Jennifer had the desire and dream to have a home birth. She was prepared for 10 months to do so. 40 weeks and 5 days, with no real signs of labor, a few real contractions here and there, but never consistent. A few days she said she had contractions 5 to 3 minutes apart for an hour to two and they would stop. She had felt the strongest, and healthiest version of herself out of 7 pregnancies, being 36 years old.

Jennifer recalls that she woke up early in the morning, took the children to breakfast and then to their activities. She went to Bangor to get some school supplies and noticed it was a little hard to get out of the car, and she had some pressure. But this being her 7th baby she expected to be worn out at 40+weeks. Jennifer picked up her kids in the afternoon and she went on with her evening. As 7pm came along, she felt some pressure when she stood up and when she sat, she said it hurt. She made the call to her Midwife and was told to check in with her again in 45 minutes. When Jennifer felt things progress rather rapidly, she reached out to her friend and told her she needed her. Her friend knew instantly as their prior conversations were never very serious.

Jennifer had a planned home birth. She texted me “Labor” at 7:27PM. I knew that meant it was already intense for her to only be able to send me that one word. As I headed to her house, she texted me that she was going to the hospital as the midwife wasn’t going to make it in time, she knew that risk when she hired her. By 730pm Jennifer told the midwife her contractions went rapidly from 3 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute to 1.5 minutes. Then to 2 minutes. She told her friend she knew she would not make her midwife getting there, nor the birth tub. Jennifer said it was intense to call ambulance. She recalls there was a point minutes later her body was pushing. By the time she got to the ambulance and started down the road, the baby was pushing herself out, but Jennifer kept on her side as she didn’t want to deliver in an ambulance. Jennifer felt her water rupture, and gush with each push from the baby, not her.

I got to the hospital 6 minutes before the ambulance did. I greeted them at the emergency department doors. I was ordered to wait down the hallway as they transferred momma off the stretcher onto the bed. I still hung out near the door, even as the doctor repeatedly told me to go down the hallway. The doctor told Jennifer they needed to check her cervix. She shut the door in my face. I could still hear what was going on though. I heard the doctor say, okay you’re having your baby time to push. I spoke loudly into the door and said, “Um, hey Jen, did you want me to come in??” She immediately said YES COME IN! I almost was not allowed in the room! From arrival to delivery was 13 minutes. The doctor said, feel your babies head, and then she was here at 8:33PM. The doctor almost immediately cut the cord, and momma looked at me and said I can delay it right? I replied, yes of course!! The midwife was on the phone for most of it and arrived shortly after. The placenta was born 5 minutes later. The doctor told momma she needed to stay the night if she was smart. Momma only wanted to go home, her entire plan was to be home, so she told the doctor she was going home. 4 hours and she was released around midnight. Mom and baby are perfect!!! 8lbs 4 oz 21in long. 3 hours of labor, ALL natural! Baby girl! I even got to drive home and pick up her outfit and car seat AND drive momma and baby home! It was so fast and amazing to witness and document and be part of this birth story.

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