Freebirth of Jacob Israel

So to follow up my last blog, and now that Jacob is here, I felt I should share the story of his birth! 

Here it is... the story of how Jacob Israel Morrison joined us earthside. 

I guess this story should begin with a bit of history. In March of 2014 we conceived and were thrilled! I was so excited to bring a sibling for my then 3 y.o. and my husband was beyond joyous to have his first biological child. Unfortunately, in May 2014, we miscarried this little angel. We then decided we wouldn't try to conceive again, but we weren't going to try to not try... if that makes sense. 

On July 6, 2014 (days after my missed period and about 15 negative pregnancy tests later) I got a positive test! We were having a baby! I cried so hard. Mixed emotions of excitement and fear. I was overjoyed to be pregnant but scared to loose another. 

Right off the bat we started looking into midwives for a homebirth. After finding out costs and after a lot of prayer - I decided to start looking into the option of unassisted birth / freebirth. I went to an appointment with an OBGYN at 13 weeks. When we got into the car my husband looked at me and said, "We never have to come back here. You can have this baby where ever you're most comfortable." It was decided. I was going to have a freebirth. 

Months passed and we prepared by prayer, research, etc. I ordered my birth supplies in December and prepared everything I thought I would need. I had this vision of a peaceful labor, with music and candles, etc. 

Over the next few months I had dreams of my baby's birth. Quick. Painless. Peaceful. Beautiful. 

Months came and went and I felt I had prepared as much as I could. 

At 37 weeks and 5 days I began to leak a little amniotic fluid. I grew concerned, but after two days of rest, prayer, and hydration the leak stopped! From this point forward my body decided to have some fun with me. Every day, around 8 p.m. I would get light contractions. I would go to sleep thinking "maybe this is it" and wake up with nothing. 

My "due" date came and went. I began to get impatient. I wanted to meet my baby. I pretty much cried everyday. My husband kept reminding me that he would come when ready and it couldn't be too much longer. 

At 40 weeks and 6 days a friend of mine who is a professional photographer did some maternity photos for us. She wanted to use my huge belly. Haha We did photos at 10 a.m. At 2 p.m. I began to have light contractions. Not very consistent. More annoying than they were painful. At 3 p.m. I discovered that the water had been shut off to the entire building due to a busted pipe. Great, just my luck. I grew worried that the baby may come and we would have no water. At 11:45 p.m. our water was turned back on. At 11:50 p.m. my contractions came to a dead stop. 

I cried. I was so tired. I cried to my husband. Debated going in and begging for an induction. Texted a friend for support, who encouraged me to get some rest. I finally fell asleep around 2 a.m. after setting an alarm for my husband who had somewhere to be at 8:30. 

5 a.m. I woke up to this heavy pain. After all the "fake" labor, I decided it may be nothing so I would keep it to myself until I was sure. 

5:30 it became too uncomfortable to be laying down. This pain was weird. It was not coming in waves, just constant. I went to the bathroom 3 times and my body cleaned itself out. 

6:10 I told my husband I was in some pain and was going to try to relax in the bath. 

6:40 I got out of the bath as it had become too painful to sit still. The pain was constant. Still no waves. 

6:45 "Forget this" I thought. This has to be it. I woke my husband and told him. He said okay and laid there watching me labor. No breaks. I could not sit, stand, walk, or squat to get comfortable. 

7 My husband gets up and starts to get ready for his appointment. It was mandatory he went. I began to freak. No way could I do this on my own, without his support, and with my 4 y.o. there. I tried calling friends and no one v would answer. 

7:30  - 8:00 I'm yelling because I'm tired from the pain. I couldn't get a break. I'm on the Natural Birth Mama's page talking to women complaining I wanted to give up. My husband was still getting ready which made me mad. "You're just going to have to reschedule!!" My heart was beating really fast and I was tired. I just wanted a break. I just wanted a wave. Just one. So I began to loose it. The pain was in my hips and I grew concerned he had turned transverse. In tears I told my husband I wanted to go to the hospital. I could handle the pain, but I just needed a wave. Just a little break. He said okay and began to dress my son. He brings me a pair of sweatpants. As I am attempting to put those on, my water breaks. Lots of brown tinged mucus and clear amniotic fluid. 

8:05 We start making our way to the car. I made it to the front door and felt weird. I sprinted back to the bathroom and sat on the toliet. My husband followed me and told me to come on. It would be fine. 

8:10 After three flights of stairs I made it to the car. As I opened the car door I felt the need to push. I told my husband and he said "You're just in a lot of pain. Let's go get you some rest some how." So I got in the car. 

8:11-8:25 Contractions began to come in waves! My husband had my labor playlist on in the car. The rest in the waves was so great. I felt like floating they were so peacful. The contractions felt so effective and I was pushing through them. We hit traffic and an accident. I was getting such good rest in between, I began to desire to just go back home. 

8:26 "Babe. I'm pushing."

8:28 We are exiting the highway for the hospital. "This baby is coming with the next contraction." "I can feel the head"

8:29 Pull up to the stop light... "I am having your baby right now." My husband says to me "No, your just in a lot of..." 

Push... head comes. Husband : "Oh my gosh is that the head?" 

Push... body comes. I grab my baby and pull him close. Unwrap the cord from around his neck. Sucked out his nose and mouth with mine while he peed AND pooped on me. 

The light turned green and my husband turned. He started video taping and got the greatest video that I will cherish forever. My son says in it, "She just got her baby out! In the car! Delivered him right out of her butt!" My husband asked what to do and I told him to just go home. 

As we are driving home I took my pants completely off and wrapped my little in it since I had nothing else. I began to pray that my placenta would wait till I got home and inside.  My husband called my parents and told them to wait. That I had the baby and we would call when ready. 

I had another contraction, which I assume was the placenta detaching. We got back to the parking lot. As my husband opened the door the placenta came. He closed the door and ran to get the bowl from the room. He brought the bowl and found a pair of his swim trunks in his trunk for me. We threw the placenta in the bowl and I put the trunks on. Bloody, carrying a baby and a placenta in a bowl, waddling to our room I ran into a cleaning lady who said to me "Did you just have a baby?" Me: "Yes" Her: "Do you need a doctor?" Me: "No" 

I made it to the third floor, got to our room and went straight to the bath which was still full of water from earlier and got in. We sat in the bath with the placenta bowl on the edge. My 4 y.o. brought me a towel for Jacob and sat on the toliet next to me to watch me while my husband went to the gas station to clean out his car. About 20 min pass. My husband returned, we clamped the cord and my husband and son cut it together. My husband brought a clean towel and wrapped Jacob in it. I cleaned up, got dressed, and diapered my handsome little man. We spent about 2 hours as a family cuddling in bed, enjoying our new addition. 

Our man was perfect. Even though my labor and birth was not what I had in mind, it was perfect. It was crazy and disfuctional, just like us. To begin with I felt as if I failed. I gave in. I wanted to go to the hospital but then the Lord brought to remembrance the verse in 2 Timothy 2:13 

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny himself." 

Even though I caved. Even when I was faithless. He took care of me. He knew from the beginning. It was perfect. 

I caught my baby to the song "Inside Out" by Jeff Johnson. It was humerous and beautiful and perfect. Crazy and full of commotion and perfect. 

Jacob Israel Morrison

Born 3/19/15 at 8:30 a.m.

9 pounds even. 20 inches long. 

Champion breastfeeder and pooper.