What if something goes right?

I love reading birth stories where everything goes right. Where mothers plan and prepare and get what they want. Where their wishes are respected and they feel elated at what they accomplished. Where things work out perfectly in the end, even if labor throws them a curveball or some initial plans have to be abandoned.

Here are a few such stories I'd like to share:

First off, my youngest sister whose son was born two days before Inga. She had care with a hospital-based midwifery practice and also hired a doula. She hoped for a spontaneous, unmedicated vaginal birth--and that's what she got! Read all about it here at Grayden's birth story. Way to go little sis!

baby Grayden, from low-maintenance.blogspot.com

Next is the story of Busca's fourth child and second home birth. Busca blogs at Birth Faith. This was her longest pregnancy, going to 41.1 weeks. Her other three children were all 5-10 days early. She also had a much different labor pattern this time, hardly feeling any pain or intensity until the last few minutes. Read her story of Surrender in four parts: part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.

Busca with her newborn baby, from birthfaith.org

And you've probably heard that Gina, aka The Feminist Breeder, just had her third baby! It was her second VBAC and first home birth. Gina also had a different labor pattern than her first two. After lots of prodromal labor, Gina finally got labor to kick in using a combination of sex, breast pumping, and AROM. She even took a nap at around 9 cm dilated (and still wasn't feeling much pain at that point). Gina, you rock! Read the story of Jolene's birth here. She also had a friend who live-blogged the birth, where you can watch video clips of labor and pushing.

Gina & Jolene, from TheFeministBreeder.com

And finally, Desiree of Hitting My Stride had her baby Sofia! We started corresponding during our pregnancies and have become friends along the way (and she's letting me stay with her during the Lamaze conference this September!). She has two serious clotting factors, which meant heparin injections twice a day throughout her pregnancy. It also meant induction if she didn't go into labor by 38-39 weeks. She was induced at 39.2 weeks with a very favorable Bishop score and had a fantastic birth. Her birth story comes in four parts--Suck Ball City, Labor Faces, The Mirror, and After Birth.

All I can say is: a Pitocin induction with no pain meds? Amazing! She also sent me her birth video, and I was amazed at how non-medical it felt. The atmosphere in the room was calm and quiet. No shouting or coaching or anything, just her pushing and vocalizing when the urge hit.

Desiree, Drew, & Sofia from desireesdaydreams.com

A big congratulations all around. And here's hoping for many more birth stories where everything goes right.