I chose the Juneau Family Health and Birth Center because I wanted to experience a unique birth, one where I could labor on my own, with minor fetal monitoring. After being hospitalized for a week after a surgery I had in February of 2007, and having experienced what it is like to have nurses change shift constantly, (some of whom have very different views on medical intervention that I do) I realized that a homier setting would be the optimal spot for my labor.
Another thing that drew me to the JFHBC was Kaye Kanne. She had delivered my sister in September 1986 at our home in Juneau. I don’t remember Kaye much from when I was young. I was just shy of five years old when she made home visits that year. All I remember about my sister’s birth was waking up in the evening to go meet her in my parent’s room. Looking back, I thought, what a familiar and comfortable setting for birth.
I too was born at home, drawn out by castor oil and outdoor hikes in the 40- temperature of December in Interior Alaska. I knew from hearing my mother talk about her births that I wanted to have a natural birth, just as she had with all three of us. She instilled in me the knowledge that my body was very capable of birthing a baby naturally, and that if she could do it, so could I. I attribute my positive can-do mentality about childbirth entirely to her. When I asked her if her labors were difficult, she told me that they were not painful, just a lot of work.
Despite living in Sitka at the time, my husband, Kyle and I made the decision to plan our son’s birth at the JFHBC. Unfortunately, living so far away, allowed only a few trips to Juneau for prenatal visits with the midwives, however those visits were never rushed and I always felt like I was being cared for in the best possible manner. Kaye, herself, was always available to me by phone or email with questions I had.
We arrived in Juneau by ferry Tuesday, October 19, and had an appointment with Kaye right away. At 37-38 weeks, we thought we would have a couple of weeks to hang around Juneau, do some shopping and relaxing before the baby came, but boy were we wrong. The weather that week was sunny and warm, so Kyle and I took advantage by taking one to two hour walks each day. Little did I know just how greatly that the primrose oil, coupled with plenty of walking would prepare my body for labor.
Friday night, we went to a movie at the theatre, and I had some stronger Braxton-Hicks contractions, but didn’t think much of it because they were not rhythmic. So we went to sleep, and Saturday morning I woke up to a little bloody show and very mild cramping. I called Kaye and she told us to come in around noon so she could check me, something that had never been done previously. She told me that I was four and a half centimeters dilated, which came as a shock to me because I hadn’t experienced any discomfort up to that point. We went home to grab our bags and returned just as my labor was starting to pick up. Within a half hour my contractions became noticeable, not uncomfortable, but breathing helped. It was like my body took over and I was the passenger, all I could do was roll with it.
Being a Saturday, it was very quiet at the birthing center. I had not seen the facility so quiet and dimly lit. It was a perfect time for a birth. Kaye told us to pick a room, so I picked the Jade room and settled in just as Arianne, a student midwife, came to prepare the tub. Just moments later, Melanie, a CNM whom I had met with at one of my prenatal appointments arrived to attend the birth as well. Soon I was laboring in the tub, and thankfully I had Kyle there to apply counter pressure on my lower back during contractions. I was amazed how quickly they came and went, but on my hands and knees I was able to fully relax my body and mind in between them. I was feeling really hungry, so Kyle brought me some yogurt and toast; it was perfect fuel. As my labor progressed it seemed like I had less time in between contractions. I remember how it felt good to moan through the contraction; like somehow the moans released the pressure I was feeling. Before long I was feeling the pressure of the baby’s head, and my hips were moving. By checking me, Kaye determined that I had a little bit of an anterior lip holding the baby’s head from progressing downward, so she moved me to a birthing stool.
Once there, my labor changed. Transition was different than I expected it to be. After reading several books and documentaries on birth, I had a mental image of how this part would be. For some reason I thought it would take minutes to push my baby out; it took a bit longer. Because my baby’s heart rate would drop with each contraction, Kaye determined that I should push him out somewhat quickly. The midwives gave me oxygen to make my blood more oxygen rich for the baby. Soon thereafter my water broke and the baby’s head was crowning, and someone brought me a mirror, but I didn’t want to look, I just wanted to push! Before long, his body slipped out and all I could feel was great joy coupled with exhaustion. Eli was born at 6:24 PM. My mind was mush and all I could do was adore my baby boy as I recognized him for he was mine.
We are grateful to have had such a wonderful birth with the help and supervision of three wonderful midwives. We look forward to new additions to our family and hope to revisit the Juneau Family Health and Birth Center.