2020 BIRTH STORIES
/2020 has been a monumental year for many different reasons, but for doulas and midwives it was the year of massive surges in at-home births. Some women had planned on delivering at home from the start, while others made the switch among the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Cincinnati Birthing Center, an increase in at-home births meant building special relationships with even more families within the Cincinnati community. This year, our team helped deliver 55 births, serving 59 families total (some with due dates in 2021).
“2020 was titled “The Year of the Nurse and Midwife” by the World Health Organization before it began, and boy was it ever! I saw a 300% increase in my midwife inquiries when COVID hit and was able to take on many new clients. I’m thankful for so many healthy outcomes! This year, we finished drafting regulations for Kentucky midwives and I became the first of many Licensed Certified Professional Midwives in Kentucky. Additionally, we worked with several interested parties to draft up legislation increasing access to midwives in Ohio. 2020 has been a great year for midwives and this will only continue into the future as more people become aware of the benefits of midwifery care.” - Meghan Nowland, Founder of The Cincinnati Birthing Center
Each of these birth stories creates memories that will stick with our team for a lifetime. As we reflect on this incredible year, we’re paying homage to our community the best way we know how: by sharing a few of their birth stories. Here are a handful of the 2020 birth stories that mothers chose to share with us this year:
BIRTH ON A BUS
The Cincinnati Birthing Center is committed to providing a personalized approach to every family we serve, ensuring that every mother feels safe and supported. Earlier this year, Meghan had the joy of supporting a birth in a renovated school bus. The family practices minimalism and is dedicated to spending much of their time outdoors. They renovated the bus by themselves and moved in when Mom was 36 weeks pregnant. Their baby was born a couple weeks early, so the birth made for one of the first memories the family has had on their bus. However, the family has plans to travel in their bus and make many more memories in the future.
Mom had a really healthy pregnancy, as she spent a lot of time outdoors and was active. The weather was warm, so she labored mostly outside. What made this birthing story extra special was that the 3-year-old daughter was involved through the whole birthing process. While her mom labored, she played outside, and when the baby was born, she was watching and got to see it. A cow trough turned bathtub is where the newborn made her way into the world. Dad caught the baby, so the entire family got to be involved in the birth. The 3-year-old is still nursing and was able to nurse and cuddle with the baby afterward.
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A MIDSUMMER'S DAY
At 2:50 pm amid the heat of mid-July, Timothy Samuel was born on the bedroom floor of his home in Kettering, OH.
When his mother recounted her experience, she said:
“At 9lb 9oz and 22 inches long, he had the largest head circumference (15.125in) and longest gestation (42w5d) our midwife had seen in her 300+ births. At about 6:30 am that morning, I started feeling intense waves of contractions and contacted my doula to tell her I thought I was in labor. She quickly came over to be by my side.
A doula is a sort of like a birth coach—we had been working together for months to prepare my body, mind, and life for this experience. She has been a blessing to me and my son - his birth and my experience would not have been as magical and transformative as it has been without her love and guidance.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My midwife and two of her assistants arrived at my home around 9:00 am. A midwife is different from a doula; she is a healthcare professional who specializes in childbirth and is trained to care for mothers and babies before, during, and after birth. My prenatal appointments were similar (though significantly more holistic) to what you would experience with an OB. She will continue to care for Timothy and I until he is 6 weeks old.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
While originally I had planned to labor in a water tub, labor escalated much quicker than I expected and we ended up not using it. By the time my midwife arrived, I was 9cm dilated. I labored in the comfort of my home – bent over at the kitchen counter, squatting in the bathroom, and then finally landed on my bedroom floor for delivery. I was surrounded, supported, and very much loved by an incredible team of four women who guided me, cheered me on, coached me, and fed me slices of apples and spoonfuls of honey when they saw I was running low on energy. My birth tribe continues to care for me with lactation support, deliveries, postpartum appointments in our home, and text message love and support.”
CREATING A “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” EXPERIENCE
Mother, Ashley, recounts her experience of giving birth to a beautiful baby boy earlier this year:
“I hope I have the right words to describe this experience. I gave birth at home in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. It was painful, primal, beautiful, and once in a lifetime (for me anyway). Here’s a quick run-down of how things happened.
On Sunday I had contractions all day, 10 minutes apart, but manageable. I thought this was just the beginning of a long few days. Then Monday morning things got stronger and I felt like I just needed my birth team here. At 3:45 am (while sobbing because of my anxiety and self-doubt) I called the midwives and doula to come. They got here at like 4:45 am roughly and gave me an exam. I was 6-7 cm with bulging waters. I was relieved because if I had only been at 1 or 2 I think I would have quit right there and gone to the hospital for an epidural. The photographer got here around 6:10 am (I didn’t call her until later because I was convinced this wasn’t really the real thing).
After the exam things just got super intense. I absolutely wanted to give up. But with my team’s encouragement, I powered through and shortly thereafter gave 2 of the strongest pushes my body could muster on my bed. He was out at 6:47 am. Pure relief.
I can’t even believe it still!! The recovery has been magical. I feel so good. So loved. The kids think he’s the cutest. I’m feeling so blessed my husband went along with my plan from the beginning and supported me fully. Thank you to everyone, and welcome Noah David Clary.
A RED-HEADED ROSE
Sara shares her at-home birthing experience of her firstborn - a little red-headed girl. She says, "Our daughter Arwen Rose came earthside on April 17th at 9:40 pm after 5.5 hours of labor, weighing 9.2 lbs and 21 inches long.
I was exhausted waiting for her to arrive and didn't believe labor was ever going to come, but it did and I think I was 3 hours into labor before I believed it was really going to happen. Brad and I are in awe and I had actually imagined a dark-haired babe even though everyone else was picturing a redhead.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Our birth team was awesome. I can't believe the kind of support I had with my homebirth and that I actually did it. I am beyond thankful for the support I have had using Cincinnati Birth Center's services and feel that I can't recommend them enough for anyone who is considering birthing at home."
We’re so grateful for all of the births we were able to be a part of in 2020. If you’re interested in learning more about our midwife and doula services, please contact us or connect with us on social media @cincinnati.birthing.center .
