Micah
Welcome to the world
Harlow Judith Watts
Born on the 8.10.2019
Congratulations Micah and Jona on the arrival of your beautiful baby daughter. The birth of a baby truly is the beginning of all things wonder, hope, and a dream of possibilities.
Thank you, Micah, and Jona for inviting me to be part of your awesome birth team and for allowing me to share your empowering birth story of baby Harlow.
When I turned up on Micah’s doorstep on the 7th of October, our plan was to chat about new babies and to plan how I would support Micah in the weeks to come as she settled into motherhood.
But…the universe had other plans for us that day …. Micah had been in the early stages of labour since the night before. So, when I arrived, we changed our plans. We opted instead to go to the hospital and have a fetal monitor check on baby Harlow as Micah had not felt her baby move all morning. Micah was also interested to see if she had made any progress overnight. Baby Harlow was doing fine, and Micah was happy that she was indeed 4cm dilated. Then, we did what only made sense – Micah, her girlfriend Ursula and I, went to town for coffee and chai lattes. We also enjoyed a spot of shopping while making a few the stops along the way to do a couple of double hip squeezes when the surges were strong in Micah’s back. The walk did the trick and Micah’s surges were definitely increasing in intensity.
Back at home, we set about creating a calm and relaxing environment for Micah. Her loving and supportive birth team arrived to join us: her husband, Jona and sisters, Hannah and Misha. We then went about setting up a space for Micah. My birth cub for Micah to labour comfortably on, aromatherapy oil in the diffuser, essential oils for massage, warm baths, rebozo sifting and heat packs for pain relief, plus, a playlist of relaxing music playing softly in the background. Encouragement, love, laughter, food and water all helped create a space where Micah could safely surrender her mind and body to the waves and surges of labour. Micah’s surges were getting stronger, but inconsistent, and she was experiencing pain in her lower back. I feel this is where having the benefit of a trained birth support at home really was a game changer in how Micah’s birth was to unfold. I recognised early on that this little baby had most likely turned slightly or fully posterior, therefore experiencing some trouble navigating her way into the inlet of the pelvis. We used specific labouring positions, comfort techniques and positive words of encouragement to help Micah breathe through each surge. I am a firm believer in the benefits of Spinning Baby Techniques, so I physically helped Micah to rebalance and realign her body with the Three Sisters Spinning Babies’ techniques. The Spinning Baby technique that was to be the real hero (the abdominal lift and tuck) required a higher level of discomfort and lengthy commitment through 10 surges - Micah wasn’t quite ready to commit to this just yet. As the evening unfolded, Micah’s surges were still inconsistent and were not showing any signs of getting closer together. Jona and Micah payed a visit to the LGH to check on their baby, to see if there had been any changes since her last visit that morning. Little baby Harlow was doing just fine, but Micah was still sitting on 4cm. We received confirmation that this little baby had not been able to successfully drop into the inlet of the pelvis due to her position. The LGH medical team had a plan – Micah could return to the hospital for the night and be monitored and then induced in the morning. Nothing about this plan sounded positive to any of us, especially to Micah.
I was so proud of Micah; she found her voice and it was strong and unhindered. The medical intervention highway that was on offer was not enticing in any way, but Micah had options. She had a doula that had knowledge of specific Spinning Babies techniques that held the potential to support and make space for baby Harlow to make her descent. It involves working with mother nature to facilitate space for baby, and not against her with force. After dinner and a rest in bed with Jona, Micah was willing to make some changes and ready to start moving this labour along, making space for baby to tuck her chin, rotate and descend. Three intense surges into the Abdominal lift and Tuck technique and there was an immediate shift. Harlow was on her way! Micah made the space and her daughter could now tuck her chin, rotate and descend into the pelvis. She still had to finish off the set of ten. These surges were challenging, being two minutes apart and intense. A perfect rhythm had shown us that we had achieved what we had hoped for. Labour is hard work, there is no denying that. But when we balance our bodies and align our muscles and ligaments to make room for baby, our labour has the best chance of progressing without intervention.
We all made our way to the LGH labour ward in the early hours of the morning when Micah felt she was ready to go birth her baby. The intensity of her surges were now taking all of Micha’s attention. Micah’s labour was moving fast. She tried to find some relief from her backpain with water injections. Unfortunately, the ongoing pain of the injections did little to relieve her back pain and rattled Micah, she had to work hard to regain her focus. The gas was of some help. Micah was heading towards transition and she opted for an epidural. The epidural allowed her to take a breath, and she was ready to deliver her baby just as the epidural took effect. These are one of the many moments where a strong support team can really make a difference, to hold her up emotionally and physically, to help her reset her mind so she can focus and regain power and control over what is happening. It is important for the birthing woman to feel respected, listened to and have her birth wishes honoured by everyone. There is no force equal to that of a determined woman. Micah had her favourite songs playing as she mentally prepared her heart and soul, working intensely with her body to birth her little daughter into the world.
At 4.05am on Tuesday the 8th of October 2019, weighing 3538g, precious baby Harlow Judith Watts made her peaceful debut earth side up into the arms of her waiting Mummy and Daddy. Her loving Aunties and one very proud Doula watching on.
“There is a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that woman are strong “- Laura Stavoe Harn.
Micah my Birthing Goddess, that is exactly what you were. You had many times through your labour where you had to rise above what you were accustomed to and reach deep inside yourself. You discovered what you were truly made of. The strength that you were able to access in and through your birth will be a badge of honour that you will proudly wear for always. Your adoring husband Jona was your rock and your beautiful sisters held “space” for you so beautifully and gently. Also making sure all these special moments were captured on camera for you and Jona.
“Imagine what might happen if all women emerged from their beds with a renewed sense of strength and power of their bodies, and of their capacity for ecstasy through giving birth” - Dr Christine Northrup
Thank you again for inviting me into your lives to be your guide, as you navigated the uncharted waters of labour and birth. I am now looking forward to helping you achieve a positive postpartum experience as you recover from your birth and find your own mothering style. Plus, having cuddles with baby Harlow will be a very lovely perk to my job! xxxxx