Malachi John's Birth Story
February 5, 2024
The Birth of Malachi John
By The Birth Center client, Sarah
In 2018, I had my first baby in a hospital. My husband John and I had read lots of books, articles, and birth stories, so we learned rather too much about all of the things that could go wrong during childbirth. We thought we should be in the hospital just in case. But nothing went wrong. In fact, the hospital wasn’t even prepared for me. The staff thought, because it was my first baby, labor would take a long time. But it went fast — only three hours!
They did choose to keep us overnight because the hospital staff was concerned about jaundice and tested the baby's blood bilirubin levels multiple times. They used the blue light therapy and kept me from nursing her often. Hearing her cry during that time without being allowed to continuously hold her was very emotionally painful for my husband and me.
After that experience, we knew we wanted something more natural, comfortable, and baby-friendly the next time. In 2019, I was pregnant again, so I Googled birth centers in our area. I found The Birth Center and saw that Ruth accepted our insurance at the time. When I called, Ruth encouraged us to come in for a tour and to meet her. She wanted to be comfortable with us, too.
Immediately, we liked The Birth Center and Ruth’s attitude. She was warm and relaxed, but also full of knowledge and willing to share it. She answered every question we had. This was different from my first pregnancy when the doctor was in and out of the exam room in 10 minutes. They weren’t prepared for questions and were rough with their hands. With Ruth, any time I had a concern, she eased my mind. She was always happy to give us suggestions for reading if we wanted more information. Ruth helped me take everything in stride. Even if things were difficult, she said, “We can get through it.” She kept a positive, forward-focused attitude.
I had my second, third, and fourth babies with Ruth. Most of those pregnancies were normal and healthy with no complications and speedy, straightforward births.
I did experience PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy) with my third pregnancy. It was my first son, and I developed the rash about eight weeks before he was born. Ruth gave me every possible help she knew of with regards to managing the rash’s symptoms. It was an extremely unpleasant condition physically, but not at all a dangerous one. I used a lot of fresh aloe vera from my garden and Benadryl gel for relief during that time.
In 2023, I got pregnant with my fifth baby and had a normal, healthy pregnancy until about the last month. At that time, everyone in my family came down with colds, and we also contracted a brief stomach flu. I took it a lot harder than everyone else. My sickness lasted three or four weeks. My appetite was down, and I didn’t gain much weight. The congestion was bad, and the coughing was really strong. In hindsight, I wonder if all of the coughing might’ve stressed my abdomen and caused my labor to start a little earlier — five days before my due date — by partially breaking the waters. With all of my other babies, I went past my due date.
In the middle of the night, at 1:07 a.m. on February 5, 2024, a contraction woke me up. I knew it was a real contraction, not Braxton Hicks, because it gathered in the center of my lower abdomen. The contractions continued every 14-15 minutes for about an hour and a half before I got up. They were not too strong, just slightly painful but kept me from sleeping. I figured I should tell my husband and let Ruth know what was happening. My contractions usually go like a train ride and don’t slow down for anything.
After about an hour and a half, the contractions were still far apart. I went to the bathroom and found a little water leaking. This was new; with my other babies, my water always broke right before the baby was born. I called Ruth and told her that I thought my water was leaking. She encouraged me to keep tracking the contractions and reminded me that they could speed up and things could go very quickly if the waters were completely broken.
I thought I’d be calling her again soon. Instead, I was up all night long with contractions. When I laid on my right side, they were about eight or nine minutes apart. However, on my left side, they stayed 15 minutes apart. I remember praying that active labor would not start until morning so I didn’t have to wake up my family. Around 7 a.m., everyone got up. They had all slept well. I called Ruth and let her know that things were still not picking up and the labor was just puttering around. I was experiencing a light trickle every so often with the contractions, and the baby was actively moving and hiccupping.
The contractions were painful and annoying, but I made breakfast and hung out with my family. Sometime between 1 and 2 p.m., my husband called his mother to come over and be with the kids so I could take a nap. For about an hour, I tried to fall asleep, but I couldn’t. Around 3 p.m., things felt different; the contractions were stronger. I knew that getting up could help the baby move down, so I started preparing some food in the kitchen. I mixed bread dough and prepared meatballs so that dinnertime would be easier later in the day. My mother-in-law was playing with the kids and doing puzzles with them. I tried to join them, but the contractions were too strong. and it was very uncomfortable to sit down. Eventually, as I was kneading the bread, I said, “I just don’t feel like making bread right now,” so I put the dough in the refrigerator to slow its rising.
My mother-in-law noticed how difficult things were getting for me and encouraged me to call John. I told him things were picking up a bit and to prepare to return. He is self-employed and needed a little more time before he left his job for the day. Soon after, a friend of mine stopped by to drop off something to me. I didn’t tell her I was in labor, but I was distracted and didn’t talk very much. She realized later that I had been in labor at that moment, and it made for a good laugh.
John came home, and the contractions had become much closer together. It was becoming difficult to do anything. Even just changing my son’s diaper was difficult. I called Ruth and told her things were speeding up. We all decided it was best to head to The Birth Center. We took all the kids, and my mother-in-law went with us, too. Having them with me helped take my mind off myself and how exhausted I was beginning to feel. I liked hearing them playing and happily enjoying themselves.
At 6 p.m., we arrived at The Birth Center. We all went inside, and Ruth checked me. I had been in labor for about 17 hours, so I expected to hear that I had made good progress. Plus, I was exhausted. She said I was in active labor and at five centimeters. I had never heard that number before. I had always been at least an eight by the time I traveled to my birthing location. I was disappointed and depressed. If it had taken 17 hours to reach five centimeters, would it take all night to reach 10? I knew it could be a really long night, so I told my husband, “You need to pray for me right now.” He took my hands and prayed that God would give me strength and peace. He took it so seriously. That was my favorite moment of my labor.
About 30-45 minutes after we got there, I went to the bathroom and saw more waters. My contractions were pretty painful, and it was difficult to walk around. As I labored, the kids were playing in the foyer because Ruth has a fun area set up for children with toys. While I visited my family in the living room, Ruth noticed I kept holding my back and asked if I was having back labor. I noticed that my back had been extra sore and achy this time around, so I said, “Yeah, I think I am.” She told me it often makes labor take a little longer, but the baby always comes out eventually.
I mostly stayed in the quietness of the bedroom and sat on the birthing ball, moving my pelvis in circles and from side to side. It always has helped to sway back and forth during contractions. Each time Ruth needed to check the baby’s heartbeat, I stood up. One of those times, my 18-month-old toddler, Isaiah, sneaked into the room and snitched the birthing ball, running with it away down the hall. Ruth and I laughed, and she chased him down and got it back for me. The little guy was probably wondering why Mama got to play with the best toy in the house!
Ruth was really relaxed and wasn’t concerned with my labor’s progress. That helped ease my mind because I was not so relaxed and wanted it to be over. Ruth and her assistant were perfectly at peace and comfortable with the situation. They knew nothing was wrong, so it really eased my mind immensely to have them be so confident.
I started feeling dizzy, which was different from my other labors. In the past, I felt nauseous, but never dizzy. Ruth explained that I had been sick a lot, and I was probably just very exhausted. She said my blood pressure and other vitals were fine, as were the baby's and she encouraged me to lie down. I thought that would slow the contractions, but decided to try it. As soon as I did, I had an enormous contraction. It was really intense, and I felt like throwing up. When the contraction was over, my husband held a bag in front of my face and kept my hair back. Immediately following that, I felt an immense urge to push. I told my husband, “I have to push now!” Ruth came running in. Everything was happening! I thought, less than an hour ago, I was only five centimeters. When I laid down, whatever needed to happen happened at that point.
Ruth told me to relax my face and to breathe deeply. She reminded me to use a low pitch, instead of high pitch. I was still fully dressed, so I had to get my clothes off somehow. My husband helped me get out of the basic necessities. I still had one arm in my sweater, but there was no longer time. The baby was already crowning! It was hardly a conscious choice to push; my body completely took over, and I was just along for the ride. I was lying on my right side, and Ruth told me to open my knees so the baby could get through the pelvis. It only took a couple of pushes, and his head was out. Ruth encouraged me to slow down and wait until the next contraction so I wouldn’t tear. I heard her say something about the cord and felt her fingers removing the cord from around the baby’s neck. A couple more pushes, and the baby was out! Only an hour after we arrived at The Birth Center, Malachi John was born right before 7 p.m., weighing seven and a half pounds and measuring 20 inches long.
I was so surprised! I had expected it to take half the night! Ruth raised him up and laid him on my tummy. He was squirming, and she put a blanket over us both. I love the feel of a newborn baby. He was extra warm and wet and so soft — also very active and squirming well. He had a full head of hair filled with vernix. It was like mousse in his hair.
During that postpartum time, I held him close for a long time. Everybody was excited and happy that this baby was born. At the hospital, the staff treated my first birth like it was just another baby, entering stuff into the computer and picking at us. But Ruth is always truly pleased to see a family change and grow. It was a very warm and joyful environment. Malachi latched well and nursed contentedly for most of his first hour. When he blinked his squinty little eyes open, they were dark gray, promising to turn blue when he grew older. He is another baby who looks just like his papa.
The kids were with their grandma while the baby was being born. My mother-in-law later shared with me that when she told the kids that the baby was about to be born, my 4-year-old daughter, Esther, took it so seriously. It was very quiet, and when she heard the baby’s first cry, she looked at my mother-in-law and was filled with affection. She hugged her grandma because she knew what had happened and how wonderful it was. A brand new baby had been born into the world! In the birth suite, Esther climbed up beside me on the bed and didn’t want to leave. She put her arms around the baby and was so pleased he was finally here. The other kids came in and saw him, then they left. Esther had an understanding and immediately wanted to hold him and pet his hair. She stayed by our side for most of the time until we left for home. She was also great at bringing me snacks and water!
After the peaceful postpartum time, we left The Birth Center and got home around 10:30 p.m. It had been an exciting and full day. The new baby went right to sleep in his crib, and my husband put jammies on the other children and put them to bed. We had some hot tea, then went to sleep.
Even though it was kind of unexpected the way the whole day unfolded, I remember feeling really thankful that God brought it about just the way He did. It really couldn’t have been more perfect. I had to surrender, resigning that I was not in control, and that was okay! Because God was in control. At The Birth Center, I was grateful to be in a peaceful, safe place, being taken care of by supportive people. My husband held my hand at various points and was always there to pray for me. Even though it’s our fifth baby, he’s always been so excited and pleased.
Since Malachi’s birth, he’s been wonderfully healthy and nursing well. Like all his siblings, he had mild jaundice during the first week of life, but it passed quickly once the milk came in fully. Ruth encourages a little morning sunlight each day and plenty of nursing to speed recovery; this has always worked perfectly for us. He’s grown nice and fat and is so smiley at everyone. The postpartum recovery was much easier than the few before it, and that was definitely a big blessing.
At The Birth Center, it’s a life-changing experience giving birth there. I could never think of any regrets. With every pregnancy, there are always new things to learn and enjoy. Ruth is so wonderful about sharing knowledge. She’s an intelligent human being who shows great respect for hearing my opinions and thoughts. She accepts the choices I make and doesn't ever pressure her own opinions on me. I prioritized listening to her direction during the birth because I know she respects me as a person and for my own family choices. She enjoys seeing babies born and families grow. Whenever I’m talking with someone who shows any disappointment with their own birthing experience, I always tell them about the wonderful experiences of The Birth Center and Ruth.
I am so grateful that God brought Ruth into my life and the lives of my children. She has been an immense blessing, and I couldn't imagine my family being born in a better way.
For more information about our prenatal care and birth services at The Birth Center, visit https://www.sactobirth.com/prenatal and https://www.sactobirth.com/birth-services.