When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started looking into midwives in our area to do a homebirth. It was only then did I realize the difficulties of doing such a thing in Rockford Illinois. With the Illinois law, and lack of midwives in the area, I was becoming frustrated and did not know where I would turn for the birth of our second baby (our first was born in a birth center in Norfolk, Virginia) … until I discovered the website for the Madison Birth Center. It looked beautiful, and perfect. But would I really drive all the way to Madison to get there? We went to a tour at the birth center, and immediately the answer was yes!
The prenatal care at the birth center was amazing. I looked forward to our one hour and fifteen minute drive every time I had an appointment. My pregnancy went very smooth with no complications. As my due date approached, I became nervous about whether or not I would make it to Madison on time, or if we would be one of those stories you see on television where the father delivered the baby on the side of the highway!
Nevertheless, one week before my due date, at approximately 4:00am June 18 2009, I started having mild and regular contractions. This was not the first time I had contractions, so I thought “here we go again.” I took a bath, made myself some tea, walked around the kitchen a bit and had a snack…and they continued to come. My husband got up and ready for work, and as he was getting ready to leave he asked me to sew a button on his shirt that day. I responded “not if I am in labor I won’t!” He wasn’t sure whether or not to get excited because I had had some false labor a couple times already. So he left for work and told me to call him if it’s the real thing.
By about 6:00am I was pretty sure it was the real thing. I called Azsani and she told me to call her back in an hour or so. I did, and she agreed that it sounded like early labor and I should head up to the birth center in an hour or two. I was positive for Group B Strep, so I needed to be there to get IV antibiotics. My stepmother arrived shortly after to care for our 2 year old daughter Alyssa, and Jeff arrived back home around 8:30. By this time contractions were about 5 minutes apart and still bearable, but slowly becoming more painful.
As we pulled onto the Beltline, Highway 12, I let out a slow sigh of relief and said “well…we made it to Madison!” I felt as if my biggest worry was behind me. I called the Birth Center and Anastasia was waiting for us.
After arriving at the birth center I was checked and was dilated to 5cm and fully effaced, so I got my first dose of antibiotics. Labor progressed somewhat slowly, but surely. We took walks outside, walked around the birth center, sat on the birth ball for a while, and hung out with family who had arrived by noon. My friend Tricia was there to help us capture the whole experience on film and video.
By 1:00pm contractions were getting pretty strong and I wanted to relax in the tub, so Anastasia got it ready for me, and when I stepped in I felt like I was stepping into a piece of heaven. It felt wonderful. After getting in the water, contractions picked up right away. I was sitting in the tub with my husband Jeff behind me (outside of the tub). Jeff was so calm throughout the whole thing, and a wonderful support person. His confidence in me really boosted my confidence in myself. During contractions he supported me under my arms and I floated in the water, swaying my hips side-to-side.
At about 3:00pm, it was just me and Jeff in the room, and during a contraction my body went into “push mode.” During a contraction my body pushed on its own. I didn’t feel this with my first child and I was taken by surprise. I told my husband “go get Anastasia, I am pushing!” Anastasia and Tia were quickly at my side. At 3:15 my membranes ruptured in the tub. Anastasia helped guide me and I felt confident in my ability to push and follow my body’s cues. I was amazed at how alert and how I knew what was going on every second. My baby’s head emerged, and I reached down and touched his tiny head and face, and it was amazing. I asked Anastasia “will he come out with the next contraction?” and she reassured me that yes, he would. And sure enough, after another little push out came Logan Daniel Person into my arms at 3:30pm. I did it!
As I brought him up to my chest he opened his little eyes and almost immediately looked straight at me. He wasn’t crying yet, and I wanted to hear a little cry. It didn’t take long with a little massage and a little oxygen in front of his face for him to let out a few healthy cries. He was perfect! I could not believe how alert he was, staring right into my eyes. We stayed in the tub for about 30 minutes, staring at our tiny little son and massaging vernix into his skin. He nursed right away while in the tub, we were so proud! Big sister Alyssa even came in with Grandma Mary to meet Logan while we were in the tub. His cord was still attached when I got out of the tub and Jeff cut it after I was settled into bed.
After relaxing a bit, receiving stitches, taking a shower, eating a good meal, taking a few pictures with family, weighing and checking Logan (8lbs 2.5oz!) and a final discussion with Anastasia… we were headed home at about 8:00pm.
I was not looking forward to the long ride home, but we made it home and settled into bed. It was amazing to wake up the next morning and look at my tiny son snuggled next to me in bed, and he wasn’t even 24 hours old yet. We were now a family of four. What an amazing experience! Thank you Madison Birth Center!
