Home birth after Cesarean during a hurricane in Wake Forest, NC

100 word backstory… My 2nd pregnancy was a planned homebirth, turned cesarean due to breech presentation. I knew if we wanted a 3rd we would have to advocate for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and that HBAC wasn’t something too popular in the area due to lack of attending midwives (legality). Interviewed a couple midwives, but chose one with a supporting physician. Had a great pregnancy up until the last month, where our water heater burst, rendering our home uninhabitable. Displaced for a month, we moved back into our home on our due date, just in time to start prepping for a Homebirth!

new family of five holding baby girl wrapped in a blanket

There is no way for me to describe the feeling you get when you are 36 weeks pregnant and your house floods due to a water tank (on the third floor). The water leaked through the third floor, right through our brand new upholstered bed and mattress in the Master, ultimately raining in my kitchen. My mom, who thankfully went to our home while we were away at the beach to check on something, used the word ‘raining’. Let that sink in just a minute, then imagine (after being displaced for over a month), you move back into your home to not only reorganize and prepare for baby but to ensure you are prepared for an impending hurricane. I was the only pregnant lady striving to stay pregnant until BEYOND my due date. Leaving my midwives office each week I would say, “See you next week and not a day sooner!”

We were days away from Hurricane Florence’s landfall. Raleigh residents were panicked, I even let my husband buy MREs (you’re welcome), and we had so many flashlights that we could illuminate a baseball field. Messages in all forms were flooding my inbox asking if we were evacuating, sending ‘stay safe’ words of encouragement. I had just battled the hardest month of my life, a hurricane was not about to be the ONE thing keeping me from welcoming my baby at home. That week during my midwife appointment I asked them if loss of electricity would keep me from having a baby at home. I was reassured that even without power, we could still have a safe and beautiful homebirth. A sigh of relief consumed me. Words I felt in my heart, but needed to hear spoken allowed. The next few days I kept repeating to myself that everything was fine, ‘its fine’ I would jokingly chant to my family and friends.

My mom stayed with us that Friday night, Florence was expected to hit Raleigh Saturday Morning and in case baby decided to come that day, we thought it was best she hang at the house with us. That evening, my sister came over and the three of us watched a movie. I laid on the couch, and throughout the entire movie I was having contractions. Checking my phone each time, they were about 10 minutes apart. With the bariatric pressure change, I figured it wasn’t real, and it would slow down as the night progressed. But at around midnight I did text my husband (who was just in the other room playing an online D&D game with some friends) to not stay up too late because I may be in labor. Before I laid down for bed around 1 am, I texted Anna, my doula, that I was having contractions 7-8 minutes apart but I noted that it still could just be a false alarm. Regrettably, I didn’t let any of the others know that this could be it. Looking back, I probably should have messaged warning texts to the whole team but I wasn’t convinced this was going to stick.

collage of three birth images, black and white of mom laboring on ball with doula in front, color image of contraction of husband applying heat to moms back, large image of birthing tub filling in front of fire place

After laying down in bed for about an hour, I realized I was not going to get comfortable or fall asleep. Contraction timer apps are not scarce so I had a free one I downloaded earlier and they were staying consistent, and they were getting more frequent. Joe verbally expressed his thoughts that they were getting closer together. He was ready to call everyone in but I talked him out of it, assuring him that it was way too early and we had hours to go. Pretty sure I was in denial that this was going to move quickly. My biggest mistake was thinking that I could still talk through the contractions even though I wasn’t and didn’t want to. Around 4am I was on the toilet and had a really strong contraction. Joe made the call to start the process of getting everyone to our house. He called our Midwife, Anna, Photographer and then woke up my mom. Joe was like a little worker bee, in between contractions he was blowing up the pool, placing the liner, bringing me water, delegating jobs, and during the contractions he was racing to my side to talk me through them, or hold my hand. My mom called my sister who only lives half a mile away and she was the first to arrive. She took over as my support so that Joe could work to get the tub ready.

The contractions were all in my back again; 3 for 3. It was easy to feel overwhelmed because they were taking over my body at such a quick pace. So many of my clients have felt this; fast labors. Usually I am the once racing to births. Being the receiver was so different. My team was headed to me and I was anxiously waiting their arrival. Channeling my experiences as a birth photographer, I kept reminding myself that I was fine, I was safe, this was normal.

Anna was the next to arrive around 5am. Joe has said that as soon as she arrived, he immediately felt better; ‘an adult had arrived!’ he clarified and he could relax a little. I was on the ball by this point and she knelt down in front of me and placed a hand on my shoulder. My eyes locked into her and I am pretty sure I mentioned that this was moving quick! She laughed her Anna giggle and agreed. In past labors, whoever is sitting within view is who I stare piercingly at during every contraction. Somehow, I never mentioned this to Anna, but she went with it and met my eyes with reassurance and support.

The realization that I took too long to call my team was definitely sinking in. Naturally, my priorities are backwards and photos were in the forefront so I had Ashley run down to grab my camera. In between contractions I calibrated the settings and handed the camera over to my sister.

three image collage of midwife listening to heart tones, mom leaning over a pillow, hands and knees birth position, supported by doula and husband, child observing

Fire raged in my back, this baby couldn’t possibly be posterior! My midwives always said the baby was laying LOA. Before getting onto hands and knees to try and relieve some of the pain, I switched into my bralette. One of the things I talk about with my clients is ‘What to Wear’ during your birth. It may seam trivial, but I had this perfect top I found that I had to put on (glad I did in the end). At this point the tub was still only partially filled with water. Joe was trying feverishly to get it ready, he knew how much I desired a waterbirth. Shoot, we even had the teal tub from my midwife; it was my color! I had the room all ready to welcome my little mermaid baby. No matter how hard he tried, there was no way it would be ready in time. On hands and knees, nothing was easing the labor pains in my back. Our midwife assistant arrived next, probably around 5:30. The sound of her voice was absolute perfection. She said she was going to do heart tones, vitals and ask a few intake questions real quick. In between contractions I was able to answer two questions and then in that moment my water broke at the start of the next contraction. I see this in so many of my clients but my eyes were full of panic. I wasn’t sure how my body was going to labor being that I was a VBAC, and my last vaginal birth was 7.5 years prior. Not sure why I ever questioned it, but my body immediately started pushing. I couldn’t stop it. It was the most unbelievable feeling. After that first push, I looked up at my mom and said, you need to go get the boys NOW!

diptych laboring images of older kids sleepy eyed waiting on baby to arrive, black and white birth image of mom on hands and knees with doula and husband grasping her arm

They boys wanted to be there for the birth. I knew this, and I too wanted them there. Having been to many homebirths where older siblings are present, I knew they needed a little lead-time to wake up. I have seen so many kids woken from a dead sleep just as mom is crowning. Then they are still asleep and disoriented and often don’t remember the birth of their sibling. My kids in particular, are super grumpy when you wake them so I knew there needed to be time in between for them to acclimate to the birth space. The fact that I had the wherewithal to think of this still amazes me. My mom and sister each took a boy and they came into the room as they slowly woke up.

doula gently placing hair behind birthing persons ear laboring on hands and knees hanna hill photography

intense contraction comes over mom on hands and knees clutching a pillow during homebirth VBAC raleigh north carolina hanna hill photography

My midwife and photographer arrived somewhere during the frenzy – I am pretty sure they got there around 5:35. There was a flurry of movement all around me, but Anna and my Sister were right in front of me and that was all I could focus on. I could feel the baby moving down. Each push I felt decent. Incredible. My legs and arms were getting so shaky; I had to roll over onto my side. Afraid of not having support on my back, Joe somehow maneuvered and had his knee in my back to make things bearable.

My midwife said the baby’s head was right there and asked if I wanted to reach down, and sure enough I was crowning. Knowing how close we were to meeting our baby was all I needed for the final push and the head popped out. Shoulders came out next and reaching down, I hooked my hands under the arms and I pulled the baby out the rest of the way. Feeling the wet, slimy warm baby on my body for the 2nd time in my life. The moment I mourned to have with my second, was so special and the healing experience I needed.

It took every ounce of my self control to not reach down and feel for a penis. We had talked with Michael beforehand and he knew he was going to be the one to announce the sex. He walked around and with the tiniest little voice said… girl! The room erupted. For 10 months I was convinced it was going to be a boy. It was pure shock, the best surprise of my life. A girl, I have a daughter and I am absolutely obsessed with her.

The boys were smitten, they still are. They don’t leave her alone but she takes in all the excitement and really lights up when they are around. For the longest time, I would change her diaper and I would be surprised to not see a penis. She has a bow holder for ALL.HER.BOWS and I am loving every second of having a little girl. She completes our family so perfectly.

Photos courtesy of My sister Ashley and Hanna from Hanna Hill Photography