The Birth Story of Our Daughter Ajita Lou

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Friday March 27th –

This morning, I made bread, did laundry, some house work and then laid down with Vlad and Jadon and we all had a good nap. After naps I went on a walk outside with the boys. In the afternoon we went over to Esther’s house. While I was there, I started having diarrhea and started having light contractions pretty often. I got to feeling more nauseous as the evening went on. We decided to stay at Esther’s house for supper since my husband Jason was working late that day. After supper we came home. I put the boys to bed and then washed dishes and cleaned up my kitchen. Jason soon got home and we soon went to bed. I was so thankful to get some good sleep off and on throughout the night but I kept waking up because my contractions were getting stronger and closer together.

 

Saturday March 28th—

I got up out of bed around 7:00 this morning and went to the bathroom. I saw some bloody mucus and I realized today was for sure baby day. I was excited but at the same time I started feeling afraid. I started crying. Jason was soon up and came in the bathroom and asked me what was wrong. I told him I was struggling with feeling afraid of something going wrong and particularly scared of getting sick postpartum as had happened after my previous son, Jadon’s birth. Jason gave me a big hug and reassured me that everything would be ok and he said he was very excited that today we would finally meet our baby! I asked him again if he had thought of a baby boy name in case it would be a boy and he said he still didn’t have one. We hoped it would be a girl because we only had a girl name picked out.

Jason told me he wanted to run up to Ludington to finish a few details on his latest job so that he could stay home with me then. He soon left and I called Maria to come over to take the boys to my mom’s house so I could labor in peace alone. Maria soon came and gave the boys breakfast while I took a shower and washed my hair. I didn’t have much of an appetite but I did eat a little egg puff for breakfast and drank some cups of red raspberry leaf tea. My contractions were consistently 4-5 min apart lasting around 30 seconds. I let Esther know I was in labor and she said she would be over soon. Around 9:15 I laid down to rest and I was so thankful to get a decent nap even with contractions every 5 min. I felt rested when I got up around 10:30.

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I remember feeling so GOOD as I walked around my house and sitting on my birth ball feeling so relaxed and at peace. I was so glad that it worked out for me to be alone for the first part of labor. I texted Dorothy and let her know how I was doing and I told her that my contractions were staying basically the same and not really progressing. She suggested I try the Miles Circuit exercise. I laid in my office on my yoga mat to get in the first position for 30 min. I was almost done with that position when Esther arrived with Tobias. I didn’t feel like that position did anything so I got on my bed and got into the next position on my side with lots of pillows between my knees. As my contractions continued, I noticed that they got stronger and stronger as I laid there. Maria soon came back with the boys and Jadon laid down beside me and nursed to sleep. While I was laying there, Esther sorted my newborn clothes and got out the outfits for if it would be a boy or girl. Vlad helped her sort through them. It was around 12:30 when I was done laying in the side lying position for 30 min. My contractions had really picked up. I couldn’t hardly talk during contractions anymore and I started getting teary with each one. I called Jason and he said he was about home. I got in the shower to stand in the hot water for a time which was soothing for my lower back. As I got contractions, Mom, Esther and Maria took turns rubbing my low back.

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Esther started gathering the things for the pool and Vlad had fun helping her. Jason got the water hooked up and running into the pool as soon as he got home. Dorothy arrived soon after 1:00 and Sarah and Violet soon came too. I walked around my kitchen and living room working through contractions. Jason had some issues getting hot water to the pool so they got some pans of water on the stove to heat. I got in the pool around 1:30. I kept changing positions in the pool as I worked through contractions. Since my contractions had been pretty intense for some time, I asked Dorothy to check my dilation. She checked me at 1:52 and said I was a stretchy 9 cm and that as soon as I felt ready, I could start pushing. I soon started to feel more pressure and at 2:11 I started to bear down with contractions. Jadon soon woke up from his nap and I was so glad mom was there to hold him and he was so happy and entertained even though I wasn’t able to hold him. I was so thankful for this!

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 After working through a few more contractions, I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere with my pushing so I asked Dorothy to check me again. She checked me and said there was a slight lip on my cervix and that if I wanted her to, she was willing to hold it back as I pushed through some contractions. I told her I was really just wanting the baby out and if holding back the lip on my cervix would speed it up, then that’s what I wanted her to do.

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I was incredibly thankful for Jason’s support holding me as I labored, and rubbing my back with each contraction. He was so encouraging telling me that I could do it and reminding me that I would soon see my baby.

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 Dorothy held back my cervix for a few more contractions and she was very encouraging letting me know I was making progress and that I was doing a great job. In those very intense moments, I was so grateful for all the encouragement and verbal support from the midwives, mom, and my sister. I remember feeling like I just couldn’t handle it anymore and wondering how I could possibly make it to the end. By 2:30 I was trying to push hard but I felt like the head wasn’t moving much at all so I asked her to hold back my cervix again.  Dorothy reminded me to listen to my body and only push when I was having a contraction and rest in between. I love having natural births and letting my body do its powerful work without intervention, so I was glad for her reminders to just listen to my body and work with it.

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Jason was kneeling behind me and holding me up under my arms as I continued pushing. At 2:43 my water broke and then at 2:50 she checked me and said the head had completely moved passed my cervix. I was so glad to hear that and it really gave me motivation to continue pushing.  I was so grateful for all the times the midwives brought me coconut water and electrolyte drinks the whole time I was in labor. It meant so much to me how well they cared for and supported me in the small and the big ways whether it was a cool cloth on my forehead, lots of verbal encouragement, or rubbing my back.

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  At 2:59 I reached down and I could feel the baby’s head up inside, coming down the canal. I was so excited and encouraged to feel it! I continued pushing as hard as I could with each contraction and at 3:12 the head was visible! I looked down and saw it and I remember saying, “There’s my baby! I can do this!”. I definitely felt very strong in this moment! It was very intense but wonderful being able to see my baby coming out!! I was so thankful for Dorothy’s wonderful support on my perineum while baby was crowning. I remember the intense burning, but being able to see and touch baby’s head helped me stay focused on the baby instead of the pain. At 3:14 the head was born and then I had a short break in my contractions, took a drink of water and then pushed again. Vlad and Jadon stood beside the pool watching as the baby was coming out.  At 3:15 the baby was born. Dorothy supported the baby coming out and Jason caught it and brought it up to my chest.

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There are no words to describe this moment. It was pure bliss and joy to have the baby out and holding it in my arms! I wrapped my arms around it and Jason gave me a kiss and put his arms around me as I cried. The baby cried really well clearing its lungs. I absolutely love how after the baby was born, the midwives just stepped back a bit and gave us time and space to meet and adore our new baby.  Sarah gave me some juice at 3:20. Then I opened baby’s legs and we saw It was a GIRL!! Oh, how we rejoiced! Jason was incredibly happy and hooped and hollered and then he wrapped his arms around the baby and I, and he cried. It was such an incredible moment!! We were full of joy looking at our perfect baby girl. We named her Ajita Lou Ambundo. She cried quite a bit and I tried getting her to nurse but she wouldn’t latch on so she just stayed there nuzzled at my breast as I waited to deliver the placenta.

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 We were so thrilled that she was a girl because we didn’t even have a boy name ready, so that worked out very well. The boys came over and stood right beside and looked amazed to meet their little sister. Mom stood beside the pool clapping her hands when we saw it was a girl. At 3:28 I delivered the placenta. I was so thankful for a healthy placenta and that the delivery went so well. Soon I gave Ajita to Jason and the midwives kindly helped me walk to the bedroom. I had some banana and took some tinctures and ibuprofen because my afterpains were pretty severe.  At 3:50 Ajita finally latched on and stayed nursing well. I ate some peanut butter toast with juice. Dorothy came and checked me for any tearing and there was none thankfully!

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At 4:50 Jason cut the cord and Dorothy did the newborn exam. She weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 20 in long.  They checked my uterus and it was clamping down very well. Then Jason dressed Ajita and gave her back to me to nurse some more. I felt so blessed by Violet’s tender care with me during and after the birth. I appreciate the way the midwives are so kind and respectful to me in different ways. It means a lot to be treated with such wonderful care during labor, delivery and postpartum!

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I am so thankful most of all to God for giving us a healthy, beautiful precious daughter! I’m also incredibly grateful for my husband’s phenomenal support and love during labor, delivery and afterwards. I also tremendously appreciate the personalized and very professional care and support from the midwives. Dorothy is exceptional in her skills as a midwife but also has such a heart of care and support. Violet and Sarah were wonderful assistants as well and I can’t imagine birth without being surrounded by such an amazing supportive group.

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Praise God for the miracle of Life!