Birth…A Natural Choice
August 17, 2007
By Heather McConville

I have 3 children each with a very different birth story. Jadyn is 4 and she was born in a hospital. Like most 1st time moms I didn’t know there was any other way to have children except in a hospital with a OBGYN delivering and an epidural to numb the pain. I was actually scheduled to be induced since I hadn’t had her at 40 weeks. I went to the hospital not knowing what to expect, but very excited to see my baby! The nurse broke my water and then I was given Pitocin to speed things up. It wasn’t long after that I received my Epidural. When it was time to push, I couldn’t feel a thing. I remember asking the nurse if I was pushing o.k. and she said I was doing great. I didn’t really know the doctor delivering me, I only met with him once during my pregnancy out of all the OB’s at the office. As I’m pushing and things seemed to be going good, I hear the doctor say we have to cut! My heart sank and I had to have an episiotomy. Jadyn was 6lbs 9oz. No one could have prepared me for the next couple of weeks it took me to recover. While having my baby girl in my arms healthy and happy meant everything to me, I knew I could never go through that experience again!

About 18 months later, I became pregnant with Diesel, who is now 2.  Over that time we had lost our health insurance and remembering all I endured in the hospital I began my search for the alternative.  God had a plan for my family and that’s when I was told about midwifery and a local midwife in Jacksonville. We met for the first time at her birth center and after talking with her my husband and I decided to have a water birth at home.

Diesel came 5 days early.  I had never felt a contraction, so I didn’t know what to expect. After debating with my family whether or not I was actually in labor, I finally called my midwife. The pain was intense. I cannot lie! I felt everything and it was amazing.  My body knew just what to do.  I had NO medical intervention this time.  Diesel was 6lbs 12oz.  There was no doubt in my mind that having a midwife was the only way to give birth!

Turning 30 and pregnant with number three about 12 months later, I couldn’t wait to have another home birth. I had, just like with Jadyn and Diesel a very healthy pregnancy and was expecting to go early at least 1-2 weeks early.  I always seem to have babies in the heat of the summer.  God had a very different plan and Salim didn’t come at 40, 41, or 42 weeks.  Finally, my midwife said let’s do this.  I came in to the birth center at 42 weeks and 2 days pregnant. She broke my water and from there it took only about 30  minutes before I felt the first contraction.  With no time to go home, I was going to labor and have this baby in the tub at the birth center.  Little did any of us know how quickly he was going to come.  Salim was 9 lbs 23 inches long and guess what? NO medical interventions! I didn’t even tear. The only thing I needed was my midwife by my side.  The connection between us during the entire birth was amazing!

I now consider myself a midwife advocate.  Speaking freely to all those who are expecting parents or planning families.  Midwifery is the only option.  It is the way God intended birth to be.  Why would we want to numb that experience? I love what my midwife says, ”It’s not about me, it’s about the baby.”  We want to make pregnancy and delivery about our comfort and needs, when its really about this miracle growing inside of us. A gift given to us for only a short time to raise up according to God’s will.