56 Meet Brooke-A Nurse Practitioner Shares About Her Unmedicated Hospital Birth During COVID
Brooke is one of my doula clients and she was featured in last week's episode (episode 55) when we visited True Rest Float Spa to try out float therapy while pregnant. This episode was the very beginning of COVID. I was able to attend Brooke's birth in person, but then the world shut down. We opted for a Zoom postnatal and on a whim, I hit record when she was retelling her birth story.
She walks us through going into labor unexpectedly at 38 weeks, being in denial, and finally moving to acceptance. She was in triage asking for the epidural when her husband Jason called me to come. I said, "If you can wait until I get there without the epidural, I will get you through til the end."
I raced to the hospital and found her in the tub and went to work.
Brooke continued on, broke her own water, and pushed like a birth warrior goddess.
After she birthed, she and her husband and baby all contracted the Coronavirus. Brooke is currently in a study out of the UofCali to study the antibodies in her breast milk. All are recovered and hanging at home.
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TRANSCRIPTION:
Attraction feel like, how do I know if I'm in labor and what does the day of labor look like? Wait, is this normal? Hey, I'm Heidi. My best friends. Call me hides. I'm a certified birth doula host of this podcast and author of birth story, an interactive pregnancy guidebook. I have supported hundreds of women through their labor and deliveries, and I believe every one of them.
And you deserves a microphone and a stage. So here we are, listen each week to get answers to these tough questions, birth story, where we talk about pregnancy labor deliveries, where we tell our stories and share our feelings. And of course, chat about. Favorite baby products and motherhood. And because I'm passionate about birth outcomes, you will hear from some of the top experts in labor and delivery, whether you are pregnant, trying desperately to get pregnant, or you just love a good birth story.
I hope you will stick around and be part of this birth story family. You guys, my book is out. I mean, it is out in the world. I can not believe it. I have been writing it for several years and it's just mind blowing. Birth story pregnancy, guidebook and journal is a one of a kind discovery into your pregnancy that provides you education through storytelling.
So what's it really about? And the 16 years that I, I have served a women with every person type I noticed there was a huge disconnect between what my clients were craving for childbirth education and a book and the books that were actually available on the market. There seemed to be unlimited resources.
If you are looking for an unmedicated birth or a natural birth or a home birth, but there just weren't a lot of resources for my clients who were part of the 92% of women birthing in a hospital and very much open to medical interventions, like an epidural, nitrous, oxide, and opioid medications. So I wrote that book to fill the gap for you.
Week by week throughout your pregnancy, you will engage with material meant to educate and empower you as you plan for your own birth story hospital, all medicated unmedicated or something in between. You are welcomed each week with a postcard, hard from the womb, which is an adorable note from your baby about their miraculous development, as well as the amazing changes occurring within you.
Then you are invited to use an uplifting birth affirmation and to respond to an introspective journaling, prompt to document your feelings, curiosities and wonders every single week with room to memorialize your own birth story. This book will become a memory keeper and a legacy gift for your baby. You are encouraged to read one of my favorite birth stories each week filled with childbirth educator, patient tidbits, and explanations of important medical terms and procedures.
These are real life accounts shared with permission from the bird, this that I've attended during my career as a doula. And I gave you a great mix in the 42 week guide to your pregnancy and 42 birth stories. Seven of them end in Syrian section about half are unmedicated and the other half are medicated deliveries.
This is a judgment free book. So take what you need from each element and leave the rest. Okay. Are you ready to buy? I would love for you to go to birth story.com and buy it directly from me, but I totally get it. If you're an Amazon girl, you can head to amazon.com and just type in birth story pregnancy, and the book should pop up.
I'll deliver it straight to your doorstep. And I would venture to say that you might be an audio book kind of woman, because you're listening to a podcast. So, if you would prefer to listen to this book than I have recorded it, and it is available for download@audible.com or on your audible app. Thank you for being part of the birth story community.
I am so excited for you to have this book in your hand, once you've purchased it and it has arrived. I hope that you will give me your thoughts and feedback, and don't forget to take a selfie with your book and post it on Instagram and tag at birth story podcast. Episode 56 meet Brooke. You guys, did you listen to episode 55 on float therapy?
Because if you did, then you've already met Brooke. Brooke is one of my doula clients. Last week, I interviewed her midwife, dr. Alexandra, Montgomery and Brock. And we went to the float spa to do some float therapy. So if you haven't listened to episode 55, I would start there, but I thought it was fitting to bring Brooke back on.
And this is a divergence from my usual podcast format because they actually recorded this over zoom at the very beginning of the coronavirus in March. Brooke was my last client that I attended in person before all of the hospitals shut down and we felt it was safe to do her postpartum visit on zoom.
And so I just hit record. We weren't at the time recording it for a podcast episode, we were just kicking it, having fun, talking over each other, laughing a lot. So if this is the very first episode that you are listening to just know this isn't the traditional format for the birth story podcast, but we had a lot of fun.
There is so much to learn from Brooke turns out it was a good thing that we did our postpartum visit on zoom, Brooke and her husband and the baby actually all contracted the Corona virus. And so Brooke and her husband and the baby are all doing well, but they were the first clients that I had ever had that were infected with the Corona virus.
Now, Brooke has a nurse practitioner. She's very science and data driven, and she actually has donated her breast milk. To the university of California, San Diego for a study to see about the efficacy and the potency and the antibodies that are living in her breast milk. I hope you enjoy this episode.
It's okay. Very unique. It's fun. And we're just sharing her birth story in real time during a postpartum visit. And so I've tried to start timing the cramps, but I'm like, it was hard to time them cause I'm like, they're not even that strong. So I can't really say when they start or stop and I laid in bed for like an hour and a half, I couldn't sleep.
Um, I was just getting these cramps. So I was like, I'm going to get up. Maybe I just can't get comfortable. I'm going to go and lay on the couch and not wake Jason up. So I laid on the couch, they started getting stronger. And so I ran another bath. This was at like 10 45. Okay. And I laid in the bath until 1130, when Jason got up to be at work at midnight.
So he was up and he, he got up and was like, what are you doing?
Yeah, girl. So he was like, what's going on? I'm like, well, I don't want you to panic, but I think I might be in labor. I text Heidi or I called Heidi. She said that this could last for days or that I could be at labor at 2:00 AM. So I'm comfortable here in the tub. I'm going to just lay here and you go and I'll text you.
If things get intense, I'll just text you. Okay. I sent him away late in the back, came back out on the couch, Googled how to know you're in labor.
Yeah. Videos, that kind of thing. And then right. Like I was timing my contractions. They were getting a little easier to time and they were like four to four to six minutes apart. And when you say they were easier to time, you mean you had like a distinct start, right? A distinct stop. Okay. It says like all day long.
That just crampiness. Yes. Okay. All right. That makes sense. So I couldn't distinguish those because it was just like, there's no really stop in part. It's just kinda like doll in there. But yeah, they started getting to where I could say like, okay, now it's happening and now it's not happening. So I was able to kind of easier, easily do that.
And so around one 25, they started that's when I texted Jason, I actually called, did I call your attention? Yeah, I don't remember. I said, I think you need to come home. Yeah, I think you need to chip in, I call it. Were you like, yeah, I probably, you know where you like, cause you had seen her before you left for work.
Were you like, Oh, she's in labor. I was like, what am I going to do when I get home? When he called me, like, I'm not thinking, I was just thinking like, Oh. This isn't real because they said 12 within the next 12 days. I wasn't sure. Oh yeah. That's what Alex told me. Alex said, I expect you to go into, when she checked me, I one, she said, I would expect you to go.
Cause I was like, he's big. My weight had gone up so much and I was like, I don't even, I'm not even in the mind space to talk about my weight today. Like. I'm ready to have this baby, this baby's full grown. I'm ready. Like if I'm not in labor by next week, you're stripping my membranes. I need to go into labor.
Like it's time. This is you were only 38. That was your 38 week appointment on the day. Yeah, I had him at 38 and one, one 38 one. Okay. Okay. So Jason, did you come home? I was working with Jose and I said, Hey Jose, I told them in the beginning, like, Hey, I might have, cause we were just watching concrete. I get poured on a high rise and were just standing there.
Like I was, we were both like falling asleep and I was like, I might have to leave the I'll let you know. Then I get the text and I was like, Hey, Jose. I got to go and he's like, you gotta go. And I'm like, yeah. I was like, I'm about to have a baby. And he goes
like a baby, baby. Yeah. He called me and was like, what am I going to do? Like, ha like, what am I supposed to do? And I said, No. Well, I said, what did I say? No, I just lost my train of thought and threw me off. Boy. I'm like, Oh, it's okay. Two days. Most. Pardon? It is a doctor's appointment this morning. We together formed sentences.
Yeah. He was like, did you just hear yourself? I was like, no. Yeah.
Jason's like, okay, well I'm going to come home. But like, what am I going to do? We hired a doula and I say, do the work. And I say, I just need you here. That's all I said. I said, I just need you here. I need somebody here. So I just need you to come home. I got it. Then I drove halfway home with my lights off or their lights off.
And I was like, look at that.
I'm like, I'm not prednisone. That's incredible. So I had the, all the lights in the house off. I had the candles lit and I had some like Spotify, peaceful meditation music on, and I was on the birthing ball. Okay. With just a bra and socks on I think, and I had a blanket over me and I was just bouncing on the ball.
Cause I'm like, if this is true labor, it's gonna bouncing on this ball is going to make it get more intense. So I'm just going to do that. And, um, and so I did that and I texted him on when he was on his way home. And I said, can you please come in? Quietly and peacefully. He did. He came in and turned all the damn lights on and was like,
tell her about the bag, the bag. Oh. So I had to pack my hospital bag two weeks ago. I need you to get this bag bag. I'm like, I'm just bringing clothes, like. What else do I need to bring? And like, I was like, she's like, let's go. It's the stuff ready? So I go to get her bag and there's nothing in it. And I'm like, where's all your stuff at, like, I had mine ready two weeks ago and she's like, well, it's laying now.
I, it laid out. I just hadn't put it in yet. So it was also packed. Like he had a bag baby. He had a bag and I had a bag of all three of our bags. Mine was the only one that was not packed, which is why we forgot the birth claim. That's okay. I had it. Yeah. So he came in and was like turning on lights and, um, and so we like had, we had like, Words with each other.
Like I was like, okay, this is not helpful. And he's like, well, I'm hungry. I don't know what you want me to do. You haven't packed your bag. I had a mat in my bed. Like we just had words and he was like, well, I'm gonna load the car. And I'm like, well, we're not going anywhere. Like I need you to, if you need to eat, but like, we need to turn these lights back off and I just need you to turn my contractions for me.
So I'll go pack my bag. You do what you gotta do. And then, so we like came back into our space after he had done that I had done my thing. Turn all the lights back out. He started timing contractions for me. My mom's here. That's who you're hearing in the background and she's got the baby and let's see how much longer.
So we turn the lights back out. We had the meditation on and I would just tell him start and he would push start on the app. And I mean, I would just breathe. Through the contractions. Yeah. And so this was like, from the time he got home until about, I would say 4:30 AM. Okay. That's what we did. Yeah. Yeah.
And we, we got, like, I got at four 30, it was like to the point where we started at two 42 and the last one I timed was at five Oh eight. That was when we actually went to the hospital. Probably that's when you said let's pack or we need to get ready to go. Then I said, Oh shit, this is real. We're actually going to that hospital to the point where like, like I said to Jason, I don't know how many times I, I got into the bath again.
Okay. I don't know. I don't remember when I got into, he came and said, did you check your, did you check your own cervix at home? Oh, yeah, I drive and I couldn't reach it. So I made Jason me.
I was like, I tried to talk him through it. I'm like, you should be feeling like a round opening. It should be like, kind of like it either, maybe harder. So I don't know, but you should feel something round and he's like, I don't know. It just feels the same. Do you think you got to the cervix? I have no clue because I felt, I felt him.
I don't know if there's a one spot that's different. I didn't know what I had no clue what I was feeling. Even describe it. Yeah. Okay. Okay. We had nothing, so, yeah. Okay. But when I, when I decided that it was time to go to the hospital was when, like I said to him, I feel like I'm not handling these contractions very well.
I think, like I said that to him, because. It was to the point where like breathing through them, wasn't easy or like, it was hard. And I just felt like I'm not dealing with these very well. Like I was cussing through them a lot, like, cause they were, they were way more intense. And so I was like cussing through them and I was like, when they were coming on, I was like, Oh shit, shit, shit.
It was like one of those. Yeah. So now. Do you have a clear picture? Like when we met for prenatal and you said, when we just, you like your verbatim, you're like, I want to have a natural childbirth. And you were like, but I'm like totally open to medical interventions. If like, I have to have one and I don't know, you remember, but I was like, well, you're going to have an epidural.
Then I was like very upfront with you about that. So you ha I was like to be totally and completely committed. So, do you understand that now? Like, does that make sense? After that day? I changed my mind and I went to that full frame of mind. Okay. Perfect. Which was awesome. I was still asking for one, I was like, I was, I didn't change my mindset.
So you're at home. Self doubts, kicking in, which tells me, like, I don't care what your cervix was doing at that point. It tells me like, you are moving it. You were in transition. You were, you were inactively where you'd been actively Burton. Now when that self doubt kicks in, it's like, something's very different.
So I don't even remember where I came in to this picture. I have to like, look at my text messages. We didn't text you until we got, you got through triage. I feel like I had one, I woke up to one, hold on, let me see what's on here. I don't think I text you, but maybe I did. I feel like somebody texted me around like 5:00 AM or something.
Update 5:00 AM. Yeah. Been having contractions since 10 30. They aren't regular, but definitely getting more intense. Jason's been timing them and they range four to six minutes apart since two 45. We're thinking about making our way to the hospital. Text me when you get this. And then the next one, I love you text me when you get this.
I'm like, like at 7:00 AM when I wake up. So the next one was like five 30 we're at the hospital, in the parking deck. And then like right around five 45 or something Jason called me. And I was like, yeah. And I was like, okay. And I was so confused. Cause I'm like, Oh, I'm like, I was like, no, I swear. I woke up at like two when there was like no messages.
So then I'm like, You're at the hospital. Wait, we've done. Like my thinking, I checked it 2:00 AM and there was no text messages. And now they're like at the hospital, I'm like, this is going really fast. So now I'm in panic mode. I'm like, I'm going to miss the birth. I'm like, I'm gonna miss it. I'm like, how quick can I get there or whatever you guys still had to go to triage.
That was fine. I wanted to ask you, like all of a sudden there was an IB port where you just like, I don't care. Cause you were in labor. Yeah. So she, the contractions were even harder. Like even walking into the hospital. I cried walking into the hospital cause I, I told Jason, like I was crying cause I was scared and I was crying because I was like, they're going to check me and I'm, I'm going to be a three.
And if I'm, if they checked me and I'm a three, I'm getting an epidural. And I was just like, I was so sure that I was like being a worse and not even hardly, like, I was like, they're going to check me and I'm going to be a three or less and nothing else. Was that your threshold three or less was epidural or four or more?
No, I didn't even have a number. I didn't, I didn't even like pre like prep my brain for that. You were just afraid that you weren't that far because it was, it was really fast. I mean, that's a really fast. Yeah. So I thought still in my medical brain, I'm like, this just started, I'm probably still in early labor.
Like why does it hurt so bad? Who know when they got, when we got to the front desk to check in, they're like Heidi, I did everything you said, and I couldn't even help it, but I was like loud. I wasn't loud. But I was when we got there, I held onto the counter and squatted. To breathe at while they're trying to talk to me.
And I'm just like, I'm like, and they're, they're like, is this your first baby? I know I told you. I told you it's terrible. So then they walked us back. I'm just rehash the girl. The nurse was like, go ahead and take off your panties. I was like, I'm not wearing panties. No, I'm not wearing panties. I came here to have a baby, right?
Well, you can put this down on. She checked me. I was a six, she said five and a half, six. She pulled out a ton of blood. I think it was a bloody show or it must've been, yeah. Jason was like, Whoa. And, um, yeah, so, but what got me, because I was still bringing through contraction and I'm like, okay, maybe I can, maybe I can do this.
If I'm far enough along, what got me is she put me in the bed and put them monitor on me. And it was so uncommon to be on my back with the monitors on my belly. Like it was, I could, so she was like, well, we're going to get some blood work. Like, this is my question. Like, who is that comfortable for? What laboring mom is like, yeah.
This position. Yeah. Right. God said, no, whatever. I just don't understand. Yeah. And so she was like, and she left me. I mean, I was in there for what? How long were you in triage? It felt like forever to me. Okay. It felt like a long ass time for me, because I had several contractions while we were in there. And this is why I'm so pissed.
They don't let the doulas in. I get out of the fucking bed, get out of the bed, get out of there, stand next to the bed. I hopped out of the bed. I put my ass almost on her because yeah, I did didn't
computer and I like, I hopped down. I was like, sorry, not getting in the bed. And so she's like, you're fine. You're fine. But I think she was like, yes. And I had Jason turned the lights out. Like I was like, Jason hit the lights. Like he was my man doula in the triage. So she was like, we want to draw blood. Do you want me to start an IV?
And I was like, no.
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Yeah. So she did that left the room, had to call Katrina and she had to do all the things she needed to do. So in between the time that she took my blood work, It was probably 10 minutes. The contractions were getting worse and worse. I said to Jason, again, I'm not doing these well, I need to get in the bathtub.
If I can't get in the top, I need an epidural. Like I can't do it on this bed right here. Okay. So this is when Jason calls me. Yes. It seems like we're in triaged. You need to get here. She's thinking about getting an epidural. And I said something like, if you just give me a chance to, like, I was, like I said, I can get her through the end.
If you, if you, I don't remember what I said, I'm like, I can get her through the end if I can. Yeah. Yeah. If you can wait, wait till I get there. I can get her to the end. Yes. And he told me that and I, I clung to those words. But before that one other time, the nurse had come in. And I was like, I can't do this.
I want you to go ahead and start an IB. Let's get going on the epidural. Cause she started the IB before you talked to Heidi. Yeah. So she started the IB. She started IB fluids started the poor. She puts up that report. Yeah. And then, um, cause I was like, what if I want pain medicine? She was like, we could do that to the IB too.
So I was like, go ahead and give it to me then another nurse that hadn't even been in the whole damn time, I don't even know who the hell she was, came in and was like, I need you to sign these. It was like the. Epidural papers. I don't even know. So I signed him like paperwork and everything. And then, then he called you.
Okay. And you said, I can get her til the end. If you just let me get there. I can get her to the end. I held onto those words, like the wind you did, but walking, walking to our room, the nurse was like, prepping me on how long it was going to take to get the epidural. They were in the middle of shift change.
So the anesthesiologist was in the middle of shift, change, whatever. So I asked her, cause I just wanted to get in the tub. That's all I wanted to do was get in the tub. Cause I knew at the bath and my house was so much more comfortable. Yeah. So she was like, well, if you get an Ivy for the epidural, we have to start an IV fluids.
I had drank like three terraces full of fluids while I was in there with Jason. I even said to her, I just had three liters of fluids. You do not need to give me IV fluids for an epidural. Right. You just watched me drink three of these up, like on the tap, in the disgusting hospital bathroom. Cause I was like, I was so thirsty.
Yeah. And, um, she's like, they need to give it through the IB. And I was like, well, can I get in the tub? And she's like, no, you can't get it wet. You can't get that wet. So you have to be in the bed. Did you hear what I said? When I got in that tub, put your freaking arm in the water, like redo it. You did. I'm like, I was getting so much trouble.
I was like, I don't care. I'm like, you get that thing. What? You just, you get it wet, but no one said like, you can put it in there, you know, like you probably, and still aren't supposed to, but I just wouldn't. Yeah. And you know, that thing came out. As soon as I got to my room, like. The nurse was like, Oh, okay, well, how we were going to keep that in.
I was like, it's going to accidentally fall out. That's what's going to happen to that. So it accidentally fell out. And then I asked her, can I, what about morphine? Can you give me some morphine or something? And she was like, well, if we give you narcotic, you can't get into the water because we worry about you being too drowsy for the water.
So that's when I was like, okay, get me in the water. Cause I'm not waiting in the bed. And gosh, I'm so thankful. I'm so thankful. Okay. Because you get in the tub, the lights are completely turned and then I walk in. Yes. You swarmed in. And I found like a really quiet, peaceful place, right? Like Jason's there with you.
The nurse was very hands off. Like everything was pitch black. It was like, everything was like calm and settled and like soothing. And like, normally I would come in and like put in Himalayan lights or candles or something, but I was like, this pitch black is like working for you. So I was like, let's just, and you didn't have any music.
And I was just like, I'm going to keep going with what's working, you know, so I just like let the environment be, but like I found you sideways with the arm in the air with the thing was like, I took your arm and I pushed it in the water and I was like, get it wet. I was like, we're going to get over this real quick.
I love that you did that. And Jason describing. Cause we've told the birth story now to like family and friends, a couple of times. And Jason describing you coming in the room is hilarious.
Ooh. Put their coffee down my coffee. Yeah. I drink it after your birth, you know, in my mind it was, you were like the angel that like came swooping in because like I heard in my head, I heard people talking and I heard Jason talking to them and you just went like you shut the door and like, boom, you put your finger on my forehead.
And I was like, Oh, I can do this job. Like I had like, yes, you're a amazing, amazing. And you were in the middle of transition and it was like super obvious, like that next hour, hour and a half in the tub was like very difficult. Right? Like the joke is like, Jason was literally like two steps away. But like you thought he was on another Island, you were like, he was there.
You were like, where is he? I'm like, literally right here. But like, that's how, how I'm in LIBOR. Like everybody has to be like in a cocoon, you know, right here. Because otherwise you, like, you can't tell like that as a mile away, you know, if it's within, arm's reach, it's a mile away. So that was like so funny, but Jason's like having to fill out all the paperwork and sign the.
You know, I want video, I want video the birth or whatever. Yeah. I shut that door and I was like, and then you did a great work. Like you listened to everything. I said, when I was like, so I was asking you to relax for so long. And then it was like, then you stop. When you need to like, push and get aggressive, then you like, don't, don't relax.
You know, then like push or whatever. And so I'm trying to remember, but like you reached in and you were like the head and I was like, Oh my God, we're going to have a water birth. I was like, you had me totally full. And I was like, I was like, I don't need to get out of this day. You just like, stay right here.
I was like trying to give you a bath glass to like, Quiet your models. Cause I didn't want them to hear you, but they do. They know they do well. Maggie was like amazing, man, you just kept doing it. She did her little Doppler, like every 30 or 45 minutes. And she knew you're pushing in the tub and like, she didn't really care.
And, but I'm trying to like LA, I don't remember, like, if it was when you were pushing or right before you started pushing, when you checked your cervix and you were like, I'm complete, but it feels like there might be a little lit and I, Oh, I need you, you in a different position. I was like in a different position.
I was like, I need you to. Squats forward. Cause you were kind of leaning like kind of back in your position. I was like, I need you to go sideways over the tub and like forward. Well, right before that I should say was probably when you, when we realized the bag of water was not the head, it was like the bulging bag of water.
Cause they were like, wait. That's my bag of water. Yeah. Cause it was squishy. It felt like a balloon. Yeah, no, I'm trying to remember like, which happened first, but anyway, you were like this, I think you went to check your cervix and you were like, could feel the bag of water and you're like, what do I do?
And I'm like, just break it. Yeah, you said, you said break it. If you break it, he will be here soon. And I was like, hell yeah, I'm gonna break that shit. I did. I was like, why did I do that? There was so many, you were like, how do I break it? And I was like, do your fingernails. I was like I said, bare down. And then if you have fingernails, just whatever it well, and then it just.
So it released and then immediately that next contraction was like much stronger than I was like, so pissed at you. I was like, why did you make me do that? Because the contractions were hard, so much harder. So much more room for like him to come down and engage in your pelvis. And so I just was like, let's just get this done.
I know. And I remember you even saying that to me. I remember those exact words. You said he's going to have so much more room to come down and to help us. And I was thinking I don't give a shit. It's so funny. Cause I never know if anyone can hear me. I'm like, I'm just gonna. Hey, the funeral. I was on your voice the whole time.
Like I, I heard just about everything. You said you cracked me up though. When you're like, Jason, do you want to feel the head? And Jason goes right into the bath water, and then you're like, what do I do in Brooks? Just like. Wait, your mom's right there.
Yeah. She don't care. Oh, okay. It looks like just finger me.
God. I'm like. My band. I'm like, Oh my God, you're so funny. And then like, I will never forget too. I like the first two times, I think like, I, I leaned forward to like talk to you and I hit them. I thought you were Jason trying to get in the water with me. I was like, Jason, it was like, it's really slippery.
Yeah. I'm good. Nope. I took a nosedive right into there and then turned on the jets
as I went in, I was like doula of the year over here, I'm going to a meeting in the bathwater and I'm turning on the jets every five seconds. I'm like, God, I forgot about the jets too. Oh my gosh. It was so funny. So my gosh, those jets. So a couple of times, I for sure hit it. Like I leaned forward on him and I was like, shit, it's been on the jets.
And then we couldn't turn them off. I'm like getting that thing a hundred dollars. I'm like, how do you turn the jets off? And there was this one moment where I was guarding you. Yeah. I said, you're on jet duty. And I went like this.
They're not. And I was like, nobody touched him this time. I was like, I mean, maybe there's like a sensor, but I was like, time or something. It's gotta be my God. It was horrible is what it was. But they stayed off or whatever. We'll talk to maintenance and have your baby in the tub. Like for sure you were pushing so hard and.
And I thought you were gonna, and then Katrina came in and you were just done with the water. She was like, can I check you? And you were like, yeah, get me out of here. I'm ready to. Yeah. Cause I, cause I, well, cause I said, can you check me here? And she was like, no. And I was thinking to myself, well, I need to know, is that the head.
And do I have a lit because if I have a lip, I need her to do something about it or something. And so that's when she was like, I can't check you in the tub. You have to come out. And I was like, I'm coming out then. Well, she said to be fair, she said, I can check you in the tub. It just won't. Accurate. Okay.
Well, she said I can check. She said, I can check you in the tub. I'm just not sure it will be that accurate. And you were alike. You are allowed to need accurate and you like flew out of the tub. I don't even remember that. I just, I remember, I just remember her saying we got to go out. Yeah. Whatever. That's what I am.
I am my laboring brain. I heard we got to get out. Yeah. Because you're relieving brain needed accuracy. Like there's no point of it. If it's not accurate. Yeah, but you get out, she texts, you she's like you're complete. And she said, plus one, she was like almost going towards plus two. And I was like, Oh, like, amazing.
And then we were like, okay, you just do your thing. And so I tied up the Rebozo to give you some like tension to like, you know, pull and kind of squat. And that was really hard. No, no, no, no. I mean like on the bed, when it was on though was on the bed. Yeah. And you had me sideways. Yeah. And then, and then kind of like, I knew, like we're going to be doing this for a long time or I can, you can just get out of bed and you can do some deep squats and then we'll have your baby.
And so I feel like I said something about that. Yeah. You said it so nicely. You were like, Brooke, you've been in the same position for a long time. Yeah, you'll let me just, we need to switch it up a little bit and he'll be here. Let me just show you like you just, you sold me. I was like, just felt like I know how hard it is, but like, I was like, you can do it, but it was, I think you had four, maybe four deep squat contractions I was at.
And like, I squeezed her through a couple of them, like, Oh, they were all there. And then Katrina's like down on the floor with her. That's why John her. Best midwife ever. She's amazing. I have totally pooped on her. I'm like, no, you weren't. You never pooped nobody. Day two. I asked him while we were in the hospital did not pay up.
I don't know how you didn't pay it. I don't know. I fucked it. And he said, I fucking did. I didn't that wasn't did you fight with me?
I didn't even think to ask if I had pooped or not until like two days after. And I was like, did I? And he's like, no, I think he fucking did it. And he was like, it got kind of stinky versus, Oh my God, that's embarrassing. Which one's worse. A little bit of poop. Wipe it away or like stink up the whole room where my whole birth team was like, well, if it makes you feel better.
Yeah. I didn't even say anything, you know?
Yeah. I, so I tried, like everything was going so fast. I was thinking, gosh, she's not even like getting any of the, like the spa treatment. So I tried to whip out a couple lavender ice clots when your temperature started shifting. And, um, and I was having you. Sniff some lavender and some Clary Sage, but like, I don't know, it went for a first birth.
It went really fast, but it really speaks to staying at home for as long as possible. And, you know, I don't know, but you know, honestly you had probably like a six, would you call it a six hour birth? It's eight hours. So we got to the hospital at five 30 and we had him. Yeah. Yeah. And then he, but before that, I mean, it sounded like maybe you didn't even know you were in labor to like, what, one 30, really?
When you called you, I texted him. Yeah. And honestly, even then Heidi, like my brain, I was so. In my brain worried that I was going to be that mom, that like, I think, yeah, I'm in labor. I'm going to show up at the hospital. They're going to tell me I'm in false labor and that this could last a couple of days.
Cause you said this would go on a couple of days or you could call me at 2:00 AM. And I was thinking, I'm going to be the couple of days, girl, that's going to be mad. Like this is going to be me for a couple of days. Yeah. It was really like, in my mind, I was really like, I. Something's up, I'm going to the hospital, but I don't know if it's real labor.
I just need Jason here. No matter what, Bingy our dog just laid his head down on Lincoln's pig fair. No, I got up and took it off. Yeah, Jason got up, but yeah, so I would say six, five, six hours. So when people say labor, they mean from like 10:30 PM at 10 30, when you were like, something's happening? Well at seven 30, I wouldn't have called it, but like at 10 30 when you were like, I can't sleep and I'm getting in the tub, that was probably like the real onset of like, your cervix is active labor.
No. So actively Burr is like six centimeters on active labor is what you were at the hospital for labor was all like from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM. That was like your early labor. And then your active labor was like, you know, from the hospital on. Cause you were six centimeters when you, okay. So then yeah, it was fast.
Cause I was thinking like the D the two days before where I had cramping. Like, or though day before that I had cramping counted as early. Yeah, no, I mean, I would say like you were in labor for sure. Less than 12 hours. Okay. And then like, you know, I don't know. I don't know. Let me know when I would probably start, like hear your story.
I would probably say, I'd start your labor at one 30 when you yeah. Really kind of new, you know, like Jason come home. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So really, really fast. I mean, and I always say to have a naturally where you got to have two things, you gotta have, you know, a relatively short labor where like babies cooperating and you have to be fully committed, you know?
So you crushed it. And now, so did you watch her birth video? Like, so you did the squats. We could see the head was really starting to kind of like come up through the pelvic bone, you and you got in the bed and just push them right out. And I'm like, yeah. As you saw, I was like, no, I love it. But I am so happy that you did that because.
I don't remember it that way. I remember being in the bed way longer or pushing, Oh, no. You were in the bed for various periods. I think I even said, I remember saying at one point, what is taking I'm out eight? Not even said it. I thought it, but I was thinking or said. What is taking, you said it out loud.
Oh my God. Like I kept trying to say like, um, and that's when we got them you're out. That's right. You were like, what is taking so long? We're like, he's right there. We're like, she's leaving. Yeah. It felt like I was in labor forever. It felt like I was in the bed pushing like that. How you have me pulling on the Rebozo on all fours?
Cause I remember she checked me again or did she check me again? No more cervical checks. She was just cause you were complete and the head was coming down, but she would kind of like part your lady as just a peek in on the head. But. Essentially like, and I know you're a nurse practitioner, right. But like, so when you're really pushing effectively, we'll see this happen during a contraction.
The head is so low. It's like partying the lobbyists, but we'll also see all the area around your rectum and your parenting and bulging. Yeah. Like my whole, yeah. So like what I'm watching when you're like, what's taking so long, I'm watching the head bulging and it's just like, and then you're, they're partying and I'm like, your bed's right there.
It's just, you know, to come up under that pubic bone, it's just kind of what takes a little bit. Yeah. So, and it didn't take that long cause I was looking cause your pictures have timestamps. So it really did. I mean, I wasn't pushing that long, but it felt, it felt like. 20 minutes, at least 20 minutes, it was like five.
Right. I was like, what? Even 20 minutes would be really short, but it was just not that long. Yeah. Yeah. So you push so well and then Katrina, like, you know, pulls them out and Jason you're just like bawling. It was so cute. And then we're like, I'm thinking you're on your hands and knees. And I'm thinking like, give her her baby, you know, so Katrina made sure he was okay.
Everything looked good. And then I loved the passed through. Yeah, yeah. Pass through the way it was awesome. You know? And then my favorite part of the video, especially as you like went and like prayer position over him, like you just have a moment of just like. Exactly why you're here, you know? Yeah. Like exhaustion plus it says sweet.
And then, you know, she let your cord stop pulsating for so long, so long. I don't remember. I looked at the video timestamp. It was like eight minutes. Yeah. She waited so long. It was amazing. Totally drained. Yeah. Which is so healthy and amazing, you know? And then like, she was just like the best. I mean, I had never worked with her before and it was like, she's my favorite, you know, she's my favorite Alex came and saw me the next day, a little bit jealous, but I'm glad you got Katrina.
Yeah. Well, Katrina, what's interesting. She said. I was so thankful to be part of this birth you had just delivered. She, you probably didn't even hear her. And she said, I'm so thankful to be part of this part. She said, I don't get to see these burns very often, meaning natural childbirth. Right? You can just letting it, you know, most midwives go into it.
For less interventions, they still go to get an, a medicalized, you know, system. Yeah. It was really neat to hear her take pause and like be thankful that she thought to be witness to that. I remember her saying something like, this is the best way to start my day or something like that. I remember her saying that.
Yeah. It's nice and easy. Yeah. Like loved her. Oh my gosh. She was amazing. Yeah. But I was like, Oh my God, there's a picture of me working, you know, love that photo so much because. That hip squeeze that you were doing got me through those contractions. Okay. I wasn't sure, because I don't know if you remember.
I said, if this does not feel good, you need to let me know. Cause it was a question Mark on whether or not Oh, and I just didn't say anything. No, for me, like when the babies had get so low, some people that's more painful depending on the position of the baby. And so they're going to be good or it's going to be terrible.
Yeah, yeah. With a question Mark on the end, like, let me know if this fairer and it's so crazy when you're in it, because like, I feel like I even said to you that's good or something, but in my brain, I guess I just was so in the moment, but I remember thinking like, Holy shit, thank God Heidi is here pushing.
Right now, because like you're pushing against, you were doing, you were doing work. Yeah. You were helping, it was helping. And that's what got me through. And, you know, I did not like that position. I, now nobody does. And I'm just like, you're going to hate me, but like I do to do this, otherwise you're going to push for two hours, you know?
And I'm glad you did because it, the effort showed for sure. Yeah. Well, I'm so proud of you. It was crazy. It was so fun to be part of. I literally like walked out at 11 o'clock in the morning and I'm like, what just happened?
Thank you for listening to birth story, Michael is you will walk away from each episode with a clear picture of how labor and delivery might go, and that you will feel empowered by the end of your pregnancy to speak up plan and prepare for the birth you want. No matter what that looks like.