A Christmas story

Cody Enkichi Mitchell

born December 14, 2010

7:10am

6 pounds 12 ounces

20.5 inches

Our favorite time of the year just got better. This Christmas we celebrate as a family of four! Though our son was due on December 18, he made an early appearance in our home on the morning of December 14. Here's the incredible story of Cody Enkichi Mitchell's home birth:

On the evening of December 13, we prepared Lyla to spend the night at Baaba and Grandpa Glen's house as I had lost my mucus plug at 5pm and knew that the onset of labor was a possibility. I had been having inconsistent contractions for the past week or so, but they always faded away. I said my goodbyes to my parents and Lyla with the thought in the back of my mind that I might have a baby in my arms the next time I see them.

Travis and I settled in early that night just in case we were going to need some precious rest. I had some trouble falling asleep because, as was the case for the past week or so, I started having contractions as soon as I got in bed. I did my best to ignore them, but shortly after 3am I felt a sharp pain like someone gave me a strong kick from the inside. I immediately felt a gush of fluid and knew that my water broke! I woke up Travis and he jumped out of bed to prepare for labor. Travis called our doula, Sherill, who lives about an hour away and notified her that labor may be starting. Just like last time, she recommended that we try to get some sleep. Travis texted the midwife, Karen, who lives about 30 minutes away, and let her know that we would inform her when contractions were consistent (3-5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute or more, and had been that way for at least an hour).

We had been thoroughly prepared to labor in our bedroom with a birthing pool at the foot of our bed. It looks like a tall kiddie pool with a blow-up stool inside of it. Travis filled the pool with water as I started breathing through some pretty intense contractions. It wasn't long before we realized that I was certainly in active labor. Travis called Karen to let her know that my contractions were consistent and she said she was ready to head over and asked if we thought we were ready for her. We didn't know what to tell her because it was only 5am. Who knows how long before the baby's arrival??? Lyla took 15 hours after my water broke! So, Travis and I just kept busy trying to remember all the breathing techniques and positions we learned from the Bradley Method book and from my coaching from Sherill from two years prior. The contractions were exhausting! They felt so strong and very close together. Once the birthing pool was filled, I got in and tried to let the water comfort me. I labored in the pool for about 30 minutes and felt that I needed a change. I got out to get in the shower and the pressure from the shower water on my back was great. After about 20 minutes in the shower, I felt like getting into more of a sitting position, so I moved to the edge of our bed.

Shortly before 7am, I told Trav that I needed some extra help and asked when Karen was coming. He called her on the phone and let her know that we needed her as soon as possible. She was just leaving her home in Lake Elsinore and would be here in about 30 minutes. As Travis was talking with her on the phone, my next contraction brought with it the incredible urge to push. I said to Trav, "She's gotta get here SOON". He asked her if it was normal to feel the urge to push before it is necessary. She advised him to tell me to do what my body was telling me to do. I was relieved that the next couple of contractions did not give me that "pushy" feeling again, but only because I really concentrated on breathing through them. I got from the edge of the bed to the middle of my bed on my hands and knees to prepare to push in case the next contraction gave me the urge again...and it did. Travis got behind me and said he could see something. He said, "go ahead and push" and I said, "I AM!" and with the next push his head was out. Travis told me to push one more time and he would be out. He was right. I pushed one more time with a loud scream and Travis caught his very slippery and crying baby boy. Cody Enkichi Mitchell was born at 7:10am on his mommy and daddy's bed with no assistance from a midwife or a doula. It was just the three of us!

There was a lot of commotion at this point. The three of us were looking at eachother trying to figure out what to do next. Travis called his sister Kandice into the room to help us out. It's a good thing that she has been staying with us in the guest room because the extra set of hands really helped us! Kandice called Karen while Travis passed the baby to me. She gave us instructions over the phone. Cody was perfect. He came out crying and had no complications whatsoever. It is a miracle that it went as smoothly as it did. Looking back, we think of all the things that could have gone wrong and we count our blessings that nothing did. Karen arrived at about 7:30am to check the new baby and mommy. We are recovering well and amazed and overcome with joy at our new son. Lyla loves her little brother too. She is so gentle and sweet with him. We are a very happy family of four and we can't thank God enough for the incredible blessings we have received. Welcome to the world, Cody!