Oliver's Birth Story


Born June 10th at 9:20 pm.

8.8 lbs, 21 inches long





I remember a few days before giving birth that my Braxton hicks contractions where stronger and defiantly closer together. One day I timed them at work and they were 10 minutes apart, however they never hurt so I stopped and decided not to get my hopes up. They defiantly where preparing my body though because a few days later it was the real deal. The morning of June 10th came and I woke up around 8 to take my husband Rob to work. As I was getting some breakfast I noticed I felt a little sick feeling and I told my hubby, but it was nothing terrible so I planned on continuing my day as normal. I had an appointment with my midwife, Sherri that morning so I decided I would let her know and see how things went throughout the day. While driving Rob to work I told him that I felt crampy and that the contractions defiantly felt different so this could be it, but I would let him know. I then went to my sisters house (Hannah, who would be my doula/ midwife assistant) and we talked and chatted while waiting to go see Sherri. I kept telling her that these contractions really did not feel good but nothing I couldn't handle. We went to Sherri’s and I told her about the contractions, she said everything looked great and that tonight would be a good night to have a baby if it was his time. I told her I would keep her posted and let her know if anything changed. I did not get checked cause I still thought I could be in this “prelabor” for days and I did'nt want to get my hopes up yet. I went into work at noon and had to keep using the bathroom, no bloody show or anything so I kept working and eventually felt like I wanted to go home so I could relax and rest if I was going to have a baby soon! 

I left work around 2:00 and told my husband. He stayed at work and I said I would call him if he needed to come home sooner. Once I got home I continued to have contractions, I had been timing them since that morning and they where all over the place, although now they where about 10 minutes or less apart. I called my younger sister Emily to come over and watch a movie with me to help pass that time. She took a long time getting here and by the time she did it was after 4 and I started having to breath and moan through a lot of the contractions. We watched some TV and I walked around the house gather up bags and things to take to my sisters house where I would be giving birth. By the time 5:00 came around I really wanted my husband there, his mom got him from work and they showed up around 5:30. 

I called Sherri and told her how things where, I talked to her through the contractions so she guessed I was still about 3 centimeters dilated and that I should go to my sisters but have dinner, watch a movie etc... I took her advice and agreed that maybe I wasn’t as far a long as I thought. Around 6:00 I told my husband I wanted people to go home and that we should head to Katie's ( where I would give birth.) People left and Rob ran around taking everything out to the car. I kept timing the contractions and they while still random where about 5 minutes apart and lasting about a minute or more long. Luckily the drive was only 8 minutes so we got there quick. During the last few hours it felt the best to sit on the toilet during a contractions, then I wasn’t scared to hold anything back if I peed or my water broke, I would moan and kind of hold myself up a bit during the contractions. 

Once at Katie’s I ran inside and sat on the toilet while Rob started setting things up and getting things ready. My sister Katie showed up (She had taken the girls already to grandmas house so we could have the house to ourselves) She watched me through one contraction and asked if Sherri was on her way. I said no cause I didn’t want to cry wolf and make everyone come too early. She said she would call her and that I was a lot farther along than I probably thought. My family has a history of early and shorter labors. I agreed and she called the midwife to come. My sister Hannah also had been at work this whole time and wasn’t able to leave so she finally showed up around 7:30. While I was at my sisters I finally had a tiny bloody show while on the toilet. That got me excited but I still wasn't sure how far along I was. I talked to Sherri weeks before and asked about checking myself for dilation. I did a few times while I was at my house but it all felt like a bunch of mush so I really had no idea. I went into the bedroom and then layed on my side on the bed to see if that felt better with the contractions... I had stopped timing them because it was evident I was in labor. 

Hannah rubbed my back and Rob pressed on my knees to for counter pressure and that brought some relief. Sherri got there at 8:00 and came right in and had some people start setting the tub up. She then came and checked me... The moment of truth! I was at an 8 and fully effaced! I was so happy and relieved. If I could get to an 8 and feel like I felt I knew I could do the rest. I don’t want to brag but I did think to myself that “this wasn’t so bad”. I got in the tub around 8:30 and that felt really nice. I would lean on the edge and relax when not having a contraction and then Hannah and some of the midwife assistants would press on my back. During this time I felt like I didn’t need much, just my husband there and support. I had a cool rag on my head and someone kept holding essential oils for me to breath, peppermint and citrus bliss. I liked that. I am glad people didn't ask me a ton of questions they just did stuff and if I liked it I said so. Sherri would suggest things like if I could stand up or do lunges between contractions it would help. I did stand up for a bit and it felt pretty good. I also don’t remember this time before transition taking as long as it did. I felt just relaxed the whole time so the time went by fast. I eventually felt like throwing up and I did. Liquid mostly which wasn't bad. 

I also just went with what my body felt, I started feeling like pushing a little bit and Sherri had checked me and said that I was just about there. I would lean back and push a few times and held my hand down there to feel where the baby was. I felt his head but I kept thinking that he still had a ways to go even though I could feel his head there. When it came time to really push it hurt. I am not going to lie, it hurt really bad and I screamed. Sherri told me to focus and not scare the baby with all the loud noise. I told her once or twice I couldn’t help it. The water broke and with a few more pushes his head was out. I never said I couldn't do this but I remember thinking it once. So once his head was out I thought the worst was over. However he had a shoulder dystocia and so it really was hard to get the rest of his body out. I kept pushing and screamed and moaned loud. I remember Sherri twisting the baby around to try and get his shoulders to come out. Eventually they did and to my relief he was finally here! My sweet baby boy was here! Sherri brought him up out of the water and I remember looking at him and being so relieved he was here and knowing he was going to be ok even though he was a little purple. Sherri rubbed him and sure enough, he let out a wail. My husband was sitting behind me and he said he got a little teary eyed the moment he saw him. I was still a little in shock that I just had a baby and that I did it! It was over! I was so exhausted. The pushing was really hard work, I remember holding him in the water and looking at his cute chubby face. He looked perfect! I think one of the first things I said was sorry I was so loud... People laughed and we all sat there adoring our son. I was so happy to have him here with me. He was perfect, 10 little fingers and toes, a little blonde hair, perfect body and long legs and arms, big eyes and an adorable face with chubby cheeks. He weighed 8 and a half pounds! 21 inches long.... Perfect !

 I didn’t stay long in the water so we moved to the bed and I placed him on my chest while I delivered the placenta. I guess a part of the sac was still up in me so it took a while to get it all out, Sherri didn’t want to rush it but I didn’t mind. I had my baby on me and was so elated to have him with me and to have it all over with. I got to hold him there for a while and then eventually my husband took him and I got a few stitches. Sherri said I probably wouldn’t tear on my next babies.. .just because of his shoulder dystocia I had a small tear that took 6 stitches. It didn’t hurt too bad. I remembe€r humming to myself and grabbing my sisters arm if it hurt. The last two did hurt and I said so. But it was quick and I was done. Yay! After that I layed there with my son and my husband was right there. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Birth is such an amazing experience. Such a miracle and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Rob text our family and we decided on his name, Oliver Robert Bernier. I still can’t believe that I did it and that he is here. I feel strong and accomplished, I am so in love with Oliver in every way, he is perfect and I couldn’t ask for a better baby. I am honored to be a mother to such a perfect angel and can’t wait to raise him and have him be mine forever!