Baby boy Isaac
Daphne's freebirth-homebirth
After a not so pleasant birth with Ian, I started to explore around on other birth options and came across gentle birthing. I understand that hospital birth can be gentle as well. However, I feel insecure with the hospital settings that might be out of my control and this will cause pressure to me. I wish to avoid all unnecessary medical interventions at all cost.
So, when I was conceived with Isaac, I made sure I have a healthy body and mind. I took nutritious food, try to exercise whenever I can and relax as much as I can. I also allocated time to read more and research more on gentle birthing. I finished Hypnobirthing: The Morgan Method and The Birth Book. I attended AMANI birth to get myself educated about birth. This class neither advocates homebirth nor anti-hospital birth. I told Isaac he will be born surrounded by beloved family in a familiar and cosy environment safely and healthily. I have my birth plan ready (just in case).
I went for check-ups to ensure everything is alright.
I have my birth affirmation.
My birth affirmation
I feel confident
I feel safe
I feel secure
My mind is relaxed
My body is relaxed
I trust my body
I trust my baby
My baby grows healthily and complete within me
We work as a team
We will have a smooth and easy birth
The BIG day
24 March 2014
Had a strong feeling that I am going to meet my baby soon, but there weren’t any signs yet.
25 March 2014
5am
Surges started. Timed the surges, it lasted for 50 seconds and lapsed around 2 min apart, hub said that it was not like mild surges, more like an irregular ones, maybe it is a false alarm. But the surges continued, so I just began to prepare myself.
10am
Lost my mucus plug, told hub it will be today. Hub brought Ian out to run errands and I continue with my daily house chores. I cooked lunch, prepared snacks for Ian, went downstairs to throw rubbish.
12pm
Started to feel very hot and decided to take shower and wash my hair. Also tried to nap for a while.
2pm
Hub came back, had lunch with hub and Ian. Timing of surges still the same, but they became stronger. Asked hub to accompany Ian to take his nap while I went to sit on my birth ball resting my head on the dining table. The waves of surges became stronger and stronger with shorter lapse. Decided to go into the room, trying to relax while sitting on the birth ball.
3pm
Moaned with each surges, tried different labor positions to find a comfy one and decided to on all 4. Went to take shower again, sit on the toilet bowl to let the water flow to the tummy, it does help to relief a bit but my legs got very cold. Then came out from the bathroom and interchanged between on all four and polar bear position, surges were too intense that I hardly can change to other positions. Hub fed me water, honey and dates on and off. Ian was too afraid to see me like that, so hub had to carry him. Felt that something came out, thought it was baby crowning but it was only a small part of amniotic sac. Worked hard to use the breath technique from hypnobirthing and relax to help baby go through the passageway. This felt like forever as the poop already came out but baby still decided to stay comfortably inside.
6.28pm
Suddenly felt the opening and felt that something squeezing out, it was crowning! Changed to kneeling position and baby slipped out with amniotic sac still covering his head (en caul baby?). The amniotic sac burst half way when the chest is coming out. It happened so fast and wet the whole bed. Quickly look for baby and he is in my arms, we met for the 1st time after 39 weeks and 5 days. He cried for a while and started to look around after I soothed him.Went to the bathroom to wait for the birth of the placenta, and at the same time putting baby to breastfeed. Not sure how long but within 30 min, the placenta was out. It was the same feeling as when baby was coming out and it felt awesome that I can really birth my own placenta. Whole bathroom was like a murder crime scene. Had hubby hold the baby while I cleaned myself.
Went for a check up the next day and according to the doctor, I had a second degree tear but I can choose not to stitch. I am satisfied and happy. Isaac is birthed surrounded by beloved daddy and brother. Daddy and Ian got to witness the birth. I got to hold my baby immediately and have skin to skin contact (instead of the baby being taken away), no hospital routines to comply with, no separation to interrupt bonding, delayed cord clamping, no Pitocin, no stirrups, no episiotomy, no vaginal examination, no shaving, no enema, no catheter inserted, no stitching.
Daphne Choong Yi Fun/Isaac(baby)
After a not so pleasant birth with Ian, I started to explore around on other birth options and came across gentle birthing. I understand that hospital birth can be gentle as well. However, I feel insecure with the hospital settings that might be out of my control and this will cause pressure to me. I wish to avoid all unnecessary medical interventions at all cost.
So, when I was conceived with Isaac, I made sure I have a healthy body and mind. I took nutritious food, try to exercise whenever I can and relax as much as I can. I also allocated time to read more and research more on gentle birthing. I finished Hypnobirthing: The Morgan Method and The Birth Book. I attended AMANI birth to get myself educated about birth. This class neither advocates homebirth nor anti-hospital birth. I told Isaac he will be born surrounded by beloved family in a familiar and cosy environment safely and healthily. I have my birth plan ready (just in case).
I went for check-ups to ensure everything is alright.
I have my birth affirmation.
My birth affirmation
I feel confident
I feel safe
I feel secure
My mind is relaxed
My body is relaxed
I trust my body
I trust my baby
My baby grows healthily and complete within me
We work as a team
We will have a smooth and easy birth
The BIG day
24 March 2014
Had a strong feeling that I am going to meet my baby soon, but there weren’t any signs yet.
25 March 2014
5am
Surges started. Timed the surges, it lasted for 50 seconds and lapsed around 2 min apart, hub said that it was not like mild surges, more like an irregular ones, maybe it is a false alarm. But the surges continued, so I just began to prepare myself.
10am
Lost my mucus plug, told hub it will be today. Hub brought Ian out to run errands and I continue with my daily house chores. I cooked lunch, prepared snacks for Ian, went downstairs to throw rubbish.
12pm
Started to feel very hot and decided to take shower and wash my hair. Also tried to nap for a while.
2pm
Hub came back, had lunch with hub and Ian. Timing of surges still the same, but they became stronger. Asked hub to accompany Ian to take his nap while I went to sit on my birth ball resting my head on the dining table. The waves of surges became stronger and stronger with shorter lapse. Decided to go into the room, trying to relax while sitting on the birth ball.
3pm
Moaned with each surges, tried different labor positions to find a comfy one and decided to on all 4. Went to take shower again, sit on the toilet bowl to let the water flow to the tummy, it does help to relief a bit but my legs got very cold. Then came out from the bathroom and interchanged between on all four and polar bear position, surges were too intense that I hardly can change to other positions. Hub fed me water, honey and dates on and off. Ian was too afraid to see me like that, so hub had to carry him. Felt that something came out, thought it was baby crowning but it was only a small part of amniotic sac. Worked hard to use the breath technique from hypnobirthing and relax to help baby go through the passageway. This felt like forever as the poop already came out but baby still decided to stay comfortably inside.
6.28pm
Suddenly felt the opening and felt that something squeezing out, it was crowning! Changed to kneeling position and baby slipped out with amniotic sac still covering his head (en caul baby?). The amniotic sac burst half way when the chest is coming out. It happened so fast and wet the whole bed. Quickly look for baby and he is in my arms, we met for the 1st time after 39 weeks and 5 days. He cried for a while and started to look around after I soothed him.Went to the bathroom to wait for the birth of the placenta, and at the same time putting baby to breastfeed. Not sure how long but within 30 min, the placenta was out. It was the same feeling as when baby was coming out and it felt awesome that I can really birth my own placenta. Whole bathroom was like a murder crime scene. Had hubby hold the baby while I cleaned myself.
Went for a check up the next day and according to the doctor, I had a second degree tear but I can choose not to stitch. I am satisfied and happy. Isaac is birthed surrounded by beloved daddy and brother. Daddy and Ian got to witness the birth. I got to hold my baby immediately and have skin to skin contact (instead of the baby being taken away), no hospital routines to comply with, no separation to interrupt bonding, delayed cord clamping, no Pitocin, no stirrups, no episiotomy, no vaginal examination, no shaving, no enema, no catheter inserted, no stitching.
Daphne Choong Yi Fun/Isaac(baby)
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