Birth Stories
“Learn to respect this sacred moment of birth, as fragile, as fleeting, as elusive as dawn.” - Frederick Leboyer
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“Since beliefs affect physiologic functions, how women and men discuss the process of pregnancy and birth can have a negative or positive effect on the women that are involved in the discussion. Our words are powerful and either reinforce or undermine the power of women and their bodies.” - Debra Bingham
Madelyn's Birth
Madelyn N Trumbull was delivered by Stephanie and Amber in the Cottage at the family birth center in New Braunfels on Sep. 23 2015.
I entered this experience with midwives because I believed that the rush of modern day delivery at the hospital resulted in an unnecessary Cesarean of my first child which was followed by my OB telling me that I would likely never give birth vaginally.
Amber was my primary midwife who saw me for all my prenatal visits. I saw Stephanie a few times and felt comfortable with her assisting.
In the early morning of Sep. 22 I had began to have discharge. I then went for a walk at park where unfortunately I lost my mucus plus. A public park with unclean bathrooms and not much toilet paper. HAHA.
I spent the day with my first born enjoying life and staying in touch with my midwives. I went to a church event later that night where I had inconsistent contractions. I had contractions throughout the day but they did get more intense at this event. It was roughly 9pm when I could tell my contractions were changing. Contractions were long and inconsistent but they intensified. My husband fell asleep (UGH). I was wide awake knowing my body was about to deliver a baby. As the night progressed I tried to sleep but couldn’t. I got into a warm bath to try to help with contractions and discomfort. At this point I was rocking my hips in my bathroom alone. It was around 2am when I finally told my husband that it was time to bring Emily our first born to his parents house which was a good 30 minute trip round trip. In my head I wanted to go onto the birth center but my midwives advised me to stay home and ride it out. I was talking clearly on the phone which was a sign that my contractions were not strong enough. After dropping Emily off we arrived back at our apartment were the contractions did intensify yet again. I had to rock my hips, slouch over, and concentrate in order to stay calm through my contractions. By now it was closer to 4am and my husband Caleb had to squeeze my hands, rub my back, and literally help me through each contraction that came. This was when I told him to call the midwife and tell them it was time. The next hour felt like a lifetime. Finally, Stephanie Saunders arrive and checked me. I remember her being calm but excited about my progress. I voiced that I didn’t know if I could make it on the car ride to the birth center and I remember her saying, “We could stay here and have the birth or go but the decision has to be made now.” I quickly chose to get in the car and drive 20-30 minutes to the birth center. I barely made it through the car ride. Most of the car ride I was fighting the urge to push. I held onto the car door handle to take the pressure off my bottom. When we arrived at the birth center and stepped out of my car my water broke, in my car all over the passenger side. I walked into the cottage as water felt like it was pouring out of me. Stephanie was so calm but she was busy getting everything ready because she knew the birth was coming soon. She asked me, “What kind of birth are you having?” I answered, “ I don’t know but I need to push!” Stephanie had me sit on the toilet where I could hardly make it through one contraction. Stephanie was filling up the tub with water. When I told her I couldn’t not push I got into the tub. Stephanie checked me again. I was at 10cm and ready to push. She called Amber who was around the corner and updated her. Amber didn’t believe her because she repeated herself again. Amber made it for the last little while before Madelyn was born. Madelyn was born around 6:30am on Sep. 23rd 2017. This is the jest of what I remember. After the birth family came to visit. The midwives asked us about breakfast and kindly brought Caleb and I food. We hang out in the cottage and took a quick nap but we soon felt the need for our own place. We were home the same day around 4pm. This is the birth that seemed fast a furious but my third birth/ second successful VBAC was faster.
Paisley's Birth
Paisley was due May 5th of 2017. She was eleven days LATE! I was eight days late with Madelyn and I thought that was bad, I was wrong, eleven days late was the worst.
The morning before birth I had an ultrasound scheduled to do a full checkup on baby and my placenta. A good report allowed me to wait longer for Paisley to be born. A bad report would have meant we needed baby born a.s.a.p., which wasn’t the case. YAY! “Let the waiting continue” was my thought while leaving the appointment.
On the way to the ultrasound I had good contractions. I continued to have throughout the day yet they were never consistent or close together. My mom helped feed the kids and put them to bed that night. I laid down and slept for awhile. At about 1:30am I began to have contractions that woke me up. I got out of bed at 2am. I used the restroom and then went to the couch to sleep for the rest of the night. I thought it was false labor like the three other times before. I noticed the intensity of the contractions were not easing up and that they were coming every 10 minutes. I timed them until about 3:30am. Both of my kids woke up. I tried to get them back to sleep. At 4am contractions changed becoming more intense. I woke my mom to help get the kids back to sleep because they were not all the back to sleep. Caleb worked all night, 5pm-5am was his scheduled time. I cleaned my closet while I waiting for my mom to get the girls down again. At 4:30am I knew it was real, contractions were coming every 5 minutes since 4am. I tried my hardest to wait until Caleb was off work but I could not wait. I called his work and my mom went to get him.
The entire time I was counting contractions and thought I was in real labor, I realized my mother would have to go get Caleb from work, which meant using the car. The car was on EMPTY. Caleb’s work is literally across the street, about 5 minutes away. My mom didn’t realize it was empty until she was AT his work. There was a gas station on her way to and from his work. The entire time she was gone I kept thinking about the car running out of gas. I knew she’d freak out when she noticed how low the tank was. I was secretly laughing at her. Thankfully she did make it back to the gas station and home before I had the baby. They got back around 5am.
Soon after Caleb got home my amazing midwife Stephanie arrived. I had already called our birth photographer and she was also on her way (She lives 1 hour away in San Antonio.) Stephanie had called another midwife Galyn to come assist her during birth. My mom made me toast but I could not eat much of it, as my contractions were so intense.
I labored for maybe 45 minutes to an hour in my room. Caleb was right there with me the entire time. I remember hearing my mom talking to Stephanie and her laughing at whatever my mom had said. Somewhere in here Cassia, our birth photographer, showed up ever so quietly and started snapping pictures. I had already turned down being checked for dilation but I began to wonder how much longer I had to go through these contractions as they were almost none stop. Finally, I asked Stephanie to check me. She told me I was 80% effaced and that the baby needed to come down. I asked if I was dilated at all and that’s when her face lit up and she said I was a 6-7cm! I could not believe it. I must have got in the tub around 5:45am-6am. I labored in there until I got the urgency to push. I pushed for a while in the tub but didn’t feel as comfortable as I wanted. Mid-pushing, we moved to the bed. I was pushing but I felt like she was never going to come out. My back was cramping and I was weak from not eating since dinnertime. I knew that with each push she was getting closer and closer although I didn’t feel like this. Finally I heard my midwife say that my bag was bulging and asked if she could break it. One push my bag was out and the next came the head, which caused the water to burst open, then out came Paisley! She was finally here! She was born at 6:49am at 7 lbs and 4 oz’s and 19 and 3/4th inches long. I would say I was in ACTIVE labor for 3 1/2 hours all-in-all.
I had Caleb go get Madelyn and Emily. They were able to see paisley right away, exactly what I wanted. Madelyn was still half asleep but Emily was awestruck. They have both blown me away with their gentleness and love for Paisley. Emily loves to hold her. Madelyn giggles at her mostly and loves her feet.
I could never thank my mom enough for being here while we were waiting for Paisley, her being here for the birth and days after. She was such a huge help to our little family. Stephanie, sweet spirited, down to earth, inspirational lady that she is was MY midwife! This pregnancy was rough on me mentally and physically. Stephanie was there every step of the way assuring me and comforting me. Many times she reminded me of God’s promises. Caleb, my firm foundation, my cornerstone, he’s such a good man. Without Caleb I literally could not have done any of this. I love you, Caleb Ephraim.
God, he formed all of my babies inside of my womb. He knew/knows how different they each are from one another. Although pregnancy was rough this time and last time I truly believe that God allowed me to have, in my opinion, easy labors. God’s timing is perfect. Many many times we want to rush. When God says wait, you wait. God allowed my birthing dreams to come true. I serve an awesome God
Si's Birth Story
My first home birth with Stephanie was my 3rd child. We had a water birth with a inflatable pool that was smaller than we originally thought it was going to be haha! But Stephanie let me labor and do things how I needed and it was just a great birth!
My second birth with her was extremely quick! I lost my mucus plus and started having contractions on and off that I thought were just strong Braxton hicks because they werent really painful or consistent. Around 5:30pm I realized they were hurting a bit more but they still werent consistent and so I for some reason didnt think it was the real deal even though I was already overdue. I went to bed that night and woke up around 12ish and told my husband I was going to just labor for a bit and for him to sleep. I was doing fine having random contractions anywhere from 20 minutes apart to 2. They werent too bad at all and I still didn't really think it was time, I texted Stephanie around 12:50 to tell her I was going to wake Jon up in a bit and that I would let her know if I thought it was time yet. Well, at 1am the contractions changed and were literally a minute apart and super intense all of a sudden! I woke my husband up and asked him to fill the birth pool (a real birth pool this time haha!) I also texted Stephanie to tell her to head our way because I knew it was definitely go time! I got into the birth pool and it helped so so much with the pain and I was able to lay over the edge of it to relax a bit between contractions. Stephanie got there around 1:40ish, I felt pushy but thought I couldnt possibly be because it was all happening so fast! Stephanie checked and his head was right there it was just up to me to push when I was ready. Baby Si was born at 2:46am! It was an amazing birth! I've loved Stephanie delivering both babies and I'm so greatful she is in our life!
Evelyn's Birth
Evelyn Rose Williams was born at our home in New Braunfels with Stephanie Saunders and my husband, Robert, by my side. Along with my Doula, Myta Smith and multiple others, Amber Reidel and Misty Lux, who attended various parts of my labor journey. It was my first birth and I had an unrelenting water sac that just wouldn't break! It was a long 26 long hours later, but we had a beautiful 7lb baby girl the morning of December 7, 2014.
There are so many memories that come flooding back when I think of that December evening into morning years ago. But a few moments in particular are joked about 5 years later by all who were there. The moment that when after what had been a very quiet labor (according to all my girls there) I let out a grunted F bomb and my husband says the entire room perked up and they said "now that's the noise we were waiting for!" What was almost one push - thank you Stephanie for slowing my roll to 3 more pushes, all the baby oil, and saving me from ripping myself in my hulk moment later, Evelyn was born.
And the moment when after (literally just got done having a baby y'all) and I waddled in a towel across the living room to grab a shower and my husband dead serious in front of God and a household of women who had just been with me through the gauntlet said "phew baby. Get some clothes on before we make another baby🤣."
I had my DREAM birth. I had a room full of women who knew me. Supported me. Rallied for and celebrated me. I felt safe. Cared for. Considered. Each step taken with my best friend and hands on doting husband by my side. I am blessed.
