This week we celebrated another birthday in our family, with our third child turning four years old. While this was my third successful home birth, we did have a few moments of worry. This birth was considered traumatic as my son’s shoulder got stuck during delivery. Curious about my WORST home birth yet? Read along to hear more about my most painful yet successful home birth with baby #3, Lucchese.
Pre- Labor Signs
A few months prior to Luc’s birth the world shut down and as many can relate it was a scary time. There were a lot of uncertainties surrounding Sam’s job. Would we be able to get the birthing or baby supplies needed since stores were being wiped out? Could our Midwife attend the birth if people were being told to stay home? If we needed to go to the hospital would Sam be able to be there with me? With so much unknown it was a very stressful season to be going through.
I don’t remember much, so I can’t say if I had contractions or showed any signs of labor in the weeks leading up to Luc’s birth. I can admit to eating ALOT of ice cream and comfort foods during that time.
Labor Begins with Baby #3
My due date came and went. Then a week passed by. My parents eventually showed up to help with my older two kids. We assumed at some point a baby would eventually want to be born, but that was not the case. After some discussion with our Midwife, and a few days shy of being two weeks overdue we chose to induce at home. This involves a castor oil concoction. If you think that sounds nasty, then you would be right!
Sam and I decided I would take the oil early on a Friday morning as my parents would still be in town for a few more days and could continue to help with the other kids. The Thursday night before we enjoyed one last date night out of the house before baby. We grab some fast food then shopped around for castor oil… who knew that during a pandemic this would be a hard item to come by.
The next morning, I was up by 6a.m. and mixed some castor oil with chocolate milk hoping this would make it more bearable to take. It was very hard not to hurl as I drank it! Our Midwife informed me if I did throw up, I would have to do it again! Sam and I hung out until the kids woke up and my parents came by the house around 8a.m. During the next few hours, the only thing happening were lots of bathroom trips as castor oil not only can induce labor but helps clean you out. Around lunch I started to have contractions and when they were roughly 8 minutes apart, we called our Midwife.
The Midwife Arrives for the Home Birth
By the time our Midwife arrived I had moved to the bedroom to labor away from the kids. She checked my progress, and I was around 6 centimeters dilated. The baby’s heartbeat sounded good too. We basically hung out in our bedroom and visited while labor progressed. At one point our Midwife asked me if anything was happening because I showed no signs of having contractions. I was just chatting away with her and Sam. While I was having contractions, they were not painful. It wasn’t until around 5p.m. that my pain really intensified.
Delivery of Baby #3, Meeting Lucchese
Leading up to Luc’s birth I had been DREADING his delivery for months. I would wake up at night panicked at the thought of going through the natural pain of childbirth again so soon after having Wyatt just 12 months prior. Wyatt’s birth had happened so fast. With intense labor and delivery being right at four hours. I even told Sam moments after his birth that I wanted to wait awhile before having more children. However, God’s plan is better so one year later here came Luc. Despite my fears, I knew a home birth was what was best for me, and I would have to push through the pain. When I was 10 centimeters dilated, I got situated on the bed and started to push.
Because I had been imagining the worst it was THE WORST! I remember screaming at one point the pain was SO intense and our Midwife told me to stop yelling. During this time my water broke or rather sprayed our poor Midwife. While I was in such pain, I was unaware that Luc had crowned, and with each push he wouldn’t come out any farther. His shoulder had gotten stuck and our Midwife had been trying to help him out while I was pushing. Finally, she asked me to roll over and with that Luc slipped out and I praised God it was OVER!
He was born just before 6p.m. and was my first baby over 10lbs. We blamed the ice cream for his weight, but little did we know whether I had ice cream or not I was just destined to have large babies as #4 and #5 were both over 10lbs as well.
Postpartum Care after Successful Home Birth with Baby #3
I got situated in bed and was able to hold Luc while I waited to birth the placenta and then Sam cut the cord. From there our Midwife took Luc to clean and care for while I rested. Sam went to bring me the steak he had ordered earlier from a local restaurant. During labor my Dad had run to pick it up. While I was eating, Sam went to tell the kids that baby brother was here, and they would get to meet him soon. After enjoying a tasty dinner Sam helped me to the bathroom so I could shower and get cleaned up. Meanwhile, our Midwife changed the bed and cleaned up the room. Once back in bed and cuddling a baby, Olivia and Wyatt came in.
Meeting Baby Brother after the Home Birth
Olivia and Wyatt came in eager to see and cuddle their new baby brother. Olivia asked to give him some of his new toys. My parents then came in to meet their newest Grandson, who also happened to be born on their anniversary. The kids were then tucked into bed by my parents. Then they left for the night a little later once the house had been picked up and checking to make sure Sam and I didn’t need anything. Before our Midwife left she made sure we had the information we would need for the first 24 hours postpartum. She also made sure that Luc had latched and was feeding well.
What I did Right after my Successful Home Birth with Baby #3
With this postpartum recovery I didn’t have any choice but to rest as the world was shut down. I spent the first 24 hours in bed cuddling a baby. I remember the next morning Olivia waking up and coming to our room to talk to and cuddle her new brother. It was so precious! A few days later I ventured into other parts of the house, My In Laws even came to visit and meet the newest addition of our family. Sam was also home for a few weeks postpartum to help care for me and the kids. This ended up being a very relaxing and restful time for our family.
For More Information on Home Births…
Read more about our home births experiences here on the Growing Confident Blog.
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