My 2nd Birth Story

11/1 at 12:45 am I woke up with tears in my eyes hoping I’d go into labor today. I had dull cramping but I had similar sensations for days. I couldn’t sleep so I went downstairs to load my dishwasher and to make Violet lunch for school just in case it was labor starting. Brian heard me and I told him that I didn’t think it was time yet. Violet started calling for me at the top of the stairs to come back to bed. I went upstairs and snuggled her back to sleep. At 2:15 am I was jolted out of my sleep by a contraction. It was labor. Annalise was coming today. I was ready. I got in the shower and the contractions were coming closer together. When I got out of the shower I timed them and they were 5 minutes apart. Since Violet’s labor went fast for a first time labor I knew there was no laboring at home this time plus I had a 40-minute drive to my hospital in NJ. I called the midwives line and Lisa picked up. I was confident it was time to meet at Morristown Medical Center and she agreed. My mother-in-law arrived to stay with Violet. I kissed Violet goodbye and intentionally took a mental picture of my little girl. Life was about to change significantly after 4.5 years of just us. Brian and I got in the car and crossed the Bayonne Bridge at 3:28 am. 3:36 3:39, 3:42. My contractions were coming every 3 minutes. It was raining, but the roads were clear and we were walking in to the doors of the hospital at 4:02 am.

There are things about the hospital that can slow down the natural process of birth. The logistics of hospital admission, the wait to get in a room, the lights, the staff, the initial fetal monitoring, and the limitations. I find it important to protect your space which is why my birth plan specifies dim lights, quiet, limited staff, minimal cervical checks, intermittent fetal monitoring, and free to move. I also noted not to mention the time or how dilated I was. I had no concept of time or cervical change in Violet’s labor and I believe it helped me stay in the zone and not focus on the numbers.

Around 5 am was my first cervical check and I was 6.5/7cm dilated so my midwife told me since things were progressing fast and the baby could come at any moment. My water bag ruptured but it was a small gush. After we got a good fetal monitor reading I got in the shower. I find the hot water to be amazing for pain management. The midwife assistant, Reba and Brian took turns doing double hip squeezes for counter-pressure because I felt all my contractions in my lower back. At the time I didn’t realize this was back labor unlike my labor with Violet. I moved to the bed and got on all fours using the cub (comfortable upright birth) which is an inflatable C-shaped labor tool. I leaned over it with my belly hanging in the center. There wasn’t enough time to use the items I brought in my labor bag like essential oils, affirmations, a labor comb, and a massage ball. I did use music for distraction and the hand held fan was a lifesaver. The contractions were powerful and productive with barely any time between to recover. I felt the urge to growl through them and I used my breathing to breathe the baby down. Because of the back and rectal pressure I decided to try to go to the bathroom. I was able to have a bowel movement but I felt like more was coming. Lisa came in to say that was the baby’s head and I should get out of the bathroom. I walked back to the bed and got back on all fours with the cub. Reba got me a cold wet washcloth to cool me down. I still felt the rectal pressure which felt like more stool but it was indeed Annalise so close. My cervix wasn’t fully effaced when Lisa checked me and at that time my water bag fully broke. Brian referred to it as front row seat at Sea World. The splash zone lol The next contraction her head crowned. Two or three more contractions I was able to push her out while the song Halo by Beyonce played. This song randomly came on shuffle and I focused on those same lyrics I sang to Violet when she was in my belly.

Everywhere I'm lookin' now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby, I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby, I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away


At 7:28 am Annalise was placed in my arms looking strikingly like her big sister with nearly identical birth stats.
Violet born 41 weeks 1 day at 9 lbs 13 oz, 21.75 inches with a 14 inch head circumference. Violet was sunny side up in labor but turned before delivery.
Annalise born 40 weeks 5 days at 9 lbs 15 oz, 21.5 inches long with a 14 inch head circumference. Annalise was born sunny side up.

Additional context:
After the delivery of my placenta I had a postpartum hemorrhage that required medications and an internal to remove blood clots. 3 weeks after delivering Violet I had a postpartum hemorrhage due to retained placenta so this was a situation I proactively tried to avoid this time. While the bleeding didn’t subside until 4 hours after delivery, I didn’t need a blood transfusion or an iron infusion. I never felt faint and aside from the horribly painful internal scraping and repeated pressing on my uterus, I felt fine. I still had the adrenaline pumping from delivery and nothing was bringing me down from that high.

My passion for birth education is because women deserve positive empowering experiences. I know firsthand there are many ways to prepare your body and mind for labor. When I meet clients they are typically fearful and anxious and I am the first person believing in their capabilities. Women are made for this. We are strong. We are amazing. Birth can be transcending if you allow it.