Vegan Birth Stories

Please read our collection of birth stories. If you'd like to submit your own, please submit your story here. Vegan or vegetarian birth stories are welcome.

Trinity's Birth Story

After a mostly restful night's sleep (at least as good of one as possible while 9 months pregnant and having a 4-year-old who can't sleep), I woke up at 4:45. David was almost ready to leave for work, but first helped me haul my huge self to the bathroom. There was bloody mucus when I went potty. Figuring that meant labor could begin anytime between then and the next couple days, I thought I should probably aim for more sleep, since I'd need the energy soon enough. So I didn't go get on the computer, as had become of my early morning ritual-of-late when comfortable sleep had become impossible. Laying in the recliner right after David left, I had a contraction. I'd had some Braxton Hicks in recent weeks, and quite a few in he past couple nights when lying down. Thought nothing of this particularly mild one. Then I realized I'd had two or three since being there, so I looked at the clock and saw that the next two seemed to be six minutes apart. I sat up and paid closer attention. The next one seemed to

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By 7:30, I called to have David come home. I was not at all sure this was "it", but wanted him to come feel and time the contractions for himself. He was home in a few minutes, and they were 3-5 minutes apart by then. Phoebe had woken up when she heard me calling daddy, and wanted to know what we were doing for the day. I told her, "Maybe having a baby."

We began calling the doctor and a couple relatives who wanted reports the moment there was action. At this point the contractions were not horrid at all. First I could still talk through them fine. It took a bit to get all ready. The plan had been for me to take the bus. He hospital is less than ten minutes via bus. But it only comes once an hour at the time we were ready (9ish), so rather than rush out the door feeling unprepared I decided to ride in the car so I had a few more minutes to double-check everything appropriate was being taken along.. Going via car meant I would not have my power chair along, which I anticipated being helpful at the hospital, but turned out to not be necessary at all. On the way to the hospital, David wanted to stop at the grocery store to grab a few things for us to eat at the hospital (since the vegan/organic options would be slim to none). I wasn't so sure, since the contractions were starting to be more uncomfortable. But they weren't unbearable, so I just stayed in the car

We arrived at Evergreen Hospital at 10:00, where I got checked in and set up in my room quickly. I'd told David in the parking garage after a more painful contraction that I was petrified they were gonna tell me to quit overreacting and to come back in a few hours. BUT the nurse said I was about 7 centimeters dilated already. I was overjoyed and shocked! Doctor Walker (he'd been the one seeing me, so I was happy it wasn't a back-up doc) came in at 10:30, and we talked briefly. He said he'd be downstairs in his clinic seeing patients and the nurses could easily get him there when it was time. Phoebe was being very good (we'd asked my other sis to meet us there to get Phoebe). My contractions were intensifying, and at 11:00 one hit I began to scream through. That surprised everyone, it seemed, since I hadn't cried before that nor had any problem breathing through contractions. Anyway, as they said the contraction was ending and I'd soon be able to relax, I began pushing. David and my nurse were saying to relax

One more screaming-and-pushing-contraction later he was out and laid on me. I asked how soon I'd need to push out the placenta, and Dr. Walker said it IS out.

Indivar Alki arrived at 11:19. Indi weighed 6 lb.9oz. and was 20" long. His APGAR scores were 8 at one minute, and 8 at five minutes. Mommy had no episiotomy, drugs, IV, etc. Declared a wonderful experience by parents and big sissy (Phoebe got to see it all!)

Who would've thought I could write a novel out of a relatively short experience? (Anyone who knows me, really). Phoebe spent the two days after at her auntie's home. She was happy to get home, though.

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