Bens story is a long one.
Let me start off with some history :). I was tested for heavy metal poisoning the fall of 2012. I had very high levels of mercury (from amalgams in my mouth), and lead (maybe I ate paint chips as a kid?). I started a detox program using DMSA. You take the DMSA every 3-4 hours for 3 days then rest for 10 days which is considered one cycle. During this detox program I was told not to conceive for at least 2 years. Brandon (my husband) and I were very upset at this news but decided it was best for my health and the health of our future children. I was also instructed not to take DMSA during my menstrual cycle.
I had been through 2 cycles of the DMSA and was currently on day 6 of my days off when the “crazies” started. The crazies are a common side effect of heavy metal poisoning. When I say crazies, I was very emotional; mad, sad, and angry all at the same time. I was manic! Brandon thought it would be best if I start taking the DMSA early to see if it would help me feel better. After all, I felt awesome when I was taking the DMSA! I argued with him though, I had some spotting that day and was sure my period was starting. I decided to go ahead and take it anyway so I could not be so crazy!
No more bleeding came. I then thought, "Oh, this is why you don't take it during your menstrual cycle! It messes it up!" I figured the bleeding would return after I stopped taking the DMSA. A couple of days passed and still no more bleeding. Brandon and I joked that maybe I was pregnant. In my mind it was not possible. We use the rhythm method for birth control. I also check my cervix for ovulation. We had been intimate 6 days before I was suppose to ovulate. However, checking my cervix 3 days after intimacy, I noticed how soft and open it was. Apparently I was ovulating 3 days earlier then usual! My cycle is never off, if anything, it is a couple of days late during times of stress. My mind came back to this after our joking. I had a VERY old pregnancy test that I took. I had one of those blue ink tests that totally suck and are hard to read. It came out negative. I figured if my period didn't start in a couple more days I would buy another test. Those days came and went without any sign of blood. I purchased a dollar store test and headed home to take it. I totally expected it to be negative like the first. Somehow the DMSA had just made me skip a period. As soon as that pink ink streaked across the test area, a very dark obvious line formed immediately! The blood left my head, hands, and feet. I stared in disbelief as I walked to tell Brandon. I told him and he laughed and said, "yeah right!" I handed the test over to him. As I saw his smile shrink, I felt the blood leave my head once again and Brandon had to hurry and catch me from falling. Let me make this clear, we were not upset that I was pregnant. We were concerned about my health to carry a baby at that time. I was freaked out wondering if my child would be born with multiple limbs or brain damage from either the exposure to the DMSA or heavy metals.
Fast forward a few weeks, I wanted a homebirth like my first birth. I found a midwife that I really liked. I liked her because she had a great reputation, and was known to follow her intuition rather then following what the medical textbook said. Also, I really wanted just me and Brandon to do everything and just have her watch and only intervene if there was a problem. She was willing to do that.
One of the births I had been to as a doula, the mother used hypnobabies to prepare for her birth. Her labor was only a few hours long. It was so fast the midwives did not make it in time. It was just her husband and I there. It was such an amazing birth! She was so calm and handled it with such confidence even though she knew her midwives would not make it. I wanted that fast confident birth too! (My first was 18 hours long). This mom was nice enough to let me borrow her hypnobaby home study course. And so began the preparations for the most awesome birth experience
My pregnancy was not an easy one for me. I was really sick the first 3 months (part of which was due to a gas leak, that's another story), my body hurt, and I was so stinkin' tired! I was also so worried about the heavy metals floating around my body and what it would do to my baby. One of the doctors I was working with gave me great comfort by telling me something I did not know before. He said that HCG is one of the biggest detoxers, so my baby would be just fine while helping me to rid the heavy metals. I prayed to my Heavenly Father asking him if the baby would be ok. Immediately the words entered my mind: " I meant for this child to come at this time, and he will come out healthy." I never wondered again. I had faith that my Father in Heaven was right.
We don't like to do ultrasounds unless necessary, so naturally we did not know the gender or want to know. At 14 weeks pregnant, I asked Bron (my 2 year old at the time) if the baby was a brother or a sister. He looks at my belly then says, "Brother! Ben!" All through the pregnancy we tried to convince him of other names for the baby. "Nope, baby Ben," he would say. Eventually, we all came to call my bump baby Ben.
On my 37th or 38th week midwife appointment, I decided to have my midwife check my cervix, I had checked it and wanted to see how close my measurements were to hers because my cervix felt so open and parts of my mucous plug had come out already. We measured the same...6cm dilated at the bottom of the cervix and 4cm dilated at the top and 0% effacement! She then told me to call her immediately when I go into labor because it would probably be a fast one due to already being almost halfway dilated. I was so excited, hoping that the baby would be ready to come early. Of course it was just wishful thinking. I had a couple of times that turned out to be false labor. I even went hiking on my due date to try and get labor going....nothing!
Let me start off with some history :). I was tested for heavy metal poisoning the fall of 2012. I had very high levels of mercury (from amalgams in my mouth), and lead (maybe I ate paint chips as a kid?). I started a detox program using DMSA. You take the DMSA every 3-4 hours for 3 days then rest for 10 days which is considered one cycle. During this detox program I was told not to conceive for at least 2 years. Brandon (my husband) and I were very upset at this news but decided it was best for my health and the health of our future children. I was also instructed not to take DMSA during my menstrual cycle.
I had been through 2 cycles of the DMSA and was currently on day 6 of my days off when the “crazies” started. The crazies are a common side effect of heavy metal poisoning. When I say crazies, I was very emotional; mad, sad, and angry all at the same time. I was manic! Brandon thought it would be best if I start taking the DMSA early to see if it would help me feel better. After all, I felt awesome when I was taking the DMSA! I argued with him though, I had some spotting that day and was sure my period was starting. I decided to go ahead and take it anyway so I could not be so crazy!
No more bleeding came. I then thought, "Oh, this is why you don't take it during your menstrual cycle! It messes it up!" I figured the bleeding would return after I stopped taking the DMSA. A couple of days passed and still no more bleeding. Brandon and I joked that maybe I was pregnant. In my mind it was not possible. We use the rhythm method for birth control. I also check my cervix for ovulation. We had been intimate 6 days before I was suppose to ovulate. However, checking my cervix 3 days after intimacy, I noticed how soft and open it was. Apparently I was ovulating 3 days earlier then usual! My cycle is never off, if anything, it is a couple of days late during times of stress. My mind came back to this after our joking. I had a VERY old pregnancy test that I took. I had one of those blue ink tests that totally suck and are hard to read. It came out negative. I figured if my period didn't start in a couple more days I would buy another test. Those days came and went without any sign of blood. I purchased a dollar store test and headed home to take it. I totally expected it to be negative like the first. Somehow the DMSA had just made me skip a period. As soon as that pink ink streaked across the test area, a very dark obvious line formed immediately! The blood left my head, hands, and feet. I stared in disbelief as I walked to tell Brandon. I told him and he laughed and said, "yeah right!" I handed the test over to him. As I saw his smile shrink, I felt the blood leave my head once again and Brandon had to hurry and catch me from falling. Let me make this clear, we were not upset that I was pregnant. We were concerned about my health to carry a baby at that time. I was freaked out wondering if my child would be born with multiple limbs or brain damage from either the exposure to the DMSA or heavy metals.
Fast forward a few weeks, I wanted a homebirth like my first birth. I found a midwife that I really liked. I liked her because she had a great reputation, and was known to follow her intuition rather then following what the medical textbook said. Also, I really wanted just me and Brandon to do everything and just have her watch and only intervene if there was a problem. She was willing to do that.
One of the births I had been to as a doula, the mother used hypnobabies to prepare for her birth. Her labor was only a few hours long. It was so fast the midwives did not make it in time. It was just her husband and I there. It was such an amazing birth! She was so calm and handled it with such confidence even though she knew her midwives would not make it. I wanted that fast confident birth too! (My first was 18 hours long). This mom was nice enough to let me borrow her hypnobaby home study course. And so began the preparations for the most awesome birth experience
My pregnancy was not an easy one for me. I was really sick the first 3 months (part of which was due to a gas leak, that's another story), my body hurt, and I was so stinkin' tired! I was also so worried about the heavy metals floating around my body and what it would do to my baby. One of the doctors I was working with gave me great comfort by telling me something I did not know before. He said that HCG is one of the biggest detoxers, so my baby would be just fine while helping me to rid the heavy metals. I prayed to my Heavenly Father asking him if the baby would be ok. Immediately the words entered my mind: " I meant for this child to come at this time, and he will come out healthy." I never wondered again. I had faith that my Father in Heaven was right.
We don't like to do ultrasounds unless necessary, so naturally we did not know the gender or want to know. At 14 weeks pregnant, I asked Bron (my 2 year old at the time) if the baby was a brother or a sister. He looks at my belly then says, "Brother! Ben!" All through the pregnancy we tried to convince him of other names for the baby. "Nope, baby Ben," he would say. Eventually, we all came to call my bump baby Ben.
On my 37th or 38th week midwife appointment, I decided to have my midwife check my cervix, I had checked it and wanted to see how close my measurements were to hers because my cervix felt so open and parts of my mucous plug had come out already. We measured the same...6cm dilated at the bottom of the cervix and 4cm dilated at the top and 0% effacement! She then told me to call her immediately when I go into labor because it would probably be a fast one due to already being almost halfway dilated. I was so excited, hoping that the baby would be ready to come early. Of course it was just wishful thinking. I had a couple of times that turned out to be false labor. I even went hiking on my due date to try and get labor going....nothing!
Or so I thought...
The night of my due date, I woke at 12:30 am with a very tight contraction. I told myself it was just my body teasing me again and went back to sleep. I then had a dream of having contractions. My friends' two little girls were in my dream telling me that these were the real contractions. I woke up again at 1:30 to contractions every five minutes although they did not feel too intense. After 3 contractions, I woke Brandon. I asked him if I should call the midwife. He said to just try to go to sleep. So I put my hypnobaby on to see if it would knock me out like it usually does. After an hour, I was still wide awake unable to sleep through these contractions. I woke Brandon again and told him I was going to call the midwife and that he can still sleep and I would wake him when I needed him.
I then called my midwife and explained to her what was going on. Although now that I was standing, my contractions became 2-3 minutes apart. I wasn't sure if I was in labor, or if my hypnobabies worked just that well. She decided since I was calling her that meant this was probably it and was on her way. I decided to distract myself and clean the kitchen. After 30 min, Brandon decided he couldn't sleep and came out. After cleaning the kitchen I decided to paint my belly cast I made at 37 weeks. My midwife got there and started prepping my bedroom for birth. Bron laid in the bed asleep still. Things really started picking up and I needed Brandon to hold me and rock back and forth while standing. My doula arrived and I decided to sit on the toilet for a little to help things open up and evacuate any thing that might crowd my babies room to come down. My birth photographer came at this point. I tried to keep a smiling face when I could. I then decided to get in the shower.
Things really started picking up. Bron woke up at this time. It was about 5 am. I had prepared him for the birth so he knew what was going on. He came into the bathroom and saw me laying in the tub. I told him the baby was coming and he came in and gave me a quick hug and kiss. It was so helpful at that moment! I decided to get out and lay in bed, I was feeling pretty tired. I didnt get to go right away though. I felt as though I needed to use the bathroom more.
Finally I made it to the bedroom. A contraction hit so hard it dropped me to my hands and knees. After it was over I told Brandon and my midwife that I did not want to go through transition, that I just wanted to be in the pushing stage already. My midwife answered, "Shari you're already in transition. Try and give a push with the next contraction, see if it feels better." I tried, and sure enough it felt better. I pushed for 10 mins when my water broke with a "POP". I then felt a head starting to emerge with the next contraction. I did not want to rip so I quickly put my hand down to support the tissue that began to stretch around the top of the head. As much as my body told me to keep pushing I blew air quickly in and out to take the pressure away. This would allow the baby's head to go back in and allow the tissues to stretch easier without ripping. My midwife called quickly to Brandon to come help, that the baby was about to be born. He was helping Bron go to the bathroom at the time. Bron would not let anyone else help him. So they both came in quickly. My doula helped Bron so he could watch his brother be born. On the next contraction I pushed his head out. My hand still there protecting the skin, his head was born into my hand. What an amazing feeling! That is still my favorite part of the birth! He then made a noise which I could feel against the inside of my thigh. Everyone stopped and asked,"Was that the baby?" Then the midwife instructed Brandon on how to catch the baby. With one last push, Ben entered the world at 5:50 am caught by daddy. Brandon confirmed what Bron already knew, that it was a boy. He then handed Ben to me between my legs.
We all sat back in our bed and admired our "baby Ben." And as requested, no one said anything or did anything. We let Ben find his breath on his own. He never cried, but began breathing all by himself. I was then given a placenta tincture (Brons) to stop any bleeding that we could not see yet until the placenta separated. Within 15 minutes of birth, Ben began to nurse. Within 45 mins or so, my placenta detached and came out. I then had a pea size cut off and placed under my tongue to stop any possibility of hemorrhaging. At about 7 am we burned the cord to separate Ben from the placenta. Bron helped to burn the cord with a beeswax candle along with Brandon and the midwife's assistant. I think that was Brons favorite part of the whole experience. He still talks about it :). My midwife then did the baby exam and found him to be 8lbs 6oz and 21 inches long. Brandon gave Ben his first adjustment after the exam (Brandon is a chiropractor). It was such a relaxed, euphoric day as we got to know our new baby.
Also, Brandon was amazing through the whole process! He was always reminding me to enter my hypnosis and keeping contact with me. He did so well, my doula stepped back and let him do most of the work. Which is just what I wanted! I am so incredibly happy with my birth experience, I wouldn't change a thing! It almost seemed too simple thanks to all the support from my husband, doula, midwife, and hypnobabies! One of the best experiences of my life. It was perfect!
A week later we decided on a middle name. It was mix of mine and Brandon's middle name's. Benjamin Jase Wilson. When I later looked up the meaning of his middle name, I found that it meant "healer." And that is exactly what he is to me. He healed me. He healed some birth trauma I had from the first birth, He healed my body from damage heavy metals had created. I am feeling so much better now than before the pregnancy. I'm excited to see what else he will heal for us.
I later processed the placenta and encapsulated it myself. I am so grateful for the support it gave me! Up until I encapsulated it, I had placenta smoothies. People get completely grossed out by the idea. But from my experience and the experience of my clients... you cannot taste the placenta, even when I put a piece under my tongue.
The following are pictures of the birth, there is no nudity, but I recommend not viewing if you prefer not to see a woman in labor! There are also breastfeeding pics, still no visible nudity. At some point I will add video too!
Some of the pictures are a little blurry because they are pictures of pictures. My scanner is not working :(
The night of my due date, I woke at 12:30 am with a very tight contraction. I told myself it was just my body teasing me again and went back to sleep. I then had a dream of having contractions. My friends' two little girls were in my dream telling me that these were the real contractions. I woke up again at 1:30 to contractions every five minutes although they did not feel too intense. After 3 contractions, I woke Brandon. I asked him if I should call the midwife. He said to just try to go to sleep. So I put my hypnobaby on to see if it would knock me out like it usually does. After an hour, I was still wide awake unable to sleep through these contractions. I woke Brandon again and told him I was going to call the midwife and that he can still sleep and I would wake him when I needed him.
I then called my midwife and explained to her what was going on. Although now that I was standing, my contractions became 2-3 minutes apart. I wasn't sure if I was in labor, or if my hypnobabies worked just that well. She decided since I was calling her that meant this was probably it and was on her way. I decided to distract myself and clean the kitchen. After 30 min, Brandon decided he couldn't sleep and came out. After cleaning the kitchen I decided to paint my belly cast I made at 37 weeks. My midwife got there and started prepping my bedroom for birth. Bron laid in the bed asleep still. Things really started picking up and I needed Brandon to hold me and rock back and forth while standing. My doula arrived and I decided to sit on the toilet for a little to help things open up and evacuate any thing that might crowd my babies room to come down. My birth photographer came at this point. I tried to keep a smiling face when I could. I then decided to get in the shower.
Things really started picking up. Bron woke up at this time. It was about 5 am. I had prepared him for the birth so he knew what was going on. He came into the bathroom and saw me laying in the tub. I told him the baby was coming and he came in and gave me a quick hug and kiss. It was so helpful at that moment! I decided to get out and lay in bed, I was feeling pretty tired. I didnt get to go right away though. I felt as though I needed to use the bathroom more.
Finally I made it to the bedroom. A contraction hit so hard it dropped me to my hands and knees. After it was over I told Brandon and my midwife that I did not want to go through transition, that I just wanted to be in the pushing stage already. My midwife answered, "Shari you're already in transition. Try and give a push with the next contraction, see if it feels better." I tried, and sure enough it felt better. I pushed for 10 mins when my water broke with a "POP". I then felt a head starting to emerge with the next contraction. I did not want to rip so I quickly put my hand down to support the tissue that began to stretch around the top of the head. As much as my body told me to keep pushing I blew air quickly in and out to take the pressure away. This would allow the baby's head to go back in and allow the tissues to stretch easier without ripping. My midwife called quickly to Brandon to come help, that the baby was about to be born. He was helping Bron go to the bathroom at the time. Bron would not let anyone else help him. So they both came in quickly. My doula helped Bron so he could watch his brother be born. On the next contraction I pushed his head out. My hand still there protecting the skin, his head was born into my hand. What an amazing feeling! That is still my favorite part of the birth! He then made a noise which I could feel against the inside of my thigh. Everyone stopped and asked,"Was that the baby?" Then the midwife instructed Brandon on how to catch the baby. With one last push, Ben entered the world at 5:50 am caught by daddy. Brandon confirmed what Bron already knew, that it was a boy. He then handed Ben to me between my legs.
We all sat back in our bed and admired our "baby Ben." And as requested, no one said anything or did anything. We let Ben find his breath on his own. He never cried, but began breathing all by himself. I was then given a placenta tincture (Brons) to stop any bleeding that we could not see yet until the placenta separated. Within 15 minutes of birth, Ben began to nurse. Within 45 mins or so, my placenta detached and came out. I then had a pea size cut off and placed under my tongue to stop any possibility of hemorrhaging. At about 7 am we burned the cord to separate Ben from the placenta. Bron helped to burn the cord with a beeswax candle along with Brandon and the midwife's assistant. I think that was Brons favorite part of the whole experience. He still talks about it :). My midwife then did the baby exam and found him to be 8lbs 6oz and 21 inches long. Brandon gave Ben his first adjustment after the exam (Brandon is a chiropractor). It was such a relaxed, euphoric day as we got to know our new baby.
Also, Brandon was amazing through the whole process! He was always reminding me to enter my hypnosis and keeping contact with me. He did so well, my doula stepped back and let him do most of the work. Which is just what I wanted! I am so incredibly happy with my birth experience, I wouldn't change a thing! It almost seemed too simple thanks to all the support from my husband, doula, midwife, and hypnobabies! One of the best experiences of my life. It was perfect!
A week later we decided on a middle name. It was mix of mine and Brandon's middle name's. Benjamin Jase Wilson. When I later looked up the meaning of his middle name, I found that it meant "healer." And that is exactly what he is to me. He healed me. He healed some birth trauma I had from the first birth, He healed my body from damage heavy metals had created. I am feeling so much better now than before the pregnancy. I'm excited to see what else he will heal for us.
I later processed the placenta and encapsulated it myself. I am so grateful for the support it gave me! Up until I encapsulated it, I had placenta smoothies. People get completely grossed out by the idea. But from my experience and the experience of my clients... you cannot taste the placenta, even when I put a piece under my tongue.
The following are pictures of the birth, there is no nudity, but I recommend not viewing if you prefer not to see a woman in labor! There are also breastfeeding pics, still no visible nudity. At some point I will add video too!
Some of the pictures are a little blurry because they are pictures of pictures. My scanner is not working :(
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