Cascade Christian Childbirth Association



Eilan’s Birth

My story starts long before November 3rd, 2003; the day my fifth child was born.  After the
birth of my daughter, the first girl after 3 boys, we had pretty much come to the decision that
we were finished having children.  God had another plan in mind!  We discovered I was
pregnant once again but had no idea of dates.  I hadn’t kept track of my cycle and had no idea
when the last one was.  When I saw my midwife, we picked a date we felt was appropriate and
October 17th became my “due date”.  My pregnancy went along as the others had, very well,
and I felt healthy and strong.  I made sure I got a bellycast and pregnancy pictures.  My friends
gave me a beautiful Blessingway.  I was ready to have my baby!  I was planning a homebirth and according to
regulation in my province I can have the baby at home with a registered midwife attending between 37-42wks.  My
EDD came and went with no inkling of labour in site.

With 3 out of 4 of my pregnancies going to 42wks, I shouldn’t have been surprised when I was coming to the end
of week 42.  On Oct. 30th I had an appointment with my midwife who told me that as of Oct. 31st at midnight,
she could no longer attend my homebirth.  I cried through most of the visit as I simply could not imagine having
the birth that I wanted in a hospital.  I had a homebirth with my last baby and it was such an incredible experience
there was no going back.  I have a huge “birth team” which consisted of 2 doulas, my sister-in-law the
photographer, my mom, my sister, 4 children and my husband.  How on earth would we all fit into a hospital
birthing room along with my midwives and any nursing staff?  It simply couldn’t be done.  On Friday, the 31st, I
started putting the word out that I was in need of a Traditional Birth Attendant.  I did not want an unassisted birth, I
wanted a midwife even if I had to hire one just to come to the birth.  By Friday evening I had an offer from a lay-
midwife to come and be with me at no charge but she did not have any medical supplies.  She also offered to ask
around to some of her colleagues who may be better equipped to be with me and we left it at that.  On Saturday,
November 1st I was feeling extremely upset.

I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t had my baby yet!  My doulas sensed my need for an intervention and took me out to
lunch to lift my spirits and to make a plan.  It worked!  I felt a million times better on my way back home.  I
decided I was going to stay home and they both said they would support me all the way.  I was going to phone my
registered midwife and see how soon after the birth they would be able to continue the postpartum care.  That
evening I spoke with my midwife and she was not happy with my decision to stay home but respected my wishes.  
She asked that if I wanted to have the support postpartum, she would feel much better if I would go and have a
non-stress test to make sure that my placenta was still functioning and baby was doing fine.  I assured her that my
baby was doing a lot of kickboxing, I should know, but I did want to maintain a postpartum relationship and agreed
to meet her the next day.  She also said she would look into when the postpartum care could start.  As confident as
I was, I still had a question mark in my gut instinct that was nagging me.  The ‘what-ifs’ were playing havoc in my
mind and I didn’t know if it was just fear creeping in or if God was speaking to me and saying that this isn’t what I
should be doing.  I was praying that everything would work out that I could have this baby at home where I knew
he should be born.  I had to surrender my plans and make sure that I was listening for His plans and I needed to
keep my ears open for His voice.   

On Sunday, November 2nd, I met with my midwife at the hospital for the non-stress test.  My baby performed
right on cue and for 20min. danced in my womb!  The nurse says, “this is definitely not a post-date strip”.  Thank
you very much---I could’ve told you that!  My midwife had looked into what the College of Midwives had to say
about my situation and said that if I am telling her right now that I am staying at home then she has to resign as my
midwife and cannot care for me postpartum.  If I tell her that I will agree to go to the hospital, then she can attend
me in labour at my home.  If I refuse to transfer to the hospital then she is not allowed to abandon me.  Well, that
was easy.  I told her I will go to the hospital.  I felt much better about the way things were going and the stress
was lifted immediately.  I smiled all the way home.  That evening I talked on the phone with my friend until 11:00
and I joked how I was never going to have this baby as there was no signs of labour whatsoever.  I finally crawled
into bed and prayed, “please God, not tonight, I am tired and need some sleep”.  

At 12:30 I was awoken to a contraction that I had to really breathe through and that really surprised me.  I went
back to sleep and 15min. later was wakened by another whopping contraction.  I refused to get up---I needed to
sleep!  I did this for 3 hours until I finally couldn’t stand it anymore.  Around 4am I called my midwife to let her
know what was going on and she wanted to come right away since this was my 5th, it could be quick.  Especially
with how strong the contractions felt.  At 4:30 I called my doula, Jen, to tell her what was going on.  She has 5
children as well so I knew I had to give her a good headsup in order for her to get over here.  By 6:30 both Jen and
my midwife had arrived and I was debating on whether or not to send my midwife away as the contractions were
still 14mins apart.  She did end up leaving with promises of checking in soon and if anything changed we should
call her immediately.  Around 8:30 my second doula was here and we were out walking the block in hopes of
getting things going.  

The contractions were still quite strong and getting closer which was a good sign.  My sister-in-law arrived and got
everything ready for video taping and photographs.  She also took charge of the kids and made them a big pancake
breakfast.  What a blessing!  My husbands friend from out of town had been staying with us for a few days.  He
came upstairs just as I had come in for a pee break and for another doozy of a contraction.  Never saw a man run
so fast out the back door!  We went back outside for another brisk walk (it was sooooo cold!) and this time it didn’
t last long.  Labour definitely changed quickly and I wanted back in the house.  Into the tub.  Boy that felt nice.  All
through my labour I kept saying that something felt different.  I couldn’t pinpoint it but it just felt different to my
other labours.  The contractions were so much stronger and spaced further apart.  I wanted to go to that happy
place, the out of body birth zone, but couldn’t quite get there.  People would ask me questions and I could still
answer.  That never happened before!  I didn’t feel like something was wrong---just, well, different.  I pray to my
Father in Heaven for strength.  He gives it to me.  My doulas are attending me so wonderfully.  Making sure the
water is warm,  bringing me drinks and pouring water on my belly that feels oh so good.  They tell me how great I
am doing and I tell them that, you guessed it, something is different!

My midwife arrived while I was still in the tub and suggested that I make my way to the hospital.  Nope.  Sorry.  
Not going.  Okay, she says, but she has to call the ambulance to come and be a witness to the fact that she has
advised me to transfer and I am refusing.  Fine by me.  All of a sudden I feel pushy.  Get me out of the tub!!  I
make my way to my bedroom onto the floor in front of my ceiling to floor mirror.  I really wanted to see my baby
being born this time.  The sensation I am feeling is really strange.  I feel like I have to push but then it keeps going
away and I am not weeping and lying on the floor like a limp noodle.  I can’t be in transition yet.  What’s going
on??  My doula, Lisa, she prays with me. My mom and my sister are here.  Mom takes on the grand “Mother” role
and oversees the house.  My children come and go, checking to see how I am doing and how soon the baby is
coming.  Here come the ambulance attendants.  They ask if I am coming with them, I say, “I am not going
anywhere”.  They say ok and ask the midwife if she needs them to do anything.  They wait in the living room until
the second midwife arrives.  I hear they were very nice and were looking forward to delivering a baby at home.  
They were quite disappointed they had to leave!  My second midwife and the student midwife arrive.  I was
fortunate enough to know my student midwife as she is also a doula sister of mine.  How blessed to be surrounded
by all these women who know and love me!  I am still feeling pushy but nothing is happening.  My midwife asks if
she can check me to see if I was pushing on a lip or something.  Originally I had said no vaginal exams but now I
too was curious as to what was going on.  Turns out I was at 8cm.  Not quite ready yet so they suggest I get back
in the tub to relax.  I am not in there very long when here comes that familiar feeling.  The weeping-limp-noodle-let-
me-outta-here-I-don’t-wanna-do-this-anymore feeling.  

While in the tub I got a leg cramp like you would not believe.  I shot out of the tub, as only a massively pregnant
woman in transition can, and dove, literally, across my bedroom floor.  I was trying desperately to escape “the leg”
that had come to attack me!  It was much more painful than  the contraction and I just kept rolling back and forth
screaming for someone to do something about my leg.  I can’t even tell when it went away as the urge to push
came on strong.  I was trying all sorts of positions to stay in front of the mirror in a way that I could see.  I also
really wanted to pull up my own baby so I was trying to get into a good squat.  I kept diving forward on my hands
and knees though, whenever the urge to push would come.  Then there was nothing.  I had never experienced this
before.  My last 2 babies were born in 10 min. flat and the urges came quite quickly but it wasn’t like that this
time.  I was able to talk between the contractions.  Wow.  I had prayed that I would be coherent like this and it
was really happening!  How wonderful!  I am not sure how far apart those urges were coming but it seemed like an
eternity.  It brought such relief.  Thank you Father!  

All around me were women.  My 3 midwives and 2 doulas encircled me.  Touching my arms, legs, back and belly.  
Speaking such sweet encouraging words, telling me how awesome I was doing.  Massaging and whispering such
caring words of encouragement.  My mom held my daughter.  My sister, tucked in the back, nursing her baby.  
My sister-in-law recording this precious moment of time for me forever.  This is my perfect birth.  This is how I
had envisioned it.  Surrounded by women who have all experienced this before.  Who all cared and loved me.  All
focused solely on me and my baby.  The love in the room was enormous.  In come my sons.  They too are
focused on this birth.  Finally, my babies head emerges.  A mirror has been placed under me and praise God, my
eyes are open and I watch my baby being born!!  Then we wait.  And wait.  Nothing happens and the midwives
form eye contact.  “That’s one minute”, she says.  They tell me to lean waaay forward and start telling me what I
need to do.  My wishes were to birth this baby myself and for them to keep their hands off and they were
respecting these wishes.  I change my mind.  “you have to help me”, I say.  I sense that I need to get the baby
out.  I can feel my midwife checking for the shoulders and then she says, “Teri, you have to push this baby out
NOW!”  Deep from within, the Lord gave the strength I needed and His hand guided this baby out.  One shoulder
came out and it took another big push to get the other shoulder out.  He was placed on the floor and as I sat back
and pulled him between my legs I met my baby boy face to face.  “You little stinker!”, I say.  

I was surprised.  I thought I was having a girl and really did want a sister for my Sequoia.  I instantly fell in love
with this little boy and wouldn’t have traded him for any ol’ girl!  As I was ogling my precious son, I felt a huge
gush and asked my midwife if I just peed.  Nope, that was blood.  Time to get the placenta out.  I tried to get the
baby to nurse but he was not interested at all.  The blood kept coming and once again my midwife ordered me,
“Teri, you have to stop bleeding”.  God once again covered me and instantly the blood flow stopped and  I birthed a
very healthy placenta.   Upon inspecting my newborn babe, it was agreed that this was not a post-dates babe-- just
like I expected.  I believed that this baby would be born when God had intended it to be and it was all in His hands.  
I am happy with my decision not to try and force this baby before he was ready.  My son, Eilan Anthony, weighed
a very healthy 10lb8oz and was born over an intact perineum!  I cuddled up in my bed with my five children and
my husband and relished in the fact that it was all over.

I am so grateful to God that He gave me the perfect birth.  I am so grateful to my husband that he completely
trusted me in all my decisions and supported me even if it had meant an unassisted birth.  I am so grateful that my
midwives respected and honoured all my wishes for this birth.  I am so grateful to my amazing friends and doula
sisters who were my angels in the flesh.  I am so grateful for the presence of my mother, sister and sister-in-law.  
Most of all, I am grateful that my children were able to witness birth as God intended.       
Birth Story #4