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Birth Stories
John Ralston
After I was “term” – 37 weeks—I spent a lot of time getting ready for baby to come—taking evening primrose oil to ripen my cervix, washing baby clothes, walking, yoga, writing thank you notes. I was checked at around 37 weeks and found to be 1 cm dilated and about 50% effaced. I started having more regular Braxton Hicks contractions. I felt ready for the baby to come!
After waiting 12 days past the due date I was feeling even more ready for the baby to come. Every day past June 28th had been hard---more mentally than physically—I think there is something about passing the due date—That was hard--- everyone starts calling.
After the due date, I started doing more things to bring on labor, I went to the accupuncturist, massage. In my checks with my wonderful midwives at MCV I was now around 3 cm dilated and more effaced—75%. I expected the baby to come any day—But he did not. I began having runs of stronger contractions, but they would peter out after about half an hour. At 41 weeks and 1 day (July 6), we started the non-stress tests. He passed with flying colors—moving great, plenty of amniotic fluid. Monday the 9th I went in for another appointment and things looked great. I was feeling emotional because I knew that we would need to induce on Thursday the 12th because I would be at 42 weeks. Tuesday the 10th I went in for another non-stress test and his amniotic fluid levels had dropped dramatically and the doctor and midwife agreed that I needed to be induced that day. I felt very upset about this because I really wanted to have a natural, intervention free birth. But, I knew that this was true “induction for medical reasons” and so felt resigned to it. When I called my Doula and yoga instructor Mary Jo, she reminded me that even if I was induced, I could still have the birth I wanted, just like her story. This gave me hope and courage to continue down the natural birth path in spite of the IV and extra monitoring that Pitocin induction requires.
I was told around nine in the morning about the induction—so we went home, took a nice shower, a nap, ate a hearty meal, had some alone time with my husband and then headed to hospital around 12. My wonderful midwife Kathryn met me in the waiting room and we started the Pitocin around 1:30. The nurses were wonderful and supportive of my wishes for natural birth. They changed my IV location right away when it started feeling uncomfortable. I turned the room into my home away from home, inviting my mother and sister to be with me in early labor. We watched movies, ate nutritious food, and I napped while the contractions started. They were very mild at first and I was glad to be able to eat and drink and act like I was at home.
Around six thirty the contractions started getting more intense and my mom and sister were politely asked by the midwife and not so politely by me to leave the room when I told faith to “shut up” when she encouraged me about the contractions. Matt called the Doula and asked her to come. The midwife suggested that I walk and so I walked through the halls. Mary Jo met us in the hallway as I was leaning over Kathryn and breathing through contractions. I was making a little bit of noise at that point. The contractions were painful but the most annoying thing was the monitoring belt which kept track of contractions and the baby’s heartbeat. Because of the pitocin this monitoring had to be constant. Because I was moving around so much during contractions, the monitors would often lose the baby’s heart rate and the nurse or midwife would have to readjust the band on my belly. I eventually decided to ignore the monitor and asked Matt to watch the monitor and they turned the sound down so that we wouldn’t worry about the baby every time the heartbeat was lost.
The labor gradually intensified. Kathryn told me at around five that we would check my cervix at ten. She also told me that at twelve noon the next day, she had to leave and Margie (the other midwife) wasn’t available either, so she hoped we had the baby before then. That gave me good expectations that the labor would probably last a while.
The labor gets a little blurry from there. From seven to ten I moved around a lot. Labor gradually got more and more intense. I made more and more noise with each contraction. At several points I felt like I wasn’t getting a break between contractions and so they turned down the pitocin. I moved from walking the halls to the birth ball to squatting. I briefly lay down on my side in the bed, but that was not comfortable, so I quickly gave that up. I also took little breaks every once in a while to pee—and I would sort of plan it so I would have a contraction in the bathroom—somehow it was a break for me. I also drank cold gatorade all through labor—I needed the break and I was thirsty! At ten we got on the bed and checked my cervix. I was seven centimeters and 100% effaced—She also said something about my bag of water bulging but I brushed her off because another contraction was coming. They said—you are having this baby tonight, but I didn’t believe them. The thing about contractions—they are really intense, but you definitely get a break in between each one—We would talk and chat “normally.” During each contraction, I just focused on letting go everywhere—relaxing,-- using good yoga circles and breathing—just to expand and let everything go. I also vocalized to give me an outlet for the pain. I remembered us practicing low birthing sounds in yoga, so I tried to keep the sounds low. Kathryn and Mary Jo, my husband Matt and wonderful nurse Kylie did a great job of comforting me during contractions by rubbing my back and legs—helping me to relax. They were so encouraging and told me that I was making great birthing sounds and movements. The only person I really liked talking to me during contractions was Kathryn. Somehow it was reassuring from her to hear that I was doing well. I also said—this hurts—and Kathryn and Mary Jo both agreed with me—it hurts—they said you are doing the work of labor and you are having this baby tonight. It was reassuring to hear from them that I could do it—that I was doing it—There was never a question in their minds that I could have this baby. I also really needed Matt. I could not have done it without his support and presence. I swayed with him through some contractions and always wanted him right there with me. He really liked the few kisses I gave him during labor—right after a really hard contraction and so did I. I remember at one point I was walking the halls and they said—Kylie is moving the bassinette into the room for your baby—I just didn’t believe them. I couldn’t believe it was really going to happen, I just focused on each contraction.
At around eleven I was circling on the birthing ball and felt like I had peed—a lot—or maybe my water had broken. I started pushing a little at that point because I pushed my water out. She checked me then and said I was at 10 cm and the baby was 2 cm from my vagina. She said—all I had to do now was push this baby out. She said to wait until I was ready to push. So I went through a few more contractions on the ball and pushed a little bit. Then I moved onto the back of the bed—draped over it and pushed for a few more contractions, but I was feeling too tired. So I moved onto my side—propped up a little bit. The focus of my voice changed now—instead of relaxing—I pushed—everything while at the same time relaxing all my vagina muscles. They started to feel the head—and I eventually felt it. A few more pushes and Jack’s head popped out. Kathryn saw that the chord was wrapped around his head so she quickly unwrapped it. It’s a good thing she was able to work quickly because a few pushes later, at 11:31 John Ralston “Jack” was born. It was amazing and wonderful and overwhelming—I couldn’t believe this was our baby--- and that I had pushed him out. I had one small tear--- that required a stitch but am feeling great—just really tired—but loving motherhood, nursing and everything.
I feel so blessed by God with this beautiful little boy and such a wonderful birth.
Catherine