Quote:

---

8/5/2006

07:35 AM PST

Asia Carrera: Unassisted Home Birth

the complete details


--on the web

posted on blogher.com: Earlier this summer, I read a story about former adult movie star Asia Carrera on Margaret Cho's blog that made my heart snap in two. Cho shared that Carrera's beloved husband, Donald Lemmon, was killed in a car accident in early June. He left behind a very pregnant Asia Carrera (just two months away from giving birth to their son) and their toddler daughter, Catty.

I've been fascinated with Asia Carrera for a long time. I felt I could relate to her somehow because she's half Asian like I am. I admit that's why she first caught my attention, but that's where the similarities end. In addition to having a successful porn career, Carrera is a MENSA member and a former college professor. And, since we're sharing, she is probably indirectly responsible for at least one of my two children, probably both. (And I bet I'm not the only one who can say that...)

Carrera posts on asiacarrera.com: 07/31 - Guess who showed up 11 days early? Baby Donny was born at home this morning at 10:35am, to me (all by myself with Catty) after 2 hours of labor. Mommy and baby are doing fine, in fact, I feel great! I was back on my computer 2 hours after the baby was born to let everyone know the news! That is the short version of the story, and usually all that most guys want to hear, LOL! If you want to read the full birth story (and I mean all the ewww stuff that girls talk about and guys run screaming from the room when they hear it) and see some more pics, then you can read the full birth story HERE:

"I woke up this morning at 8:30 am having contractions. From the start they were 5 minutes apart, and I just knew, today's the day, here we go...

My dream was originally to have the baby at home alone with my husband Don, but as you all know, that dream got shattered to bits. So after two widwives offered their services for free, I figured that was the route I would take. But I couldn't get over my disappointment at not having the unassisted birth with DH that I wanted, so I decided like 2 weeks ago to just try and go it alone, with Donny watching over me from his place on the mantel.

So this morning I'm puttering around, laying out a shower curtain on the floor beneath the mantel, then a sheet over it, then towels and chux pads to absorb everything. I sat on the toilet for a while and contracted there, while Catty explored the birthing area.

Then I decided to try laboring in the shower and rubbing my belly while I contracted, because that helped a lot last time. Not this time. We got out of the shower pretty quickly, and brushed our teeth and I put a diaper on Catty, contracting all the while.

Now it was 9:30, I'd been in labor one hour, and nothing seemed to be helping. After my last labor which took 62 hours, I was starting to panic about how bad the contractions were getting this early in the game. So I ate half a piece of bread, and drank a protein shake for energy, then I struggled into my bikini and headed outside to get the cover off the pool. I climbed into the water, and WTF?? It was COLD!! Not relaxing at all!!

I settled down to see what contractions in the water felt like, and the answer was "not good". I clawed at the edge of the pool and nearly bit a hole in the plastic. Catty climbed into the pool with me, fully dressed, diaper and all, so I had to try to undress her and make sure she didn't drown while I kept contracting. Ugh. Ok, pool didn't work, shower didn't work, toilet didn't work, I was in pain, and I wanted an epidural!! NOW!!

I managed to drag myself inside to the phone, where I called the midwife's cellphone. She didn't answer. Panic! I called her home number, finally her son answered and I was shouting at Catty to quit crawling all over me so she's crying and I'm moaning and panting, and the midwife gets on the phone and hears us, and says "I'll be right over!"

So my plan now is for the midwife to take Catty to her babysitter's place, and then take me to the hospital. I crawl around gathering up Catty's things, get her dressed in dry clothes, fill up a sippy cup, all the while stopping to bend over and howl every 3 minutes.

Then I feel like I have to use the toilet again, so I sit there and contract, but I'm pushing at the same time - great pressure in the butt region, like I'm taking the world's biggest poo. I wipe with some T.P. and check, there's no poo - something tells me to get back to my birthing area under the mantel, so I do.

It's now 10:30, I've been in labor for 2 hours. Where's the !@?#$@( midwife??? I kneel over my birthing area and no doubt about it, each contraction is making me push for real. Baby on the way! Then there was a pop! and fluid gushed out of me. I looked down, my water had broken all over the towels. It wasn't clear fluid, but not much I could do about that now! Baby moving down inside me...

For an instant I'm scared, as I feel the head crowning, but I shouted, "Donny, give me strength!" and he did! Two contractions and the head was out! Then I thought to myself, isn't this the part where the rest of it just "slips out real easy"? But no such luck.

The baby's head was there wiggling, I could feel it, but it wasn't just "slipping out", he was stopping to rotate, which is normal, but I couldn't see down there, so I started thinking he was stuck for a panicky minute or two. And it really only was a minute before the next contraction came, and SQUIP! Out came the baby!

And there I was, sitting there in my living room, holding a little baby boy I had just delivered all by myself. With Donny watching down over us, of course.

The baby sounded like he had some fluid still in him, so I used my mouth and sucked out his nose and mouth so he could breathe. I turned him upside down and thumped his back, then sucked again. And viola! He said, "Waaaaahhhh!"

Catty came running in from the TV room when she heard the squawky little cries of the baby. She stopped in her tracks and stared. Then she said "baby! baby!" and came running up to examine him closer. I wrapped the little guy up in a blanket and then took some pics of Catty and the baby checking each other out, and then the doorbell rang.

I stuffed a towel between my legs, went to the front door, peeped my head around at the midwife, and said, "I don't need you anymore, you can go home!" And she was like, "well at least let me check you..." Then I threw open the door and there's me, Catty, and Baby Donny in my arms! She nearly fell over in shock! LOL!

So the midwife cleaned up most of the mess and gave the baby a bath while I took a shower. I got on the scale and I weighed 3 pounds less than my PP weight! Heh!! Then I came downstairs and we weighed and measured the baby. I only gained 7 pounds this pregnancy, but baby Donny weighed 8 pounds, 10 oz! The same exact weight that Catty was! (and I gained 40 pounds with her!) If this kid had been born on his due date, or 6 days late like Catty was, I would have had the 9-lb baby I was hoping for, darnit! Oh well, close enough, eh?

Just like last time, I'm healthy as an ox, no complaints. No tears or any damage down below, either. The midwife took Catty to the babysitter she uses for her kids, and Catty will spend the day there while I get some down time. I'll go pick Catty up tonight, I guess.

No, I don't have anyone here with me, as we weren't expecting him until the 11th, but I'm glad I'm all alone. It will give me some time to see whether I can handle the newborn and Catty together by myself or not.

Right now, I feel like a million bucks. Right now, I feel like I can take on the world! Hell, I delivered a baby all by myself, and I feel great! Now if only raising the baby can be as easy as having it... wish me luck - I'm gonna need it!

Today comes news that Asia Carrera gave birth to a healthy baby boy (named Donny after his father) on July 31 via unassisted homebirth. That's right: at home, with no one else there to help her. (Her daughter was there). Carrera shares Donny's incredible birth story here.

---

Quote:

---

http://www.lukeisback.com/archives/updates/060630.htm

06/26 - Today was a pretty good day. It's a little after 9 pm and I haven't even cried yet today. That's a first so far. I was able to take Catty out to do some stuff today because my loyal assistant dictator bought Catty a dvd player for the car. She loves it - thank you me2!

At least she's got her priorities straight and is only spending money on important things that they really need.

---

Quote:

---

Alrighty then, call me square but I'm gonna say it.

---

To be truly square Gia, you would have to have been kept in a special box from birth, like a square watermelon. Then you would be like a cube person or something.

Personally, I prefer your current shape...

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Alrighty then, call me square but I'm gonna say it.

---

To be truly square Gia, you would have to have been kept in a special box from birth, like a square watermelon. Then you would be like a cube person or something.

Personally, I prefer your current shape...

---

Quote:

---

Alrighty then, call me square but I'm gonna say it. CHILDREN DON'T NEED DVD PLAYERS TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED IN THE CAR!

You know what they need?

BOOKS!!!

---

Quote:

---

Plus, Nascar would get really boring with all chicks driving while putting on their makeup and gossiping on the phone with each other and stuff.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

http://www.lukeisback.com/archives/updates/060630.htm

06/26 - Today was a pretty good day. It's a little after 9 pm and I haven't even cried yet today. That's a first so far. I was able to take Catty out to do some stuff today because my loyal assistant dictator bought Catty a dvd player for the car. She loves it - thank you me2!

At least she's got her priorities straight and is only spending money on important things that they really need.

---

Alrighty then, call me square but I'm gonna say it. CHILDREN DON'T NEED DVD PLAYERS TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED IN THE CAR!

You know what they need?

BOOKS!!!

That's right...books. I don't care if Catty's only 2-yrs-old. Start with picture books and work your way up. Asia's assistant meant well, but wasn't thinking.

---

Quote:

---

preach on sister, preach on. people need to read more. books are amazing things.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

http://www.lukeisback.com/archives/updates/060630.htm

06/26 - Today was a pretty good day. It's a little after 9 pm and I haven't even cried yet today. That's a first so far. I was able to take Catty out to do some stuff today because my loyal assistant dictator bought Catty a dvd player for the car. She loves it - thank you me2!

At least she's got her priorities straight and is only spending money on important things that they really need.

---

Alrighty then, call me square but I'm gonna say it. CHILDREN DON'T NEED DVD PLAYERS TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED IN THE CAR!

You know what they need?

BOOKS!!!

That's right...books. I don't care if Catty's only 2-yrs-old. Start with picture books and work your way up. Asia's assistant meant well, but wasn't thinking.

---

preach on sister, preach on. people need to read more. books are amazing things.

---

Quote:

---

but a book in a kids hand doesn't look as 'cute' as one watching a dvd in back seat. dammit! do you people not worry what others think!?!?!?

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

preach on sister, preach on. people need to read more. books are amazing things.

---

That's how my mom kept me quiet in the car, in stores, and on airplanes. That shit works.

---

Quote:

---

Kids watch waaay too much TV these days, it's sickening.

---

especially a 2 year old...she should be lookin around groovin on the real world as her mommy drives around visiting slot machines or whatever. I believe that it isnt even recommended that kids this young watch any TV let alone in the damn car! Crazy world!

and yeah Books ist teh Bomb!!!!

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

preach on sister, preach on. people need to read more. books are amazing things.

---

That's how my mom kept me quiet in the car, in stores, and on airplanes. That shit works.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

preach on sister, preach on. people need to read more. books are amazing things.

---

That's how my mom kept me quiet in the car, in stores, and on airplanes. That shit works.

---

If books fail, try duct tape. Books worked for me, but modern kids might benefit more from duct taped mouths and a few lashes from a cat-o-nine tails.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

preach on sister, preach on. people need to read more. books are amazing things.

---

That's how my mom kept me quiet in the car, in stores, and on airplanes. That shit works.

---

If books fail, try duct tape. Books worked for me, but modern kids might benefit more from duct taped mouths and a few lashes from a cat-o-nine tails.

---

I have a photography book with a small section on doing portrait photography for children in it, and one of the tips the author gives for dealing with kids who won't keep their hands still is to tape their index fingers together!

Quote:

---

SQUIP! Out came the baby!

---

Quote:

---

That's how my mom kept me quiet in the car, in stores, and on airplanes. That shit works.

---