Jordana Simone’s Water Birth

I woke up early in the morning 2 days before my estimated due date feeling what I thought could be contractions. After being up for a few hours, and timing them a bit, I called Jan. We agreed that since I lived an hour from the birth center, and my last birth was only 1.5 hrs from start of active to delivery, that we should just head up now. I contracted mildly anywhere from every 5 to 12 mins until we got to the free standing birth center, after dropping the kids off at my parents' house. (I planned on having my parents bring the kids when things got serious so they could witness the birth). Jan checked me, said I was 3cm, but very soft and stretchy so that she could get me to 6cm if she wanted. The baby wasn’t real low though, so she suggested we go get some lunch and walk around to get her good and applied to the cervix to get the contractions closer.

After contracting through lunch at Panera (where a woman dressed in scrubs saw me have a contraction and asked me WHY I was there in labor, lol), we went to Target to walk around (it was rainy outside). We were only there for about 10 mins when I had a 2-minute-long contraction and Ken said "We're going back now", lol! I stopped off at the restroom before leaving, and realized it was getting more serious, because I felt like I needed to have a bowel movement, but didn’t want to push at all.

Walking to the birth center from where we had to park a block away, I had another big contraction. When we got inside, I ran to the bathroom and sat on the toilet for about 7 or 8 mins, feeling what seemed like one continuous contraction. I got into the tub right after that and it felt GREAT! (this was my 1st time laboring in water at all, never even been in a shower to labor before). 

Jan was still out getting lunch with a student, and the center owner called her once she saw I was apparently active already.

The next 45 mins or so, I just labored in the tub, breathing and rocking thru the contractions. I ended up getting a tingly feeling like I did during the end of my labor my second baby. (I was breathing fine, though, so we didn’t know why I felt those hyperventilating feelings). Then a contraction hit that felt different (same feeling as right before the second was born) and I knew it was almost time. I had to brace myself on the side of the tub while on my knees, and I felt my body move her down, very intense, and I vocalized louder and lower that time. So hearing my change, Jan reached into the tub & checked me from behind. She said I didn’t feel complete yet and shouldn’t push, but that it could be the position that made it feel like there was still cervix in front (which was the case). I thought to myself It really doesn’t matter if I feel complete if my body says this baby is coming! The next contraction hit right away and I felt her coming down, so I pushed a little along with my body. But the pressure on my bottom from her crowning was so intense, so I stopped for a second. But then my body said no stopping and she kept coming. I felt down and the bag of waters was still intact as her head came out. But by the time the midwife got around to that side and said her head is out, it had popped. She said the cord was wrapped, so I didn’t want to push. I told her I was trying not to push but couldn’t stop my body from moving her out and she said it was ok, she had the cord mostly unwrapped from the baby's arms and neck. I pushed her body out and I became a mommy for the 3rd time at 3:05 pm on June 4th, 2008, about an hour after starting to actively labor in the tub.

Jordana Simone was 7lbs 15oz (tied with my 1st for biggest) and 20". No tearing or even skid marks for momma, and baby had apgars of 9 & 10. She was welcomed into the world by her mommy, daddy, the midwife, and a midwifery student.

Im very thankful that the Lord blessed me with this experience, and another beautiful, healthy baby!

Samantha Wilson