Jenna’s Story

For the birth of our first child, my husband and I planned on a natural birth in a hospital. At our 36-week appointment, we were told by my care provider that almost nothing in our plan would be respected. So, at 39 weeks, I got up the courage to call CCMC and make the switch.

At 10:00pm on Friday, March 12, 2010 my water broke, we were in one of the beautiful rooms at the birthing center an hour later, and my mom joined us soon after. Two midwives and an apprentice stayed with us throughout the delivery, giving much needed advice, monitoring the baby’s heart rate, and offering encouragement all along the way.

I started pushing on Saturday just before 8:00am but things progressed very slowly. The midwives encouraged me to try various positions and didn’t give up on my being able to deliver my son without unnecessary medical intervention – even after more than 5 hours of pushing. My midwives applied oil and warm compresses to assist my stretching; it turned out that my son had his arm folded across his chest making it difficult for him to move through the birth canal. I’m certain that, had we been at a hospital, I would have ended up with an episiotomy (if I had been “allowed” to deliver vaginally at all).

I delivered our son, Jacob Alexander, at 1:21pm on March 13, 2010 (ten days past his due date) with only a very minor internal tear – my mother in the bed behind me, my husband by my side. My midwives helped me place Jacob on my chest and, within minutes, he was nursing. He weighed 9 pounds 2 ounces and was 21” long. I was up and walking after only a couple hours and we were home by 6pm. We are forever grateful to our midwives and to CCMC for helping our perfect little boy come into this world the best and healthiest way possible for both of us.

mom, dad, and baby