Birth Story
My due date was Aug. 2nd, so I was ready but not overly anxious when I woke around 5am Tuesday with contractions coming about 10 minutes apart. I waited an hour before I woke my husband and we decided to just continue our day like we normally would just in case this was a false alarm. My daughter woke up soon after and we all got ready for our day and put the family on "red alert". By 8:00 my contractions were stronger and about 5 minutes apart. Luckily at this point we were on our way to take our daughter to the sitter and by the time we dropped her off I called my midwife to let her know we were on the way to the hospital. Contractions were strong but not unbearable, but were coming closer together so I wanted to get to my midwife as soon as possible. I was so excited but still unwilling to believe I was truly in labor until Nicole told me that I was!
When I got to the hospital, my entire family was already there waiting for me in the waiting room- no surprise there, we do everything together! We were all laughing and joking around while I filled out paperwork and the women behind the desk must have thought I was in the early stages and were unsure as to whether I was actually going to be admitted or sent home. By the time I got into the room and was monitored by the nurse while my midwife was on her way, it was 9:00am. Nicole got there soon after and checked me and I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was 8cm, 100% effaced and the baby was at 0 station! Yay! He was on his way! I was still feeling really good between contractions although they were getting stronger and longer. I moved around a lot and my husband was applying counter pressure to my back during contractions. He was so supportive and really remembered everything we learned in our Conscious Birthing class! My mother was there as well, a little nervous, but very supportive. The whole concept of a natural childbirth was a little scary to her. After spending a few minutes on the birth ball, I got into the tub and that felt great. But quickly I started feeling pressure in my bottom getting more intense. Nicole checked me and I was fully dilated! I got out of the tub and immediately got on hands and knees and started pushing. That was really intense and as I told Nicole, the phrase "urge to push" is the biggest understatement ever. It is so much more than an "urge"! Its a necessity. When my arms were tired I moved to side lying position and my son was crowning before long. The "ring of fire" phase was really tough because we were doing small pushes to ease him out slowly in the hopes of minimizing tearing since I had previous scar tissue from my first birth in which I received an episiotomy. But before I knew it, his head was out, I saw that sweet face and the rest of him followed quickly. It was amazing and beautiful and the best, hardest thing I have ever done. He was born at 12:01pm, just 3 hours of hospital laboring! A big healthy boy at 8lbs 12 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.
Thank you so much for the education and help concerning childbirth. It was invaluable and key in my having a natural experience.