Congratulations to this St. Paul mama on her daughter’s birth! She recently sent us her story about the late-October birth, and we’re happy to share it with you! Enjoy, mamas.

For those of you out there who might like to share your story on the blog, please send it to alisa@blooma.com. We love to hear ALL kinds of stories about how your sweet babes came into the world.

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

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{By Joanna K.}

Hello,

I have been attending prenatal yoga classes at Blooma since April and finally get to share my birth story!

Alice May, our first angel, arrived on Oct. 28 at 9:41 p.m. She was 8 lbs, 5 oz. and 19 in. She was 10 days late and shares her day of birth with our 5 year wedding anniversary. (We’re ok with that.)

I woke on Friday at 4:30 a.m. with the beginning of contractions. I was supposed to call the hospital and schedule some cervical gels to see if I could kickstart labor, but by 8 a.m. I was certain I was in early labor and the midwife okayed my skipping the gels. I continued to labor at home until about 4:30 p.m. As the contractions grew more intense, I focused on breathing and my body only wanted to move through them. I did a lot of figure 8s and partial squats with my hands on my thighs.

We had planned on delivering at St. Joe’s and called to let them know we were on our way. However, when I called, the midwife said there were no available labor nurses and wondered if we would be willing to go to Woodwinds instead. At first, it threw us for a loop, but we planned on laboring and delivering in the birthing tub and we knew there was one at Woodwinds, so we told ourselves we were going to be just fine.

We arrived at the hospital at about 5 p.m. and my contractions were getting steadily more intense. We settled in and I continued my movements during contractions. At 6 p.m., I was 3 cm. Then my water broke and whoa. My contractions grew longer, really intense and there hardly felt like there was a break between them.

Probably about halfway through active labor, I lost a little mental control and couldn’t stop saying “I dont know what to do, I don’t know what to do.” Any movement I tried just wasn’t doing the trick. I got in the tub in our room and then my mental and breathing preparations from all of my yoga practice went to work. I completely checked out. My eyes were closed, I took long breaths through contractions and let everything relax during my short breaks.

Corrine always says to let your jaw relax and that always is so important for me to let my tension go and I found myself doing that. I didn’t talk to anyone, I didn’t get crazy like both my husband and I thought I might.

The only thing I remember asking is how the water was staying so warm in the bathtub. At some point I was checked and was 6 cm. Because I was so completely checked out, they said ok, let us know when things feel different. About 30 minutes later, I felt my first incredible urge to push. I went with it. I got in and out of the tub a few times and sat backwards on the toilet.

I was checked again shortly and I was 9 cm. The midwife looked at me and said “We have to get you in that birthing tub.” I decided I would rather walk to the birthing tub room than ride in a wheel chair. I was so determined, they had to quickly throw a sheet over me because I was about to walk down the hallway with an open gown and nothing but a sports bra on.

I got in the tub and pushed for about an hour before my exhaustion hampered my deep breathing efforts and Alice’s heartrate was suffering. I got in the bed, had some oxygen and with a few pushes, Alice was out.

We did it. We had a natural birth and boy was it intense.The day after the birth I had a hard time processing what I had gone through. I kept telling people I was having flashbacks and worried that all of a sudden I was going to have a contraction and have to do it all over again. Those feelings have faded, especially as Alice and I and her Dad bond, relax and enjoy being home.

One of the labor nurses asked me after delivery if I did yoga and I said yes, why? She said I seemed so good at controlling my breathing and really relaxing myself whenever I could. Our midwife gave me a great compliment that the entire time I seemed so in control.

I am convinved I couldn’t have done what I did without my weekly or twice weekly yoga sessions (or my amazing husband I have to add).

Thank you Corrine, thank you Greta, thank you Meredyth, thank you Bellyrama even. Thank you to all of the mamas I have shared breath with. Thank you Blooma for empowering women to have beautiful births and to go with the flow.

And of course, looking forward to BYOB with Alice! See you soon.

Joanna