Birth Story Of Evelyn Kate

Both parents perspective

Caitlin’s Story, ER Nurse

On Wednesday I received a text from my midwife asking if we were ready to have this baby!

And of course we were, I was 39 weeks and 3 days, and 5cm dilated for the past 2 weeks. Earlier in the pregnancy I had to go on modified bedrest at 32 weeks because baby girl was low and I was 3cm dilated at that time having some preterm labor signs. We all did some hard praying to keep her in until at least 37 weeks, and she got the message to stay cozy.

So, back to Wednesday...at that point a bulging bag of water was probably what was keeping labor from progressing.

In the meantime while waiting for for her arrival, I started cleaning up a few last minute things and packed the kids bags to go stay at my parents house. The whole time I kept thinking, “This is it, she is going to be here so soon, and I'm about to experience my first unmedicated birth!!!” Excited and nervous and definitely sweaty Zach took the kids and got some food to fuel us to get through this labor. We got outback to go, I had a few bites of steak, salad and of course the bread. Drank lots of water and electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated.

Around 8pm my midwife arrived at our home and at 8:45 she broke my water.

We started to do abdominal lifts to try and get her to turn from posterior to anterior.

That's when contractions started, each one getting progressively worse. It was amazing to walk around the room, and get into positions that made the contractions manageable.

Then one trip to the bathroom, and things started to feel intense, Zachs face said it all.. hurry up and pee, get off this toilet because we are not having a baby in here.

I wanted to be checked to see where we were at, 8cm dilated, a few more contractions and I could tell she was coming. I was able to get in to the birthing pool right in time with just enough water to sit in. The water was so nice to get in at that moment and somewhat relax in order to continue. Not long after getting into the water I began to push. Baby girl's head was crowning and facing upwards. She then went back into the birth canal, which shocked me, (thankful again for my midwife Emily and her calming voice and reassurance) she then turned herself in the canal and started kicking, the next contraction she emerged posterior and cord wrapped around her shoulders and neck, which our amazing midwife was able to calmly untangle her from her cord and Zach was able to catch her and bring her up out of the water and place her on my chest. Instant relief, instant happiness and I felt so empowered. I just cried and kept saying "I DID IT!" I sat in the pool for awhile while admiring my beautiful baby girl and nursed her for the first time. She was born at 10:45 exactly 2 hours after my water was broken.

We waited about an hour and my placenta still wasn't delivered, we then decided to cut the cord so Zach could take her and I could get out of the pool, and an hour after she was born it, the placenta was delivered.

It was amazing to go right from the pool next to our bed to get into our own bed, hold our baby girl and relax in the comfort of our bedroom. The team quietly and quickly cleaned everything up like it was never in our room.

A little while later after she was done nursing our midwife was able to examine her and she was 8lb 3oz and 21.5" long and very healthy. Our biggest baby and the only time I have not had to receive stitches.

Being able to have a successful homebirth was an incredible experience and I would definitely do it again. I honestly wish we would have explored this option with our other pregnancies. I felt so much power, to be able to go deep inside myself and birth our baby. It was beautiful.

zach’s story, Paramedic and firefighter

Welcome the newest addition to our family, Evelyn Kate Jones! She joined our family last Wednesday night, and what a POWERFUL experience it was! Let me tell you why...

As many of you know, Caitlin and I have 2 beautiful children. Both Colton and Allie were born in a traditional hospital setting. With this third pregnancy though, we learned that the way birth is done in western medicine may not have been the best way, and we became aware that we were mislead on a lot of information. When the rona started, and hospitals started implementing policies that could give them the right to withhold your baby from you if you tested positive, we started to look at other options. Add to that the policies they have around wearing masks, and we knew this birth would have to be different for us.

Early in the second trimester, Caitlin came to me and said, “What do you think about a home birth?” Instead of immediately saying no, I was open minded about it and was willing to sit down and listen.

As a paramedic, I have only seen the "bad" side of home births. But I knew we needed to look at all our options before making a decision.

After sitting down with our Midwife in Yellow Springs, OH @ohiomidwife. I felt very comfortable and was actually excited to experience a more natural birth with my wife and our third child.

When the night came for Evelyn to be born, it was one of the most POWERFUL moments I have ever experienced in life. My wife was a ROCKSTAR, and just seeing her mindset and body work to get the baby out was amazing.

During the birth I got to see firsthand Evelyn go back in the birth canal, flip around and kick herself back out to the correct position that she needed to be in to be born.

I also got to deliver our daughter myself, with the guidance of our amazing midwife and her team. Lifting her up out of the water and handing her to Caitlin was life changing.

If you have never done a home birth.. I HIGHLY recommend it to every single person! So many benefits and experiences that you will never forget. The bond that has been created between my wife and I is beyond words.