Olivia’s Birth Story

As our daughter Olivia approaches her second birthday, I’ve been reflecting on the time we’ve had with her and what a joy it has been to be her mother. I thought, since my last post was all about natural birth in general, it would be a good idea to put out a blog post detailing her specific birth, as something to encourage another mom considering this method of birth and as a sweet keepsake for myself to look back on and remember the experience.

Olivia was due February 18th, but my midwife had told me since my mom delivered me and all my siblings early, it was possible that I could deliver early as well. I made the mistake of assuming that meant I was basically guaranteed to deliver by 39 weeks and when that didn’t happen, I became rather disappointed and the discomforts of that last bit of pregnancy became all the more frustrating. On February 13th, (39 weeks + 2 days) I began having what’s called “false labor” that lasted about two hours. I was having contractions that were more intense than Braxton Hicks, however they ranged anywhere from 2 to 15 minutes apart. I reached out to my doula and midwife and they both gave me some suggestions for things to try to kickstart real labor. Since I was determined to give birth before my due date, I was doing everything possible. I continued having bursts of false labor on and off throughout that week and would feel so excited when contractions would start up and so discouraged and frustrated when they would stop (that may sound crazy, but I was truly so excited to have my baby and was becoming increasingly impatient as I waited to meet her).

Finally, my due date came and I started having contractions that evening that were staying pretty consistently at 9-12 minutes apart. I updated my doula, who suggested trying the miles circuit a second time (a series of stretches and positions to help get baby descended and positioned well for birth), staying hydrated, and getting as much rest as I could. Those contractions ended up slowing down after about 2 hours again, so I assumed it was another case of false labor. I did the miles circuit and was drinking water, but Hunter and I ended up staying up pretty late watching a movie and didn’t go to bed until 12:30 am, which, as you’ll read and find out, was quite the mistake. A mere two hours later, around 2:30 am, I got up to use the bathroom and was having pretty painful contractions. When I came back to bed and laid down, I felt a gush of fluid. My water had broken! I started shaking Hunter to wake him up and when I told him my water had broken he thought I was joking until he realized I, very much, was not.

We started timing my contractions and they were about 2-4 minutes apart and very painful. I updated my doula around 3:00 am and since I was hungry and felt okay enough after a contraction to eat, Hunter made me some peanut butter toast. Around 4:00 am my doula came over and she helped hold me up as my contractions would come and Hunter got things together. She confirmed I was in active labor and shortly after, I decided I wanted to head to the birth center. It was only about a 15 minute drive, but those car contractions were tough. When we got to the birth center, my midwife checked me and told me I was already 5 cm dilated and 90% effaced! I felt so excited, but also shocked at how fast things were moving, since I knew it was typical for a first birth to last a long time. We got a diffuser going in the birth room with some essential oils and my doula skipped my upbeat birth playlist and went straight to the birth playlist I had made filled with relaxing songs and worship music, which was just what I needed in that moment.

I labored leaning on Hunter or my doula for a while and read over some scriptures I had written down to meditate on. At one point I went to the bathroom and passed my mucous plug and, even in my very active-laboring state, couldn’t help but laugh at how gross that was. I then laid on the bed with the peanut ball between my legs to labor some more. I knew I wanted to give birth in the tub that was in the room so I asked when I could get in. My midwife said they usually wait until moms get to at least 7 cm, so I had her check me and I was at 8 cm! The birth assistants started filling the tub and I was excited to have some pain relief, since I’d heard so many moms talk about the water being such a huge help. Now, to be completely honest, I went into it thinking of the tub as my epidural and when I finally sat in the tub, it definitely was not the level of pain relief I was hoping for, but once I got in, my contractions were so painful I knew I wasn’t moving anywhere.

I had some more strong contractions and pretty soon I started feeling the urge to push. I told my midwife what I was feeling and she began getting things ready for the baby. Let me tell you, that urge to push was like nothing I had ever felt before. It was so intense and completely involuntary. Everyone explained to me how to push effectively and I got to work getting her out. My midwife was able to feel her head pretty quickly and she and the assistants kept asking me if I wanted to feel it, but I was in so much pain and couldn’t think about anything other than getting her out as soon as possible. Also, I love the kid, but the idea of that kinda freaked me out. After each push, I kept saying “I can’t do this” and everyone in the room kept telling me “Kaylene you ARE doing it! She’s gonna be here so soon!” I only had to push for 30 minutes, which is really fast, but of course, in the moment, it felt like hours. I’ve heard lots of moms say it feels like the biggest poop of your life, but honestly, I felt like I was trying to push out my intestines. Finally, as she crowned, I felt whats called the “ring of fire”, which in the moment, just felt like burning, but wasn’t this excruciating extra pain like many women had described, it was just another sensation at that point. I felt her head pop out and pushed one last time and felt her body slide out. They immediately placed her on my chest and I cannot put into words the immense amount of relief I felt in that moment. I was absolutely exhausted, but so so happy to finally be holding my baby girl I had prayed for for so long.

Olivia Ruth Pleasant was born February 19, 2024 at 9:14 am after an almost 7 hour labor and she weighed 7 lbs & 3 oz. She was born to the song “Dream a Little Dream of Me” by the Mamas and the Papas, which has become such a special song to our family. My husband held my hand the entire time and we were both so happy to finally have our baby in our arms. After a few minutes, they clamped the cord and they let my husband cut the cord with his own (sharpened and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized) knife, which he was so excited about. Once the cord was cut, they started cleaning things up and getting things ready for her assessment. They handed her to my husband and helped me out of the tub and I climbed onto the bed on all fours to deliver the placenta. Now that felt like the biggest poop of my life! I then laid on the bed and everyone helped clean me up. I had some very minor tearing, none of which required stitches (praise the Lord). While we were doing skin to skin and I was learning how to help her latch properly, my doula ran out and got us breakfast and Hunter fed me the most delicious meal of chicken and waffles I’d ever had.

We chose the name Olivia after the symbolism of the olive branch in Genesis 8. Noah was waiting to find out if the flood waters were receding and the dove he sent out came back with a freshly plucked olive branch. This is how he knew the flood was over. The olive branch symbolized new life. After experiencing a our first miscarriage, we thought Olivia was a perfect way to honor the new life God had blessed us with. Her middle name is Ruth, after my great grandmother and it was also the name of the first book I read when I started studying the Bible on my own as an adult.

Giving birth naturally was truly the hardest thing I have ever done but it was also the most rewarding experience of my life. If you’re considering a natural birth, I pray that this encourages you. I’m sure I’m not the first one to say this, but trust me, if I can do it, you can do it. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having people around you who can properly support you through it. I had prayed the night before her birth and said “God, I’ll take whatever pain I have to, just please let her come soon” and boy did He listen. It was not easy and it was very painful, but I have so much peace knowing I had 0 interventions in her birth and she and I could bond so quickly and easily.

What a joy this has been to look back and see how present God has been through waiting to conceive, finally experiencing pregnancy, and getting to lean on His strength to deliver my baby.