Dear Warriors- A Letter From A Student

Guina teaches an immersion two weekend series. This is a letter from one of her students. The editing done was only for brevity.

Dear Warriors:
Hi everyone! Doug and I wanted to let you all know that we welcomed Louis Livingston Frederick into the world on December 29, 2010 at 1:06 AM. At the end of this very long email, I will list some thing that I found helpful through the process. 

Here's a little of the birth story for you:

Preparation Meets Expectations For This Mom!

Praveena shared with her fellow childbirth students this email that she so also graciously shared with our blog! Great births don't usually just happen- they take preparation and selection. Praveena prepared by centering her mind, exercising her body, opening her spirit and mind in her childbirth class and selecting a great supportive team. Guina Bixler was her doula- she chose the Ladies of the Labyrinth and Guina was the lucky doula on call during her labor. Andrea Perry, one of our apprentice doulas accompanied Guina. Margaret Strickhouser was her midwife- Intown Midwifery. And she birthed at Atlanta Medical Center.

Things that helped during pregnancy:

Taken 5 days before birth

Amanda Shares Her Birth Story

I’d like to preface this story with a note about contractions.  My body is extremely sensitive.  I feel Mittleschmerz when I ovulate, and I start feeling Braxton-Hicks contractions starting around 16 weeks into pregnancy.  I get lots of those practice contractions as I get further along, culminating in about 6 an hour starting around 34 weeks up until I deliver.  I get so used to them, I don’t notice them much.  So when I describe contractions in this story they are the real thing.  The pain starting in my back and lower pelvis and them circled around me, with a definite peak of intensity.

Chandra Shares Her Birth Story

Brielle Cain Davis’ Birth Story

I first started feeling contractions on Wednesday morning, April 14, 2010 at approximately 3:30 a.m. I decided to get up and do some work until I had to get dressed and ready at about 9:00 a.m. I had a midwife appointment and a sonogram scheduled later that day. I went through the rest of the day not feeling any more contractions.

At around 8 p.m. I went into Brielle’s room to do some last minute finishing touches and I felt a little bit of water leaking out. I thought to myself that my water may have broken, but there was no gush like you hear about on TV/movies. So I realized I had a few last emails I wanted to send to my bosses, so I got on the computer and worked until about 9 p.m. The contractions started to get stronger and more regular. I admitted that I was actually in labor and thought that I better get focused on giving birth to Brielle. I went upstairs and asked George to start timing the contractions while I rolled around on my exercise ball. The contractions were about 8 minutes a part. I watched Glee and some other show we had on DVR. George went to sleep for about 45 minutes! Lucky him! When he woke up the contractions were about 6 minutes apart and getting stronger. I asked for my wine, which tasted pretty good, but it seemed to slow down the contractions, so I only drank about 3 good sips. In order to manage the pain, we danced, changed positions, and I sounded.

Libby's Birth Story

This story was shared by the father- his view of how things unfolded... quite a surprise ending to be sure!

Jen and I went to bed about 11:15 to 11:30 on Thursday night, November 19, 2009. I had just fallen asleep when Jen says "Jim?" in a strong, clear voice. I said "Yes?" and woke up. Jen informs me that her water just broke. I said "Are you sure?" She informed me that she was pretty darn sure. We turned the lights on and checked the bed and there was a nice little puddle, then she stood up and we got her a towel, because she was dripping everywhere she stood or walked. She wet through two pairs of pajamas/sweat pants in about half an hour. Jen said "What should we do?" and I suggested that she call our doula and ask for advice. Jen calls and talks to her (each time Jen called someone during the birth experience it was on speaker phone so I could also hear the conversation). Our doula asks if Jen if having contractions. Jen was not having any contractions. She suggests that Jen get back in bed and rest if she can because she will have a long day on Friday laboring and pushing to birth Libby. She also suggests that we call Jen’s midwife, to ask her what she thinks that we ought to do. Jen calls her midwife and the conversation goes about like the one with our doula – "Is Jen having contractions?" – No; "Okay, then get back in bed and get some rest because you will need energy for tomorrow for labor."

"best laid plans always fail"

You know they say "best laid plans always fail"?

I had a "best laid plan" for the birth of Little Miracle. I hired a
doula, switched to a midwife that does water birth, had taken all the
classes, read all the books, and was ready for my HOSPITAL water birth
with my doula and midwife there.

I didn't get it.

Isabel's Birth Story

I was 39 weeks pregnant, feeling good physically and emotionally--better than I had for most of the pregnancy. Over the weekend, I started to get the feeling that something was going to happen soon. Isabel had changed the way she was moving inside of me. Instead of kicking, punching, and having "playtime" in there, it suddenly started to feel as though she was getting down to business. Her movements were more studied and intentional, like she was getting lined up for her big entrance into the world. She would move her little head back and forth, telling my body it was time to start opening up. She made little changes to her body position, making sure everything was just right for the big day.

Neriyah's Birth Story

Months of preparation finally became real on the morning of October 2, 2009. Nyokabi had a restful night and was ready for the day. After Morning Prayer with Jonathan, she decided to call Baby Depot to check on the special delivery of a hutch that she ordered for the nursery. After being on the phone with them for 15 minutes and not getting anywhere she started to get frustrated when she felt her first contraction. She knew right away that labor had started so she ran to tell Jonathan that her contracts had started at 10:56AM. After experiencing irregular contraction for about 30 minutes Jonathan calls Persis, their doula, to let her know today was possibly the day. Nyokabi told her that she saw part of the mucous plug and the contractions were not in any real pattern yet. However, 20 minutes later, Jonathan calls Persis again to let her know Nyokabi has a heavy show off blood. At this point Nyokabi starts to worry so Persis decides to come to the house just in case the labor was going fast.

Melia Gives Birth

Melia had her first baby using pain medication- I can't remember the details- hopefully she will share them in the comments... She then took my childbirth class and hired one of the LOL doulas and had a home birth. This time she hired a local doula- an excellent one I might add- and took the Birthing Again classes that I teach. They chose to give birth at Athens Regional using the wonderful midwifery group that supports women there. I read her birth story and asked if we could please post it here to share with you. She happily agreed!

Birth Story of Noah Told By His Mom

My version of Noah's birth story
-by Lindsay



Noah's due date was August 20th, 2009. Throughout my pregnancy I kept thinking/hoping he'd be late so I could attend my brother, Mark's, wedding on August 22nd. Maybe all my pep talks worked because he stayed put! Then, on Monday August 24th I went to my final prenatal appointment. My midwife, Margaret, said I was about 1-2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. She could feel my belly contracting and thought I might be in early labor. They did a non stress test to check out Noah's heart beat and track my contractions. It went just fine. I left the office thinking I'd probably be back for another appointment the following week.

Sawyer Hawk Lloyd's birth

Born in the water at 7:37 am
7 lbs, 8 oz
19.5 inches

Well, I was going to bed on Sunday night at 40 weeks and one day overdue, and Shane and I joked about the full moon that was high in the sky that night! I woke up at 3:15 am thinking that i had just had a contraction. I laid there for a few minutes, and sure enough, another came, so I got out of bed without waking Shane and went downstairs to start timing them. They were really mild but coming really close together...like every 3 minutes or less, and so I checked email and facebook and waited 45 minutes or so until I felt like they were really starting to be something. I went upstairs around 4 am and woke Shane up and called my parents and our doula.

Melody Gives Birth to Abigail

Melody did not sleep well on 6/1. She had contractions off and on once she awakened but she knew it was early. She went for a walk with Luna and the contractions intensified and then diminished. She went on a second walk with Sherwin and Luna and the intensity returned and stayed strong. At 4:30pm she decided to call the on call midwife. Sherry suggested they come in to be checked. What they did not know was Sherry when on call stayed at the hospital, so she often had couples come in even it she thought it may be too early. I had wished they had called me first. It sounded like early prodromal labor to me still when I did talk to them.