Brooks' Birth Story
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
The Birth of Brooks
As told by Brooks’ mom and The Birth Center client, Britney
At the end of February 2020, I was expecting my second baby — a little brother to my then-3-year-old, Beckham. Beckham had been born at The Birth Center, and my husband, Brian, and I were excited to welcome Brooks there, too.
Beckham’s birth in 2016 was amazing. I was nine centimeters dilated when I arrived at The Birth Center. I had dreamed of a water birth for my delivery, but when I realized how close to delivering I was and that we wouldn’t have time to fill the tub, I quickly got over my plans and focused on my main goal: a natural, gentle birth. Even though many in my life at the time were skeptical I could accomplish that natural birth, I was filled with so many emotions when after a short time of pushing, he was born. I remember the first words out of my mouth were, “They told me I couldn’t do it, but I DID IT!” I felt victorious and proud because I accomplished what I was longing for. It was beautiful and empowering.
Going into my second birth experience, I figured my labor would go just as quickly, if not faster than the first time. I knew I would have to pay close attention to what my body was telling me, since I didn’t want to arrive ready to deliver this time. I had tested positive for Group B Strep and knew I had to get there in time to receive antibiotics for that. I also really wanted to try for a water birth this time. That was my goal. So many friends and family shared how quickly their second babies had come, and since my first delivery crept up on me, I knew I didn’t want to be caught having the baby in the car!
Doing a Workout During Labor
On February 25, I was 39 weeks, 6 days. I had gone into The Birth Center for an appointment with Ruth. As we wrapped up my appointment, she offered to check my cervix. I thought I was starting to lose my mucus plug and was anxious to know if my body was showing additional signs of being ready. Sure enough, I was three centimeters dilated, and my cervix was soft — just what I was hoping to hear! I felt so much more swollen and sore than I remembered feeling with my first, and was starting to feel “done.”
As the day went on, I had cramps that felt familiar, though not intense. Around 10 p.m. that night, the cramps got stronger, and I knew they were contractions. I gave Ruth a heads-up, and she said if the contractions became stronger and more consistent, I should call her back. I went to bed and decided that if the contractions woke me up, I would call Ruth again. At 2:30 a.m., I woke up to contractions that were definitely stronger and more consistent. In the back of my head, I really wanted to have the support of the team when labor intensified and the tub as my main tool. Not knowing how quickly I would progress, Ruth and I both felt like it was time to come into The Birth Center.
When we arrived, I got an IV for the antibiotics and asked Ruth to check me. I learned I was five centimeters, and I felt relief knowing I would be able to have the support of The Birth Center team throughout the next stages of labor. As time passed, things didn’t feel like they were intensifying, and I worried that maybe I came in too soon. “Why was labor slowing down?”
I decided to get in the birth tub to see if the water would help me relax, with the hope that labor would pick up again. To my surprise, it did the opposite and totally stopped my contractions. I felt so discouraged. It’s not what I had imagined, and seeing what effect the water had on my body made me sad that I probably wouldn’t get my water birth after all. I quickly mourned my water birth dream and decided to get out and try something different.
Ruth explained how it was possible labor wasn’t as intense as I expected because the baby could be posterior and was trying to turn into the correct position. My water was also intact, which alleviated a little bit of pressure from my cervix that possibly kept me from dilating as quickly. I kept laboring, but it seemed slow and things were not consistent. I started to get lost in my own head, wondering why things were slow, and quite frankly, the opposite of what I had imagined. After hours of laboring, I asked Ruth to check me, and I was only six centimeters. I started feeling defeated.
“What is going on?” I thought. I felt bad for waking everyone up in the middle of the night, and started to wonder how long this really could go on. My doula at The Birth Center was also named Ruth. Both Ruths gave me gentle suggestions to help the baby get into the right position. I started deep, wide squats and high, wide leg lifts in the room so they could make sure I was doing them correctly. Trying to avoid overthinking it, I got in the shower so I could focus on my body and my baby, and how to open up my pelvis. I blasted music and with my husband, Brian, sang along and powered through the repetition of the squats during each contraction, and leg lifts in between. Here I was during the biggest workout of my life, and I was doing a workout!
I zoned in on what both Ruths assured me would help my baby turn, and I was willing to do whatever it took. After a couple of hours, I decided to see if Ruth would check me to see how I was making progress, and I was seven centimeters. There it was, that feeling of defeat began to creep in again. I knew it was all over my face. Ruth could see it. My eyes said, “Help me,” and like Ruth does, she calmly, matter-of-factly spoke the truth. “I know it’s not what you imagined, but sometimes these posterior babies just take a little longer. Progress is still progress. Your body knows what it’s doing.”
That’s the thing about birth; you can’t predict it. I continued doing squats and leg lifts, and things started to shift. The back pain began feeling way more intense and almost unbearable. The doula, Ruth, was a godsend in applying counterpressure to alleviate that feeling during each contraction.
Meeting my ‘Chunky’ Second Baby
All of a sudden, things were changing. My moaning became more like grunting, and I knew something different was happening as I began feeling the intense and familiar pressure. When Ruth heard that, she knew I was closer and shared with me my options. My water still hadn’t broken, and knowing how soft my cervix was, she said breaking my water could provide just the pressure my cervix needed to fully dilate. At that point, I was willing to do anything to speed it along and felt comfortable having Ruth break my water.
The minutes that followed felt like a whirlwind. After having my water broken, the urge to push became stronger. I had a swollen cervical lip, but Ruth massaged it with Arnicare to minimize the swelling and prevent any tearing or complications. During my next contraction, she had me push him down into the birth canal and just like that, we were ready. They rushed to get ready as well.
My body remembered the familiar feeling of pressure accompanied by the uncontrollable urge to push. Ruth could tell I was determined to quickly and efficiently bring my baby earth side, but reminded me to go slowly and allow my body to stretch on its own. After just a couple pushes and moments to stop and breathe through the urge, Brooks was born at 11:01 a.m. on February 26, his due date! He weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long.
Ruth instantly put Brooks on my chest, and that familiar feeling brought me back. I was in the same room, on the same bed, with the same birth team and had just given birth to my second son. As soon as I saw him, I said, “He’s chunky!” I’d always wanted a “squishy baby.” His face was puffy, and it seemed like his eyes were closed forever because of his round, glorious cheeks. We were instantly in love. Everything leading up to that moment had been such a rush, but then it was instant calm as he snuggled up peacefully on my chest.
The Birth Center team made sure everything was OK. They delayed cord clamping, and once Brooks began to successfully nurse and vitals for both of us were stable, they provided us the space to bond. I spent a few hours with Brooks, nursing, bonding, and soaking up that skin-to-skin time. There was no procedure that had to be done right away where he needed to leave my chest, and he stayed connected to the umbilical cord to ensure he got all of that important blood into his system. My husband was able to hold Brooks shortly after cutting the cord, and Beckham got to meet his baby brother almost as soon as he was delivered.
When Ruth came in to take measurements, I was shocked by how big he was. My first was 11 days overdue and weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and here was my chunky Brooks, weighing over a pound and a half more than Beckham at birth. Let me tell you, this mama felt even more accomplished when I found that out!
Approximately four hours later, we got ready to leave. I was surprised at how good I felt. After my first birth, I felt good, but I remember being swollen and really sore. This time, I didn’t feel as sore, and I didn’t look like I’d been up all night. Yes, I had just given birth, but the adrenaline and endorphins had me ready to go home. Nothing had intervened with those feel-good hormones at The Birth Center.
Reflecting on my Second Birth
It was a no-brainer for me to go back to Ruth for my second birth. We had an established relationship, and we loved the care we received at The Birth Center the first time. It feels like home and offers an intimate setting as each appointment leading up to birth is led by the same midwife who will be attending the birth. Ruth has so much knowledge that comes from years of experience. Her approach and honesty gave me confidence. I felt like we understood each other and had a relationship I could trust.
Plus, Ruth doesn’t just do births. She helps with nursing, and it’s a gift to have that one-stop shop. Brooks had tongue and lip ties, and Ruth was able to check, find, and revise those. She and her team provide so many different resources for pregnant women and new moms.
When I think back on my second birth experience at The Birth Center, it was more emotional than I expected. I feel a sense of accomplishment because of how hard I had to work. Even though it was discouraging at times, my second birth was still gentle and calm, just like my first at The Birth Center. Ruth and her team allowed labor to progress naturally and let it be the sacred moment that it’s supposed to be.
Through it all, I trusted Ruth. She knows what she’s doing. My main goal was always a natural birth. In the grand scheme of things, that was most important, no matter how I accomplished it.
For more information about our prenatal care and birth services at The Birth Center, visit https://www.sactobirth.com/prenatal andhttps://www.sactobirth.com/birth-services
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