Isabella’s Birth Story

September 8, 5 am. I woke up feeling mild contractions, that I call waves, they were not consistent so I  showered, got ready and started putting together things I needed for Isabella’s arrival.

I texted my midwife at around 9:50am and the waves were around 8 minutes apart. They were very intense, much different than Cataleya. I felt them in my back. Was this back labor? It definitely was. I felt the baby move to different position a few weeks before. My mom and Sister came over. The kids and them made some signs and affirmations for the birthing room and we hung them up.

I just tried to rest and stayed in bed. My mom suggested I should take a walk and I didn’t listen ( I wish I did), I just wanted to rest. I was able to take a 45 minute nap but I had’t slept much since the night before I only had 4 hours of sleep. My contractions were so inconsistent but intense, in the middle of the afternoon they were less frequent. Everyone went home and my mom took the girls. I tried to sleep but I just couldn’t rest. The intensity of the waves required all my focus and concentration and laying down made them more intense. at around 3 am on the 9th, I knew it was the real thing. I woke Dennis up and called the midwife. They arrived about 45 minutes later later. At around 5am we called my mom and her and Sofia came over.

We had worship music in the background, I danced to it, I prayed for a safe delivery. I knew this time around the process was harder. I got in the tub and the water was so calming, it’s like a natural epidural. I labored on of the water by myself for a while.

My birthing team was amazing, they respected my wishes to not make noise, they held my hand when I asked, I was surrounded by so much love. I was so happy I had my daughter there with me again. I wanted to show her how incredibly amazing birthing can be. She held my hand on and off and came to check on me.

Dennis and I were left by ourselves most of the time. He knew this time was not as easy I could see the worry in his face for me. I made sure to breathe and show him that we had this.

The waves became very intense but I was so focused on my breathing and would not let the pressure turn into pain. I asked Kimberly to check how dilated I was and I was at a solid 8 but again, like in my last two pregnancies, my bag of waters would not break. I told her to just leave it intact, maybe this baby would be born en caul. Jenny, one of the midwives, performed some techniques to try to make the baby turn.

After a half an hour I asked Kimberly to just break my water. The baby had descended more at this point. I went back in the water. When I got back the waves started to get stronger and stronger. At this point I was very tired, I hadn’t slept. I remember holding my mom’s had and telling her I loved her. Then I just labored in the pool by myself but with everyone around me. The camera we had to record the birth started beeping, the memory was out, then the battery died. It made me lose my focus. I really wanted to record it this time since with Cataleya everything happened so fast that I didn’t have a chance to do so.

I started moving around, feeling my body shake and I asked to get out of the pool. This is why it’s so important to stay focused without distractions during birth, because you can easily lose your focus and give in to the process. My midwife started to get everything to be ready she said “maybe this baby won’t be born in the water.”Dennis helped me out, grabbed me by my arms.

I had a contraction but I was to weak and felt the urge to go back in the water. As soon as I got back in I started thinking about one of the affirmations that Sofia made me, it was a star and she told me “mommy I made this star for you to put in Isabella’s birth room it has stripes like a tiger.”

I also remembered a part of song that said “I’m a child of God, yes I am” so I said Karla you can do this, YOU ARE A TIGER (visualizing the star), YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, YES I AM! YES I AM! I’M A TIGER! I AM DOING THIS! I’m birthing my child! I am made for this. I got my energy back, I was back in focus. Dennis was holding my hand.

I got back on my knees and started pushing. My focus was not to rip and my midwife reminded me to do it slow. I felt her crowning, I felt her descend. I was doing it again! I was touching as she was coming out. I could feel her head and I started smiling and saying “it’s my baby!”

It was so amazing to feel in total control and She came out after a few minutes of pushing. Her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and Kimberly unwrapped it. I pulled my own baby out, into my arms. She was as precious as I imagined.

I had such a rush of emotions. But I could not cry, I was overwhelmed with joy.

I could see the happiness in everyone around me. Isabella was born with so much love surrounding her. Dennis, mom, sister, nephew (who luckily filmed the birth) and my midwives were there. Sofia came in as soon as I put the baby in my arms. It was such a magical moment.

We then went out to my bed to deliver the placenta.

I tried to push it out but it was not coming out. I could see that Kimberly was getting concerned. They gave me two pitocin shots and oral medicine to stimulate contractions and still nothing. After 30 minutes she told me to be strong and that she was going to have to go in to remove it. I had a retained placenta, and it was not going to come out on its own so it was crucial for them to act fast. I took a deep breath and she put her hand in and it was probably the most intense physical pain I’ve ever felt, I screamed. She pulled it out and had to go in a few times because my placenta was attached and coming out in pieces along with blood clots. She had to make sure to get everything out. I had started to form some clots and she had to monitor that and my bleeding because I had a hemorrhage last time. Luckily this time I was not bleeding as I did before. She acted so calm and fast. I could see the fear in Dennis. He got so scared. I had my trust in God and my midwives who were so amazing and proved me once again that they are experts at aiding with these situations. Like in my last birth post, delivering the placenta was the most uncomfortable part of it all and there was no breathing techniques that would have made it painless. But I had my precious baby in my hands and the adrenaline you get from it makes you quickly forget about it. After the most graphic part was done everyone was allowed back in the room.

Isabella latched wonderfully, she is a champ at eating from day one. Sofia was too afraid to cut the chord so Dennis did it. All while Isabella is laying in my arms.

Our youngest son was the one who helped weigh the baby.

Kimberly made sure to include them like she always did when she came for my check ups. It’s the beauty of a home birth, that everyone feels like they are part of it.

She was 8lbs 14oz and 20.5 inches long, born at 7:57am September 9th of the craziest year, 2020.

Her arrival was just like her middle name “Amor” it was so filled with love, calmness and joy. So grateful for my family and midwives for making the experience so enjoyable. Grateful for this body that showed so much strength. Most importantly, thankful and full of gratitude that God for allowed me to safely give life again.

Thank you for reading and for all your constant support and love.

Love,

Karla