Birthing Harlan

Harlan Eleanor Aker 12/10/2020

This kid didn’t have a name until today AND I just changed it minutes ago because after saying it all day, I didn’t like her previous name as much.

I am this person

December 9th at 9pm I felt some liquid leave my body.

My water broke as the first sign of labor AGAIN!!!! But this time I didn’t have any contractions accompany it.

I almost cried, but then I laughed because, of course my water broke first again. Why not.

So now I am on a clock. I have to give birth in 24 hours, and I wasn’t having any contractions at all.

But, I’d chosen to birth with the amazing Jaime at Shreveport’s first and only freestanding birthcenter (holla, cause I cannot fathom the undertaking that was as a fellow business woman who is intimidated by every step of business ownership!)

I knew I had the best chance to have the labor I wanted with her!

We went to the birth center at 10:30pm

Shout out to Baylee McClain, the baby and child whisperer. I knew Floyd was in good hands with her that night. She is an angel.

Jaime used labor positions and some natural methods to get my labor moving along. Things I just couldn't have done on my own or without a midwife’s knowledge and help! Reason #700 I chose a midwife and loved my experience with Jaime at the birthcenter.

The positions to get her in a better position hurt a lot. But they worked!

One specific position hurt so bad that while contracting I just growled “F*CK THIS POSITION” and Trey tried REALLY hard to not bust out laughing while doing the counter pressure on my hips. Haha!

After one cervical check with some things to help progress labor, my contractions went from “oh, this hurts a lot” to “I will slit all of your throats because hell is happening in my uterus”.

They hurt and I didn’t feel like I was making progress.

I was so angry at that point.

And then in the middle of telling Jaime, my midwife, that this better turn into me pushing out a baby soon, I had another contraction. And I had hit active labor.

Trey came over to do counterpressure like he’d been doing for 11 hours, and I barked at him “GET OFF OF ME” hahaha!!!!

Then I sobbed for no reason and for all the reasons.

When I was getting to the pushing portion, I yelled at him to turn off all the music and silence our phones.

After one push where I thought she surely was coming out, and didn't, I was getting discouraged. I'd been saying "GET HER OUT OF ME" "I don't like this" I kinda reverted back to being a scared little kid. But Jaime was the best comforting and guiding Mom, as was her team. Seriously. I felt so safe and heard and supported.

Somehow cutting me came up and Jaime let me know the reason I was cut last time is because that skin doesn't stretch on me. It was just a very tight band that would not stretch for her to exit.

Once I knew *why* cutting me happened last time, I was like, “Sweet, cut me.” She even took time to make SURE I was ok with it.

She cut me, and baby arrived.

Ta-da.

It was amazing to watch her arrive! I saw the whole thing this time. Her head exited and then Jaime turn her to help get her shoulders out.

It was magical.

Birth with Jaime at the birth center was honestly so healing, empowering, and incredible. I loved the constant communication about what was happening with Harlan and my body, the support, and having everything that was happening explained to me.

My birth with Harlan even mirrored birth with Floyd SO much, but having Jaime there to help my body progress and help me know what to do was a world of difference. Much less all the support I was given by Jaime and her team.

I cannot say enough.

I'm so thankful for my healing.

Big shout out to my husband, Trey, for these amazing photos. He's learned well