Helena's Birth: A Winnipeg Homebirth Transfer Story

If you work in the birth world at all, you probably know that there's some births that just get you so excited in a way you can't really explain. For me, this was one of those. I met Eduardo and Gabriela on a chilly day, but there was so much warmth in our conversation. New to Winnipeg, they were looking not just for a doula, but to assemble a supportive birth team that would help them achieve the birth they were looking for. Their excitement for their upcoming birth was so contagious!

Gabi was hoping for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) for this birth. She was eager to prepare for and be an active participant in her birth choices. We chatted about midwifery, and thankfully they were able to secure a wonderful Winnipeg midwife who was able to talk them through each step of options.

They decided to plan for a homebirth, and soaked up so much information and trust in birth through our meetings and their own reading and midwife appointments. Finally we were looking at baby girl's expected birth date as it came and went-- she was keeping us on our toes!

Just short of two weeks past her guess date, Gabriela contacted me to let me know things were starting up. Contractions slowly increased over the period of a couple days, and on Monday night it was time for me to join them!

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Around 8:30 that night Gabi decided to be checked and we found she was 5cm dilated-- good progress! She was coping so beautifully with contractions, trusting each one as it came and really doing her best to just roll with each sensation.

Their midwife was a perfect fit for them, and had the perfect balance of being close and supportive, and giving the couple their space. Gabi also had her mom in town to give her comfort during the labour, which was such a great addition.

We had such a calm vibe going, focusing on Gabriela as she moved through contractions, playing music, moving positions and just chatting in between. It was a lovely environment to labour in.

As the evening went on, Gabriela was feeling more pain, and tried the shower, moving around and music for some relief. We considered the position of baby, and the midwife and I helped her into some Spinning Babies positions to see if maybe baby shifting would help a bit. Eduardo was wonderful at constantly being by her side to keep her relaxed and helping with the positions. Watching them together was a truly beautiful sight, so peaceful and connected.

As we neared midnight, another exam told us that while contractions were still coming with intensity, we weren't seeing much progress. Eduardo and Gabriela were able to have a good talk with the midwife and they all decided together that with the slow progress, along with some other symptoms that were starting to be concerning, it was time to move to the hospital.

Being a non-emergent transfer, they were able to slowly gather their things and prepare to make the trip to their new birthing space. It was calm as they spent the last bit of time at home and switched their minds to the new birth story ahead of them. It was such a change from their initial plans, but Gabi flowed through this with just as much grace and strength as before, taking courage and reassurance from her partner and letting herself stay in her baby's story, trusting that this was the right move.

And so in the early hours of the morning, we drove through the quiet streets of Winnipeg and settled in at HSC Women's Hospital. And it shouldn't surprise me, but again, they just took every new experience in stride like it was nothing. After a little while at the hospital, Gabi decided that she was ready for some pain management to be able to try to get some rest. She'd had a long labour already, and we knew there was important work ahead still to be done!

After some sleep and a refresh, everyone was in much better spirits again! Around lunchtime we hear that she's made progress again and is at 8-9cms! Such music to our ears. Through it all, she maintains such a positive attitude, handling contractions like they're nothing and taking strength from Eduardo's constant presence.

And then finally- the magic words! Around 7pm that night, another exam tells us that there's just a tiny lip of cervix left- Gabi can start pushing once she's ready!

With so much strength, Gabi starts some test pushing and right away the nurses tell us they can tell it's effective- she's moving baby! Unfortunately, baby girl also decides she isn't really happy with this sensation. Even though we try different pushing and moving around a bit, every time Gabriela pushes a bit, babe's heartrate looks concerning.

At this point it is decided that the best thing for this baby girl is to come out soon, safely by cesarean birth. Despite her mama being an absolute rock star with all the twists and turns labour gave her, she's letting us know that her birth story now is to join her parents in a cesarean birth. I am so grateful that Gabriela was able to labour on her own terms and work hard to give this babe a great start, and now she's surrounded by amazing medical professionals who will help them meet baby soon!

Thankfully since their baby looked much better once pushing stopped, the family was able to prepare calmly for their new birth. We asked if I would be allowed to join them, and the nurses were unsure. They'd check. Dad was given a pair of scrubs to change in to, and we both went to wait in recovery while they prepared Gabi to meet her baby!

These waits always feel like they last hours, and each time my heart aches for the partner. What in reality spans maybe 15 minutes often feels like you've been left alone for hours, wondering if everything is going ok. Worrying that maybe they've forgotten about you and started. Wishing you could be near to comfort your partner. Seeing the person you love in pain and not being able to take it away is never easy, but being unable to even be near them can be unbearable. This is one of the times as a doula that I often feel I'm needed the most. Birth isn't just about supporting the birthing mother after all- it's about these scary and lonely moments for dad too.

They come to get Eduardo, and as my heart is sinking and I start putting my camera away, the nurse comes rushing down the hall and throws me another pair of scrubs- I'm in! I change faster than I probably ever have in my life, and we join Gabriela to meet their sweet girl!

Days of work, and now it's down to just minutes before they meet that sweet girl! The operating room isn't how they thought they would meet her, but there is so much overwhelming love in here that I know they will carry each other through.

A bit more of a wait, and she is HERE! She's held up for a quick look and then over to be checked out quickly on the warmer. She is perfect!

While they finish up with mom, baby girl- Helena, is wrapped up and brought back over to meet her parents properly. After so much work, it's such a relief to see her perfect little face, and she seems just as eager to say hi. After long birth journeys, it's common for newborns to be pretty sleepy for the first few hours of birth, but Helena was all about taking it all in. So alert and bright eyed, right from the start.

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After another good check over by her midwife, it's time to leave the birthing room and go to recovery. Her midwife is able to be the one to place baby Helena into her mother's arms, and it is perfection. They've worked so hard for this moment.

The next hours fly by as they get time to soak in every precious detail of Helena. A thorough newborn exam, her first breastfeed, and so much cuddling and loving on her. Before I know it, it's time to pack up and let the family settle in for a night of sleep. They've certainly earned it!

Thank you Gabriela and Eduardo, and baby Helena for inviting me into your lives and your birthing space. It was an honour to watch you work so hard together to bring this sweet girl earthside and such a pleasure watching her grow over the past 18 months.

Wnat more information about having doula support or having your birth documented? Visit my Doula or Birth Photography pages to learn more!

Helena's Birth: A Winnipeg Homebirth Transfer Story

Helena's Birth: A Winnipeg Homebirth Transfer Story

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