The Home Birth of Madeleine Martha Hall

In the winter of 1996, my husband and I had been married for about six months but knew it was time to try to become pregnant. I had endometriosis and was advised several years earlier to get pregnant. Of course, without a husband, that was not a possibility. I knew that it might take some time, so we decided to go ahead and try.

One-and-a-half years later my beloved sister, Martha, died of cancer. Now, you may be asking yourself how this devastating event could possibly be part of my birth story! Well, it has everything to do with it. The night my sister died I prayed to the Lord for the first time in several years. I was devastated at the thought o her death which had been five long years in coming with the advent of Hodgkin's disease. It was time for her long suffering to be over and I prayed that the Lord would take her and relieve her of her sick body.

Now, we've all heard the saying that God takes away one life, but gives another. I was about to find out that he would graciously give me a child. As I walked through the parking lot at Loyola Medical Center to go to the car for a jacket, God showed me very clearly in my minds eye the works "GOD WILL GIVE YOU A BABY," as if type written exactly the way you have just seen it. I clung to that for three years and knew that he would be faithful to HIS word.

In February of 2000, after years of prayer, God led us to the Hinsdale Center for Reproduction where it was discovered that I had a hydrosalpinx (a fallopian tube filled with toxic fluid) on my right side. In addition to that, my left ovary was adhered to my left tube ? there was no way before surgery that I could have gotten pregnant. After surgery, a double dose of Chlomid and one attempt at artificial insemination, I became pregnant! It was August 4th, 2000 and it was looking like God's promise to me was going to be fulfilled. I was labeled " high risk" for the first several months of pregnancy, although everything went beautifully. Other than being quite sick for three months, everything was great.

We had discussed home birth with our doctor at the Reproductin Center ? "Oh, no ? I wouldn't do that! It's too risky," he said. He felt that way because it had taken me so long to get pregnant in the first place. Although I had always thought I wanted to have my baby at home and in a birthing pool, we dismissed the idea and began seeing a regular OB/gynecologist and decided to have the baby in the hospital.

Throughout those two months, I felt uncomfortable about it. I had begun reading about birth and was afraid of several things in relationship to having my baby in the hospital:

#1 ? The car ride! I couldn't imagine getting into a car while having contractions.

#2 ? what if the doctor intervened unnecessarily and made a decision that was not necessarily the best thing for my baby and I?

#3 ? Will they let me eat and drink during labor? I had heard that they would not.

#4 ? What about all those hospital germs? Is it really a safe place for my baby and I?

#5 - Will they actually respect my wishes in the hospital in terms of what I want or don't want to happen? Will I have the courage and/or presence of mind to make requests? I knew I didn't want drugs either for myself or for the baby. I wanted my baby to be healthy and alert at this precious time and I wanted the same for myself.

#6 - Would they take my baby away from me right away, or would I be allowed to hold my long awaited gift in my arms from that very moment she emerged and came into the world?

#7 - Would they perform an episiotomy unnecessarily?

The next series of events were, again, the result o our prayers. One of my student's mothers (who also happens to be the daughter of the pastor of out church) had told me that she was a doula and would be happy to come and talk to us about what that meant. My husband and I had her over for tea at which point she mentioned home birth as an option. She also told us about Homefirst. To make a long story short it was because of tis visit that we changed gears in mid-stream. It was a difficult decision, but one of the best ones we've ever made!

Everything was set. God had led us right up to the moment of birth, and Homefirst was proving to be an enormous part of that blessing. They were wonderful, friendly and accomodating all the way through those long winter months. Though I had not met all of the doctors, I was very impressed with the ones I had met. I had been seeing mostly midwives since January and was hoping that one of them could be there.

My due date of April 27th came and went. My doula, a very special lady named Holly, was in England until the first week of May. With the obvious exception of my husband and myself, I had no idea who would be at the birth. I prayed through those last weeks for the Lord to send the right people to my daughter's birth. Now it was just a matter of patiently waiting for God to send my baby girl into the world.

I began having contractions on May 6th, nine days past my due date. Already, I was very glad to be with Homefirst, for had I been with an OB/GYN I would have been induced and the beautiful birth which followed over the next two days would not have happened the way it did.

Well, my husband and I were about to find out just how wonderful and what a luxury home birth could be. When I felt contractions happening, the nurse appeared on our doorstep within an hour and stayed for at least that long! This happened several times during labor because it was very long and drawn out. What incredible service! I didn't have to go anywhere, either to be sent home again or unnecessarily induced.

The contractions had begun Sunday evening around 7 p.m. and continued somewhat sporadically until around 10 p.m. During that time I played backgammon with a friend and burned clary sage candles. My kitchen table was graced with beautiful spring flowers. The scene was set for the arrival of my long awaited gift.

At 9:50 p.m., Sunday, Amelia arrived. She is a nurse who has a wonderful, calm demeanor and made me fell very comfortable. After an examination, she found my cervix to be 1-2cm dialated and 50% effaced. The baby was still floating. In comparison to a previous exam, there was little if any change. Amelia suggested I get a good night sleep.

Monday, May 7th: overnight, the contractions stopped, but began again as soon as I awakened. They were definitely stronger than before. At 11:45 a.m. Barb, another nurse from Homefirst, came to check on my progress. My cervix was still only 1 cm dialated but was 80% effaced. I had an appointment in Rolling Meadows at noon, which Barb suggested I keep. so off we went to Homefirst.

The contractions continued to increase in strength. Amelia put me on the monitor for a non-stress test. The baby was doing very well, so they sent me home and arranged for a nurse to come to my home that afternoon. In the meantime, Holly, Drostan and I went to lunch. I have no doubt that Corner Bakery food far surpasses that of any hospital! How nice it was to be able eat when and where I wished!

At 4:30 p.m., Karen arrived. I'll never forget her overalls, denim with big, bright sunflowers on them! They matched her cheery personality. I was very glad to meet her, for she had rented the birthing pool to us and I felt a warm spirit exude from her over the phone.

The next 5 1/2 hours were spent eating a meal cooked by my husband, watching a movie, and contracting! The baby had finally reached station. There was finally progress! Karen suggested I get some sleep, so, after a long and wonderful massage from Holly, I put my head down to sleep.

Minutes later, my water broke. It was 10:07 p.m. and contractions became 2-3 minutes apart and were regular. I now knew that this was it. The baby was coming!

Karen came up to examine me and found that I had progressed quite a bit. My cervix was still only 1cm dialated, but it had softened quite a bit. While cleaning up the water, Holly and Karen noticed there was a bit of meconium in the water. For this reason I would not be able to give birth in the pool because the doctor would need to suction the baby as soon as she was born. However, I was free to labor in it. And so I did. I was ready to "hop" in!

Over the next 6 hours, that pool, my husband, Holly and the nurses were incredibly comforting to me. I had labored both in and out of the pool and, as far as easing discomfort, the pool was incredible! It does not take away the pain, but it gives you a weightlessness that eases it considerably. I was very glad to have it and would certainly have it again.

Between 10:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. I went from 1 - 10 cm dialated and was fullt effaced. I began pushing at 2:30 a.m. Holly and my husband were incredible. They held my hand and encouraged me when I thought I couldn't take another contraction. The nurses were great! By this time Amelia had arrived and they prepared everything for the birth. Dr. Schattauer was on his way. God had sent all the right people to my daughter's birth. His perfect plan was unfolding before our eyes.

At about 3:50 a.m. my husband joined me in the pool. It was such a comfort to have his strong frame behind me while I pushed. How incredible it was that we would bring this baby into the world together! At 4:15 a.m. Dr. Schattauer had arrived and told me I was ready to get out of the pool and have the baby. My husband sat behind me on our sofa bed in our living room. At 4:25 a.m., Tuesday, May 8th, 2001 with Dr. Schattauer watching, Amelia caught Madeleine Martha Hall asa God brought her forth into the world.

She was perfect in every way. I held her immediately. I couldn't believe she was mine. God had kept his promise and I held his precious gift in my arms.

With the doctor's assistance, Drostan cut the umbilical cord. At 5:00 a.m., I nursed her for the first time and she latched on immediately. The nurses stayed a while to make sure we were doing fine as my British husband made phone calls all over the world to announce her long-awaited birth. Dr. Schattauer had reffered to the birth as "better than text-book." All was well.

Over the next week, a nurse from Homefirst came every day to check on us. It was incredible to have such service.

I can't thank God enough for bringing my daughter and Homefirst into our lives. Because of their wisdom, their warm-hearted concern for mother and child, and their love and respect for this incredible event, my birth experience was exactly what I had wisher for. I gave birth naturally, in God's time. I labored in a birthing pool. I had an incredibly alert, healthy baby. I didn't have to get into a car during labor. I didn't tear or have an episiotomy. I could eat whatever and whenever I wished. My baby and I were never seperated until months later, and my husband could be with me every step of the way. Thank you Lord, and God bless you, Homefirst!