Central Texas Birth Center

Sally Pierce Leissner is an amazingly talented massage and cranial sacral therapist. The benefits of cranial sacral therapy include better alignment for baby at the breast, release of jaw and cranial muscles and a better latch which will also benefit the nursing relationship. Call Sally at (512) 964-9031

What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing

Benedict H. made his arrival on Friday, September 8 bright and early in the morning. Honestly I’m not sure anymore how much over my “due date” he was, but he came when he was ready.

For about six weeks leading up to his birth, i started experiencing Braxton Hicks and belly tightening. Sleep was harder to come by just because these sensations happened at night while I tried to sleep. I was convinced he would’ve come earlier than he did. But nope.

When it finally did come, my labor was unpredictable and intense but also… slow and calm. It got serious enough that I called my doula and said “I’m not really sure, but I think maybe it’s getting to be that time?” She came over around 11:30PM and after hanging out and chatting for a bit- her, Alex, and me, laid on couches and tried to sleep in the living room until things picked up (around 3.) My mom was sleeping with Rosie in the other room, so thankfully I was able to rest a little easier knowing she was well taken care of.

Around 4:30AM (I think) is when the rest of the team joined - mom, midwives, and photographer. My labor finally became consistent and intense. My midwife occasionally checked on little bebe in there just to make sure everything was going well and my doula was applying counter pressure while Alex rubbed my shoulders. Like last time, I ended up puking a lot more than I thought which totally sucked but everything else was right on track. I didn’t use any birthing “tricks” other than to keep my voice low, breathe, and try to relax every muscle in my body. Total mind game. The whole team was all hands on deck around 5:45 when it was finally time to get in the tub.

My water broke at 6:02 and Ben came out all at once at 6:07AM.

Rosie joined the party at 7:09, right as the sun was starting to rise and shine through our back windows. She immediately loved her baby brother and gave him pats and gentle kisses on his head.

The whole team was essential to the success of little Ben’s birth. I don’t think I could’ve done it without them. We are happy and healthy and recovering together. 💙

Judaea’s Birth

Somewhere around 26 weeks I started suspecting our baby was breech. Having had a breech baby before, the kicks / movements felt all too familiar. We tried all of the things to get her to turn, chiropractor twice a week, inversions, spinning babies techniques, swimming 3-5 times a week, ECV. But nothing happened.

At 40 wks 2 days I started having some very sporadic contractions throughout the day, nothing consistent and so we just went about our day. I took my kids for an afternoon swim from 3:30-5:00 (still trying to turn that baby) I had a few random contractions while swimming that still didn’t seem like real labor contractions. I headed inside right at 5 o’clock to shower and get dinner going.

I went out to hang up my wet clothes and I remember praying right then that if I was going to go into labor, my water would break so that I would know to text Salli since she is an hour away.

At 5:30 Colton was just headed out the door to make an H-E-B run with our kids when I had an intense contraction and my water broke. Colton called Salli and she headed over right away. He also texted my mom who came and picked up our kids.

After my water broke I had strong contractions but still sporadic, 2 in a five minute span and then nothing for 10-15 minutes etc. Suddenly I started feeling the need to be on my hands and knees for a few very intense contractions which made me nervous so I started praying during each one that God would protect our baby and Salli would make it before I had the urge to push.

Salli got here right at 6:35 and I moved to my bed (still on elbows and knees) where she checked me and to my complete surprise and relief said I was at a 9.5. After a few more contractions I told Salli “I’m feeling like I need to push” and she said “go for it.”

I was very grateful that Salli kept me very informed as our baby made her appearance, it helped me visualize what was happening.

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