As a first-time mama, I wanted to have a home birth instead of the traditional hospital birth. After searching for weeks for a mid-wife, we were extremely fortunate to find Christina and accept her as our midwife. We were constantly being turned down due to our daughter's due date around Christmas. Throughout my pregnancy journey, Christina provided me with many resources and home remedies (which I absolutely loved) to help with some minor problems I encountered. I loved how knowledgeable Christina was about pregnancy, labor, postnatal, and etc. She provided me with lots of information that surely put my mind at ease from books, articles, and her kind spirit during my journey.
As mentioned, this was my first pregnancy, so I had no idea what to truly expect when the time came. Around 4:12am on Dec 15th, I was going to the restroom when something sorta fell out from between my legs. I had no clue at the time that it was my mucus plug. Shortly after, I began experiencing light cramping in which I thought were Braxton hicks. Although these were early signs of labor, I had no clue because my 'light cramps' were 12 minutes apart lasting 60-90 seconds. I then tried going back to sleep and was in and out of sleep until around 8am, a gush of fluid came pouring down my leg as I was heading to the restroom. At this time, I was still unaware that I was actually in labor, but I proceeded to inform Christina of everything. She confirmed I was in labor; however, I was still in denial because things were progressing so quickly and not to mention, my 'light cramping' didn't feel like contractions at all. Christina instructed me to eat, curb walk to make sure the baby was in position, and relax as much as possible before the hard work began. I began to panic a bit because I wasn't ready (baby girl was a few days early and I expected her to be late) but Christina's calm and soothing energy kept me at peace during early laboring.
Christina called to check in on me around 11:10am and my contractions were still manageable lasting about 65 seconds and 7 minutes apart. Around 1pm, Christina checked in again. My contractions were 4 minutes apart, lasting for about a minute. The intensity of my contractions was starting to pick up a bit, but I didn't need her just yet. She reminded me to stay hydrated and also told my fiancé to start the rice congee meal she provided to us (which was deeeelish by the way!)
By 2:50pm, I asked my fiancé to fill the pool and call Christina because the contractions were now intense, and I wanted her there to keep me calm. She came within a matter of 15 minutes and immediately rushed to my needs. The moment she walked into the room I felt at ease although I called her name about 50 times asking her was, she was sure I was in labor haha. I was in so much pain at the moment I asked her to check to see if I was dilating because I just wanted it to be over. At one point, I said "just take me to the hospital because I can't do it." She looked at me and said YOU CAN DO IT and YOUR BODY WAS MADE TO GIVE BIRTH. She then started to breathe with me and encouraged me to change positions in the pool.
After an hour in the pool, she suggested I tried sitting on the toilet so gravity can work with me and not against me. By this time, I stopped keeping track of my contractions... my finance and Christina informed me when they were coming, and I just breathed and moaned through them. Although I loved the comfort of the warm water, I knew I needed to transition somehow to get my baby girl out. Once my contraction was over, Christina and my fiancé helped get me out of the pool and walked me over to the toilet. Within 10 minutes of sitting on the toilet, I suddenly felt the urge to PUSH and began yelling, clenching on to my partner and long behold, I started to push, and my daughter came out in 1 push!!! I remember asking "Do I keep pushing" but it was too late... she was already out and in her daddy's arms.
Christina quickly rushed over to assist, and it was a bliss from there. As me, my partner, and my sweet baby girl moved to the bed to soak up the moment, Christina began cleaning up and washing everything while her assistant brewed some yummy postpartum tea for me. Overall, Christina made our experience so peaceful. It was truly an experience to remember, and I couldn't thank her enough for EVERYTHING she has done for us. read more