First up is a birth I hold special to my heart. This momma was amazing. Her birth was beautiful and her words make you really feel like you were there. I am so happy I got to be her doula. She will be a life long friend.
A month ago our sweet baby was born. Being a mother is the best and hardest thing I have ever done. I started writing this so many times and Rey will wake up or I will fall asleep. Haha. But I am so happy to share this. It very long, but I didn’t want to leave anything out! 
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When I found out I was pregnant. I knew I wanted to have an unmedicated birth, for a lot of reasons. I tried to stay open minded about the whole process. My husband and I took a birthing class together. Lauralyn Curtis class, Curtis Method. She is truly an amazing teacher and person. No matter what kind of birth you are wanting or planning her class is worth EVERY PENNY!
Anyway, here is what I remember about Rey’s birthday:
On Friday September 9th I was 41 weeks pregnant, because I was past my “due date” my doctor wanted to do a non stress test. I took the day off of work. I slept in. Cleaned the house. Then went and ate lunch with my mom. My mom came to the Non stress test at the hospital. They checked fluid level, which was good. Then they started the non stress test and baby was not reacting like they wanted her to. They told me the best option would to be induced. I was texting my doula and was so thankful that she responded back so quickly and was keeping me calm about the whole process. David (my husband) was at work. I tried texting him, no answer, so then I just started calling him again and again. I was emotional and overwhelmed to say the least. My mom was there and I was so grateful for that. I finally got ahold of my husband, David. I was relieved just hearing his voice. I updated him and told him they were inducing me and he needed to hurry home from work. He was in Lehi and headed home right then. I ran home and got my stuff. David and my dad gave me a priesthood blessing and I felt a lot calmer about things. I just could not believe it was all happening.
We got to labor and delivery around 4:30PM. They had me do a bunch of paperwork. We hung out and waited. Then we got brought back to a room and I changed into my birthing gown. I was 3 cm dilated and 60% effaced. So thankful I had a good starting dilation.
My doctor (Dr. Julie Grover) came in, she is amazing!! I was relieved to see her. She talked to me about a few things and then told me she thought Pitocin was the best option to get things started. They started Pit around 6:30PM. David and I turned on the TV. I got bored of that quickly. We started playing card games. The time was flying by. I was not feeling any discomfort and every now and again would feel some slight tightening.
My doctor came back in and checked on me. She then decided to break my water and turn up Pitocin to really get things going. I did not want my water broken. My doctor was so sweet and explained all my options. I had a lot of reassurance. David and I went ahead and had her break my water and up the Pitocin. Having my water broken was a CRAZY feeling. People are not kidding when they say it just comes and comes. You think it has all come out and then BAM, more fluid everywhere. Then I was start laughing and more would come out and then I would laugh harder and more would come out. Anyway you get the point. Haha! That was super entertaining.
We were playing Uno. My waves were getting more intense. They seemed really close together. I sat down on my birthing ball. I tried to rock on my ball and hated it. (I was really surprised because all my meditation during my pregnancy had been done on my ball.) David sisters were bringing him food. I didn’t realize my waves were going to get this intense this fast. So right when I was done with a wave I told him to RUN and get his food. He left quickly. Another waves came way fast. I leaned forward to hold on to the table and knocked all the Uno cards onto the floor. I remembering feeling like I was being very dramatic and wanted to clean up all the Uno cards before he came back with his food. I tried and was feeling very uncomfortable leaning forward. David came back and I wanted off my birthing ball. He helped me back to the bed.
I just wanted to lie down. I moved the bed up so I was sort of in more of an upright position. I put in my headphones to listen to some scripts from a Hypnobirthing class that I took. I got wireless headphone to use during labor. I maybe had them in for a total of one minute. Then I ripped them out and told my husband that I hated them. They were irritating the back of my neck. I am not even sure what else, but I just knew I did not like them. I also realized I did not like being in a upright position on the bed. My husband helped me to the edge of the bed.
The edge was much better. But I still was not getting any breaks between waves. I called my nurse in and ask for my Pitocin to be turned down. She agreed it could be turned down a little. My waves still felt strong and too close together. I sat on the side of the bed leaning over David. I remember at this point telling David our Doula, Meagan Heaton, needed to get here and she needed to get here NOW.
I remember being very vocal and trying to move my hips. I was leaning over David and saying Relax, Relax out loud. I was getting really sleepy, but when I leaned back or laid down the discomfort was too intense.
Meagan got there and I was SO thankful. My waves were still back-to-back, I really felt like I was not getting any breaks. Meagan helped me lay on my side with peanut ball in between my legs. That was HEAVEN. I was so happy to be lying down (which surprised me a lot). She got some essential oils and would run the bottle under my nose. I think it might have been lemon or orange. I don’t remember what but it helped me feel a lot more energetic. I was lying on my side and getting more rest and I still felt like my waves were on top of each other. David and Meagan agreed and they asked the nurse to come in. I asked her to turn down my Pitocin again. She agreed and turned down a little more.
I did much better with it turned down. I remember going with the rhythm of the waves. My doula kept telling me to imagine my cervix opening like butter (which helped me so much). My husband kept reminding me what a good job I was doing. It was beautiful. It helped so much to have people talking to me, encouraging me.
Occasionally, more often then I would have liked, a nurse would come in and fixed them monitors. Ugh, I was way annoyed by them. Honestly when they told me I had to get Pitocin I was not worried so much about the drug, as much as I was worried about not being able to move around. Anyway since I kept changing positions I was knocking the monitors off. They kept needing to fix them. The nurse suggested they do an internal monitor to watch baby’s heart beat. I just wanted them to leave, so I remember telling them to go for it. I had to lean back to get it. Super uncomfortable, but luckily it was pretty quick.
At one point I felt like I had to push. A wave of excitement came; I knew I was almost going to meet my sweet baby girl. A nurse came in and checked my cervix it was only to 8cm. My heart sunk for a second. Then my doula said, “ Wow! 100% effaced and +2 almost +3 station. She is SO low. You are SO close”. I felt relieved and tried to get back in the zone and focus on my body, not my dilation. Meagan had me take deep breaths and do “horse lips”. It was hard. I kept grunting loudly, haha. I seriously could not help it. I had a severe urge to push. I was sitting on the edge of the bed again at this point. My husband sat in front of me. I leaned over him. Although the waves were intense and it was hard for me not to push, it was beautiful. I felt so close to my baby, so close to my husband and so much peace. I went with my body. Rocking, moaning and relaxing as much as I could.
Before I knew it my doctor came in. She checked me and I was fully dilated and effaced. YES!!!!!! She told me to follow my body and push when I felt ready. AHHH!!! Yes, I was thrilled to “let it all out”. I seriously could not believe I was fully dilated. I remember feeling relieved. With the next wave, I pushed. It was so nice to go with my body. After breathing and pushing for a while I was starting to feel the baby move down even more. I remember talking to her. Telling her out loud that I would miss her inside, but it was safe and time to come out. And how excited I was to meet her. David was sitting behind me. After each wave I was able to lean back on him. Once again felt so close to baby and to David. It was a beautiful moment, to say the least!
While I was pushing Meagan suggested that we turn on some Hypnobirthing scripts. I was SO happy she suggested that. Everyone the room could hear them, which when prepping for labor I thought would be weird. But I ended up loving it. It helped me stay focus, calm and seriously so relaxed.
During this point I hated the smell of everything! I felt so sticky, wet and could smell an awful smell. I remember trying to stay focused but I could not because it smelt SO bad. (Hey, just being honest) I said something about it. My doula was awesome to encourage me that theses were normal smells for delivery. She kept saying that they affect no one else in the room. She was probably lying, Haha, but helped me at the time. I was still bugged so David got some essential oils for me to smell. That was awesome to have.
After a while of pushing on the edge of the bed I was feeling a lot of discomfort in my mid/low back. I was grateful for the counter pressure and heat packs! Props to my husband and doula!! Meagan suggested lying on my left side and trying to push. I did not want to move, but I did want to be in another position. Eventually I moved onto my left side again. David was up by my head. It was amazing to have him right there cheering me on.
I could tell she was so close! I was starting to get exhausted. Baby did not like the position I was in; her heart rate was going down. So the nurse moved me to my back. I remember thinking NOOOO not my back. I wanted to be in a different position but I did not want to actually move. Haha. So I stayed there. I was seriously felt like I could not move my body anymore. In that moment I thought trying a new position would throw me and the babies groove off. So I stayed there. I remember thinking, Am I making in progress? How long will I push for? Then my doctor was talking about how much hair she could see. I remember everyone cheering me on even more and me feeling a boast of strength and power. Our sweet baby was almost here. I pushed and pushed. I could feel her moving out then coming back in a little bit. I was getting discouraged again. I remember asking my doula. Am I doing this right? I was trying to breath her out, but felt like I had pushed for a while. Even though this part was tough and exhausting the energy and anticipation in the room was amazing.
I could feel a lot of pressure and stretching. I tried to breath and work with my body. I knew she was almost here. I remember seeing her head come out. I reached down hoping to grab her and pull her to my chest. (I was thrilled to see her) But the rest of her body had to come out. Haha. The doctor told me to hold on. The rest of her body came out easily and smoothly.
Our sweet Rey Elizabeth MaWhinney was born at 4:45AM on September 10th. I grabbed her and put her right on my chest. Her cry was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. It was amazing to hold her in my arms, feel her warmth, and look at her beautiful eyes and touch her chubby cheeks. 8lbs 9oz of heaven!
Then I looked over at my husband and it was the most beautiful feeling. The way he was looking at us. Ahhh. I am crying just thinking about it. I never ever want to forget that moment. It was so spiritual, so peaceful, and so beyond perfect!!!!
My AMAZING sister in law came and filmed at my birth. I am so very thankful she was able to capture such an amazing moment. Hayley Wynnthank you!!!!
AND When you watch the video: I kept saying, “she did such a good job”. What I meant is WE did such a good job. We were an amazing team. Birth was empowering and beyond amazing. I am so thankful for this amazing body God has given me. I am so thankful for Rey for her amazing healthy body. What an honor it is to be her mother!
Thanks for letting me share!
https://vimeo.com/182576817
