Some random HBAC in Lakeland....

Last night around 10:30 I was sitting in front of my computer about to watch a movie on Netflix (when I should have been studying for my chemistry exam) and my phone rang. It was a number I didn't know but being a student midwife/doula I've learned to always answer my phone. The woman on the other line starts talking about how she got my number from my friend who goes to FSTM and I immediately got annoyed, "seriously, it's 10pm on a weeknight and a woman is calling me about doula services, how rude." As soon as that thought entered my mind the woman continues by telling me she's a licensed midwife and needs an assistant to meet her at a planned home birth after cesarean (HBAC) in Lakeland. A quick shower and an hour drive later I was at a home birth with a midwife I'd never heard of and a woman I'd never met.

When I got there the mom was already ruptured and upon vaginal exam at midnight she was at 3cm. Around 2am she was 4cm and at 4am she was complete and pushing. The baby was born, in the water, at 4:42am.

The mom had a previous cesarean six years ago because of twins and at 36 weeks this pregnancy her doctor told her she couldn't have a trial of labor and would be required to have another cesarean. The mom knew she didn't want another cesarean and sought out a midwife at 37 weeks and delivered vaginally, at home at 41 weeks and 4 days. Holding her newborn, the mom laughed that she was going to send her OB a picture of the baby to hang on the bulletin board in her office. Good call.

I think it's pretty cool how unique and tight knit the birth community can be. In a few phone calls and you can find a midwife/doula/birth assistant for any birth at any time. How awesome is that?