Eryn's Birth Story
I had a non-typical, but very pleasant birth experience and I credit a lot of that to [my midwife] for her grace and strength under pressure.
Because I changed employers and health insurance during my pregnancy, I had a choice of providers. I took this choice very seriously, visiting several different groups around the Portland area. I chose to work with a midwife and the group at OHSU’s Center for Women’s Health because they explained the type of birth experience that I wanted to have.
My visits were enjoyable. I met with almost every midwife in the group. I even got my belly drawn on when I asked [my midwife] if she could kindly explain the position of the baby in my tummy. What a great, fun thing to do. However, it was my birth…that really proved the wisdom of my choice. I had what I later learned is called a precipitous labor. Instead of working through early labor at home, I was all the way through active labor and transition into stage two before I got to the hospital. When I arrived at the ER on August 16, I was crowning. This was our first child, so you can probably imagine how scared my husband and I were racing to the ER. We were quickly surrounded by a bevy of doctors and nurses. I saw the labor that had been under my control slowly becoming very hectic and managed. When [my midwife] arrived downstairs (just in time), she took over the small room and within seconds created a birth space for me that was comfortable. Although he was born in ER, which was not my plan; my son came into this world exactly how I hoped he would. I felt cared for in the way that I was assured I would be when I first interviewed the midwife group. That care continued as we took the elevator up to the labor and delivery floor. I love that [the midwife] and the student who was with her that day stayed with me, helped me clean up, got me a sandwich. I have told [my midwife] how thankful we were for her; I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you and others the same. She was brilliant and I am so happy that I chose to work with a midwife.
I am a huge proponent of the care of the care a woman receives from a midwife. I want you to know how supportive I am of this program and the importance of midwives in general.
