The Unassisted Home Waterbirth of Nasir Inash

Description of Labor:

-Labor begins upon the ending of a very peculiar dream Friday morning at 7 a.m., when I was met with a contraction that left a resonation with my cervix.

-Contractions come throughout the day, ranging anywhere from 50 minutes apart to 20 and 30 minutes apart.

-Call my husband, who is at work to inform him that I suspect labor has begun. Continue running the day as usual, cooking, cleaning, and directing the children, while smiling and tuning into each contraction.

-Husband arrives home around 7 p.m. After meal and clean up, sons inflate pool around 10 p.m. Contractions are ranging anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes apart.

-After my youngest two children are asleep, I head upstairs to our bedroom (temporarily turned birthing room), where I begin to arrange the room cozily, and set out my herbs, incense, ocean sounds (nature sounds I listened to), and immediate baby prep.

-I continue breathing and relaxing with contractions as they come.

-At around 3 a.m., I begin to visualize myself giving birth, but immediately become disturbed by some plans that had been made surrounding the birth event.

-At this point, labor stalls completely.

-After I try walking, changing different positions, and a shower to get contractions to restart, I listen to my heart which is telling me to go to sleep. I go to bed and sleep soundly till about 8 a.m.

-At 8 a.m. I am met with 3 very strong contractions that come two or three minutes apart. I get up expecting that birth will be soon.

-I don't receive another contraction until after I've showered and eaten breakfast.

-As the early morning hours progress into the afternoon, contractions are coming very far apart (some up to 2 hours apart) some strong and others not. There appears to be no apparent pattern to the labor.

-Soon after noon, I decide to go for a walk in the field to do some deep breathing in hopes that the outdoor change will bring more regularity to the contractions.

-After returning home, I shower again, and sit on my bed to ponder the situation. As I reflect within, the thought to check baby's position comes to mind.

-As I check baby's position, I'm shocked to discover that he is no longer head down and engaged, but lying transverse (width wise) across my uterus. The time was about 3 p.m.

-Dealing with a host of concerns that begin to surface in my mind, I decide to talk to my husband about it, who remains calm, and reminds me that I'm only 37 weeks pregnant, and tells me perhaps this was just "pre-labor" or just the early beginnings of a labor that may restart more regularly on another day.

-The activity level of the baby had remained consistent throughout the duration of the labor up until that point showing signs of intense activity and then sleep.

-After some more thought, I decide to contact a dear sister of mine, who, after hearing the events of my labor and this strange dream that I'd had, encourages me to tune inward more, paying more attention to this dream and the message it was attempting to bring across. She also encouraged me to talk to baby.

-As I near the end of this conversation with her, I'm met with a very intense contraction. I get off the phone and decide to talk with my husband some more about this peculiar dream that I'd had the morning prior. During this discussion, contractions become more regular, coming about 10 minutes apart.

-My husband deciphers the dream, and I begin to realize what brought on the stall of the labor. My husband reassures me, that the events surrounding the birth would change, and encourages me to not feel hindered in anyway. It is at this point, that I realize labor is restarting. I go to the bathroom, and check baby's position to find that he has turned head down again. I'm amazed and excited all at the same time.

-I share the news with my husband, as I'm again, met with an intense contraction on my way up the stairs. As I kneel on the steps, I again feel for baby's position and notice that his head is no longer down anymore. I go upstairs and decide to do some breathing and tune into baby.

-As I lie on my bed, with hands on belly, I begin to rub baby. I tell him of the wonderful milk awaiting him and how much I anticipate holding him in my arms. I encourage him to "turn for mommy", and tell him how much I love him.

-After breathing through two more contractions, I get up off the bed and labor in the bedroom for a few minutes. As I breathe through a very strong contraction, I check my lower abdomen and see that he is back head down.

-Contractions begin to come stronger, lasting longer and coming closer together (at this point under 10 minutes apart).

(Youtube wouldn't allow me to add the last few sentences. To read, please click the following link:

http://hebrewbaby.weebly.com/nasir-inash.html )

Opening song by RYAN FARISH, called "In This Moment"

Category:

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Tags:

• waterbirth
• unassisted home waterbirth
• unassisted homebirth
• homebirth
• alternative birth
• midwives
• midwifery
• labor and delivery
• birthing center
• holistic birth
• singing labor
• pregnancy
• herbs
• childbirth
• deep breathing
• African American
• Hebrew Israelite
• Hebrew