The Birth Story

I finally sat down and typed up Avi's birth story and included every single detail I could recall.

It was 8 pages long. And if we're honest, and I hope we are...I just don't think anyone really wants to read that. Not really.

So, I'll give you the "reader's digest" version, okay?

I started my birthing time on Friday, October 12th around 5:00 in the evening. We were actually in TJMaxx when I started having to really stop and breathe through some contractions.

I bought blankets and an outfit for Avi while at TJMaxx that day, and when I got home had to throw everything in the wash.

The girls seemed to know what was happening because they started chanting "Avi! Avi! Avi!" during dinner that night.

I loved my Hypnobabies tools. It really helped me stay calm and not be afraid. I'm so glad I had them.

I loved listening to George Winston music throughout the entire process. He's my favorite pianist. We even went to see him for my birthday this year (while Avi was still cooking). Who knew that those things would turn into middle name inspiration?

I loved my husband, he was by my side the entire time. He said I looked "sexy" during my birthing time.  He read me hypnobabies scripts and got me food and socks and pillows and everything.
After Avi was finally out, he said "that was the freakiest thing I've ever seen". And then the placenta came out and took second place on Matt's freakiest list. But truly, Matt did this with me. With. Ampersand.

I loved my doula, she just made me think I could really do it. She coached and cheered and held me up (as in my actual body!). What would I have done without her? I think I would have been pretty scared. She helped make the space sacred and calm, too.

Unfortunately, Avi was in a "posterior" position most of the labor, which means I had very intense back labor and spent the whole time in motion or in a forward slanted squatty position or on my hands and knees. It was exhausting. It was challenging. It was HARD!

I got discouraged because the back pressure made it very hard to use my "finger drop" hypnosis technique. I had trouble getting into my groove to relax. And it meant that I couldn't stop and rest or lie back in the tub like I'd imagined doing.

They would say, "you're doing a really good job, Lorissa" and I would shake my head and say, "No." mostly just because I felt discouraged and like I was not going to be able to do this task ahead of me. But then Kim (doula) would point out... "You ARE doing this...see?" and I would just put my head down and do the work.

I made a lot of low, deep guttural noises during contractions, which really surprised me.

I labored at home for about 12 hours. When I got to the hospital I was dialated to 5cm (which I asked them NOT to tell me in the moment, Kim and Matt told me later).

I used the tub at home and at the hospital, although I had to be on hands and knees for this, too.

I loved my team at Denver Health. They were so supportive of my birth plan. I felt really cared for. They encouraged me and praised me and complimented me, which felt so good.

Everyone told me I was glowing and that I would get "best dressed" mama award. Maybe because I wore my beautiful necklace, made for me by my close friends at the Mother Blessing.

After my water broke I was fully dialated, but I pushed for over 3 hours and Avi was still not moving down. We tried every pushing position imaginable. (and I mean a LOT of trying!) I didn't know how long it had been, but I knew it was taking a long time and I started feeling defeated and disheartened.

Avi was stuck. I realized that I was on the verge of unwanted intervention (c-section or forceps etc) so I asked for an epidural, rested for an hour and then pushed for 2 more hours.

They put a mirror up for me and I could see Avi move closer and closer to being born. I asked Matt to play this song for inspiration. I'd been singing it to Avi all week and he was born as it played:

When Avi's head finally emerged, the midwife reached inside to YANK him off my pelvic bone where he was stuck. Thank goodness for the epidural!

Avi was monitored the entire time and his vitals remained strong...thankfully! If he'd had one little tiny blip, they would've rushed me off to the OR. This is because I was attempting a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) and my c-section scar was only 17 months old at that point. It creates some risk for post births.

We got Avi out at 7:12 pm on October 13th and they placed him right on my chest. The warmth of his body and the flush of joy as I held him are forever burned in my memory. The cord pulsed a while and then Matt cut it himself.

I held Avi for the next two hours, nursing and watching him in amazement. He was all eyes.

We sang his song to him and basked in the moment. He was beautiful. 9 perfect pounds.

I had about 20 hours of unmedicated birth. It was the most completely challenging and fierce thing I've ever done. And of course, so rewarding. How incredible to come face to face with strength and life pulsing and moving ahead of me and within me and through me.

Amazing. I feel so happy that I was able to experience birthing Avi in the particular way that he was born.

I am forever changed.

Welcome to the world, Avi Winston Matthew.