A Magnolia Birth Story

By Magnolia Birth House Client, Annik Babinski

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I was going to my gynecologist’s office and saw a nurse practitioner. I learned that she wouldn’t be able to attend my birth, so any one of four doctors I had never met could be at the hospital when I went into labor.

I’m from Canada, and there are often midwives in hospitals there. I was interested in a birth center and curious about the midwifery option, too. When I Googled birth centers around me, Magnolia came up, so I set up a tour with Tamara. I also had a friend who had a doula through The Gathering Place. I knew I wanted a doula, too, so I scheduled a doula interview.

When my husband and I went to visit Magnolia, he was worried about safety and if we needed to transfer to the hospital. He was skeptical going in but supportive coming out. Tamara put all of those worries to rest. Until about 22 weeks, I had been receiving care with a hospital-based practice. I transferred my prenatal care to Magnolia, and we started taking courses about out-of-hospital birth. I knew the benefits of unmedicated birth and wanted to learn more about avoiding the cascade of interventions.

Laboring at Home

My due date of January 8, 2020, passed, and I was trying to do everything I could to bring on labor. I was using evening primrose oil, going to acupuncture, and focusing on staying active by walking about three miles a day. I also had a lot of swelling and was using compression socks. My husband and I went to see a bunch of movies to pass the time. My mom came to visit, and we showed her around. It was nice to have her situated so she could help us after the baby was born.

On January 14, I had an appointment with my midwife, DellaReece, and she did a membrane sweep. I knew it would hurt, but I was shocked by the pain. I got scared and thought, “If that just hurt that much, what am I in for?”

I went home and had some bleeding throughout the day after the membrane sweep. I don’t recall much from the rest of the day, but I woke up during the night, feeling contractions. The next morning around 5 a.m., I remembered that I had scheduled lunch with a friend for the 15th. I texted her and let her know that I needed to cancel.

I knew I wanted to stay home as long as I could during labor. I was calm and resting, trying to preserve my energy. I initiated contact with DellaReece and my doula, Na’imah, and they asked that I time the contractions as they were happening. I ate breakfast, and I threw up twice that morning.

To cope with labor, I used the shower, and I preferred dim lighting. My husband was giving me water and coconut water and massaging me, but after a while, I didn’t want him to touch me anymore. I leaned against the bed, tensing against the contractions.

When we realized that the contractions were four minutes apart, we decided it was time to go to Magnolia. Without traffic, it’s a 30-minute drive. This was a Wednesday at noon, so with traffic, it took about an hour to get there. I was in the back seat, and the baby’s car seat was beside me. We were stuck in traffic, and I was yelling. It was a rough ride. My husband’s nerves were shot already when we got to Magnolia.

Continuing Labor and Learning How to Push

When we arrived, we went to the birthing room with a bathroom and a shower. I was five centimeters dilated. My water still hadn’t broken. DellaReece had been tracking my blood pressure throughout my pregnancy. It was high after the car ride, so Na’imah helped me relax. I had some Calm Tea, she directed me to relax my face, and she coached me in surrendering to the contractions. I would literally say “surrender” through the surge, and I was able to stay loose through it. I was surprised that this was what helped me. It was not what I’d planned. I had practiced Hypnobirthing techniques in pregnancy, but it didn’t even occur to me to use those tools once labor started. 

I didn’t know it at the time, but my baby was posterior. Although I didn’t have a lot of back labor, the contractions were incredibly intense. I leaned against the bed and lay on the bed with the peanut ball between my legs. Neither of those positions worked for me. I knelt in the shower until I got tired of holding myself up. Na’imah moved me to the toilet, hoping the angle would encourage my water to break. The intensity was increasing. I lost track of time and needed someone to stay with me as the contractions rolled through me. I remember when I told Na’imah I was uncomfortable, she told me the time for comfort was past. And this soothed me, because I knew things were progressing as they should.

My contractions got very intense. They crashed over me every minute. The only way I found comfort was standing up holding on to my husband’s neck and leaning back into a squat position. I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore. I told Na’imah, “I’m scared,” and she asked why. I said, “I feel like I’m going to die. I need a break.” I don’t remember what she told me, but simply acknowledging my fear helped me continue. 

My baby must have heard me, because I got the break I needed. Labor slowed and I rested. I couldn’t feel my hunger, but my doula convinced me to eat a few almonds and dates for strength. I drank a few sips of coconut water from a small silver cup.

I don’t remember how it started again, but as I was standing, leaning against my husband, my water broke. I began to feel the need to push.

My midwife helped me get onto the bed where I lay on my back and she and the assistant supported my legs. Although it was still very painful, I felt relief. Pushing felt different than the rest of labor, and after 16 hours, I needed a change.  

They had to teach me how to push because I didn’t know what I was doing. I was screaming when the urge to push overcame me, and they taught me how to push that energy down to move the baby.

I pushed for two hours. Thinking back on it, I remember the people in the room, and flashes of their expressions as I pushed and rested between contractions. After laboring so intensely, it was difficult for me to connect with my body and direct the contractions to help the baby out. 

Na’imah was behind me, speaking to me and soothing me. I remember at one point she retied my ponytail. The action of her pulling my hair back felt incredibly loving and provided me with great comfort. I’ll never forget it.  

As they began to see the baby’s head, they asked if I wanted to see her head with a mirror. I asked if she was OK, and they assured me everything was fine. I didn’t want to look at her because I was worried I’d lose my focus if I saw her. I wanted her out in the world before I relaxed, so I could hold her. 

Giving Birth and Meeting My Daughter

After 18 hours of labor, our daughter was born at 8:05 p.m. January 15, 2020, weighing 7 pounds, 8.5 ounces, and measuring 20 inches long. She came out with a really short cord, so DellaReece put the baby on my belly. After the placenta came out, she moved the baby up to my breast.

Our baby came out alert and curious. She wasn’t crying, but she was looking around and taking everything in. (And she’s still that way.) My husband tells me I kept saying, “My baby, my baby,” after she came out. I barely remember right after she was born. I was really exhausted and in shock, I think.  She didn’t breastfeed at first, but she rested with me. The cord was short, so they moved the placenta to the crook of my arm while the cord finished pulsating.

As I emerged from my state of shock, I felt slightly embarrassed. I had been yelling and screaming for hours, and I worried that this wasn’t normal. The midwife assistant assured me this was normal and that I shouldn’t worry.  

We stayed at the birth center for about four hours. My husband had made me Irish stew after the birth, but it tasted very salty to me because there was nothing in my system. Luckily, we’d packed a huge bag of snacks and I dug in. They weighed the baby, and we dressed her. We realized the clothes we brought for the baby to wear home were for three-month-olds, and she swam in them. 

We packed our tiny, new baby into the car and drove home at midnight. The streets were empty, and we got home quickly. My husband, who had been calm and supportive the entire labor, let his emotions flow once we got in the car. Observing the power of my labor and our daughter’s birth was transformative for him. He marveled at my strength and our beautiful baby.

When we got home, my mom had to come out to get the baby carrier from the car. My husband had thrown out his back helping me as I pulled against his neck in labor. I sat on the couch with my mom and breastfed the baby. My husband and I watched her closely all night and didn’t sleep at all. For the next few weeks, we stayed very close to home. We enjoyed our baby and wandered sleeplessly through our new world.

Reflecting on My Birth Experience at Magnolia 

At Magnolia, I didn’t feel rushed or scrutinized. I loved the home-like environment, and I felt safe. Miami has one of the highest C-section rates in the country, and I wanted to avoid a C-section. I was grateful I was able to stay healthy throughout my pregnancy with their guidance and get through labor and delivery without any complications. I credit their approach with my avoidance of the cycle of interventions that often happen in a hospital setting.

I was so happy to have a doula. She was with us and guided us the whole time. I don’t know what people do without a doula. She helped me accept what I was going through during labor. 

I also credit Magnolia for helping us establish our breastfeeding relationship. I’ve had great success with breastfeeding, and a lot of that has to do with her beginning and how we got on this path. Magnolia is a big part of that. From the prenatal courses they offered to their emphasis on that golden hour of bonding to the postpartum home visits, they helped get us breastfeeding and stay the course.

During the postpartum period, it was wonderful to have the first two visits at home. I still had high blood pressure following the birth, but DellaReece was really reassuring. I was going up and down stairs, and she reminded me that I shouldn’t be moving that much. I had to let myself rest and recover and allow my husband and my mom to take care of me. They were very attentive and kind.

I was very happy with the birth. I felt empowered by the team and proud of myself. I feel lucky to have had the experience I did. I feel like her birth and early days were a gift I was able to give my daughter. 

Inspired by Annik’s birth story and expecting? We’d love to chat with you! Please click below to book a free consultation with us.