Open Door Midwifery

AURORA IONE KABAT

2009-11-18T17:05:00.005-06:00

born September 18, 2009 at 6:00 A.M.

6 pounds 4 ounces, 18 1/2 inches

parents: Katie and Michael Kabat

The Birth of Aurora Ione Kabat

It was a beautiful fall day when my husband, Michael, asked me to go for a hike at Effigy Mounds. I smiled as I said yes because it was a similar hike two years ago that encouraged our son McKinley to come in to this world. We loaded up the car with McKinley, the dogs, some food, and plenty of water and headed to Iowa. We decided not to mess around with simple trails today and headed to Marching Bear Mounds which took us straight up the bluff. The picnic on the top was charming, as was the view. As we descended down the bluff I felt my heart quicken as I started to feel a tightening in my abdomen. It had worked! The contractions had started. Once we got to the car I told Michael what I was feeling and we decided to go strait home. I was trying to relax, but the excitement made it hard. I called Denise when we got home and told her that the contractions had started, but were far apart and not consistent. She told me to call back in an hour with an update. Nothing had changed in the following hours, so Denise suggested trying to get some sleep. It just might happen tonight! Sure enough, I awoke at 2:45 am with strong contractions every 5 minutes. I woke up Michael and hurried downstairs to call Denise. Since we live about 45 minutes from Viroqua she and Tavniah were on their way at once. Michael and I started to prepare for the birth by filling the pool (twice!), heating water, and of course drinking tea. About 4 o'clock Denise and Tavniah arrived filling the house with a calm presence, as the contractions continued to increase in intensity and length. AHHH...at 5 the pool was finally full and ready to go and I sunk right in. With the pool being in the middle of the kitchen it was easy to continue to talk as we waited for the baby to begin her approach. I remember Denise stating that I must not be in transition yet since I was still smiling. Well, a couple a minutes later there was no smiles. As I felt the baby begin to move down, I reached for Michael's hands and didn't let go. It wasn't long before I felt the need push. I could feel the baby was close to crowning and knew that it wouldn't be much longer. Denise reminded me to stay calm and Michael started to tell me how much he loved me. That helped me focus on the next push. Oh, I could feel her right there, but she had not made it out yet. I took a couple of slow breaths waiting for the next contraction. And PUSH, at last her head slid though! What a relief! At the next contraction I pushed her body out and she was in my arms in seconds. Our child born at exactly 6 o'clock. Michael paused from taking pictures for a moment to ask if we had a boy or a girl. With all the emotions I hadn't even looked, so he reached over and told me that we had a girl! Our little baby girl started to nurse right away and I felt absolute euphoria. So this is what my great grandma felt when she told me that childbirth was the closest to thing to heaven. I settled into bed with Tavniah's help, while Denise checked on the baby. The room faced east and I saw the first rays of dawn approach making my child glow. It took Michael and I a day to decide on her name, but when we did we felt it was her choosing. Her name is Aurora, meaning dawn. Aurora was born on September 18, my grandmother Ione's birthday, so we decided to give her the middle name Ione. Welcome to the world Aurora Ione Kabat.

Thank You Denise and Tavniah for making this experience so real and absolutely wonderful.

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AURORA IONE KABAT

ARABELLA IVY OETZMAN

2009-11-06T18:45:00.005-06:00

born May 22, 2009

8 pounds 4 ounces, 20 inches

parents: Tiffany Barnes and Scott Oetzman

JOSHUA LEE NELSON

2009-07-29T16:09:00.005-05:00

April 15, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.

9 pounds 0 ounces 21 inches

parents: Tammy and Chris Nelson

ISAAC ALAN REBER

2009-07-29T15:54:00.004-05:00

July 21, 2009 at 1:49 a.m.

8 pounds, 6 ounces 21 inches

parents: Angie and Scott Reber

Mama and Isaac

Dad and Isaac

Denise and Isaac

Juniper Rae Park Waller

2009-07-29T15:38:00.002-05:00

January 10, 2009 at 6:56 a.m.

7 pounds 7.5 ounces

parents: Elisi and Tim Smith-Waller

Mathilde Sylvia Victor Strong

2009-07-29T14:43:00.004-05:00

January 13, 2009 at 3:26 am

9 pounds, 8 ounces 19 1/2 inches

parents: Matilda Strong and Bruce Brochtrup

Zelda Lune Hodapp

2009-05-15T08:55:00.014-05:00

October 19, 2008 at 7:10 p.m.

7 pounds 2 ounces 20 1/2 inches

parents: Erika and Pete Hodapp

Israeh Orrin Freeman

2009-04-22T17:10:00.004-05:00

7 # 8 ounce girl

born February 19, 2009 at 1:15 A.M.

parents: Amanda Freeman and Ross Herdina

Our Home Birth: Amanda and Ross

2009-04-22T15:53:00.009-05:00

February 19, 2009

Ross was staying in Red Wing that Wednesday night (hour and fifteen minutes away) and Ameerah and I were at the apt. in Winona. Ameerah was having a bit of trouble staying asleep that night and finally I decided to have her come lay in bed with me. As soon as we lay down together I felt a bursting sensation in my groin area and thought it was my water breaking, it was 11:15 p.m.. When I went into the bathroom though, I wasn’t leaking like I was my first birth, so I wasn’t sure. I sent Ross a text that said “I think my water broke.” He called back a moment later and asked if he should head down and I said “Yes!” as I felt my first hard contraction. I then called Denise and she asked how often I was having contractions and told me she was on her way since they were about two minutes apart. Tavniah and Denise were little over an hour away and after the birth she told me she sped the whole way here! My twin sister Ashley and my mother headed over and arrived at about the same time. Mom was going to take Ameerah home with her and Ashley was my emotional support-gopher-photographer.

My contractions were so different this time…no slow sailing…they came fast and furious within the first half hour. I wasn’t even able to do my labor project!! I was planning on making muffins for the birth team throughout the “easy-slow” stage of labor. I had been trying to walk and breath through them (even danced with Ameerah for a few moments) but by the time Ashley and Mom were here and I finished directing what needed to be done they were pretty intense. I was hanging on Ash (who gives amazing lb rubs) and Mom and starting my noises because I felt the baby moving down quickly…I told my mom that I had a LOT of pressure in my bottom. Mom started to get really worried that Denise and Tavniah wouldn’t make it in time to assist me. I remember Ashley and me laughing and trying to reassure her that we (ash and I) were fine delivering this baby because they would be here soon after anyway...she was not reassured.

I moved into the bathroom at this point because it was nice and dark in there and also I could sit on the toilet and lean forward. At this point Ameerah came to the doorway and requested me to “Be quiet mommy! I’m watching Sleeping Beauty!” I guess my noises were not as musical as her movie was! Mom was worried that the neighbors would think something was really wrong too!! I felt so much pressure and knew that baby was on her way; so I checked myself and could feel the baby’s head two inches from my vaginal opening. Sitting on the edge of the toilet didn’t last too long and I moved onto my knees with my forearms resting on a low stool. It felt so much better!! I was so trying to be a good laborer and not think about the “pains.” I just kept thinking about how the birth process is a natural thing and my body was made for this. I remember silently praying for strength and that the Lord would help me with the “pain.” Also prayed like crazy for Ross to get home! He arrived at about 12:40 am.

What a relief to hear the door open and Ameerah shout “Daddy! I awake!” He immediately came into the bathroom and got right in front of my face…I was so relieved I could have cried!! Ross did an amazing job getting me to focus and validating me, that I was strong enough to do this and how proud he was of me and of course how much he loved me…I had him tell me quite a few times how much he loved me! Having Ross there made the pain so much more bearable…don’t quite know how that happened. I remember thinking to myself “Whoa! Ross is doing great at this…Did he read a doula book?” I told him this thought later and we both had a good laugh about it. He was really good at helping me to breathe and make low noises. I was so very glad he was there I felt complete now and ready to have this baby. And YES Denise and Tavniah did arrive before I had the baby! I don’t remember Mom and Ameerah leaving, but they did just as Denise and Tavniah arrived at 1 am. I remember making a “pushing” noise…more like a loud roar and then seeing Denise’s feet go by my head…next thing I saw when I looked over Ross’s shoulder was Tavniah smiling at me!! I could have laughed…she was so cute! I think I said something like “I’m so glad you made it!” …but that might have just been in my head! I know I asked Tavniah to get Ash and she went out in the living room to look for a cat!! She hadn’t met my sister and didn’t know Ashley was also “Ash” to me!

So there we were in our bathroom…Denise behind checking progress and Ross in front of me while Tavniah sat beside him and Ashley stood in the doorway with the camera at the ready! I remember looking over at Tavniah and saying “I LOVE HAVING BABIES!!! But I don’t want any more!” The baby was coming and I was letting her…trying to help her along by bearing down. I felt her as she moved down the birth canal and started to crown…and went back in!! How frustrating! So with my next contraction I pushed and she crowned for real this time. I think Ross said “I see her head!”,or something like that and the next thing I hear is Ross shouting in my ear as he is looking over me “*Gasp* OH she is beautiful!” That was the best part!

Denise caught the baby and passed her through my legs into Ross and my hands…she looked so tiny to me!! I felt like crying and was amazed I just birthed another baby in an incredible home birth and she was perfect! Denise asked what her name was and Ross and I looked at each other and said “Israeh Orrin”. There was no waiting 24 hours to name this baby! I cut the cord and the baby was wrapped up and daddy held her until I delivered the placenta and then I moved onto the bed. Aunt Ashley joined Ross, Israeh and I on the bed and we all ogled her. Denise and Tavniah finished up and rested on the couch a while until we were ready to have them check her over. It was such a wonderful experience to go through this natural process and not be driving to the hospital in the middle of labor. This was a 5-star experience for me!

Denise and Tavniah - Thank you for helping Ross and I to have the birth experience we never thought we would have; a lovely natural birth without unnecessary interventions. God bless you both.

A Father's Perspective by Ross

Our first birthing experience was in a traditional hospital with a CNM. I went to the first appointment to meet the midwife and a few subsequent ones. The CNM would give me advice on how I should be supporting Amanda through her experience, but never any information on what I could do to be a part of the birth experience. I perceived the CNM wanting me to be present, but only to fill her concern for who would be a support in the time of need for the mother. What I wanted/expected to feel was as though I was a partner in the birth; not a spectator or supporter. During our first daughter’s birth I simply stood at the bedside, held a leg when she was pushing and did as told. I never connected with the experience.

Our home birth changed all of this. There was a level of connection we wanted with each other and with our midwife Denise and assistant Tavniah, and no pressure for anything the “doctor” ordered. The experience was about what we wanted, how comfortable we were, and how we could stay connected and bring our daughter into the world. Nothing was “fast-food.”

Profound experiences deserve deep connections. Being at home and being educated on the necessities of a birth, I was able to make a connection with this birth that was much deeper than our first. I felt essential to the process. For me it was only now that childbirth became something beautiful, empowering, and spiritual.

Chris Roth & family

2009-04-11T22:31:00.000-05:00

Open Door Babies from the Roth family:

Ashah (b.d. 6/2/06), Averianna (b.d. 9/2/04), and Adalyn (b.d. 7/13/08)

Why we're thankful for Open Door Midwifery

Our first three children were born in the hospital and we were planning to do the same with our fourth. I loved the anticipation of another child but when it came to hospital births I never looked forward to the time consuming paperwork, lining up a sitter, leaving the other children behind, wondering who would really be available to deliver the baby, the drive to the hospital while in labor or the drive home just after giving birth. But we continued to do hospital births not being familiar with the alternative.

When our fourth child was due to arrive we went to the hospital as usual. The staff sent us home not feeling I was in labor. Our beautiful baby girl was then born at home with her Daddy and Aunt assisting. It was the best birthing experience we had had. The only thing we felt could improve it was to have a midwife with us the next time around. I didn't know of any midwives in the area at the time, so when we became pregnant with our fifth I was thrilled to find Denise advertised in the People's Coop newsletter.

We have since been blessed with three home births with Denise. It is so much more enjoyable to labor, birth and recover at home. The benefits are endless, including the fact that the children get to meet their newest sibling immediately, even if the baby arrives at midnight!

Denise is full of wisdom and shares her information. Ultimately, when making decisions she respects the choices her clients make. We are very thankful for the time she takes to research any area that could be of concern. She uses natural remedies wisely and is always prepared to seek additional help if needed. We are extremely thankful for what a blessing home birthing has been in our lives.

Obama Babies

2009-04-07T16:23:00.000-05:00

These babies, both biracial, decided to be born within hours and a few city blocks of each other on the day our country elected our first biracial president, so we call them the Obama Babies!

on the left is
Anahla Grace Rose
born 8:59 am on 11/4/2008
7# 6 oz.
mother: Natalie Kemp

on the right is
Noah Elis Kriemelmeyer
born 12:10 pm on 11/4/2008
6# 10 oz
parents: Claudia and Mattias Kriemelmeyer

Noah and mother Claudia:

Noah Elis Kriemelmeyer

Anahla Grace Rose

BIRTH STORY: WAITING FOR GRANDMA

2009-02-28T08:29:00.001-06:00

Tayge Snow Toledo
August 14, 2008

Lists and lists crossed off. Packing and more packing...everything was either in our house in Ticuman or in our minivan with us as we left from our apartment in Mexico City for the 2-hour drive. As we pulled out of the city, August 9th, 6 days before my due date, I said to Julio "I feel like I dont want to go there yet, it will make it more real that the baby could be born any day now" The unspoken understanding here was: Julio and I both hoped the baby would wait for Midwife grandma. He nodded.

Fastforward to....
Aug 13th: All day we were so anxious and excited...my mom would be arriving in the night with two of my brothers, Liberty (17) and Colter (12) and my sister Kiva (20). As evening came and I cleaned and organized the house and yard we both began to breath a sigh of relief.... the baby had waited for Grandma.
The mob arrived about 1:00 AM on August 14th. We hugged, talked, slept, and BAM....8:30 AM --as I was sitting on my mom's inflatable mattress (only the high life for the international traveling midwife grandma) ...Labor had started.

I began to feel contractions one a few minutes after another. I first went to tell Julio (didn't want another repeat from the previous birth, he had been quite upset that my mom and my sister found out I was in labor before he did! ---but that's another story. Then I told my Mom I was in labor.... nobody seemed fazed. Ok Fine! So Ma checked the baby...posterior... said I should go into our swimming pool and lay spread eagle. I helped Kiva make a delicious (NOT) white flour instant pancake breakfast (sorry Tayge) ...No wheat flour to be found in that miniscule town. Contractions were picking up but again nobody seemed fazed. My Mom mentioned the possibility of false labor and Julio was chill...They both couldn't believe it could be SO exact the timing of the birth with the arrival of Grandma. I, however, felt it was real. I did call my Mexican midwife who was also laisse faire and said to call her 'whenever I felt like it'. Ooooops.

We all were in the pool, me laying belly down on a huge star shaped tube float, Julio, my brothers and sister, and mom and my 2 children, Alani (5) and Justice (2) playing in the water. In the pool about 12:20pm contractions began to make my eyes shut and my mouth say 'ohhh'. I wanted to go call the Mexican midwife. My mom helped me out of the pool and said she would check dilation. ...That never happened. It was a HUGE effort to make it from the pool to my bedroom and I barely managed to dial the Mexican midwife and tell her to come 'click' I hung up and the contractions were advancing in intensity TOO quickly.

Julio had to take his friend back into town to get a bus back to Mexico City...the plumber was outside by my bedroom window trying to fix the boiler so I could have hot water for a waterbirth (although he didn't know that part of it).

"AHHHHHHH Call Julio!" Where's Julio!!!!"...My sister dialed as I confusedly tried to remember in between contractions the number I've dialed 1000 times.

"AHHHHH tell the plumber to go!" my poor sister went to tell the plumber he had to go "because because because.... well because my sister is having a baby!'.... He jumped a bit at that one! At any rate he went and WAITED in front of our gate. Managed to fix the boiler after the birth in about 5 minuted and was very pleased to have been nearly present at a birth!

And speaking of attendance, the cleaning lady was there out on the patio the whole time and I had never mentioned to her that I was having my baby at home. Her sister told me later she was scared because I screamed 'horribly', that made me laugh.... poor thing. (She has no children...and probably never will thanks to my roaring!)

Needless to say I was on my hands and knees soon feeling the urge to push. I don't think I even thought again about the Mexican midwife. Thank goodness my mom had the urge to bring a few gloves and cord clamps and a fetoscope with her from the U.S. (although I had told her not to bring her equipment, because the Mexican midwife had it all).

Ma was shouting off to Kiva to sterilize some scissors in boiling water and I believe I was even alert enough to say we had some metal ones in Julio's office. Thinking back its always weird the things I managed to say and hear in my births.

We have these HUGE windows by our bed -no curtains, -and in labor HOW I wished they were covered up! I thought about moving to the other room...NOT happening ----body was not interested in my private thoughts! Note to self- REMEMBER enclosed and private is a basic instinct in birth-- avoid big beautiful panoramas!

Hands and knees was the only position - I couldn't move from there. It felt very powerful and right-- although it felt quite horrible when all the fluids are squishing out. UCK.

My daughter Alani had just started to turn a bit green from the LION ROARING-- (another note to self-avoid rooms with church-like high dome ceilings, the echo is OVERLOAD)---and walked out, and I yelled to Julio to get her- she had been waiting 9 months to see this!

So with my daughter, 2-year-old son, and sister watching, Julio and Ma caught little Tayge. It was soooo fast and intense! He was born at 1:20pm with all of us still wet from being in the pool! The Mexican midwife got there just after 2 PM.

My mom was impressed. "What a thoughtful baby, he waited just till I got here and then was born in the middle of the day so nobody lost any sleep".

Looking back at the photos (my sister took) its really neat to see the times on them at 1:20 he is born and Julio and Ma are cacthing him and at 1:21 in the photo both of my (teenage) brothers are in the room! That I didnt know...very cool! They have no issue with the blood and nudity of birth!

Also looking back at the photos I saw many of my mom rocking Tayge because he was spitting up 'gunk' for a while and wasn't latching on to nurse and was a bit purple too I think. At the time I was a bit worried and even mentioned we had an old (and Very dirty) nose suction thing that we could try to clean.... but I wasn't too worried. Now months later looking at the photos I realize it was because my mom was totally calm. I said to Julio If she had thought it was dangerous she wouldn't have been calm at all...she knew that we were in the middle of nowhere with a decent hospital 45 minutes away in a 3rd world country and that she had NONE of her birth equipment. That is pretty impressive. If she hadn't been there I would have been panicking ---at least in a quiet interior way.

SO there we have it. The baby who knew whose hands to wait for...and a mommy who is very grateful that he waited!

I love you Ma.

Maia Skye Toledo

TAYGE SNOW TOLEDO

2009-02-28T08:15:00.000-06:00

Tayge Snow Toledo
August 14, 2008
8# 2 oz
parents: Maia and Julio Toledo

RUBY MOON HODAPP

2009-02-04T22:49:00.001-06:00

Ruby Moon Hodapp
January 30, 2005
7# 12oz
Parents: Erika and Pete Hodapp

SOLOMON RICHARD ASH MURDOCK

2009-02-04T22:44:00.001-06:00

Solomon Richard Ash Murdock
August 20, 2007
8# 8oz
Parents: Erin and Jess Murdock

AMALIA DANIELA GULLION

2009-02-04T22:31:00.000-06:00

Amalia Daniela Gullion
August 7, 2003
7# 4oz
Parents: Kristina and Tom Gullion

ALANI JANEZCKA TOLEDO

2009-02-04T22:26:00.000-06:00

Alani Janezcka Toledo
May 13, 2003
8# 4oz
Parents: Maia and Julio Toledo
My first grandchild!

Welcome to Open Door Midwifery Birth Stories

2008-10-01T23:37:00.000-05:00

I've wanted to launch this forum for a long time--a place for families who choose natural birth to share their stories so that other families can learn from their experiences.

I've been a midwife for more than 20 years, practicing in southwestern Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota, and northern Iowa. In that time, I've participated in well over 300 births--each one, a beautiful, unique expression of a woman's natural ability to bring life in the world.

In the coming weeks, I'll be posting photos, stories, and videos of some of these births. I invite you to share your own stories, too.

Best,
Denise
Open Door Midwifery