The birth of sweet baby Frank, by Ali Kraak.
The moment I saw the pink positive sign on the home pregnancy test, I knew I would be dedicated to being as healthy as possible for both baby and myself; this included an all natural pregnancy, which to me, meant free of medical intervention and pain relieving drugs during birth. I googled “Bradley Method Classes” and came across Nichi’s website, My Healthy Beginning and signed up right away.
What I didn’t know is that I was signing up for practically a lifetime of support for Frank, Frank’s father (John) and myself. We attended 12 sessions of the Bradley method classes and before I knew it I was 42 weeks and time to prepare for a scenario I didn’t think I’d ever be ready for. I was a very healthy pregnant mama and figured he would come on time and I wouldn’t have to make any tough decisions. Insert laugh here.
It was at 42 weeks 2 days that I called our Birth Doula Nichi to see what more I could do to encourage this little baby to make his entrance into this world. She provided resources for chiropractic (I had been going since week 24) and an acupuncturist. I received both services and experimented with all other methods to induce labor naturally, with the exception of castor oil. None of these methods quite did the trick; so at 7:45am we hopped into the car and made the 45 minute drive over to St. John’s Hospital where a kind nurse broke my water at 8:30am. Much to my astonishment, I was in labor, but didn’t know it, probably because I had a doctor and nurse asking me to take Pitocin to progress at a “normal rate” and my dilation wasn’t exactly what they had wanted to see, not to mention my new found high pain tolerance.
I spent a great deal of my labor walking and walking and walking and listening to “Would you like Pitocin now?” and thinking to myself, “hmm, no I really don’t, but should I? Do I need to?” Nichi reached out several times to check-in on John and I as we knew she would join us when things really kicked in. I would say with a gist of neutrality, “same thing, pushing Pitocin, dilated x centimeters, not sure what to do.” Nichi suggested bringing an acupuncturist in to do some more work. She quickly caught on to my detachment from her suggestions along with the doctor’s and gently suggested that I just take a shower and come out and make a decision, whether it was Pitocin or no Pitocin or something else.
So I did, I took a shower, and those were an amazingly calming 20 minutes. I came out feeling refreshed and to a doctor who was willing to wait until 6am the following morning to use Pitocin. AMEN. Then on I progressed very quickly. Why? I became totally engaged and empowered; and buoyed by support and confidence in my decision.
Nichi arrived at the hospital and worked magic. I restlessly moved from the tub (fell asleep during contractions), to the toilet, to the exercise ball and back to the tub. I kid you not, I felt like an empowered, magical goddess. Loved laboring. Probably because I had such phenomenal support; I had the baby daddy on one side encouraging, and Nichi on the other whispering and gently reminding how to channel breathing and ah.mazing. back massages (I’m serious these suckers saved me). Then Nichi suggested the rebozo to get baby turned out of the posterior position and BAM, there we were pushing.
Shortly after, I held the most amazing little baby boy in my arms. I can’t tell you what I felt. Incredible, astonished, speechless. All I could do was stare at this stunning 9 pound 12 ounce, perfectly healthy baby boy. And he is mine?! I mean seriously-the human body is phenomenal; pair that with a support team-John and Nichi- and a miracle is born. Nichi made a home visit to check up on us. I was paranoid Frankie wasn’t latching as easily on my right breast. She worked her magic using craniosacral techniques and I had an emotionally transformed baby who never had a problem latching, nursing or telling me exactly what he needed.
For weeks after, John, Frankie and I have received nutrition response testing and are on our supplements and have texted Nichi countless times about our concerns, questions, etc and within hours, even minutes, she responds reassuringly and with helpful resources.
Basically—whatever birth I imagined, I kind of had to let it go when the time came, but I didn’t have to let go of the education. What I remind myself daily is to have confidence in that education and use it. I’m a part of the minority when it comes to the choices I make for my baby and myself. Nichi is someone who continues to be an educational and resource jackpot to help my family and me along in making those decisions and having confidence in those decisions.
