Mila Eveline Harms - A Birth Story

As if a pandemic shutting down the entire world during your pregnancy is not enough, let's add laboring and birthing your first child during one just to make things interesting.

Here's the story:

April 2, 2020: DUE DATE

Milas' due date came and went with no excitement whatsoever. We woke up knowing that today could be the day and praying that it would be. However, I was 40 weeks pregnant and there was not even a hint of a contraction to be felt. I walked and walked and walked all day long trying to convince this baby to make her entrance, but she wouldn't budge. And so the waiting game began.

In Germany, the policy is to induce labor at 10 days post due date. This allows for the possibility that labor could take up to three days to begin after the inducing starts. Until then, I was to be monitored and checked every other day to make sure the baby had enough fluids left. With each check, I was crossing my fingers and hoping they would just keep me at the hospital, but no such luck.

April 12, 2020: INDUCTION DAY

Easter Sunday marked my 10th day past the due date, or better known as the day to be induced! We were told to call the hospital in the morning and they would let us know when to come. At 4 pm we walked our way to the hospital (wishful thinking that Mila would choose to make her entrance on her own) where Lenni was to drop me off and wait to return until labor started. Luckily for us, the hospital staff was AMAZING! They allowed him in to help check me in, get me settled in my own room, and begin the first CTG check.

In Germany, they prefer the most natural means possible to induce labor. At my hospital, this included drinking a "cocktail" mixed with oils and almond extracts. I was to drink this and wait for contractions to start which I was told could take up to 12 hours. Luckily for me, contractions started within the hour! Since things started moving so quickly, the staff never asked Lenni to leave. We moved from my room to a delivery room and spent the next 12 hours laboring through contractions.

Coronavirus ruined any "birth plan" I thought I had and forced me to just go with the flow. I had little control over anything, but one thing I knew I wanted to do was experience labor pains before getting an epidural. It was around 10 pm when I decided enough was enough. I felt what I needed to feel and I was begging for that needle in my back. The relief that came with it was amazing and I felt ready for the long night ahead.

April 13, 2020: BABY DAY

With Lenni and a midwife by my side, I labored for about 12 hours in all kinds of different positions. Mila was head down and quickly making her way into the world, but at about 4 am I knew things weren't going as planned. My midwife explained to me that although Mila was head down, she was facing the wrong direction. Pushing with her in this position could cause major complications so my midwife put me in a number of different positions in hopes that she would turn. We had no such luck.

When I was 10 centimeters dilated, she told me I could try to push through some of my contractions. The hope was that Mila would just turn naturally through this. However, with each push, her heart rate would skyrocket. On top of that, I developed a fever and there looked to be infectious fluid in the womb. While I waited for the doctor to come and have a look, I had no idea how serious it was. The midwife was so calm and never let me fully see what was happening. I am so thankful for this.

The doctor arrived at about 4:30 am and explained the situation in the most relaxed way possible. I never felt scared or panicked. She explained that in this situation, the safest option would be to perform a C-section. Within minutes of me agreeing, they had switched me onto another bed, rolled me into the operating room, and paged the surgeon. In the meantime, Lenni was brought into another room to prepare as he was allowed in as well - THANK GOD!

At 4:49 am, Mila entered the world (11 days late). It was quick, easy, and painless. I was completely awake through the whole thing, Lenni was by my side, and we had our girl at last.

For the next 48 hours, I had to stay in the hospital to monitor my incision. Meanwhile, Mila was perfectly healthy! We had our own private room and Lenni was allowed to visit one hour a day. It was the most I could have asked for.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Giving birth during a pandemic was a scenario I could not have imagined experiencing in a million years. Besides the facemasks and constant disinfecting, I would not have remembered that the world was such a mess right outside my window. I felt safe, protected, and healthy right where I was. I had a healthy baby, a safe home to return to, and FaceTime. Man am I thankful for FaceTime.

If you gave birth during this pandemic, know that you are not alone. I feel like we are now our own special kind of superheroes. We did something most people could never even imagine doing. On the bright side, we had the opportunity to experience such a life-changing moment with the privacy and intimacy that many people don't even realize they need. In the end, this was my birth story and it is certainly something I will never forget. It is a story that Mila will be hearing someday. It is a gift that I will forever be thankful for.