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The Birth Mag

The Birth of Nolan Sebastian

September 1, 2019

by Jasmine Buschbacher

It was 1:02pm on Mother’s Day, and surges started off slow and steady coming about 10-12 minutes apart. I decided to lay down for a bit and have a snack to see if they’d wear off. They never did so at around 6:45pm I went outside and took a walk around the block while listening to my birth affirmations. I practiced hypnobirthing for this pregnancy. I always had my relaxation and affirmation tracks with me. I walked around my neighborhood for about 20 minutes and my surges started to get closer together. They were now about 7-8 minutes apart. I called my doula, Katie, to let her know that this was the real deal and that I would call her when it got a lot more intense. I texted my midwife, Anissa, to let her know that surges were consistent and that I would call her when things got more intense. My husband, Jonathan got the kids ready for bed and called our friend over to our house to stay upstairs with them while I labored downstairs.

At around 9pm, I called my doula to let her know that I really needed her. She made planned to grab some food and head over. I already talked to my midwife to let her know that it was really go time and that my doula would be heading over. My midwife got to our house at about 10:40pm and surges were still about 7 minutes apart but VERY intense. I listened to my hypnobirthing tracks and just went with my body. I kept thinking about how important is was for me to stay calm and trust my body and my baby. I slept between surges and while awake, low moaned through them. This kept going on for a few more hours.

At around 12:16am, surges started to slow down but got WAY more intense. Jonathan, Katie and Anissa stayed close to me and helped me through surges. I put on my birth playlist and just relaxed and listened to music. I started going to the bathroom more frequently so I had a feeling that things were getting close. I had Anissa check to see how dilated I was and was happy to find out that I was 7 almost 8 centimeters dilated. I slept off and on until about 3:30am.

That’s when things got super intense. I got up and swayed on Jonathan’s shoulders for a bit and then swayed on my birth ball. I started feeling a lot of pressure and let my doulas and midwives know. They started to get the pool filled and I got in at about 5am. Surges were about 3 minutes apart and with every one I felt like I had to poop! I was going back and forth between sitting back, being reclined and being on my knees and hanging over the edge of the pool. It those moments, I kept thinking, “Why on earth did I decide to do this!?” There was so much pressure and I couldn’t stop myself from grunting and roaring. Jonathan was holding my hands and telling me I was right there and that I could do it and that he loved me. My midwife told me just one more surge and she thought he would be here. And before I knew it, I let out a loud scream and Nolan was born underwater! 5:38am on monday morning! Just a few hours after Mother’s day! I was elated! My heart was so full and I was so proud! Here he was. Nolan Sebastian Buschbacher. Born May 14, 2018. 6 pounds even, alert, calm and more than I could have ever hoped for. Jonathan kissed me on the forehead and I shed a little tear. The kids were getting up and ready for school and came downstairs to meet their new baby brother. In that moment it dawned on me. Here I was, coming full circle. Our first 2 born via cesarean, our 1.5 year old born in the hospital via medicated vbac and Nolan…..born naturally at home, surrounded by family. When the dust cleared and the pool was deflated and everybody went home to get a much needed nap, I just sat for an hour crying saying to myself, “Wow…I did it.” And I was healed.

All photos in this post by Lawren Snapka of Lawren Rose Photography.

Filed Under: Birth Story, VBAC

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Happy new year! 2020 was rough on the Birth Mag cr Happy new year! 2020 was rough on the Birth Mag crew, and we know it was for many of you as well. This turned out to be a terrible year to launch a new magazine project, but it's over, and we're moving forward.

What's next then? First and foremost, the next print issue is coming! Look for a sneak peek of the upcoming cover next week. We are also settling in to a more consistent release of digital content going forward. 

We are so thankful for everyone who has hung in there with us through the tumultuous ride that was 2020, and look forward to bringing you so much more in 2021!

#thebirthmag #birthwork #birthworkers #midwifery #doulalife
New on the website this week, from Dr. Ali Davis, New on the website this week, from Dr. Ali Davis, DC (@dr_ali_thechiro ): 

"Someone you know is LGBTQIA+, possibly even someone you love.
If you’ve been in practice for any length of time, chances are you have LGBTQIA+ clients.
Even if you don’t know which ones they are.
Even if you practice in a small rural town.
Even if you think your practice serves a 'different' niche of clientele."

Read the full article at www.thebirthmag.com 

#inclusivecare #inclusionmatters #lgbtqia #lgbtqbirthmatters #queerparents #thebirthmag #birthworkforall
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New this week on the website, some thoughts from @ New this week on the website, some thoughts from @doula_barb of @birth_fort_worth on sustainable birthwork practices, because we all know that burnout is real.

"Sustainability.

These days, it almost seems like a buzz word in the birth world. A free download. A hashtag. A commodity, even.

In reality, though, sustainability in birthwork, particularly in the doula-world, means getting to do the work that sets your soul on fire for longer than a few years.

Sustainability means creating a business from which you don’t need to regularly take self-care, or 'burnout breaks'. It’s so much more than warm baths, massages, mantras and aromatherapy.

It’s understanding that you have value. It’s understanding that it’s ok to charge whatever it takes to make you feel GOOD about walking out the door and leaving your life behind for an unknown amount of time. It’s about business models and contracts. It’s about boundaries."

Read the entire article on www.thebirthmag.com (link in bio).

#birthwork #birthworkers #doulalife #midwifery #birthsupport #thebirthmag
New on TheBirthMag.com this week from Juli Tilsner New on TheBirthMag.com this week from Juli Tilsner (@midwifejuli.cornerstone ): 
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Read the full article on the website. Link in bio!

Photo by @natbro.photo

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New on the website this week: Raichal Reed (@mcdon New on the website this week: Raichal Reed (@mcdonald_herbalist ) shares some information about waterbirth and Covid-19. 

"According to the CDC, 'There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactive the virus that causes COVID-19'. All rules that currently stand for a birthing person to be able to be in the pool (no fever, respiratory issues, etc.) should stay the same so that those who are sick in general are not in the water. Infections and how they spread vary and because there is no current documentation as to every way a person can contract the COVID-19 it is important to have proper personal protective equipment with each birthing person. Currently the CDC has not found any traces of COVID-19 in any municipal water systems, but they have not properly studied well water so their research is to be determined."

You can read more on TheBirthMag.com! Link in bio.

#waterbirth #birthduringcovid19
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The lactation issue is out! We had an abundance of The lactation issue is out! We had an abundance of delays, but they have now all been mailed. If you've been waiting on this issue, keep an eye on your mailbox, because it is on the way!
Community led, community based. The Birth Mag is l Community led, community based. The Birth Mag is looking for new submissions! Are you a birth worker? Are you interested in helping your fellow birth workers learn and grow to be more inclusive and educated on the issues birthing people are facing today? We want to hear from you! Compensation starts at $35 for any article that is used. Please e-mail us at thebirthmag@gmail.com for more information or to submit an article.
#Repost @thevaginachronicles
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There is so much to learn from this week. So much to give and receive. .
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This list is not an extensive and in no particular order but it is some of the HARD and persistent work that we must do. .
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Black people breastfeed. Even when we tell you no after you’ve asked 15 times if we want formula. Even when we are afraid of what it looks like and how we can continue It. Even when we see how you look at our breasts not understanding how different they can be. Even when we must figure out breastfeeding complexities by ourself. Even when we had to do it for you, before we could do it for our own children. .
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WE BREASTFEED!
#Repost @blkbfingweek • • • • • • HAPP #Repost @blkbfingweek
• • • • • •
HAPPY BLACK BREASTFEEDING WEEK! 🤩

By our histories and by the truths we know from living, our possibilities are greater than any imagination. 

For all the days that have felt hopeless, we invite you to enter a period of nourishment to revive.

Where there has been loss, grief and uncertainty, our restoration is key to being present and imagining healthy futures. 

And all through #BBW20, we reclaim our time, lives and families. 

Let’s gooooooo! 

#ReviveRestoreReclaim #blackbreastfeedingweek

Artist: Andrea Pippins @andreapippins
#Repost @storkandcradleclasses • • • • • #Repost @storkandcradleclasses
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New York, New York

Today starts Native Breastfeeding Week. Here are some native breastfeeding facts you should know.

-“The mission of the Native Breastfeeding Week community is to reflect the diversity of native breast-feeding experiences and to encourage and uplift visibility of native breast-feeding experiences”
-“this community also helps to address the inequality and injustice of indigenous mothers and their abilities to practice their roles in accordance to the tribal communities they dissent from”
-American Indian and American Native rates of breastfeeding initiation is 73% versus the national average of 83%.
-Formula supplementation is high (97%) for mothers who didn’t initiate.
-many native mother’s insurance doesn’t cover donor milk which could greatly benefit infants.
-many native women lack breastfeeding support because of social and cultural norms.

Facts are from @ja_lyonhawk article posted at illusa.org 2019

Please visit Native Breastfeeding Week’s Facebook Page for info about the virtual events you can support this week. ❤️

#indigenousbreastfeeding #indigenouswomen #americanindian 
#nativebreastfeedingweek #blackibclc #ibclc #doulasupport #doulas #blackmidwives #midwives #breastfeedingsupport #storkandcradle
#Repost @taprootdoula • • • • • • Blac #Repost @taprootdoula
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Black Maternal Health Week is EVERY week •
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Art @designedbydg •
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The best way I’ve improved my ability to care for black parents is to listen to them. But before I could learn to listen, I had to commit to the LIFELONG task of confronting my biases against them. I must also commit over and over to the a promise that I would confront bias and racism I witness in my colleagues, providers, leadership and institution. This involves being brave, frank and unapologetic, and well-versed in the mechanisms for reporting abusive and problematic  behavior, even in situations with an imbalance of power (nurse v. physician, etc.) Anti-blackness is the default in our culture. As healthcare workers if we don’t intentionally, diligently, and sustainably work to confront and destroy our biases, these biases WILL lead to black birthing people and babies’ harm and death.
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Every birth worker - doctor, nurse, doula, midwife - needs to invest in an anti-racism training - @rebirthequity ~ @theblackdoula ~ @shishi.rose ~ @abide_women are some leaders who receive compensation to help you confront your biases against black birthing people. Anti-racism training is not CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING. Cultural competency training is required by most employers, it’s been around for a while, and it doesn’t change s#%^.
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Follow 
@blackmamasmatter @4kira4moms to keep up to date on ways you can learn more and legislation that is working towards the goal of protecting black parents and babies from medical racism that causes harm.

#blackmamasmatter #maternalmortality #blackmaternalhealthweek
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