Adam...a
dream baby...first male born into our Garden of Eden...
Tuesday
afternoon, December 9th 1997, at 4:00pm, I was about to go to the pool with our
daughters when I made a quick trip to the garbage bin outside the house. On my
way back I began to leak - my water had broken! I told the kids I was sorry,
that we'd go swimming another time, we had to go back inside and have our baby!
They really wanted to go swimming, but understood!
So,
into the bathtub I went, and remained there for quite some time - it was the
best place to be to feel comfortable while my water was flowing...I lit some
candles, was very relaxed, Benny brought in his guitar upon my request and we
sang songs and were quite cozy...I felt pretty easy going, and like I had all
the time in the world to do this, I was in no rush...after a while I got out
and started doing things around the house, since I did not have any
contractions yet...then I had my bloody show and felt it would be good to go in
the tub again.
My
contractions began at about 8:45pm and were at least 5-10 minutes apart and not
painful really, just a bit uncomfortable...I went to our bedroom and sat in a
big comfy chair, riding out some contractions, did some squatting, still
feeling pretty good and relaxed....I asked Benny to get naked with me, and we
enjoyed some intimate moments together...at about 11:30pm the contractions got
much closer together, a few minutes apart now, and I was starting to get
uncomfortable - no matter what position I was in those things hurt! And I was
very tired, hadn't napped that day and really could have used some shut
eye...when I think about the hours that went by that night I cannot believe how
long it really lasted...I never expected it to take so long, and neither did my
husband! I took 3 baths, 3 showers, sat on both toilets, walked around the
house, didn't want to wake the neighbors in the middle of the night so I'd bury
my face in a towel during contractions...I didn't feel the urge to push until
much later, since I was not dilated very much....
In
retrospect I now know that there was unconscious fear involved with my labor
and that's why it took so long...I didn't actually admit to any fear I had
during my pregnancy and even throughout my labor, until the very end...I had to
be so strong and make sure I didn't have any doubts about what I was doing,
especially for those around me....Benny was my only real and true support
system, everyone else was just waiting, holding their breath, to see how things
would be...I don't know anyone personally who had an unassisted birth, but I
read plenty of stories on the internet and Laura Shanley, who is the author of Unassisted
Childbirth, was a big inspiration for me, and I knew I could do
it...But I guess a part of me was still afraid...
It
wasn't until after 7:00am when my daughter Annette woke up (Bettina woke up
shortly after) that I realized I better get this baby out, my family was
counting on me, this is what we planned, fear or no fear, I was ready! Our
daughters watched as I moaned through my next few contractions, hanging onto
the side of our bed, squatting...and then as I pushed the first major push I
felt the baby coming! My husband saw a little sliver of the head and couldn't
believe that was it...the next push delivered the entire head, and the next one
delivered the entire baby, right into Benny's arms - I did not tear at all
because of my husband's incredible care, and I am forever grateful to him for
that, not to mention the ease in which he "caught" Adam..."It's a boy!" he
yelled - what a great surprise, we had no idea...
A
minute later he was in my arms and Benny caught us all on video, welcoming him
into the world...it was now December 10th, 1997 exactly 8:00am...a glorious
sunny day in South Florida, Adam Z Levy was born. He joined his 2 beautiful
sisters, Annette & Bettina, 6 1/2 year old twins, into this world...they
were amazed to see this little creature with all this "stuff" on him, but were
not afraid at all and were incredibly calm - it was the most peaceful few
moments I have ever known...
We
all hung out on the floor which was covered by a plastic sheet and many towels
and just stared at little Adam, watching his every move...about 50 minutes
later I cut the umbilical cord, said a prayer and set him free...then we went
to the bathtub, I rinsed him off gently and then delivered the placenta with
one big push....we then all relaxed on our king size bed just taking it all
in...wow! We did it!
Benny
was so brave and so wonderful - this birth was the ultimate in team work...I
felt very proud and very powerful, and savored those first hours with Adam and
my family until the evening, when we finally called our parents and our close
friends to share our news...
From
the day he was born, many people have commented on how calm and alert and happy
he is...We believe the way we welcomed Adam into the world had everything to do
with this. From conception to birth we surrounded ourselves with love, and had
faith that pregnancy and birth is the most beautiful and natural process. Now,
after 2 different birth experiences, we know that this is definitely true.
My
hope in writing our unassisted birth story is to inspire more women to take
back the power that they seem to have given up, and reach out to men who let
the "professionals" take over what they can easily do. With the right kind of
support, women all over the planet can easily give birth on their own, with
their partner - little by little we each make a difference in this world. I
hope by sharing our story we have made a difference in your life. I know we
have made a difference in our daughters' lives, and given them an opportunity
to experience their brother's birth first hand - something they will never
forget and hopefully do when it's their turn.
It
is now a few months after this incredible adventure, and my love for Adam
increases by the moment...it is so wonderful to be a Mommy of a baby again and
to nurture and nurse and hold this beautiful and amazing child...I look forward
to another one already!
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