My birth story starts off here very early in the morning on Monday October 9th 2017 we evacuated due to our town being on fire. I was 39 weeks and one day pregnant. I had worked hard to plan everything for my upcoming birth that was my VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) and evacuating was not part of that plan. We scrambled to come up with a few backup plans but I had it in my mind that the baby would not come until I was 42 weeks pregnant and I believed we would be back home by then. On Wednesday we had settled into our hotel we were temporarily staying at in our old town which was located about an hour away from our current town. We had dinner plans with some good friends as we had lived in this town before we moved to Santa Rosa, Ca. We arrived home (our hotel) after a quick trip to Target at 9:30 in the evening after dinner for a few needed items. I had been extra leaky all afternoon I was worried it was a slow leak of my waters but was uncertain so I contacted my midwife. She said to try to get some sleep as labor might be soon or it might not but rest was important at this point in pregnancy. I was so convinced I would go past 40 weeks which would be the upcoming Sunday so I was not sure labor was closeS Once we were settled back at the hotel and my toddler and husband were fast asleep I tired to rest but I could not sleep. I began to get a little crampy and then my bowels cleared out. I tried my hardest to sleep but it was not happening I could not get comfortable. At 1:45 in the morning on Thursday October 12th, I started having contractions I began timing them and they were happening every 5-8 minutes and lasting for 45 seconds. At 2:20 am I woke up my husband as it was not until then that I was certain they were contractions and not just Braxton Hicks (which I had never experienced). My husband called our amazing midwife and told her about what was going on she decided to head our way from Santa Rosa, Ca (about an hour and 25 minutes away). He then called our lovely Doula to see if she would be able to come as she was also displaced from the fire. She said she was able to come. My husband told me that they were both headed our way, this made me very happy to know. We did not have an exact plan as to where we were going to have this baby but I was going to have my whole support system. I labored in the shower then on the toilet, as labor got more intense and the contractions more regular in their consistency. I began to go into myself and focus on how my body was opening up and preparing for this birth. I thought about the hypnobabies home course I had listened to at night toward the end of my pregnancy. One, Two, Three RELEASE went through my mind as I focused on the contractions being only temporary and that they were bringing me closer to my sweet baby. My body and baby were preparing for the big event that is birth. My midwife arrived asked if I wanted to see if we could go to the birth center in San Francisco that it might be an option. I said yes she called them and they said yes. I was so excited to hear those words this meant my birth that I had envisioned and planned for was happening the way I had planned despite all odds and everything that was going on. My midwife checked on the baby everything was going well and she said it was time to go unless we wanted a hotel birth. My Doula arrived we let her know the plan. My Doula helped me through a few contractions as my husband put our toddler’s things together and him into the truck. Then they got me loaded into the truck. My midwife and Doula followed us as we took my son to our friends house. Then we headed into the city by this time it was 4:45 am and work commuter traffic had begun. We got stuck in some traffic on The Bay Bridge trying to get into the city of San Francisco. The smoke in the air from the fires was really bad but the cool morning air felt nice on my face so I left the window open. The smell added to my nauseous feelings and I began puking in my hotel trash can I had brought just in case I needed it and boy was I glad I had it. While this was going on a man in a truck next to us stopped on the bridge signaled my husband to roll down the window so he did, the man asked if we had a water bottle. My husband said no sorry and rolled his window back up. The drive through the city was awful with lots of bumps. With each contraction, I was so upset I was in a truck seat sitting I wanted to be up and moving my hips or on all fours. We arrived at the San Francisco birth center around almost 6 in the morning. My midwife checked baby and then asked me if I wanted to be checked before getting in the tub. I agreed I was almost 8 centimeters dilated and fully effaced. I labored in the tub for a bit. Then the toilet when I began to get overheated in the tub. I then tried the side of the bed and then the floor over the birthing ball. I was on the birth chair for a bit then my water broke. I decided wanted back in the water so I got back into the tub. Not long after I became pushy and babies head was showing a bit more and more with each contraction. I would push then I would hold back some as I was not wanting to tear and my hemorrhoids were beginning to hurt so badly. Childbirth is far less glamorous than anyone tells you. Then the ring of fire began happening it was way more intense than anyone had described it in the million the birth stories I had read or listened to. I began to think that there was no way I could push that baby out. I was so tired and it felt like it was so much more than I had the energy left to do. My amazing birth team reminded me of how strong I was and how much I wanted this birth experience. My Doula reminded me of how it was so close it ti being over and my baby being in my arms. My husband told me that I was able to do anything and I could certainly do this. Then with the next big contraction I pushed and pushed and babies head was out then one more big push and the baby was fully born at 0946 in the morning. Once in my arms, I held the baby and was in complete aw none of the pain remained it was pure bliss I made that tiny human and I did it I got my VBAC. They checked the baby out then helped me stand to help the placenta be birthed. After the placenta was birthed the baby and I and the placenta went to the bed. My husband and I were so in love with this new tiny human. I was so exhausted it was not until my midwife said we don’t know the flavor of this sweet little one that I realized it was time to see if we had a son or daughter. My husband checked and told me we had a daughter! We had no name or anything for her but we had her and she was perfect. My in-laws came and brought our son to meet his sister. They also brought a car seat so we could leave the birth center with her. Everyone was in love with her. After a small visit our son left and went to his grandparents for a couple of days. My midwife finished checking out our daughter and myself. My midwife then made me the very best bowl of oatmeal I have ever had in my entire life. I am sure in part it was because I was starving and exhausted. The kind woman from The San Francisco Birth Center had not only opened their doors to us but also their hearts. They allowed me to have my birth in their center and get the VBAC I had dreamed of with a candlelit room and big tub ( I actually have no idea if there were candles or what the lighting was like but that tub was amazing). They also gave us some baby clothes and blankets for our baby until we could make it home to get our things. At about four hours after her birth, we loaded up into our truck to leave the San Francisco Birth Center. The San Francisco birth center came and did our day one home visit at our hotel. This allowed my midwife to get some much needed rest and not have to drive so far again so soon.
Weight 7 pounds 3 oz
Head 13.75 inches
Chest 13.75 inches
Length 20 inches
I want to give special thanks to the women who made the birth I wanted happen the way I had envisioned. My rockstar of a midwife Jasmine from Thrive Birth Center, my amazing and supportive Doula Becca, and the lovely ladies of The San Fransico Birth Center. I also want to give a very special thank you to my amazing husband for remaining flexible, being my rock and driving through San Fransisco in morning traffic with no left turns.
Beautiful Mess Mama 
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