to arrange meeting her at the Birth Center. We wanted to connect with Clarice, have a sense of where we were at. Much to my dismay, after all that work, we were only at 2 centimeters dilation. She was so supportive as she explained I still had a way to go and offered suggestions as to what our choices were at this point -- stay at the Birth Center to continue laboring or return home. With the reassurance of Clarice, we returned home. The continual severe back pain was quite fatiguing and upon returning home, my husband and I returned to our bedroom while our parents patiently went about their morning, allowing us the space for intimacy to do the work necessary to bring our baby to us. We set up a nest on the floor with pillows, some water, rice bags, lavender lotion and a clock. By this point I was quite tired, so between the contractions I would close my eyes to completely relax with the soft caress of my husband, he was lying behind me, supporting me in every way he could. As the end of the 5 min interval would near, my husband would let me know the next contraction was coming so I could maintain a rhythm to my breathing and relaxation. After an hour and a half of not moving and allowing the contractions to run their course, my husband lied in front of me face to face. He told me he understood that I was in alot of back pain if I moved but reminded me of all that I knew. I had rested and it was time to do the tough work. Only I could actually do the work and I had to dig inside myself to connect with the strength that would enable me to work through the pain and muscle spasms between contractions. I had to get moving in order for labor to progress and in order to give our baby the chance to change positions and allow the back labor to pass. I remember he spoke with such strength and yet with such tenderness. It was with those words that I picked myself up and started walking through the different rooms of my house. Jody had turned on music and as we made our way through the different rooms, he would support me from behind as we moved to the rhythm of the music. As each contraction came, I would turn to him so he could hold me up and I could work through it. By 10:00am, we had a friend, who is also a chiropractor, come to the house. Both Harry and Jody would completely support my weight so I could do different moves to help encourage labor to progress and the baby to turn. I was in such a focused and determined state. I can only relate it to having competed in long distance running, I found myself in a zone. Fully aware of my surroundings and my body, yet at a such level of focus deep within myself that allowed me surrender to my body and the waves that came over it. By 1:30 pm we were back at the Birth Center, with contractions that were 3 minutes apart. I remember having a contraction in the parking lot, being supported by Clarice, seeing the beautiful blue sky and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. Once inside, a quick examination revealed I was at 6 centimeters. I was still experiencing complete back labor so without hesitation we went into the birthing tub. I stretched out over a birthing ball, while my mother kept a warm stream of hot water on my low back and Jody held my hand as we worked through each contraction. I was very rejuvenated by the water and was able to do a lot of pelvic work between contractions. After a while it happened, something had changed -- the back pain had stopped!! I now found myself in the tub working through each contraction and at the same time able to maintain a sense of levity and humor. Susan and Kip had arrived and my team was complete. I connected with each person in such a different way. Each brought a different energy to the experience, I drew from each a source of strength, focus, peace and harmony. It seemed the time to push came quickly after the back labor ceased. The anticipation was overwhelming as my husband and I grew nearer to meeting this special little spirit. This next phase of labor, the pushing, was all consuming at first and then it seemed to plateau. I tried various positions while in the tub in an attempt to find the one that would open my body completely and allow my baby to come. Time passed and still nothing. Then I heard Kip's voice " Jodi, maybe you should try going to the washroom." I can only imagine the look on my face!!! She wanted me to do what!?! I settled back into the warmth of the water, nestled in my husband's embrace, almost disregarding the suggestion that had been made. A few minutes later I heard the words again, only this time they possessed a distinct and directive tone " Jodi, I think you should try to go to the washroom NOW." It was not a raised voice and it was not an angry voice. It was, however, one that was not to be mistaken, it was time to go to the washroom! With the support of Susan and Kip, I made my way to the washroom while my husband used the opportunity to do so himself. As I stood up, an entire body convulsion came over me. As I held on to Susan, I could feel my whole body move our baby through me and with that our baby was on the verge of being born. In the next moment I could hear the commotion of everyone making their way into the washroom. It's such a clear snapshot in my mind -- Clarice pressed behind me between the toilet tank, Jody under the sink, Kip underneath me, my mother somewhere holding a flashlight and my mother-in-law in the doorway. In the next instant two very close together strong whole body convulsive waves came over me and our baby was born!! As I sat down, they placed the baby in my arms, the body partially covered by a blanket. I immediately brought the baby in close to me to hug, when I heard "Boy or Girl?? Boy or Girl??" I remember moving the blanket and baby's leg in one motion -- "GIRL !!" The next three minutes seemed to occur in slow motion, like still frames moving through my mind. I heard the words "Call 911", she was not pink and squiggly, she was pale and lifeless-looking. I remember Clarice clearing her air passages and saying the words " Jodi, talk to your baby!" As I leaned towards her while Clarice worked on her, I kept repeating "Come to Mommy!!Come to Mommy!! I love you so much, it's OK to come to Mommy!" I watched as her cord blood drained and at the last possible moment, Clarice cut it and passed the baby to Kip. Jody was at my side now, "I'm OK, go to her!! Hurry!!" As I sat watching, helpless, from the washroom I felt an incredible wave of emotion come over me and then I heard the only voice who could have reached me in that moment. It was my mother, " Jodi, pull yourself together. Your baby needs you! It's time for you to be the baby's mother!!". In that moment, my placenta dropped and a powerful surge of strength rose up in me. I watched as Kip gave the baby oxygen and stimulated her, our chiropractic friend Harry (who had been waiting outside) was now at the head of the table she laid on stimulating her upper neck region and encouraging her to come. Jody was at her side talking to her, letting her know her Daddy was waiting for her. And then I heard the most incredible words "She opened her left eye!!" Kip, Harry and Jody continued to support our baby as she slowly opened her eyes to join us while Clarice and Susan helped me to the bed. In the next moment the EMTs had arrived to find a very pale baby with a very strong heartbeat. Kip, Clarice and Susan had the situation completely under control so the EMTs stayed off to the side not interfering in the work that was being done for our baby. Once it was clear the baby was stable, we were asked if we wanted her to be taken to the hospital to be checked over. We declined. With the reassurance of Kip, we decided it was in the best interests of our baby to stay with us. With that, Kip brought her to me and placed her on my chest to let the warmth of my skin and the sound of my heartbeat soothe her. In the moments that followed, the room was cleared and we were given some time to be with our baby. To weep as a family, to give Thanks FOR our family. And so it was, on February 9th at 7:21pm, that Miss Taylor Kathleen Conley was born, 6 pounds 5 ounces and 21 inches. Needless to say, no one made it to the Phantom of the Opera that night, instead we were witness to something of much greater magnitude. Both Jody and I are so grateful for the opportunity for Taylor to have been born at the Birth Center. We recognize the divine perfection in it. We're grateful that we were able to love our daughter into this world, that we were a part of a very powerful and empowering birth experience!
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