When an induction couldn’t stop the beauty in birth.
Today, we would like to introduce you to Claushelle.
Claushelle, thank you so much for giving us the chance to learn more about your birth story!
What was/were your greatest challenges in preparing for your birth BEFORE joining Werk Your Birth program?
Hearing horror birth stories, pain that comes with birth and the fear of having a c-section.
What made you decide to join Werk Your Birth?
My doula suggested it.
To learn more about how you and your partner can become prepared for birth, check out my virtual birth coaching here.
Okay, so tell us about your birth? Walk us through your story!
Our little bundle arrived on March 22, 2022 at 11:10AM. Weighing in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces and 17 3/4 inches tall!
Before our regularly scheduled prenatal check up on Monday (3/21), I was experiencing headaches the entire weekend prior and was tracking my spiked BP numbers. That Monday, the OB saw it fit to send me straight to the hospital to look further into the headaches. She first wanted to have me collect urine for 24 hours but (because I’m so thorough 😑) she saw my pics of the numbers I took with an at home cuff and she said “Hospital…now!” Ugh, I’m like really, throughout this WHOLE JOURNEY IT WAS SAFE AND HEALTHY! Lol! I was 37w 2d!
After hours of stalling the process, I took forever to head to the hospital, then tried to negotiate with asking to be monitored from home but I lost the battle. Turns out the urine test they took had traces of preeclampsia and thus induction was decided on with Cytotec. Monday night the labor marathon began!
At 10:30PM, pre-labor began, Cytotec was inserted. I made sure to REST! I rested with the peanut ball so well that the nurse had to tell me that I was having contractions from what the monitor looked like. I didn’t feel a thing! Around 2AM, I started to feel them but not so much to throw me out of my birth zone. From when the contractions began officially I breathed through each one and the more tense it got the more focused I was. I was so focused on just breathing that when it got too intense instead of getting caught up in the count I tossed out the 3/6 or 4/7 count. I just breathed in my nose and out by mouth every single time and did movement with it as best I could. I used the Freya app and the Christian Hypnobirthing App. I swear by Freya, it was AMAZING!
The only time I didn’t move was when they couldn’t monitor my contractions with the wireless monitor and asked me to stay in bed. In that case I laid with my knees out and connected the bottom of my feet to keep my inlet open for the baby to progress.
The breaths really reassured me that baby and I were really doing well because there weren’t any dips or spikes in heart rate that were consistent which was my main concern. I also can’t stress that one of the best tips I remembered from the course was “whatever it is that works for you, STICK WITH IT!!!” I was going to try every pose from the course notes and I even had my binder with my cheat sheet and course work documents to help me and wanted to try almost all of them. I even brought my headphones for my playlist (not one song was played)! All I did was use the dilation station (toilet which I knew I would love) and swayed all 12 hours listening to my Freya app with breaths and relaxation. I used the peanut ball for the rest stage which was awesome because I progressed so well at the start of things and only used the birth ball one good time. Other than that my app, the toilet, relaxing, and breathing was all it took.
So anyway after a good ol’ 12 hours of labor, redirecting the staffs plans of administering another dose of cytotec and later trying to give me Pitocin (I totally just said let’s try alternatives and I didn’t have to go those routes because I knew I didn’t want more aggressive contractions), my body literally did what it was made to do and did the “werk”. In the final hour, in a matter of 2-5 mins, a great yelp of breath and sound, vomit, an exiting of my mucus plug, poop (tmi), the RING OF FIRE (it’s real), an urge to push, AND a membrane that ruptured at delivery ALL at once, baby Giselle made her debut by vaginal birth! I can’t believe I did it but I did and I’m so happy 🥲.
The most remarkable part of it all is that the staff of 20 who flew in there because of my yelp all were in awe because I went from a 4-5cm to 10 cm within 15-20 mins. One nurse even told me “not yet” when I stated “She’s COMING!” I’m like “Oh yeah?! Bet!” With that being said, I’m so glad I remembered to keep relaxed, advocate for myself and make sure to ask the right questions to persuade towards the alternatives. With all of that I learned on the course and more I literally BREATHED OUT that baby! It happened so fast that both my doula and OB missed the delivery! LOL!
Personally I didn’t care to know the dilation, just the station. I knew that if I knew those numbers it would mess with my head. The first few residents failed by accidentally telling me because of the force of habit. I was...
1cm at the start (10pm),
3cm at 2am,
5cm at 10am,
then a full 10cm at 11am
…the last doc on call didn’t tell me my cm and had she said 4-5 cm after 9 whole hours of that work, I would’ve been soooo upset so thankfully she didn't forget my ask and I was able to keep it going, flowing, and breathing.
So there you have it, one dose of Cytotec, advocating for myself, relaxing, and just breathing Giselle out for 12 hours, I LITERALLY became a Mama, a Werking Mama!!! I’m thankful for my hospital staff and my birthing team! It was an amazing experience!!!
Thank God for Chanel for being a beautiful person with a gift to lead a sea of women towards having beautiful birth experiences. Sebastien and I will forever be grateful for our first baby birth experience because of her! God bless her!
Little Baby Giselle is now officially 10 months old, a happy eating baby that has an infectious laugh! Both mommy and baby have been healthy and doing amazing! Our God is awesome!
How did Werk Your Birth positively impact your birthing experience?
This course changed my life. I’m so glad that I took it and educated myself to really Werk My Birth in a beautiful way.
This could be your story too. Enroll is the course here.
What has this program done for you (and your partner)?
No matter what the outcome would’ve been I was at least prepared for it and I’m glad about that mindset most of all. Literally all I’ve ever heard in life was labor is the worst thing ever and I turned what would’ve been my story around just by educating myself.
Were there any results you weren't expecting that pleasantly surprised you?
I was thoroughly surprised at how fast my dilation went from 5cm -10 in under an hour. I was so happy about that especially because I wanted to be blinded by those numbers so that I wouldn't get in my head and it worked amazingly! Best tip Ever!!! Thanks Chanel!!!!!!
What would you tell a mama who is hoping to prepare for birth?
Future mama, pain-free births do exists and you can absolutely have one. It's your birth, own it!
Before we end, what would you tell someone who is considering investing in the Werk Your Birth program?
Girl!!! It's worth every penny!!! The ongoing benefits even AFTER taking the course is life changing so go for it!
Be sure to follow this mama on her journey on Instagram @shellemabelle615
If reading isn’t your style, then you can watch the video below to hear @shellemabelle615 share her birth story!
If you have been a part of my Werk Your Birth program and want to be interviewed, fill out this link.
Do you have a desire to join our community and become empowered during your pregnancy and birth, join here.
Looking for more information? Take a look around because we have so many resources available to you (and your partner) on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and of course here on our website.