The story of Oliver’s birth

We decided to start “trying” to get pregnant thinking that it might take us a little time since it took over 6 months with Miles. We were wrong. We were pregnant right away. I found out I was pregnant while Teppei still had a week left out on tour and I wasn’t about to tell him over the phone. I kept that little bit of info from the world for an entire week. He basically walked in the door with his suitcase and I spilled the beans. I couldn’t hold it any longer! My pregnancy was fairly easy and my mind was focused on other things such as an incredibly energetic one and a half year old.

We decided that we wanted our midwife, BJ Snell, to help with the birth of Oliver because we trusted her so much and loved our experience with birthing Miles. I had thought of having Miles at home but my anxiety and fears of the unknown led us to have him at a hospital with a midwife. It was definitely as good of an experience as you could have at a hospital. When BJ opened her birth center and began attending home births we knew that we wanted to go that route this time. I knew what to expect and I wasn’t afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do it.

We had taken Bradley classes when I was pregnant with Miles, and learned so much about birth, that this time around we decided that we wanted to take a different approach to broaden our understanding of different relaxation techniques. In looking back on Miles’ birth I feel like I “knew” what was going on but I still had fear and a defensive outlook when I walked into the hospital. I was mentally ready but not at peace or ready in my heart. In studying the Hypnobabies handbook and reading Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth, we learned the importance of cleansing your mind of all your fears of birth, trusting your bodies ability to birth, and the connection between the mind and pain.

On the morning of the 19th of July I woke up like usual to Miles yelling “MOOOMMMMYYYY.” I got up and got him out of bed and started having mild contractions. I had been having a lot of Braxton Hicks practice contractions for a couple weeks, but these seemed a little different. We decided to go out to breakfast because I had thought I was in labor probably 18 times previous, so this was no big deal. We stopped by our friend Amy’s house to drop something off and I told her that I thought I might be in labor. Jeff, her husband, said “really!?” and I laughed it off and said probably not. At breakfast I started feeling them a little more, but nothing to make me say that I was actually in labor. By the time we got home I still wasn’t sure. Teppei was supposed to record and I told him to maybe call and cancel. By about 12ish I told him to just call it off just in case it was the real thing.
We began timing the contractions and realized that this was probably it. We called BJ and because I needed IV antibiotics, she came right over. She checked me and I was already at 5 or 6 centimeters at that point. I was shocked because I wasn’t even in any pain and I wasn’t even sure if I was actually in labor. With Miles, when I got to the hospital and was unable to talk, I was only 4 cm! Teppei and I went out to garden for a little bit. I then decided I wanted to take a shower, which I ended up staying in for what felt like 2 hours. What was different for me this time was that I was welcoming the contractions and working with them to try to help my body progress. I would circle my hips and squat on the birth ball. As I showered I prayed and welcomed God to be a part of the birth (which Jen Stankovitz taught me on her blog blessmybirth.com). I was excited and almost joyous to work with my body and my baby.

When I got out of the shower I was around 7 cm. I was still walking and talking, but became more and more focused during the contractions. Teppei would massage my back and remind me to let go. It is amazing how difficult it is to let your muscles relax around your tightening uterus. With every contraction they would remind me to let my hips go and allow the baby to come down further. I knew that if I fought my uterus, it would send pain signals and progress would be hindered. I kept imagining a flowers pedals opening and opening. I was still so aware and positive during this phase. At one point I told BJ that I thought I was going backwards because it wasn’t getting worse. She assured me that I wasn’t.

Things started to get a little more intense and I got in the birth tub, which was set up in my dining room. I was laughing because I felt like I was at a spa. Teppei even cut a couple slices of cucumber to put over my eyes as a joke. BJ, Teppei, and the birth assistants were all in chairs around the tub just watching me. I recommended that they go start a game of scrabble because I felt everyone looking at me! Things slowed down due to the warmth and comfort of the tub, so I decided to get out and try to go to the bathroom. That is when I really started to feel the intensity and the power of birth start. I began to have very strong contractions that I had to moan through in order to not tighten my whole body.

When BJ checked me again I was 8 cm. I decided to have her break my bag of water in order to allow the baby to come down even more. This was when I hit transition. They brought me back to the tub and I began instinctively to push a little with each contraction. It is amazing how you can revert to a childlike state. I was hanging over the tub holding Angelique (who was such an amazing support for me). Teppei was in the tub with me rubbing my back and BJ was coaching me through each push. It was the most intense time. Teppei was having to pull my legs out because I kept climbing up over him. I was able to reach down and feel Oliver’s head as I was pushing which was so amazing and helpful. I could almost guide myself in how hard and when to push. His head came out and his shoulders took another couple pushes.

He came out and into Teppei’s arms he went. I laid back and held him, watching him as he experienced his first breath of air. I kept saying, “he is not crying! Is he breathing?!” BJ assured me that babies don’t have to cry and it takes a little time for them to figure out how to breath. He was pink and healthy and happy from the moment he came out. He was able to latch on and nurse right away. It was such a joyous and amazing experience to be at home, unafraid, and able to welcome and enjoy the intensity and power of what God created the woman’s body to do. Oliver James Daichi Teranishi was 8 lbs 4 oz. and 20 inches long. He is so beautiful and we are madly in love with him. It is crazy how such a deep bond is formed through the womb and is only fully realized once that baby is in your arms. The birth began at 1pm and I had my baby boy at 6:08pm. Transition hit around 5:30pm and pushing lasted only 10 minutes.