Logan R. Maloney

After putting out the “Santa” gifts for the children and falling into bed on Christmas Eve 2001, I did not go to sleep because I began to feel nauseous. During this time I also noticed that each time the baby moved, I had tremendous back pressure. I woke up Ken and asked him to rub my back – I thought I had just overexerted myself getting everything ready for Christmas. However, I quickly realized this was labor when I was in my favorite labor position – on the toilet!

The back pressure began at 12:15am, and, by 12:30am, my contractions were four minutes apart and lasting 60-75 seconds. Ken phoned my parents to come be with the children and then phoned the midwife to say we would be on our way to Kennestone Hospital within 30 minutes. We labored a little longer on the toilet until it was time to leave – during this time, my parents loaded and warmed up the car and (in between my contractions) Ken got dressed.

I actually wished I could have seen everyone moving so fast, but I had my eyes closed the entire time and was completely focused on relaxation! We left the house at 1:06am and arrived Kennestone at 1:21am. Our midwife met us at the front door – she had pulled our chart, grabbed a wheel chair (and birth kit – just in case). When we went to triage, I was 8 cm dilated. We had six contractions in LDR before I began to push.

Logan was born in three strong pushes. All during my pregnancy, the children called the baby “frisco” which was interpreted to mean it’s a boy – again, they were right. Logan weighed 9 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21½ inches. The whole labor was 95 minutes – we were moving fast the WHOLE time!!

For more information on The Bradley Method^®, for an international listing of instructors, or to contact the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth^® directly, please contact: The Bradley Method^®, Box 5224, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5224 - (800) 4-A-BIRTH or (818) 788-6662 - www.bradleybirth.com