Rachel’s Home Birth Story
I was pregnant at age 37, ooooh, what does that mean? Not a whole lot, you're just older having a baby and you can find out gender early with genetic testing, which is covered by my insurance, yay!
It was my fourth baby, so needless to say I have been there done that right? Well, it's been almost seven whole years since I have given birth, and it felt like a whole lifetime ago. When I was looking for care, I knew my same interest was little to no intervention as far as labor and delivery. Well, that's when I found Anacortes Midwifery. Miranda Montellano was my initial Midwife and WOW! I have never met someone who was so calming and reassuring for midwives in my experiences. Miranda had such a great point of reference throughout my whole prenatal care. She assisted me with so much more than just my pregnancy, she was a prior U.S. Navy Nurse, which gave me reassurance with my own Naval career while being pregnant. She had an abundance of information and seamlessly streamlined my care so I didn't have to think about it. I honestly didn't feel like I was in the military any more and had so many options.
So, again, Miranda was who I knew I was going to deliver my baby, well, during my pregnancy, the current hospital had a shortage in staff during my due date, and I started to be worried Miranda wouldn't due to me possibly being referred to another hospital. Scary right? Well, yes, I know I could do it with or without her, because again, it was my fourth baby, but I was legitimately worried. As I was reaching my 37 week mark and Miranda was like, "Hey, you meet the requirements for a home birth, you wanna?" My response was in fear of the unknown, like serious fear. What would it be like to do this at home? Safe? Who will be there? What do I have to do? All these questions and fears were running in my head. After I calmed my thoughts, Miranda broke down the experience and explained it would be with her new partner Midwife, Kelly McKittrick. Little did I know after my consultation with Kelly that very week, I was going to go full throttle for this new experience.
Kelly reassured me that I was a perfect candidate for a home birth and had so much patience with all my questions. She included my whole family in the experience and showed my children the science behind birth. She was great with my kiddos, which put me at ease and I knew I was ready and more than prepared for a home birth. I was all ready equipment and supplies-wise because Kelly provided me with a great list of things I would need. So, the day came, well, at least I thought it was. My body went through a false labor, but that didn't stop the whole birth team showing up at my home and taking care of me and my family.
A week later, the day finally came, and Kelly was there from the morning to all the way to the end. Our labor and delivery was roughly eight plus hours from water breaking to pushing out my beautiful baby girl. The day was amazing. I was able to relax in my own home while in all phases of labor. I made a pot roast, let the dogs out, moved freely around, kissed my kiddos and just enjoyed my labor. Once I went into my intense labor, I had my birthing pool nearby(highly recommended). I was amazed how much love and care was given to me. The midwives and assistants let me be my own manager of my labor. Let me tell them when I was ready for every stage.
I was in control of my body, FREE. I never remember feeling that way with my past labors.
Once I was ready to push, I felt the team relax and let me do my thing. Post care was truly phenomenal, I didn't have to lift a finger. They cared for me and my family beyond expectations. I will never forget this beautiful experience and am so grateful to share it with all who want to listen. The Anacortes Midwifery know what they are doing and have a great community to support all women. I will always refer to families that are expecting, especially the military, because we are so used to serving and when you are shown the service from the team here in Anacortes, is breath of fresh air. Forever love them! Thank you.
Brianna’s Hospital Birth Story
No longer a day of mourning.
I always thought, as an only child married to another only child, that we would have only one child together. When I got pregnant right before he deployed, we were all shocked and adjusting to the idea of being a family of four. Even more surprising was when the due date of our unborn baby was sandwiched between two very important dates: the date of my grandmother’s death, and the date of my grandmother’s birth. My grandmother was someone who I grew up with and was very close to. Her death was sudden and tragic and I always heavily mourned the day she passed.
As I went along in my second pregnancy, I measured large. After my first child was born at 38 weeks, I thought there was no way a second pregnancy would make it to the “due date”. I was right; or so I thought. Prodromal labor sent me to the hospital more than one time. After gaining over 50 pounds and being uncomfortable for weeks, I was excited to hopefully welcome this baby sooner than the “full” 40 weeks. Stubbornly, she remained comfy in the womb, waiting for the time to be right. I had been offered membrane sweep and induction, but declined, with my goal to have a second successful medication-free labor and delivery. But boy was I becoming desperate, especially with multiple times where labor seemed imminent, but never came.
Then, on Tuesday, December 18, I awoke at 5:30AM to my first noticeable contraction. It didn’t feel much different than the previous prodromal labor contractions, so I sent my husband to work and he gave me the phone numbers to only be used in an emergency, if it was “actually” go-time. The next hour was much of the same. I woke my 2 year old for daycare and quickly, my contractions intensified. I called the emergency-only work phone numbers and asked for my husband to be sent home, and called my mother in law, waking her from a sleep to take over getting my daughter to daycare. The contractions continued to intensify and by the time my husband and his mother arrived at 7:30AM, I was making a peanut butter sandwich, hunched over with an anxious and silent audience behind me as I breathed through contractions. I finished making my daughter’s lunch and gave her a hug and began the 30-minute trek to the hospital.
Upon arrival, I knew I needed to get in the building right away and declined a wheelchair for fear of being left alone at the car. Every few steps, another contraction. At the registration desk, there were many questions and typing. Continuing to decline a wheelchair, I began making my way down the long hallway to the family birthing center. Every few steps, hunching down to focus on the next contraction. By the end of the hallway, I felt my water break. Finally, making it to the family birthing center, we were let in to find nobody in the hallway ready to help us. Until I squinted to see my midwife, Alicia Darr standing at the other end. She immediately recognized the urgency of the situation and got a nurse to help me. The nurse helped me get undressed while my husband moved the car.
In the bathroom after changing to a hospital gown, the nurse attempted to put monitors on my belly and talked about an IV. Unable to speak, and not wanting any hands anywhere near my contracting belly and my focused mind, I grabbed her hand and tossed it off of me. I may have said some not-nice things as well. She readily found me another nurse.
I remembered from my first birth that being on my knees and laying over a yoga ball was the most comfortable position. The kind hospital staff quickly obtained a mat and a yoga ball, but going through transition was too uncomfortable for a long period of time in one position. Alicia attempted to check my dilation while I stood over the bed, and eventually asked that I lay on my side to get an accurate check. At this point, contractions were nearly constant. The most comfortable place I could think to go was the mat on the floor, and I laid down on my side. I was at 9.5cm dilated. Alicia told me “if you turn over, I can hold the rest back, and she will be here.” I contemplated it for several seconds while I breathed through back to back contractions. Finally, in a moment of a moderately relaxed belly, I turned to my back and said “ok” After two quick pushes, my 10 pound 3 ounce baby was born at 10:03AM; intervention-free, on the floor, on the anniversary of my grandmother’s death.
I no longer mourn my grandmother’s death because I have my daughter to celebrate. And I no longer believe in coincidences. Instead, I thank my grandma for sending me joy in place of sadness. Now, to honor her memory, I celebrate my grandma’s birthday, just two days after my daughter’s.
I’m so grateful for an amazing experience delivering my second daughter with Alicia by my side.
Meaghan's Hospital Births
I am a nurse at WhidbeyHealth in Labor and Delivery. I have wanted a baby as long as I remember. I had a lot of baby dolls growing up. When I witnessed my first birth during my OB rotation in nursing school, I cried. The mother was the strongest person (and absolutely alone from what I can remember) that I had ever seen and it was an absolute privilege to be a part of something so beautiful.
When I was pregnant with my first baby, a boy, I did all of the things. I took a hypnobirthing class. I ate as well as I could, limited my coffee intake (I worked nights, I needed some), slept on my side to promote adequate blood flow to my placenta which was the first home to my baby. My third trimester I was alone, my husband gone for training and I, with the invaluable help of my mom, brother in law and best friend, moved us into a brand new house, just for the new baby. My husband arrived back in town just in time. We were supposed to go in for an induction to insure my husband would be present for the birth but I ended up going into labor at 3 am at 40.1 weeks just hours after he had arrived back. I'll just say - some babies come out the same way they go in. I had back labor and let me tell you, that was rough. I had a fellow co-worker as my doula and my husband and mom and I was surrounded by my incredible team of nursing co-workers and Alicia Darr, my midwife. I labored in the tub, by the bed, needed double hip squeezes from my doula and husband. I had a baby playlist I had made just for the occasion, and a diffuser pumping calming lavender. I ended up getting an epidural which I do not regret in the slightest. My back felt like it was breaking and I knew the hip squeezes would tire out my support people. The epidural felt like coming out of a trance. I felt like I was human again. We laughed and flipped me like a pancake until I was ready to push. It was very busy that day on the unit and Alicia had gone to attend a C-section before I was complete and ready to push. I pushed for maybe 45 minutes, had a 2nd degree tear but then the love of my life, my son, Reilly was born and we both cried as I held him in my arms for the first time (he also pooped on me which I just laughed at).
My second pregnancy and birth seemed to blur as I'm sure is normal when you're also chasing around a toddler. We had a few little scary moments - a couple falls and a Valentine's mexican dinner gone wrong - stay away from beans when your military spouse is gone....needless to say I was on the toilet with my toddler giggling and running around as I was actively sick both ways. We were expecting a baby girl this time around which was a total shock to me. I, again, started to labor around 3am when I was 39.3 weeks, just a week after my son's birthday. It's funny because I had just been chasing my toddler at the farm stand the day before and then that day was his 2 year Pediatrician appointment. I was adamant about going to that appointment. So, I was contracting and laboring at the office - I figured it was just as good a place as any being filled with doctors and staff that could resuscitate my baby in the off chance that was needed. We eventually made our way into the hospital and I again labored in the tub and by the side of the bed- no back labor but intense low in my pelvis and again ended up getting an epidural. This time I was able to do hands and knees after getting relief from the epidural, started feeling pressure and the urge to push and I was complete and ready to push. I pushed for about 15 minutes this time, no tearing and met my beautiful daughter, Grace. She is amazing and was half a pound bigger than my son was when he was born. She is amazing and I am just completely in love with both of my children.
I cannot explain how thankful I am for everything Alicia has done for my family. Two beautiful, safe and lovely deliveries for my babies. I will always be grateful for her and her care. So, if anyone reads this, know that you will receive the absolute most compassionate care if Alicia Darr is your provider. And if you deliver at WhidbeyHealth in Coupeville, you will be cared for like you are one of our own.
Courtney’s Hospital Birth Story
My first son was born prematurely at 33 weeks and my entire experience with his birth was so radically different than the unmedicated childbirth I had been hoping for, I really wanted to try and reclaim my vision of what childbirth could be like for my second baby. A Doula friend told me about Anacortes Midwifery and encouraged me to reach out because she had heard so many great things about Miranda and because there is no hospital on the island where I live having a home birth was not an option.
The care Miranda and Kelly provided to me prenatal, postnatal and during the birth of my second son, was exactly what I had been hoping to find in the midwifery care model. Both women are warm, charming, kind and very confident female personalities… everything you want in a midwife and my first impression of both of them was the same… These are the ladies I want on my team, advocating for me and bringing my baby safely into this world.
My second son was born very quickly, much much faster than I ever thought possible. The birth was WILD and like a freight train and while I had no way of knowing that I would be holding my baby in a very short period of time, Miranda took the reins and guided me through it all. I was able to have a birth without pain meds, no complications to my body and a perfect, beautiful healthy baby boy born on Valentines Day. There is nothing more I could have asked for, and I am SO grateful to Miranda and Kelly for giving me the birth experience I knew my body was capable of and bringing my beautiful baby into the world with such expertise and grace while in a hospital setting.