Mason's Birth Story
MAY 8, 2021
The Birth of Mason
By Mason’s Mom and The Birth Center client, Cynthia
I have given birth seven times, delivering six of my babies in a hospital. Because my third baby was born by cesarean section, every birth after that one has been considered a VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean.
Even with subsequent vaginal births after my C-section, finding a provider who was comfortable with VBAC was never easy. That’s one of the reasons I’m so grateful I found Ruth and The Birth Center when we moved to Sacramento early in 2021. Here is the birth story of my seventh baby, Mason.
Planning for a Birth Center VBAC
When I learned I was pregnant with baby number seven, we were living in Los Angeles. With COVID protocols and being a VBAC patient, I wasn’t sure I would be able to find a doctor who would truly be a partner in the type of birth I wanted. Not only did I prefer a VBAC, but I also hoped for an unmedicated birth with no unnecessary interventions.
Before we moved, I Googled birth centers in Sacramento. When I found The Birth Center, I called Ruth and asked her if she’d be willing to take me on as a patient. She was supportive of VBAC, but before she agreed, she requested the operative report from my C-section because she wanted to know what type of incision I had. She also asked that I have an ultrasound to make sure the placenta was not near the uterine scar. After reading the operative report and learning the placement of my placenta, Ruth said yes to a VBAC at The Birth Center.
Following our move to Sacramento, I went to The Birth Center for a tour, and it was nice to get to know Ruth better. I love that she views birth as a natural occurrence. When I had the three babies after the C-section, they were all induced, and I had interventions. I wasn’t happy with that, so that was a big reason I sought out a birth center.
Laboring at Home
Everything went smoothly with my pregnancy, and my baby was due May 13. Then on May 7, two minutes before midnight, I was trying to go to sleep and heard a pop. It was an internal sound — like a balloon bursting. That got my attention! About 10 seconds later, I felt a trickle. I knew it was my water, and I thought, “Oh no.” I know how hard labor is when your water breaks, as opposed to having the water intact.
My husband was watching TV, so I went into the living room and said, “Okay, my water just broke.” I also called Ruth to let her know and told her that I was having contractions. I was thankful most of my stuff was already packed. At first, I thought we would be heading to The Birth Center soon and that when the kids woke up, they’d get to meet their new brother. My husband also thought that because this was our seventh baby, things would happen quickly.
However, I soon realized that the contractions were erratic and of different intensities. My husband and I binge-watched a show on Netflix and stayed up all night, waiting for contractions to get more intense and regular. I suspected the baby wasn’t in an optimal position, maybe not facing the correct way. I had remembered learning that if the baby is not optimally positioned, labor won’t progress as quickly. I thought, “The baby needs to turn,” so I did inversions and other positions recommended by Spinning Babies. I think I did get him to turn.
As dawn was nearing, my husband made me a light breakfast and I called Ruth again around 6 a.m. I knew we weren’t anywhere near leaving for The Birth Center. I told her that the surges were erratic and asked what I should do. I thought Ruth might suggest taking a walk, but she recommended the opposite: A nap. She said it wasn’t good to be tired.
Ruth also mentioned that since my water had broken, I was on the clock for 24 hours. If I hit that point and still wasn’t in active labor, I’d have to go to the hospital for a medical induction. My heart sank with those words. I had negative thoughts about being induced again. With my age, this was going to be my last baby to birth. So far, I had birthed six babies and hadn’t gone unmedicated. Ruth told me to keep in touch and said if I got to noon and still wasn’t in active labor, we could try castor oil.
At about 7:30 a.m., I took Ruth’s advice and tried to rest. I laid down, put in my ear buds and tried to relax while listening to the Bible playlist I had made. All the verses focused on God’s promises and the wonderful work He did in designing our bodies to birth babies.
At about 9 a.m., I got up with a purpose. I no longer felt doubtful and defeated as I did earlier that morning when I was focused on the ticking clock and sporadic contractions. I now had a new mindset. I saw myself as the farmer in the Bible parable. Because he trusted God to bring the rain, he prepared his field to receive it.
So, I got dressed, did my hair, put makeup on, and painted my nails — I was going somewhere soon. At 10 a.m., my contractions were 10 minutes apart, and becoming regular. By 11 a.m., the contractions were three minutes apart and getting harder. I tended to my little one’s needs in between and entered into prayers of gratitude and supplication with every surge.
Around noon, my husband told me we should go, so we called Ruth. Not wanting to waste her time, I did my best to talk to her during the contractions. Because I could speak through them, I gave the impression that I was not as far into my labor and it was not quite time to go to The Birth Center. My back was really hurting, so Ruth suggested I get in the shower. She said the hot water would feel nice and that I should let her know if something changed. Ruth also reminded me to go by the intensity of the contractions, not necessarily how far apart they were.
Ruth was right; the water felt so good. After just one contraction, though, my husband was insistent that we had to leave. While I had been mainly laboring on my own, he had been checking on me periodically, and keeping his eye on how hard it was to get through the surges. As he dialed Ruth to let her know we were on our way, he helped me get out of the shower, dressed and to the car, which turned out to be really difficult to do. The contractions were coming really quickly. I could already feel pressure, like something was there.
Arriving at The Birth Center
It was about a 10- to 15-minute drive to The Birth Center. Since it was a Saturday, the roads were pretty clear. On the way there, I mostly kept my eyes closed to avoid seeing any traffic. I did take a quick peek after hearing my husband honking the horn. I was definitely glad for my husband’s professional driving skills!
We arrived at The Birth Center at about 12:15 p.m. Ruth checked me quickly and told me I was 10 centimeters. I was glad I had listened to my husband because I was ready to push! I had wanted a water birth, but there was no time to fill the tub. I got on the bed and pretty much listened to whatever Ruth told me. First I was in a hands-and-knees position. After a few minutes Ruth suggested I move to side-lying with one leg up. Moving into a new position was the last thing I wanted to do with the surges being so intense! As soon as I heard Ruth mention it could also help the baby move down more quickly, I laid on my side as soon as I could.
After just a few pushes, Mason was born at 1:09 p.m. on May 8, 2021. He weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces at birth and measured 20 inches long. Ruth put him right up on my chest, and I felt relief that it was over. I remember reading other birth stories where parents described how the pain goes away after birth. I was aware of how that was true. I had done the work and accomplished what I had planned to do. I felt such satisfaction.
I delivered the placenta, and everything was good. Mason started nursing soon after. He had a small mouth, so we had some latching issues at first. I wish I could say by the time you have your seventh baby, nursing is easy and goes perfectly. But I definitely got sore, and my nipples were damaged. Things are much better now.
Reflecting on My Experience at The Birth Center
When I think about my experience at The Birth Center, I’m completely satisfied. After doubting that I could go into labor on my own, it was wonderful to affirm that my body actually knew what to do, and could if allowed to do so! Giving birth naturally is the hardest physical activity I have ever done but so empowering and fulfilling. Receiving my newborn baby into my arms was the best culmination of all my efforts.
I’m totally appreciative of Ruth, of the work she did with me. She gave me space when I needed it, but also said the right things at the right time. Especially with all of the interventions that happened with my other births, Mason’s arrival was a healing birth. He is my little blessing.
For more information about our prenatal care and birth services at The Birth Center, visit https://www.sactobirth.com/prenatal and https://www.sactobirth.com/birth-services
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