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.
