The Business of Being Born Message Board

Baby’s Birth Date: 11/05/05

Birth Story: I had a wonderful waterbirth with my first son and I am pregnant again and plan to have another home birth. It started off with a wonderful midwife and doula, Aleksandra Evanguelidi of Los Angeles (www.sacredentrace.com or www.birthsanctury.com). She was very supportive and informative of natural therapies before, during and after the pregnancy. Aleks and I visited some maori healers who come to the US often. (http://www.ata-rangi.com) They “program” the amniotic fluid to facilitate a smooth and quick birth (which is exactly what I had). He also massaged my belly and moved the baby out of the pelvis twice, as he was thought to be “stuck” down there, as he descended so early into my pregnancy. I also attended hypnobirthing classes (www.hypnobirthing.com) with Allisha Tamburri, which I am sure helped me have a virtually pain-free and totally great birthing experience.
My birth day started at 5:30AM with regular contractions 10 minutes apart. At 9:30 I was 2cm dilated, by 12:30 I lost my mucous plug and was in labour. Things went so quickly and pain-free that nobody expected I was that far along already and they almost didn’t have the birthing pool ready for me. I basically held off ’til it was ready because I sooo wanted a water birth. Aiden was born at 2:32pm, still in his amniotic sac after pushing for 30 minutes or so (some say longer some say shorter).
I was so lucky that my mom was there for the weekend and could be there for the joyous event. I still remember those first few days as magical in our bedroom together, and I am very grateful for all that supported the birth.