Our first baby; we were excited! We waited so patiently for this – 14 years! So choosing to deliver our baby the way I dreamed was important to me.
I set up our tour at KBC. The next day, during our Fall Photo sessions, one of our clients, who had a 6-month-old, asked us if we had children. So excited, I said, “Not just yet. We are pregnant!!”
The dad said, “If you want a perfect place to give birth naturally, you should go to Katy Birth Center!” I was so surprised to hear this. I said, “Wow, I just set up our tour there! This is a coincidence”.
The couple proceeded to tell us all the good things about the birth center and how perfect their experience was. They prayed over us and the little one growing in my belly. I couldn’t be happier to hear this. To say this was affirming, that we made the right decision, couldn’t be more true. I felt God was leading us in the right direction!
My due date was on Sunday, Mother’s Day. I started feeling my labor contractions. We went to dinner and visited with my mom to spare some time. My contractions came inconsistently, some rough and some light. I went from 30 minutes to 10 minutes to 17 minutes to 5 minutes back to 30 minutes. Back and forth for 2 days. Sleep was hard. We didn’t know if we should go to the birth center since my contractions were all over the place! I was exhausted already!
Tuesday came and we went to my follow-up appointment. Our bags were packed just in case we stayed. This was it! Ruby was coming soon! My contractions were getting closer together but still inconsistent. We arrived at the birth center at 3pm, decided we were staying, and started the process.
While the room was getting prepared, we ate some dinner, but I didn’t get to keep it down. I had vomited when I had a contraction. From there on, I only kept snacking on nuts, dark chocolate, and apple juice. Melissa and Mandy kept me busy doing different things, such as pool time, bouncing on the ball, stretching to put the baby in position, and acupuncture. All while keeping the room calm with music, breathing through my contractions, and hugging my husband. I never loved my husband, Matt, more. He held my hand, rubbed me, and hugged me as much as I needed. Matt never left my side! Our moms were there for support. My father-in-law was waiting patiently in the waiting room. I had all I needed.
Time was going so slowly that I was dazed and tired. After hours of contractions, I was progressing slowly. Melissa asked if I wanted to rupture my membranes. Yes, let’s do it! Anything to get a move on. After that, it started to feel faster, and it was finally time to start pushing. It took a long time. I pushed in several positions: on the bed, on the toilet, and squatting while holding the handle bars. Back and forth. What I really preferred was sitting on the toilet. My contractions were getting stronger, and pushing was tiresome. The final position was sitting on a toilet-shaped chair.
As I was pushing and doing so for hours, I heard another mom walk into the center and deliver her baby. As I heard her baby cry, I felt more encouraged to get Ruby out. So I pushed harder than ever. Melissa said, “I see hair! Her head is right there.” My mom and mother-in-law can see her too. They encourage me while Matt rubs my back and says, “You got this, babe!” I got on the floor on all four. I feel a HOT towel Melissa put at my opening, and I push Ruby’s head out. One final push, and her body came out so fast.
I was shocked! I really just pushed a baby out of my body. She is real! I looked at my husband, who was full of joy! I picked my baby up and got in the bed to do skin-to-skin. Then it was time for Matt to cut the cord. Seeing this was surreal! I felt like I was in a dream. All the pain and struggle of the past few days was worth it! My baby was in my arms, and I couldn’t be happier. Born on Wednesday at 3:02am. We named her Ruby Marybelle Medina.
Ruby and I got into the herbal bath. I watched her float in the pool; she was so calm. The most beautiful person I have ever seen! We got to go home a few hours after her birth! It was so nice sleeping in our own bed after all that just passed.
It is true when people say you will forget the pain once you have your baby in your arms. It is all worth it in the end. As I look back at our experience, I am beyond happy with her birth. Beautiful memories that we will never forget!
– Brenda Munoz
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