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| Dana M. Pase, AAHCC (301) 868-4415 danapase@birthyourway.net |
Disclaimer: This website contains information about The Bradley Method® classes available in the Northern VA/Southern MD area and is not the
official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this website do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the
American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth®. 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 see www.bradleybirth.com or call 1-800-4-A-BIRTH or write American
Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth Box 5224 Sherman Oaks, CA 91412-5224.
official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this website do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the
American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth®. 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 see www.bradleybirth.com or call 1-800-4-A-BIRTH or write American
Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth Box 5224 Sherman Oaks, CA 91412-5224.
WITH THE FORCE OF A LION
The Birth of My Son Dillon Michael
I had the opportunity to take my birth classes with Dana Pase. Every Sunday afternoon from February until May,
my husband and I would arrive at Dana’s house for our class. There were days when I was sick or tired, but we
still would come and I am so glad we did.
It was in these classes that I was given the tools to have an awesome birth experience. On Friday, May 14, 2010
Dillon Michael was born at the Washington Hospital Center with Whitney Pinger as my midwife. I felt so in control
through this entire birth experience. I never imagined that it would be this way. People were amazed at how
knowledgeable I was. I was able to make informed decisions and I was able to bring my son into this world. I
really feel that I did it and that Whitney was just there to make sure there were no mishaps. Each class with
Dana provided a wealth of information for me. I was able to know what was happening at each phase and this
gave me such a calmness. I really feel that our having the education in the Bradley Method® contributed to my
labor and delivery taking only 5 hours.
At around 10 pm on Thursday, May 13, 2010, my husband and I put the finishing touches on the nursery. We
were looking forward to the fact that my mother-in-law would be arriving the next day. My due date was not
supposed to be until May 27, 2010. At 12 am, I started having a little cramp. I went to the bathroom and I noticed
mucus on blood in the toilet. I told my husband that I thought my mucus plug had just come out. I remembered
hearing that even if I lose my mucus plug, delivery may still be a long way off. By 1 am, water started flowing from
me like a faucet. I called my doula and told her what was happening and she said that it looks like I may be
going into labor. She encouraged me to get as much sleep as possible. I went to bed until around 7 am and my
contractions started becoming more painful and closer together. My doula called and suggested that I started
heading to the hospital. She also suggested that I call my midwife. My midwife wanted me to get to the hospital,
because my water had already broken. I looked in the mirror and my hair was a mess! I knew that if I did not
wash and do my hair it may be days before I get it done and then I would look a mess when people came to see
me and the baby. I also did not want to look messy during labor. Labor can make you look crazy enough! SO! I
hopped in the shower, washed my hair and then braided it. In order to relax while I braided my hair through
some painful contractions, I decided to close my bedroom door, put on some calming music (nature sounds,
instrumentals, etc.) I walked around my room naked, breathing deeply while listening to soft music and slowly
braided each little braid. It was now around 10 am. My mom rushed into my bedroom (she had driven over) and
took one look at me and said, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!? You’re in labor and you’re braiding your hair with no
clothes on!!!???” I looked at my mom and said, “Mom calm down. At the Bradley class, I learned that delivery may
be a ways off.” I could tell by some of the signs that I had a little time. My cousin came over and she’s like, “Why
are you so calm???” I felt calm, because I KNEW what was going on! What an incredible feeling! I was not afraid!
Anyway, I finished my hair and got dressed. My husband made soup for me and we sat down to eat. Then we
piled into the car and went to the hospital. It was about 11 am.
When I got to the hospital, my contractions had calmed down a little, so I was able to walk to “Labor and
Delivery”. The on call midwife examined me and I was only 1 cm dialated. At that time it was 1 pm. It was
suggested that since my water broke, that I should induce. My husband asked them to give us time to think about
it. Meanwhile he took me on a walk down the hall. We discussed our options. He talked to the midwife some
more and we decided to allow them to give me antibiotics in order to protect the baby from infection (since my
water broke), but that we were going to give my body at least 24 hours to deliver the baby. If I hadn’t progressed
in 24 hours then we would discuss more options. My husband encouraged me. I love him! He told me that he
knew that I wanted to do this naturally and he wanted to do everything to support me in having the birth that I
desired. After our walk, we went back to my room and all of a sudden the contractions started picking up again.
One after the other with no break. The pain was incredible! My midwife arrived and examined me again. It was 5
pm and I was 5 cm dialated. I was excited about the progress. At 1 pm I was only 1 cm and it has been known for
it to take forever to dialate much further from 1 cm. My midwife thought it would probably be morning before I
delivered, so she ran a hot shower. The pain was horrible, but I kept pacing and rocking and going in and out of
the shower. My husband massaged my back and held my hand. I did not want him to stop massaging me. It was
one of the main things that comforted me. My doula was there for me too. Sometimes the pain was so bad that I
wanted to give up, but she kept cheering me on. I went into the shower one more time around 6 pm. And all of a
sudden I had the urge to use the bathroom. Without even thinking, I grabbed onto the rails in the shower and
squatted down. My doula looked at me and noticed that transition was taking place. I was no longer whining in
pain, but I was growling and had this strange sense of power come over me. The doula ran to get the midwife.
They both got me out of the shower and placed me on the bed. My husband pulled one of my legs back and my
doula got the other leg. My midwife examined me and I was fully dilated and the head was right at the opening!
They told me to do whatever I felt was natural and so I pushed. I pushed with all of my might. At 6:45 pm Dillon
Michael roared into the world. The nurses and everyone said that was a record breaking birth!
This summary of my experience doesn’t seem to do the event justice, but I will say that the Bradley Method®
gave me power over the pain…over the fear…over the uncertainty. It was this knowledge that gave me the
strength to bring my precious baby into the world and for that I am so thankful. Dillon’s name means “Like a lion”
and with the force and fierceness of a lion, he came into this world.
The Birth of My Son Dillon Michael
I had the opportunity to take my birth classes with Dana Pase. Every Sunday afternoon from February until May,
my husband and I would arrive at Dana’s house for our class. There were days when I was sick or tired, but we
still would come and I am so glad we did.
It was in these classes that I was given the tools to have an awesome birth experience. On Friday, May 14, 2010
Dillon Michael was born at the Washington Hospital Center with Whitney Pinger as my midwife. I felt so in control
through this entire birth experience. I never imagined that it would be this way. People were amazed at how
knowledgeable I was. I was able to make informed decisions and I was able to bring my son into this world. I
really feel that I did it and that Whitney was just there to make sure there were no mishaps. Each class with
Dana provided a wealth of information for me. I was able to know what was happening at each phase and this
gave me such a calmness. I really feel that our having the education in the Bradley Method® contributed to my
labor and delivery taking only 5 hours.
At around 10 pm on Thursday, May 13, 2010, my husband and I put the finishing touches on the nursery. We
were looking forward to the fact that my mother-in-law would be arriving the next day. My due date was not
supposed to be until May 27, 2010. At 12 am, I started having a little cramp. I went to the bathroom and I noticed
mucus on blood in the toilet. I told my husband that I thought my mucus plug had just come out. I remembered
hearing that even if I lose my mucus plug, delivery may still be a long way off. By 1 am, water started flowing from
me like a faucet. I called my doula and told her what was happening and she said that it looks like I may be
going into labor. She encouraged me to get as much sleep as possible. I went to bed until around 7 am and my
contractions started becoming more painful and closer together. My doula called and suggested that I started
heading to the hospital. She also suggested that I call my midwife. My midwife wanted me to get to the hospital,
because my water had already broken. I looked in the mirror and my hair was a mess! I knew that if I did not
wash and do my hair it may be days before I get it done and then I would look a mess when people came to see
me and the baby. I also did not want to look messy during labor. Labor can make you look crazy enough! SO! I
hopped in the shower, washed my hair and then braided it. In order to relax while I braided my hair through
some painful contractions, I decided to close my bedroom door, put on some calming music (nature sounds,
instrumentals, etc.) I walked around my room naked, breathing deeply while listening to soft music and slowly
braided each little braid. It was now around 10 am. My mom rushed into my bedroom (she had driven over) and
took one look at me and said, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!? You’re in labor and you’re braiding your hair with no
clothes on!!!???” I looked at my mom and said, “Mom calm down. At the Bradley class, I learned that delivery may
be a ways off.” I could tell by some of the signs that I had a little time. My cousin came over and she’s like, “Why
are you so calm???” I felt calm, because I KNEW what was going on! What an incredible feeling! I was not afraid!
Anyway, I finished my hair and got dressed. My husband made soup for me and we sat down to eat. Then we
piled into the car and went to the hospital. It was about 11 am.
When I got to the hospital, my contractions had calmed down a little, so I was able to walk to “Labor and
Delivery”. The on call midwife examined me and I was only 1 cm dialated. At that time it was 1 pm. It was
suggested that since my water broke, that I should induce. My husband asked them to give us time to think about
it. Meanwhile he took me on a walk down the hall. We discussed our options. He talked to the midwife some
more and we decided to allow them to give me antibiotics in order to protect the baby from infection (since my
water broke), but that we were going to give my body at least 24 hours to deliver the baby. If I hadn’t progressed
in 24 hours then we would discuss more options. My husband encouraged me. I love him! He told me that he
knew that I wanted to do this naturally and he wanted to do everything to support me in having the birth that I
desired. After our walk, we went back to my room and all of a sudden the contractions started picking up again.
One after the other with no break. The pain was incredible! My midwife arrived and examined me again. It was 5
pm and I was 5 cm dialated. I was excited about the progress. At 1 pm I was only 1 cm and it has been known for
it to take forever to dialate much further from 1 cm. My midwife thought it would probably be morning before I
delivered, so she ran a hot shower. The pain was horrible, but I kept pacing and rocking and going in and out of
the shower. My husband massaged my back and held my hand. I did not want him to stop massaging me. It was
one of the main things that comforted me. My doula was there for me too. Sometimes the pain was so bad that I
wanted to give up, but she kept cheering me on. I went into the shower one more time around 6 pm. And all of a
sudden I had the urge to use the bathroom. Without even thinking, I grabbed onto the rails in the shower and
squatted down. My doula looked at me and noticed that transition was taking place. I was no longer whining in
pain, but I was growling and had this strange sense of power come over me. The doula ran to get the midwife.
They both got me out of the shower and placed me on the bed. My husband pulled one of my legs back and my
doula got the other leg. My midwife examined me and I was fully dilated and the head was right at the opening!
They told me to do whatever I felt was natural and so I pushed. I pushed with all of my might. At 6:45 pm Dillon
Michael roared into the world. The nurses and everyone said that was a record breaking birth!
This summary of my experience doesn’t seem to do the event justice, but I will say that the Bradley Method®
gave me power over the pain…over the fear…over the uncertainty. It was this knowledge that gave me the
strength to bring my precious baby into the world and for that I am so thankful. Dillon’s name means “Like a lion”
and with the force and fierceness of a lion, he came into this world.
Anika & Damon