Raquel's birth sory as told by my Doula.

Raquel Mae’s Birth Story

Meghan and Rob were expecting their second and final baby, a girl, on or around July 19, 2011. Meghan had had a Cesarean delivery with Jamison and this time did some homework and research early in her pregnancy looking for a very supportive care provider who would give her every chance of a VBAC. She ended up seeing the midwives at the University of Utah hospital and hired Angie as her doula again. July 19 came and went and Meghan remained ever so patiently pregnant.

At 3:00 a.m. on the morning of Monday, July 25, Meghan woke to contractions. She got out of bed around 3:30 and labored. At 5:00 a.m. Rob got up to go biking but decided not to go. At 7:55 Meghan sent a text message to Angie to let her know what was going on. By 8:15 contractions were about 2 and half minutes apart and lasting about 45 seconds. Meghan could feel them in her lower abdomen, which was perfect. She was in “her own zone” as Rob put it and dealt well with labor. Meghan was concerned that there was no bloody show. At about 9:30 a.m. Meghan had some spotting and decided it was time to head to the hospital.

Meghan was evaluated then assigned to room #7, Janet was her nurse, and her favorite midwife, Peggy, was on call! Around 10:30 Peggy checked labor progress and found that dilation was at 4 ½ cm, effacement at 90%, and the baby at a -1 station. The previous office visit showed that dilation was almost 1 cm and effacement at 60%. Angie and Cathy arrived at 11:00. Janet had trouble getting an I.V. started so called in an anesthesiologist to get into Meghan’s currently tough and skinny veins. Meghan was feeling pressure and the baby’s heart rate was going down a little bit so Meghan changed from her right to her left side. Meghan leaned onto the birth ball which was on the bed. At 11:45 she got up to use the bathroom. At 11:55 Peggy checked labor progress and found that dilation was now at 6+ to 7 cm, effacement complete at 100%, and the baby at a -2 station with a bulging bag of waters. Meghan’s body was making progress very quickly! At 12:15 Cathy went to move Rob’s car which was parked in the 5 minute parking zone. This day was considered a holiday for the 24th of July and the valet was not running.

At 12:25 Peggy came in again. She did some double hip squeeze and Meghan instantly fell in love with that. Peggy also got some essential oils for Meghan to use and sprayed them in the room. At 12:40 Meghan got off the ball and bed and stood at the bedside. At 12:48 she was making some pushing sounds and the pushing stage had begun. At 12:50 Peggy checked labor progress while Meghan was standing and thought that dilation might be at 10 cm with the baby at a +2 station, or so she thought. She called a nurse in. Meghan crawled up onto the bed and Peggy got a more accurate exam; dilation was actually at 8 cm with the baby at a -1 station. Meghan resumed her favorite position which was kneeling on the bed and leaning over onto the birth ball. At 1:15 Meghan lie towards her right side on the bed and didn’t love that position as well. A warm pack was placed on her lower belly and a cold pack on her back. She relaxed well between contractions and said, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” Peggy used a warm compress to help prepare the tissues of the perineum. At 1:20 Megan’s body wanted to start bearing down with each surge. Peggy checked labor progress and dilation remained at 8 cm with the baby at a -1 station. Meghan was discouraged. She moved back to her favorite position which was kneeling on the bed and leaning over onto the ball. Angie and Rob did double hip squeeze often. The baby’s hear rate overall indicated that she was happy but she did have a couple decelerations. Meghan talked about the option of getting an epidural. She talked about the option of having Peggy release the membranes. She decided to wait on all decisions and all hands were on deck offering Meghan comfort. Peggy rubbed her feet. Angie and Rob on her back. Cathy rubbed her head and hair. At 1:35 Angie asked if Meghan would like to discuss her options after 3-4 more contractions. Meghan said she wanted to discuss her options in 2-3 more contractions.

Meghan stood at the bedside and as she did her membranes released on their own; it was 1:42 p.m. The fluid was clear and there was lots of it. It splashed nicely all over the floor. This changed what Meghan was feeling and she went into pushing and doing a dangle squat from the side of the bed. Angie and Cathy helped support her. Meghan could now feel that the baby’s head was very low. At 1:50 she managed to climb up onto the bed. She squatted. She lay on her back and turned side to side. The baby’s heart rate was showing some decelerations, indicating that her little head was getting squished as she moved lower into the pelvis. Her heart rate remained in the 60’-90’s and Meghan received some oxygen to breath for the baby. Peggy asked if she could perform and episiotomy to help the baby get born on the sooner side so she could get breathing on her own and increase her heart rate. Meghan agreed and Peggy helped received a baby—vaginally and unmedicated!

This baby girl had a snug nuccal cord around her neck and once around her shoulder and loosely around her body. She’d been doing somersaults at some point. This may have also been why her heart rate was lower, stress on the cord at the final stages of pushing. Meghan gave birth to a baby girl at 2:05 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2011. This little girl had dark and curly hair. The official pushing time was 1 hour and 12 minutes. At 2:07 Cathy cut the cord while the placenta took its time coming out. There were some sticky membranes but it finally came at 2:25 and Peggy asked Meghan if she could gently sweep to make sure the placenta was complete. Meghan agreed to take some fentanyl to help her relax and be comfortable and Peggy did find some tissue. Meghan said, more than once, “I can’t believe I did that!” As she assessed the tissue separation and repair, Peggy asked that the chief resident come in to assist with part of the repair. There had been a left sulcus separation which was deep and forked, a right labial separation, and no further than the episiotomy which was a second degree on the perineum. Dr. Calvert came in to assist with the sulcus repair and Peggy did the remaining work which was done by 3:45. She was given Ancef to prevent infection. Meghan was a champion and held onto her baby girl and relaxed quite well. Her baby was showing all the signs of being ready to latch and did so at 2:20, 15 minutes old. Meghan got up to use the bathroom but was unable to. Janet used a straight catheter and there was a good deal of urine to release which helped Meghan feel a lot better. This baby was being loved and having her picture taken. Rob was texting friends and family to let them know the good news. She didn’t have a name yet but Jesabelle, Raquel, and Josephine were on Meghan’s list. She weighed in at 8 pound 4 ounces and was 20 ½ inches long with a head circumference of 36 cm. Her name would be Raquel Mae.

Some of the things Cathy may remember from this experience are, “I was so proud of her work. It chokes me up. I feel so blessed to be wanted here. Joy tears. So proud of her and the strength women have to do this.” Rob said, “I’ll definitely remember trying to comfort Meghan, whispering in her ear. I’ll remember seeing her (the baby’s) head and watching her be born. The best thing for me was for Meghan to get through it naturally since that was her goal.” And Meghan may remember, “The immense intensity of it. There are not words to explain how intense it was. The hip squeezes were nice and makes a huge difference. How much I love her already! I wouldn’t have changed anything, it was perfect. Peggy was on call. We got stuck in traffic and that was good. Every RN here was really sweet. Mind blowing intensity. The pushing. I wanted her out so bad. The pain of pushing.”

This was an exciting birth, one I call a “Victory.” I am so thrilled that Meghan got what she wanted and what she prepared for. Jamison and Raquel are so fortunate to come to this wonderful mother and father. It has been an honor to be a part of witnessing this family grow.


Additional notes taken by my mom:

Its anout 5:15am.....Mae has been having contractions for about 2 hours. Rob brought Jamison into my bed and they have gone for a walk.

Maybe my alter ....candle and prayers worked. 5:36am......mae came in for a pee break as she put it. Back outside for more walking......how wonderful x

Mae and rob came back 5:56am. Mae went potty again. Sounds like they are busy perhaps organizing or something ...preparing. XO

I can hear birds chirping outside and Jamison breathing.
My heart is so full of love and joy. Im blessed to be here.

Still having contractions. Hands and knees feel best. 6:57am. More quite in the house.

Jamison still sleeping xo

Rob's such a good man.

7:12am taking bath. Breathing through contractions contractions about 5 minutes apart.

8:27 still working hard laboring on hands and knees mostly, also using birth ball.

Explained to jamison that mama was working hard so his baby sister could be born.

Jamison is very considerate. Being very quite and calm. Rob is very attentive and loving......soft music playing. 9:03am.

10am theyve left for the hospital 10:20 jess came for james. He cried a little but stopped.

500 milliliters of blood loss.