Induction with Pitocin and help from a doula.



I was 2 days past my edd but my DH had to travel out of the country so
I was stuck being induced. I wouldn't let my M/W break my water
so it did drag on a bit. Labor started around 8:30AM with me
starting to feel it around 12:30pm. Soon after, I got on the
birthing ball and started rolling my hips through the ctxs. Once
they got so intense that I could no longer manage the rolling on my
own, my DH helped seeing as I had my head against his shoulders not
letting him go anyway.



I had pressure in my back with each ctx so my doula would provide
counter pressure each time. She encouraged me to move around but
I really liked the birthing ball. I had asked for minimal vag
checks and my nurse was trying to oblige but I guess I should have
known to have her check a bit more.



Just before 5pm, the ctx were so intense I started saying I wanted an
epidural. I mustered up all of the strength I could to look my DH
in the eyes and tell him I wanted the epi. He allerted the nurse,
who started running around, because I had already stated I didn't want
one. She said she had to check me first but I couldn't get
up. All I kept thinking was that my M/W said she would give one
up to 9cm if it would help mom to relax. At this point, when I
had a ctx, I had to tell the doula to keep her hands off of me because
the counter pressure wasn't feeling good any longer.



Well, I finally stood up and got 1 foot in the bed when the next ctx
hit. My water broke with that ctx and the nurse started yelling
to get me into the bed before I delivered the baby while standing
up. She called the doctor from across the hall and told everyone
to get the M/W from the building next door. They told me to pant
during the ctx but I couldn't. My body wanted me to scream so I
let out a blood curtling scream as his head came out and then another
one when the rest of him came out. Pushing felt wonderful.
The doctor came from across the hall just in time to cut the cord and
suction him out and my M/W came in time to put the 1 stitch into me
that I needed.



Connor was born without the aid of doctors at 5:07PM on my dad's
birthday. I felt absolutely wonderful once he was born and he
nursed right away. If I could have, I would have left the
hospital with him right then I felt so good. We both did great
and came home the next day.

Induction with Pitocin and artificial rupture of membranes



Although I had wanted to be allowed to go into labor on my own with
Lauren, fate had other plans and I ended up needing to be
induced...again.



I got to the hospital and hooked up to the pitocin around 8:30am.
I was so tired that I fell asleep for the next few hours. Guess I
was so relaxed that even the pitocin could not get things started so I
agreed to let the doctor break my water. This happened at 11:30
and I started feeling the ctx about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes later.



We tried the birthing ball but that was NOT working with this
labor. The best position for me was with the ball on the bed and
me resting with my arms and upper torso leaning on the ball. I
couldn't stay that way very long because it was putting too much
pressure on my feet which were already swollen up to the size of
balloons. Laying in bed felt the really good.



Every time the nurses would pop in and ask me to lay on my right side,
I could feel myself open up more. They checked me at one point
and I was at 7cm so they asked me to turn onto my side again.
Immediately I felt myself open more so the nurse asked that my ob be
called (her office is in the hospital). She checked me again and
I was only at 7-1/2 so she told the nurses not to call after all.



Within a few minutes my doctor was there anyway saying that she had a
feeling I would go fast. Within 25 minutes of her showing up, I
had fully dialated, my DH got suited up to do the final delivery,
Lauren had popped out into her daddy's arms and the doc was ready to go
back to her other patience. Everyone was amazed with Lauren's
delivery because it went so fast and I was so in control (even though I
didn't always feel that way).



I felt wonderful after her birth and my throat didn't hurt from
screaming like it did from Connor's birth. She nured like a champ
and was immediately a daddy's girl because of my DH being able to be
the first one to hold her. I would recomend to any daddy
that doing the final delivery is a wonderful way to bond with your
child. They just don't break the bed down so that if the baby
gets dropped, baby won't go far. It was actually great for me
because that section of the bed was lowered, not taken off, and I had a
wonderful place to put my feet to push. She came out in 3 pushes,
at 1:35PM, and I didn't tear at all.

It was Sat Jan 13th 2006 we were out bus shopping all day. I had never felt to tired the whole day I just wanted to sleep. I finally got to bed at 11pm I got woken up by a bit of back pain at 1:20 am. I did not this much of it. I was already 1 week over past my due date I felt like she was never coming. I walked around the house for a while I did not feel really bad painful contractions I did not even think they were contractions. I tummy was getting soft and hard and every time that would happen I would get the back pain. Since I was already a week overdue I called the birthing center and they told me to go by and get checked. I woke DA and my mom and went in for a quick shower that's when I lost a big part of my mucus plug. So then I thought that this might be the real thing on the way to the birthing center I was really in denial that it was the real thing. or that I should even be going in now so "early in labor" since it was 2:30am by now. As soon as I got there the head midwife checked me and I was 6-7 cm.. I was shocked I went into the birthing tub I felt such a relief I felt as light as a feather 1 hr later I was 7-8 I honesty cant remember those contractions I just did not want to leave the tub any time i would try to get out I would get sharp pains in my back. by 8am I was 9cm and they broke my water I started pushing at 8:22 am and Antoinette was at 8:27am

Things at I think helped me

Taking it one contraction at a time.

Visualization I saw every time a contraction came on I felt/saw myself cover in this light purple light. the color of the room

The WATER I don't know how I would have handled my back labor with out the water

and the most important thing. not fighting your body. when the baby is ready to come your body really dose all the work if you let it

Spontaneous Labor with the Bradley Method (hospital with midwife)



Emma Beth
Arrival: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at

I had an unassisted homebirth. My birth story is featured on the homebirth section of Babyzone. Here it is:

http://www.babyzone.com/Birthstories/default.asp?StoryID=13005

Robin

Natural birth w/ midwife and a doula assistance in a hospital birth center (as i posted it on the message boards)









At my doctors appointment on Thursday, after telling my midwife how uncomfy and worried about the babies size I was, she striped my membranes, and told me that I was 2 cm. Well that evening at 10:30 pm I started having ctx that were about 3 ½ - 4 ½ minutes apart and that lasted for about 45 seconds (they NEVER got longer than that) at about 4:30 I called the birth center and they told me to come on in since I was GBS positive? Well we got there at about 5:30, and I was 3 cm, so they said they would keep me. My doula arrived around 8:30, and we started walking around. At 9:30, the next midwife checked me, and I was still only 3, and my ctx hadn?t really gotten any stronger on more frequent, so she said I have three options-I could go home, go down to labor and delivery to get pitocin, or if I wanted to stay on the birth center floor, she could give me castor oil, or break my water, and she was more comfortable with the prior, and since I didn?t want to go home or leave the birth center, I chose the castor oil. It wasn?t that bad-she mixed it with orange juice, and it didn?t really do anything, but I was doing ?something? which I needed to be doing in order to not go home, anyway? she told me that if I hadn?t made any progress in 2 to 3 hrs I would have to choose a different option. Well at 12:30 I was 4, so they said I got to stay. At that point my only real support was the doula, so I told dh to go to work ( we couldn?t really afford for him to not get paid, especially if he want really doing anything- you know?) so around 1:00 my dh and mom left the hospital, and I told them I would call them when I was at 7 cm, so they would have enough time to get back in time for the delivery. Well, at 2:30 I was 5-6 cm, and right at that time was when I was deciding that I couldn?t do this anymore- and was screaming at the midwife telling her that I was sorry, but I needed something for the pain, and she finally was getting ready to get something ( iv meds - if I wanted an epi they would send me to labor and delivery) and I was sitting on the birthing ball ( around 2:50) and I felt a pop by my belly button and screamed - what the hell was that- my water just broke? And I sat through a few more torturous ctx still yelling that I needed something, and the doula was telling the nurse, who said okay? all of a sudden I stood straight up and yelled that I had to go to the bath room(actually i said im gonna poop!), and they were telling me it was just the babies head, and I yelled at them that no, I was going to poop on their floor, I think I said it like 3 times, and the midwife finally came over and said- well you might be ready to push- oh yeah your 9, maybe 8, just a rim left( about 3:10)? and I freaked out saying- but my husband is at work, someone get my husband? oh, and give me some drugs- thinking I still had another hour or so?so the midwife said she wanted to check me lying down to get a better check ( I was standing during the first one) and so I stood up and immediately said nope, I gotta poop, im gonna poop - im gonna poop? and then I just felt something ( like I had to poop ) and told them I had to push. I was standing up holding on to my doula, one leg on the floor, and one leg on a stool. The midwife was asking, no yelling for a baby blanket, or something for the baby to lay on on the floor- and I started pushing and about 7 minutes later, out slid Micah Josephine Rebecca. She was born at 3:27 pm, 20 inches long and 8 lbs 4 oz? She was breathing a bit fast due to the fast delivery and lack of time to squish all of the fluid out of her lungs. But she is doing great. We left this morning around 10 30 am. You guys, I used to watch a baby story type shows, and laugh at all of the women who screamed their way through labor, and I was like 10 times worse, well at least for the last 1hour and a half? it hurt so bad, but it was only for a short time- and I thought I was going to die - I still cant believe that I did it without pain meds?I was horrible, I wish I had video of the way I was acting? Well- we are all good and I feel great- much better that after my son was born.

Oh- and my husband didn?t arrive until 4:30:( I have been thinking over the past few days about the overall experience of each of my births (epi / no epi, 48 hr labor / 18 hr labor, 2 ½ hrs pushing / 7 minutes pushing) etc and the recovery- which wasn?t horrible with ds, but I feel 200% better this time around- and I am starting tot hink that the pain ( it was only really really bad for about 1-2 hours) was worth the outcome?Thank you all for your support- I am still totally in shock that I was able to do this naturaly!!!

Natural birth using the Bradley Method

Birthing center with a midwife, MIL and DH as coaches.



I felt my first cramp on 11/21/2005 at around 12 am. I tried to sleep in between the cramps but I was too excited to sleep and I really couldn't sleep because I had to use the bathroom every 10-20 minutes. The cramps would come about every 10 minutes, they were very light. At around 3 am, I decided to eat something, in case I had a quick labor, and wanted to make sure I had some food in me before active labor. During this time I let my DH sleep. I stayed in my living room taking little naps and watching TV. I had an appt with my midwife in the morning, so I didn't bother to call her to let her know I was in labor. At around 8 Am, I called my midwife to let her know labor had started. I met with her for my appt at 10 am, of course my contractions nearly stopped when I walked into her office. I was 2 cm dilated so of course I went home. The contractions were a little stronger, not much, so I just went about my day, getting everything baby ready, walking around, eating and relaxing.



5 pm

My contractions started to come more frequent and stronger. I mainly stayed on my hands and knees, swaying back and forth or side to side during contractions. In between them I would just relax and watch TV. About an hour later we called my midwife to let her know that they were getting closer and stronger and decided to get to the birthing center. I live over an hour away and it was rush hour, if you've ever gone over the GW bridge from NY to Jersey, you'll understand why I had to go. I got to the center nearly 2 hours later. Of course my contractions tapered off when I did arrive.



Throughout the next several hours, I stayed in the shower and let the warm water hit my back, I had all back labor. I also listened to music on my MP3 player or focused on the ocean waves from my sound machine. I used the birthing ball alot, it really helped relieve the pressure. I walked around the birthing center and drank tons of water. I was so relaxed and didn't make a sound. Every time the nurse came into my room she would comment how good I was doing and that she couldn't believe I was in labor at all. I got myself into such a relaxed state that I honestly did not feel the contractions. I went with them instead of against them. I was even able to sleep in the tub for over an hour in active labor. When I got out of the tub my water broke and I delivered my son a few hours later. My DH and MIL only helped out when I really needed them towards the end, I mostly labored on my own.



Finally at a little after 5 am on 11/22/2005, I had the urge to push. My midwife helped by doing perineal massage (sp?).I pushed for 45 minutes and my son Tristan Avry was born at 6:10 am on 11/22 on his due date. He was 8 lbs, 7oz, 21 1/2 inches long. He was taken away quicky because he wasn't getting enough oxygen ( he had the cord around his neck), hearing him cry was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. He was brought to me after that cry and I was able to spend over and hour with him before they took him to the nursery, so I could nurse and bond with my son.



I had no meds and no interventions. The heartbeat was monitored every few hours. My midwife only examined me if I asked her to. I tested positive for Group B strep and had to have antibiotics every few hours for a few mins. Other than that, I had no restrictions and was able to labor on my own. It was a long labor, I was more tired than anything. It was the most beautiful and fulfilling experience of my life and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

"induced" with cytotec (cervical ripening) but no pain meds, very long labor at a birth center

(I
got 'induced' because I was 8 days overdue and I hadnt really
pre-dilated at all, she wanted to pre-dilate me, not put me into labor,
but it inadvertently did)







Name: Saoirse Noelle (pronounced Sair-sha) (is Irish-Gaelic meaning 'freedom')
Weight: 7lbs., 6.5 ozs
Length: 20 inches
Birthday: February 4, 2007




It was a mostly
natural birth, I got cytotec to help soften my cervix because I was 8
days overdue with no signs of labor starting anytime soon. I had taken
castor oil on day 7 overdue and all it did was clean me out, no
contractions-BTW I will NEVER do castor oil again that stuff is RANK
plus it didnt work! Also I received Stadol which the doctor who help
catch the baby said wasnt really a pain med just made you sleep which i
really needed since the labor was so long and you cant have effective
contractions without sleep. I'm glad I didnt receive any pain meds or
have a c-section. If this labor had occurred in a hospital I would
more than likely I think have ended up with a c-section and this story
would be MUCH different. So ladies though I dont wish a labor like
this upon anyone, it is possible. The birth center I went to was
great, they had everything I needed and supported me the whole way
through. I have been bragging about my 44 hours because I feel so
proud that I did it. It was really the most empowering thing I have
ever done in my life, it was worth it, just look at those pictures!





My
midwife suggested cytotec and I took her up on it. So that was completed on
Friday morning then after I laid there for 2 hours for it to work we went out
to eat at On the Border, it was about this time that my contractions started
but I didn?t think much of them as I thought they were just cramps from the
cytotec. Next we went to the mall and walked around for about two hours and I
got increasingly uncomfortable and had to stop walking when I had a contraction,
I still didn?t think this was it though because I didn?t want to get my hopes
up. So we went home and slept for a few hours and I woke up and the
contractions were stronger, now I knew it was time so I had Chris call Dr.
Josie since our midwife was not on call that weekend. We then drove back to Topeka
and I got checked but I was only at a three. I was obviously very tired and
Josie knew I wouldn?t get any sleep with my contractions getting stronger so
she gave me stadol to put me to sleep. It lasted about two hours and then I
labored at home for awhile until I told Chris to call Josie again. We went to Topeka
for the third time and I was only at a four
after five hours, I was very frustrated.
Josie let us stay this time at the birth center knowing labor could pick up
very soon and we?d have a baby. Probably sometime in the early afternoon on
Saturday, Josie suggested some more cytotec since I had only progressed to a
five. I agreed because I was so frustrated that I was not dilating and I was
sure that I would never get this baby out of me. The next two hours that I had
to lay in bed for the cytotec to work was horrid and I just wanted to get out
of bed and pee and move around. A few more times Josie gave me stadol to help
me sleep, overall I got four doses. Eventually I knew it was night time again
because everyone got really sleepy and stopped coming in to see me as often. On
Sunday morning I started having enormous hip pain and nothing would make it go
away. I fell asleep again with some Stadol and when I woke up I felt an urge to
push so I gave some small pushes with one contraction. The next one I did it
again and then I felt a gush, I thought I had had diarrhea all over the bed and
I felt so bad and I was about to cry when Sarah, the nurse, came in and said my
water had broken. She called Josie in and I got checked, Josie was pleasantly
surprised to find that I was complete since only about five hours earlier I had
only been a six. It seems that I had slept right through what they say is the
hardest part of labor (transition) though I think I might have felt some of it.
Finally it came time to push, once her head got past my pelvic bone it felt
better to push. They told me it took about 1.5 hours to push Saoirse out though
to me it seems like it took only 30 minutes at most. I felt down for a few
times and they kept saying she had a lot of hair. The last time I felt down I
said: ?Oh my, hair!? and they told me ?yes she has lots of hair!? The last
contraction to push her head out was fierce to say the least. I pushed and
pushed then wanted to stop but they told me to push one more time because her
head was almost out, I didn?t do it then my brain just overwhelmed all my
senses and told me to push, so I did and her head came out. It felt like a pop
and a big relief to have it out. I think I pushed just a bit more and then she
flew out they said. Later on they found it way Chris didn?t have time to catch
her like he wanted to after her head was out because her head was 14cm and her
shoulders were only 13cm. They lifted her up onto my belly and I tried to pull
her close to me but they told me to stop saying she had a short cord. So I just
stared and kept saying ?oh my god and ?hi baby?. I just felt very happy and
relieved, yet still a bit hazy. They waited for the cord to stop pulsing then
asked Chris is he wanted to cut her cord, before he had said he didn?t want to
so and now he seemed unsure and I kept asking him if he wanted me to do it and
then he just did it without looking. They gave her to Chris then I think and he
looked so happy and he was staring at her. Chris gave her to me again after th
placenta came out. Josie checked me for tears and there were only two tiny ones
on either side that would heal on their own. I attribute the primrose oil and
the perineal massage I had done every night since 36 weeks to not having tears.
She breastfed with some help from Sarah soon after the birth. Soon after Sarah
got me up and to the bathroom, we stayed at the birth center for about 3.5
hours looking at her and letting me get my head back. We all went home and fell
asleep, including Saoirse who slept peacefully between us on the bed. Josie
told me that I was very patient and self sufficient through out the whole thing
and I suppose I was because time seemed so much shorter to me then it really
was, it is crazy what the mind can do. Though it was a very long 44 hours of
labor I couldn?t ask for a more perfect baby. It is something I have always
wanted, a great husband and a child and to be happy. I have it all now and I think
it can only get better from here on out.

2
months later I have learned patience!! Patience to wait for your body
to work the way it is meant to be and not pushing it (like I did by
accepting the cytotec), and patience to let your baby be a baby (she
was very fussy the first month or so). Also, I learned the hard way
that doulas are invaluable because I didnt get one and now I regret it.
If you are going to do anything at all, get a doula, because no matter
how wonderful and great your husband, mom, sister, etc. are they are
not as experienced as a doula and they hurt to see you in pain while a
doula knows it is ok that you are in pain and focuses only on you and
not their own feelings. KWIM?

Good luck to everyone considering natural childbirth, it is worth it in the end.

-Megan & Saoirse

***Original Statement Edited by Host for Content***

I had 2 midwives attending my birth. I went into labour on my own on
our due date. I had no drugs for pain and was not hooked up to monitors
or given an IV because I labored at home (midwife used hand-held
doppler to check heart on occasion). I went very fast for a first timer
(water broke 5:30am and was at 9cm by 11:45am) so we left for the
hospital with me being 9cm. I was in Canada at the time so
university-educated midwives are allowed to attend hospital births, in
special "birthing rooms". We arrived at the hospital just before noon,
I started pushing at 12:30pm, and our son was born 8lbs8oz at 2:29pm.
There were no nurses or doctors in the room, the lights were turned off
(we used natural light from the window), and my son stayed on my chest
for an hour after his birth, breastfeeding after about 20 minutes. We
left to go home with him at 6:15, less than 4 hours after he was born.
A little nervous about being in the US now and having to use a lay
midwife. Just not the same level of education as the ones back home:(
And I don't dare have a hospital birth here. Too many interventions and
pushy doctors trying to "manage" healthy labours. No thanks!

My labor started 2 days after my edd. I had come to the conclusion that I was going to be pregnant forever. I started having some show around 11 am and told DH we were having the baby that day. We had tickets to the Pittsburgh Pirates game that day and I still wanted to go. It was a beautiful sunny day in September and I figured it would be awhile before we did anything just the two of us again. We went to the game and about 3:30 I started getting nauseous from sitting in the hot sun so we got up to leave. Around 4:30 I started having some contractions that I could time. We stopped at the mall to walk on the way home and spent about an hour there while timing contractions that were 5-7 minutes apart.

We got home about 6 and I decided to lie down and time them for awhile before calling the midwife. My sister who was going to be my doula came over and sat on my bed with me while dh got us some dinner. About 7 I decided to go ahead and call. She told us to head to the hospital and she would see us there in a little while.

We got there about 8:30 and they checked me and I was 4cm and 90% effaced. Well on the way. They told me I had to be monitored for 15 minutes and then they would let me get up to walk around. I walked around and used the birth ball until 11 and they checked again and I was 6cm and 100% so they monitored me for awhile and then I got in the shower. That was a godsend and I tell everyone to try it.

After about 45 minutes in there they wanted me to come out and get monitored again. They let me stand beside the bed and use the birth ball and the rocking chair while they did that. About 12:20 I was out walking again and my water broke. I went in so they could check me and I was 9cm. I spent about 20 more minutes in the shower before the urge to push hit. That last 20 minutes was terrible. I thought death was coming for me. Boy did it feel good to start pushing though and start working with the contractions. I spent a very long 2 hours and 40 minutes pushing. I thank god for my midwife because I think a Dr. would have tried to bully me into a section because it took so long for me to make any progress. I am so proud of myself and my DH because we decided how it would be and stuck with it. My dh brags to people about his wife giving birth with no drugs and I think it was rewarding and I am so glad I could give my beautiful daughter such a good start. I'm sorry this is so long.
Amy

Silas? Birth Story - The Singleton after the twins

The Saturday before I hit 35 weeks I had contractions all afternoon and evening about every 15 minutes apart. I was anxious to hit 35 weeks because that?s when the twins were born, so the next Tuesday when I went for my appointment I was pleased to have made it that far ? but the contractions were somewhat effective because I was 2 cm, 80% effaced, and the baby was engaged. The midwife said she hoped I would get at least three more weeks in, but the next day the contractions came back and got to every 5 minutes. When I went to L&D they stopped and I hadn?t progressed any further ? whew! At my 36 week appointment I reported another day of regular contractions ? I was now dilated to 4 cm and was 90% effaced ? WOW! It really could be any day now. The contractions kept coming but no baby?my 37 week appointment ? same stats. 38 weeks ? again no change, no baby. 39 weeks ? now I?m 5 cm - you?ve got to be kidding! And finally, forty weeks, no baby, tons of hard contractions, and feeling ready! So at that Monday?s appointment the doctor discussed induction with us ? just rupturing my water which would probably bring on labor. We deliberated, but in the end decided not to induce in the next few days. We scheduled a BPP for Thursday morning and waited. After the ultrasound confirmed baby was doing well, we saw the doctor again, and I explained that I now felt ready since the baby was strong and I was getting exhausted by the ineffective contractions. She called the hospital to see if I could come in that day to be induced. The previous nights had been kind of rough, so I was ready and happy when they told us to return at 11am. We were going to have this baby!

When we arrived at the hospital they monitored me for about 45 minutes; the baby was so sleepy and my contractions were so random that they couldn?t get a good feel for how baby would tolerate labor. Still, they broke my bag at 12:15 and slowly the contractions came?much more slowly than I?d hoped. I was expecting a rush of surges and a few pushes and a baby?ha! By 6pm I was 6 cm and still laughing through contractions. Shortly thereafter I got into the water birth tub but it seemed like they stopped completely (or at least weren?t very strong), so I got out. By 10pm I was on my third L&D nurse and still laughing through contractions, even though my belly was contorted into all sorts of weird shapes during the contractions because the water was all gone. So after consulting with the funny nurse and the midwife, we decided to try eating, nipple stimulation, and more walking. I still felt in control so we decided rest might be an alternative route?I decided to try to sleep?refusing the sleep aid for fear it would stop labor and the vaginal exam for fear of disappointment?so I showered and went to bed?fell into a nice, deep sleep?

Twenty minutes later I jolted out of bed with the most intense labor pain yet. I stood and walked it off until it went away?then thirty seconds later it was back. Three of those were enough for me to get SO to call the nurse, who had to get our nurse, who had to run a 20-minute monitoring strip on me all before calling the MW! Finally the nurse gave me the go-ahead to get into the tub, and when the contractions were remaining intense, SO told the nurse that it was definitely time for the MW to come in. Good thing ? I was complete and ready to push. Shortly after she checked me, I had the ?rest phase? kick in ? no contractions and no desire to push. Eventually the contractions came back but I never really wanted to push ? but I did for an hour in the tub before I got out ? then another hour on the bed. The baby?s heart rate climbed into the 180s (intermittent monitoring) and wouldn?t come down, so I had to breathe through several contractions to avoid stressing the heart and both the OB and the Pedi were called in from home as a precaution. A nurse was called to get a squat bar to help me get the baby out, and then the OB, my favorite in the practice, walked in to the room and I got renewed energy and focus - the baby started crowning! Then the Pedi came to the door and was shooed away by the MW ? the heart rate looked good and he could standby. After perineal massage, lots of panting, and a few pushes later (we never got to the squat bar), the baby?s head arrived. The head turned, I pushed, and I let out a scream as the shoulders came out. She passed the baby up to me and I moved the cord; ?It?s a boy,? I announced, and the tears began to flow. He was here, in my arms, and the OB and MW were congratulating me on the most controlled descent/delivery they had ever seen. I did it ? and a big baby for a 5 foot-tall woman ? 8lbs, 3oz, 21 ½? long! A day later we named our little baby boy Silas Heath.

I did everything with minimal interventions ? though breaking my water was a choice we deliberated long and hard. I received no drugs or pain medications, only 2 periods of continuous monitoring, only 2 cervical checks. I had a minor surface tear (due to previous episiotomy) and a shot of pitocin after delivery due to excessive bleeding. Though I loved the idea of a water birth, I?m even happier I listened to my instinct and delivered on the bed where I had more leverage. It was a wonderful, spiritual birth after such a medicalized delivery with the twins?and now I feel like I could do it again?amazing?

Birth Story ? Thomas Arthur

EDD: 4/28/2007

Born: 4/24/2007

7lbs 4 oz

20 inches




On Monday morning, my water broke. Instead of one big break, I had the trickle so I noticed fluid gushing all day. I was having very few contractions; much fewer than the many contractions I?d been having for the previous 2 weeks! I?d been dilating and effacing well for the previous 2-3 weeks and was 2cm and 80% at my last appointment. By afternoon, I was pretty clear that it was in fact my water and that labor was or should be on its way. I called the doctor?s office and they said that if I should stay at home until contractions began/picked up. If there was no labor by 5:00am the next morning, I would have to come in and be induced. I really wanted to avoid this! So when my Tom got home from work, we went for a walk at the dog park and called our families to tell them it would definitely be the next 24 hours. After that, we ate a big dinner and while there the rest of my water ruptured. Contractions began from there. From about 6:00-10:30 my contractions were frequent but not that strong. At 10:30 I decided to try to get some sleep? either the contractions would pick up and wake me up or they wouldn?t and I?d need to be induced in the morning.

At midnight I woke up and felt like contractions had stopped entirely. Frustrated, I rolled over to try to go back to sleep. Then I had a ?real? contraction. So I got up and sat in the living room with Tom for about 45 minutes. These contractions felt different and seemed to keep coming so we figured why not go into the hospital. Worst case, they?d probably just admit me and keep me until induction time. They admitted us around 1:30 and I was 3 cm. We were brought to our labor and delivery suite. When asked if she should start an IV, I told the nurse that I was going to try it without meds. She was surprised, saying that she could count on her hands the number of women who she?s delivered without epidurals. She was also incredibly supportive. What a gift she was. She only asked me about meds once or twice and then realized I was going fast enough and handling it and really supported me from there.

My mom and best friend Amy showed up around 3:30 and Tom tried to take a nap while I labored in the shower and on the ball. Amy used massage to help relieve the pressure of contractions. I had a small temperature so they had to start an IV of fluids. I laid on the bed for a few minutes (I had been walking around the whole time before then) and got sick. I was so uncomfortable in the bed; gravity felt so much better so out of bed I got. By now I was already about 5cm. Once on my feet things progressed rapidly. I stood and leaned on the top of the bed swaying my hips back and forth the entire time. Contractions brought a lot of weight and pressure but pain is not a word I would use to describe them and that surprised me. She checked me again and I was 7cm. I practically jumped out of the bed when she finished checking me and was back on my feet. After one or two more contractions, in between the moans I?d instinctually started to emit, I moaned that I felt like pushing. Tom encouraged me to not do that yet and we kept rocking and moaning through the contractions. When the nurse returned, I again moaned about wanting to push and she said ?You want to push? Let me check you.? So I hopped on the bed, she quickly checked and said I just had a little lip of cervix left. I rolled off the bed and got back on my feet for another couple of contractions while she called into say I was going to begin pushing. At 6:15am I was back in bed and got to push.

I?d read people say that pushing was such a relief? and it was! Pushing was hard work. I would still not say there was something I would describe as pain involved, still just the pressure and pushing made the pressure feel better. The hard part of pushing came from getting my legs in the right position, holding them there, and the holding my breath and pushing. I could feel it in my face more than anywhere else and knew I had to redirect that energy. This is where my nurse was really helpful. I think she and the doctor decided to have some fun with me since they so rarely had the opportunity to work with someone who wasn?t numb. They kept suggesting new positions? I was up for anything. So I pushed on my back, then on my side, then stood on the bed and used a squatting bar. They had never used the squat bar before and it took them a while to set it up! I said, ?How do I use this?? They said, ?anyway you want.? So I pulled myself up on my feet and stood on the bed. When a contraction would hit, I would swing down into a squat and hold it there. Then I?d stand back up until the next one. Squatting felt good in the sense that I could really bear down and feel like I was in a really active, productive position. Squatting was also exhausting and really tired me out. So we went back to pushing on my back. By then we were in the final stages anyway and back pushing was much more productive.
The nurses and doctors had their shift change right at the end of my pushing phase so the room was pretty crowded by the time he was crowning. At about 7:45 my doctor came in and relieved the on-call night doctor. She was surprised to find me in this state, figuring she?d show up and I would just be starting induction! It was cool that my doctor made it just in time, though the other doctor was so awesome during the rest of my labor! I pushed for an hour and 45 minutes. I had a small tear but didn?t even notice. At 8:01, my son was born.

Everyone was very impressed and proud of me for doing this naturally. Even during my days of recovery, nurses commented on it. Many people assumed I just didn?t have time for an epidural, but I let them know I did it on purpose. I didn?t choose this method to impress anybody, except maybe myself. I knew if I could do this, that I could do pretty much anything. When it was over, I was most surprised by the way it felt. As I said before, I?m not sure I would describe too much of what I experienced as pain. I think when people talked about the pain of labor, I was anticipating something different. This I can only describe as extreme weight and pressure. Certainly not comfortable in any way, but nothing I can compare it to. The pain of recovery has been much worse than anything I experienced in labor and has lasted much longer than the 8 hours I was in labor! I was happy that I had the options in front of me and I am happy with the option I chose, but I would certainly not ever pressure anybody else into choosing the natural option. The worst part of this choice was the people telling me I was nuts to do it without meds. Also hard to handle were the people really pushing for a natural birth because that?s how it?s supposed to be done. I really discovered it was such a personal choice that was all about me at that point.

We did not take any natural childbirth classes. I read portions of the book on Hypnobirthing and only days before the birth, I read ?Ina May?s Guide to Childbirth.? I would recommend portions of the first book for help with the psychology of fear and the physical effects of fear on the body. Though I didn?t really see myself successfully hypnobirthing, I found this ?no fear? approach highly motivating. The ?Guide to Childbirth? was the perfect thing to read right before the birth. The birth stories in that book as well as the practical and medical information were all very reassuring that this was something I could and wanted to do. I am most grateful for the support of my husband, my mom, my best friend, and my delivery nurse Erica. It was a group effort and the result is an incredible little boy who I am enjoying getting to know.

Gavin Allen - Born 5/4/05

First Birth

Home Birth with Midwife. No interventions.

I had been have BH ctx for several months prior to birth and really wondered if I was going to know which ones were real ctx. I had some back pain, and strong BH ctx on my due date. That evening I had awoke to a stabbing painful jab like sensation that just went away. Weird. The next day I had regular BH ctx, normally mine were irregular. I was glued to the clock and very focused (something I don't recommend in early labor). Went to the movies and decided to stay in town. We lived an hour away from my mother's house where we planned to have the baby. We stayed at my in-laws who were out of town and conveniently located a block away from my mother's house.

I woke up to "real" ctx around 11:00 pm. Got some show and cer. plug in the bathroom. Called the midwife and she told me to get some sleep and call her when I got to 5min apart for 30 sec. for at least 25 min. Tried to sleep (yeah right). I went to watch TV in the livingroom so my hubby could sleep. I had strong ctx all night that didn't seem to progress. My husband got up around 5 and realized I wasn't sleeping (duh) and brought me to my mother's. I felt like my ctx were getting stronger and closer together but they were still not hitting the criteria. I felt nausia and decided to call the midwife and get her there. After the call my ctx stopped cold.



She got there 30 min later. I had only one ctx since calling her. She checked me and I was at 3cm. Which is what I was at during our appt. just a couple days before. I was devistated. I had been laboring all night (for what I felt like was) for nothing. I felt silly that I called the midwife. She left and said she would be back later to check on me.



I dealt through the ctx mostly alone in my mother's bedroom in the dark and feeling sorry for myself. My midwife came back that afternoon and I was at 5cm and the rest of the cerv. plug came out during the exam. She called her assistant and started to get set up. She suggested that I stand in the doorjam and lunge on a stool through ctx. That seemed to do the trick. I moved to 8cm in an hour and a half. My thighs were buring but it felt great to stand. I felt like I was actively pushing through the ctx.



I moved to the waterbirth tub out in the backyard and that felt like heaven. I slowly became more and more uncomfortable and my labor seemed to stall. I was checked again an hour or so later and I was at 9cm with a lip. My water broke and it had light mec. color to it. My midwife had me get out of the tub and we moved to my mom's bedroom again. I tried a variety of positions but nothing felt comfortable. I started feeling pushy but I still had a lip. The midwife said she was going to try to push the lip out of the way so I could push. Oh my that felt good to do. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere.



Gavin was born at 9:54 pm after an hour and a half of pushing in a squat leaned up against my mother's bed. He was totally healthy, awake, alive, and pinked up immediately. He came out with his hand next to his head which caused all the hub-bub. I had a retained placenta and the midwife performed a manual extraction (yes it felt like it sounds). I had a small tear but nothing significant especially considering Gavin's size. He was 9 lbs 12 oz and 20 in long . And I am no she-woman. Whenever I tell people his weight their eyes bug out of there heads.



I wish I could tell you what I was thinking or how I got through each ctx but my primal self kind of took over. I think my main concern was not to be afraid and I kept telling myself, out loud at times, not to be afraid. I despretely wanted to accept and work with the ctx but I think that I might have fought them a little.



I loved every part of the natural birth experience and I plan to do it again for my 2nd. I know that I will come at it differently this time. I feel more mentally prepared. I now know that the less expectation I have the better. I won't be so focused on the clock or getting checked to know my dialation. The best of knowledge of all is knowing that I can do it.

I recently had a drug-free water birth at a birthing center. I gave birth to my daughter, Jasmine Elizabeth, on Monday June 18, 2007 at 4:26 AM.


Over the previous 4 weeks I had dilated to 4 CM and 80% effaced, and baby was very low at a 0 to +1 station. I had been losing lots of mucous plug and I was getting braxton hicks contractions, but nothing to signify actual labor. On Saturday, June 16th, six days overdue, I had my membranes swept for the third time. This time I could immediately feel a diference in my contractions. They weren't regular, but they were quite painful.




That night, my contractions were coming every 6 minutes for a couple of hours, so my midwife told me to try to get some rest and call when they got to every 4 minutes, lasting for a minute. I fell asleep for about 1 and a half hours but woke up to more contractions. This is the first time they had woken me up so I was hoping that this was finally it. The contractions stayed at 7 minutes apart from 2:00 AM to 7:30 AM and I finally got myself up and my mom and I walked around the neighborhood to see if we could get them to come any faster. Unfortunately, it stalled them and they lost rhythm. I went back to sleep for about another hour and a half, and was woken by my midwife. She said to come in and get checked and if I had progressed from the previous day we might break my waters so to pack my bags!




When I got checked I had dilated to 5 CM and 90% effaced, but my contractions were still 7 minutes apart. We went to the reflexologist and she did some vigorous pressure point work on my feet. Then mom and I went to the grocery store and walked for 2 hours straight. I was told to squat with every contraction, so the store was perfect because with every contraction I would squat down and look at the goods on the bottom shelf. I was also taking a nasty herbal tincture every 15 minutes of Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Pennyroyal, Red Raspberry teal leaves, and Apple Cider Vinegar- ugh.




When we got back to the birth center, I was still contracting every 7 minutes but I had dilated to 6 CM. The midwife broke my water at 9 PM and gave me antibiotics for the Group B Strep. I put on comfy clothes and a Bob Marley CD and started pacing. With every contraction I sat on a birthing ball and bounced. My mom started recording the contractions and they picked up to 6 minutes apart then 5 minutes apart. We put on a movie to pass the time and I kept pacing and bouncing.




After the movie, I was checked and was dilated to 7 CM. My doula drew me a bath, turned off the lights, lit some candles, and put on an Indigo Girls CD. I got in the tub and it was instantly so relaxing and wonderful. I labored in the tub for about 4 hours or so, listening to Indigo Girls, then Dave Matthews Band. The contractions got more and more intense and closer and closer together. I had my eyes closed and was extremely focused. With every contraction I would let my mom know it was starting and then breathe very deeply and sway my body in the water, concentrating on the feeling of the water, and the motion, and the music.




My mom let me know as my contractions chencged, and the Doula sat back and watched. They got down to every minute, some even less than a minute apart. Many lasted for over 2 minutes, and a few even came in pairs so as it started to relax it kicked right back into another contraction. Suddenly, out of nowhere, my body started shaking and could not fight the urge to push. I could feel myself opening up and the baby moving down and the doula ran to get the midwife. She told me not to push until she checked me to make sure I was ready so I would not tear.




After the longest minute or two of my life, my midwife came in to check me and I was completely effaced, and ready to go. The baby was so far down that I could put my finger down there and feel her head. The midwife told me on the next contraction I could start to push! I tried a few different positions and with every contraction I pushed down, and it felt so good. My body was writhing and shaking, and every once in a while I would open my eyes and see my mom, the doula, and the midwife just watching me do my thing- it was very surreal and bizarre.




After only about 2 or 3 contractions she started to crown. My mom said, "oh honey she has lots of hair!" The midwife put a mirror in the water so I could see her head coming out and it just made me so excited I focused and pushed real hard on the next contraction and her head popped out. We waited a minute or two for her body to rotate and on the next contraction I pushed the rest of her body out. The doula and I caught her together and put her on my chest. She was born at 4:26 AM, after just 16 minutes of pushing. It was the most intense, relieving, surreal moment of my life!




They left her on my chest and put a warm towel over her and I stroked her as we waited for the cord to stop pulsating. Then they took her to check her out while I delivered the placenta. The had me stand up and cleaned me off and I felt like I was going through a car wash. Then They got me into a bed and laid the baby on belly while they did my sutures. As I'm there with my mom and the doula each holding a leg and my midwife sewing me up, all staring at my hoo hoo (another bizarre moment I'll treasure forever) someone walked into the birthing center. Another woman's water had broken and was just starting her birth experience. They left me, mom, and baby Jasmine on the bed cuddling for a few hours as they tended to the other woman. Then I took a nice shower, chatted with the family of the other woman and showed off my new baby, then we packed up and headed home at about 11:30 AM.




So that is my birth story. It was everything I had hoped for. There was music, candles, beautiful pictures and decorations, and I was free to do my own thing without wires, drugs, or interventions. I'm so happy I was able to have such a wonderful experience, and I love my baby girl more than I can ever say. lovErin




Seconds old

May 25th 2007 ~ Natural birth with MW at Birthing Center ~ No interventions.

I haven't posted on this board alot, but thought that I'd share my story for anyone that might be interested.

I went into labor at about midnight on May 25th. For about 30 minutes contractions were erratic, however they regulated to about 5 minutes apart VERY quickly. Between 1 am and 5 am they got down to about 3 minutes apart and came pretty hard. I had called the MW when I first started having contractions, and checked in with her regularly - at 5am we decided that it was time for me to come in.

We had called my sister (who lives 5 hours away) at midnight and she got to the birthing center about 20 minutes after we did - she was wonderful support! When the MW first checked me she said that I was only at 2 (WHAT?!?!?) I thought that I was working too hard for these contractions (there was no way to talk through them) and they were too close to only be at 2! It turned out that Sammie's little head was on the diagonal (although she was turned the right way.) The MW had me walk and stop at each contraction and do a 'hula hoop' motion - that was designed to get the baby to straighten her head out.

While I was walking she pulled DH aside and told him that if they couldn't keep me relaxed and stop the 'pushing' type contractions from coming that we were likely looking at an emergency C section. Fortunately no one told me this until after Sammie was here!



In the meantime my other sister came, and when I got too tired to walk anymore, the MW had them rub my arms and legs with some really lovely lavender massage oil to keep me relaxed. I got into the tub 2 times. Once about 8 am to relax through the contractions. Then at about noon, the contractions were intense enough that I needed the tub to help with pain. After I'd been in the tub the 2nd time for a while I said that I really felt I needed to push. The MW was concerned (of course I didn't know any of this at the time) but when she checked me, I was at 8 and stretchy!! She went to get all of the things that she'd need for delivery. DH asked if we'd move back to the bed, or stay where we were and the MW said 'We're not going ANYWHERE' the tub was working - so we weren't fixing what wasn't broken!



I am not completely sure, but I think I spent about 30 minutes pushing (not too bad for my first, and being that the MW had to help with clearing the cervix and Sammie's shoulder.) When her head was finally out I asked the MW "Will the next contraction get her out?" When the MW said 'yes' I said, "Then LET'S DO THIS!"



Rebecca Samantha was born at 1:43 pm on May 25th 2007. I was SO glad that I'd been able to have the natural birth that I wanted, and VERY glad that I was at a birthing center with the MW. I feel pretty strongly that if I'd been at a hospital that a Dr. would have really pushed for the C-section.



Midwifes are the best!!!!

inspiring

castor oil and planned water birth

I was 8 days past my edd and wanted to have this baby so bad. I had tried everything my midwife had told me. Black chosho tincture, primrose oil. Nothing seemed to be helping. At my 39 and 40 week appointments I wasn't dialated or effaced. So by Sat June 30th I had had enough and I tried castor oil and walking. I took 3 Tablespoons followed by a shot of pepsi and a hot shower and then 2 hours later repeated. I then walked for a total of an hour and was having good contractions while walking. By bed time my contractions were irregular and lasting 45-60 sec long and interrupted my sleep. I didn't care though. At 6AM Sunday July 1st I woke to my water breaking. I went to the bathroom to make sure and yes it was indeed my water breaking. I came downstairs and called my midwife and then woke my mother in law who had come into town one week before my edd to help out with my other 2 children. I forgot to mention that my husband is in the Navy and is out on deployment right now and so he was not with me. I then emailed my husband letting him know what going on and to have him call when he got the email. My midwife told me to stay home and call in 4 hours or when my contractions were 5 min apart. So at 9 I call her and tell her my contractions are a minute and half apart but are only lasting 30-45 sec. She says to take a shower and wait till they last at least 60 sec. I take shower and the contractions are getting more intense. My friend Melissa who is going with us to the birthing center and was going to video tape it for my husband called and in the 4 minutes I talked to her I had 3 contractions. At this time my mother in law is knocking on the door tell me we need to get to the birthing center. I get out of the shower and dry off and get dressed. I walk into the living room and feel the need to push. My mother in law throws down a towel and I get down and start pushing and sure enough there is her head. I tell her to call my mom who is thank god next door at church. She comes over and calls 911 who dispatch out paramedics and an ambulance. After 10 minutes of pushing my daughter, Ashlynn Diane was born at 0923 right as the fire truck arrived. 10 minutes or so later the ambulance came and took me to the hospital where we spent the night and were released the next day. She weighed 10 lbs 1.5 oz and was 21.5 inches long. She was bigger then both her big brothers..lol..She was not my first natural birth but she was my first planned birth out of a hospital. I am now second guessing having anymore at a birthing center or should I say trying to have one at a birthing center.

membrains stripped..

about 1100 am on 3-27 had my membrains stripped at docs office came home went o take a nap and then around 6 pm dh woke me up. went to rest room where i was having menstral like bleedong so i called doc. went to l&D and they monitored me for a while and let me hang out in shower HA that was nice. then i was 6cent walked to my room 7 cent got undressed went back into shower came out broke water then back in again. about 45 min out came ds with absolutly no drugs.. But i could have used them for the stitches..

2 HypnoBirths in a hospital with a doula

Hi-This is such a great thread! It's so rare to hear about positive birth stories! I thought I'd share mine...

2003--pregnant & saw A Baby Story do a story on HypnoBirthing. I was terrified of the pain & thought "What the heck...it's worth a try!". I took the classes & became confident in my ability to trust my body's natural ability to birth my baby & felt that I was able to get myself relaxed enough to get out of my body's way. I honestly didn't read the entire book, nor did I practice as much as I could/should have. I had my waters release, had to go to the hospital because I had group B strep. Had my birth preferences plan with me & waited for my doula to come. I had the relaxation tape in the background & started having stronger surges/contractions within 1 hour of admission. I started to panic because they were getting stronger & I was feeling strong sensations of pressure & tightening. I lost my focus & started feeling "pain". My doula came & helped me re-focus although I admit, I did feel strong feelings of discomfort & extreme pressure at times. I had surges/contractions that felt like convulsions...I was literally shaking! I moaned & groaned during my surges/contractions, but I never felt like I had to scream. After about 4 1/2 hours, I felt like I needed to push, so my OB & the doula said to go ahead...that I was 10 cm! I pushed (not the screaming, hold-your-breath kind of pushes) some strong breathes for about 40 minutes. My DS came out with his hand to his head so that meant that I had to open up wider than normal! I didn't tear or need an episiotomy because I was so relaxed & didn't push too hard! All in all, the labor was 5 hours with 40 minutes of pushing and absolutely NO pain medication! I was estatic!

2005-pregnant with #2. Confident in my ability to HypnoBirth. Water released at 8:30 pm. Took a warm shower & the surges/contractions got stronger & decided to go to the hospital. Listened to my HypnoBirthing relaxation CD on headphones in the car & while I was wheeled to the Labor & Delivery floor. The staff thought I was sleeping! I went to change into the hospital gown & took off my headphones & lost my concentration. I thought I was going to have a bowel movement so I went to the toilet & had several convulsion-type surges one after the other. I told my DH "I think something is happening. You'd better get a nurse in here". My doula backup was on her way & wasn't there yet. My DH called the nurse & she said she'd be in there in a minute. I think she thought my DH was being a nervous daddy. He finally dragged a nurse into the room. She wasn't too pleased & said, "Well, she's going to have to get on the bed". I needed assistance to walk because I was still having really strong convulsion type surges (not painful, just pressure). I got to the bed, put my headphones on & AHHHHHH! back into deep relaxation! The nurse checked me & I was 9 1/2 cm! They scurried & got the OB on call in & she sat patiently at the bottom of the bed telling me to take my time. I waited another 25 minutes or so & then said, "Ok...I'm ready to push". With 3 gently breaths, my DD was born. Again, no tears, episiotomy or pain medication. All in all, it was 1 1/2 hours in the hospital & 3 pushes! Amazing & so empowering!

I became a HypnoBirthing practitioner (teacher) because of my amazing experiences! I highly suggest that anyone interested in having a natural birth take some kind of independent (meaning not a hospital class) childbirth class...be it HypnoBirthing, Bradley or Birthing from within. All of these classes give the mom-to-be more confidence in her ability to have the birth she wants.

I just got interviewed for a radio show about my experiences. You can hear it at:
http://wholistichealth.net/Radio%20Show/LifeBeyondReasonRadio.htm

Happy Birthing days to all of you mommies-to-be & congratulations to all of the other moms!

Carol

what a great story, very inspiering. I am currently studying hypnobirthing and practicing for my upcoming birth in 19 weeks or so.
Thanks for sharing.

Aline

This was my third pregnancy, second unassisted birth and first unassisted pregnancy. My first daughter, Starla, was an induced hospital birth when I was 15 years old. It was awful! My son, Buzz, I decided to birth unassisted during my 8th month of pregnancy after receiving full prenatal care from a general practice Dr. I had very little time to prepare for his birth since I decided to have an unassisted birth so late in my pregnancy. His birth was wonderful, but there were things that could have been better about it if I would have had more time to prepare myself AND my husband for it. This time around I knew I wanted a fully unassisted pregnancy and a waterbirth, I also wanted to catch my baby so nobody could say my hubby "delivered" the baby, which is a HUGE pet peve of mine!



On July 29th I was 10 days "past due", I had been told by one of the ladies on the unassisted birth board that I help moderate that I would be giving birth that day because of the full moon. I had resigned myself to being pregnant for another week at least. I really was not expecting to actually go into labor that day. At about 7 p.m. I thought I would take a shower to relax and de-stress. Just as I had undressed I felt a trickle of fluid down my leg. I just figured the baby was putting pressure on my bladder and that I had just peed on myself a bit. So, I got into the shower and continued on like normal. After my shower I continued to feel little trickles of fluid coming out of me every so often. I was starting to suspect that I had a leak in my bag of waters, but wasn't sure at that point since I wasn't having any contractions. Right before 8 p.m. I knew for sure that my waters were leaking, and I was not peeing on myself! I got online to announce that I'd be giving birth that evening to the UC ladies. At that point I was starting to have contractions that were about 5 minutes apart. They weren't painful at all, just very mild tightening. So, I went outside to tell my hubby that "this is it, we're going to have a baby tonight". He was outside with my son painting the stairs on the back of our home. I came back inside and started cleaning my house while listening to some Peter Tosh and Orchestra Baobab. I would clean a bit, then when a contraction would come I'd go and sit on my birth ball and rock back and forth and bounce with the music. After about an hour of this the contractions were getting more intense and I was vocalizing through them with a very low, deep moan. The moaning helped so much with dealing with the contractions. They were not painful, but they were intense and took all my concentration to get through them. At about 9:45 p.m. I was sweating like crazy and getting pretty nauseated. I was still cleaning in between my contractions up until I got into my birth pool at about 10 p.m. The water was heavenly, although it felt a little too warm, I was able to totally relax between contractions which were proably coming every 3 minutes at that point. I had my hubby cool the water down a bit and it felt much better. I would lie back in a reclining position in the pool between contractions, then as soon as I felt a contraction coming on I got on all fours and rested my head on the side of the pool. I was still moaning very loudly between contractions. I continued on like this for about 45 minutes, getting out periodically to go pee. At around 10:30 or so, I decided to get out of the pool for a little bit. I went through 2 contractions leaning on my bed, but my legs were shaking like crazy and I felt like they were going to give out under me. So for the next 2 contractions I had to lean into my hubby while he held me up. The contractions were not bad at all, they were intense, but not painful. I was sure I had at least a few more hours of labor to go through since I was having such an easy labor. I decided to get back into the birth pool at that point because it was easier for me since my legs were so shaky. The water was still too warm for my liking at that point, so I had my hubby add a little more cold water again. While my hubby was adding more water I hit transition. It was unreal! I have never experienced such a feeling in my life. I yelled, or more like screamed out, "DON'T LOSE CONTROL!!!" It scared the crap out of my husband and he turned off the water imediately and rushed in the bedroom to check on me. That feeling only lasted about 5 seconds, but it was so intense! It felt like some power had totally taken over my body. Once that contraction ended I explained to my husband I had entered the "pushing stage" and that it was almost over. I was really starting to get a bit overwhelmed with the intensity of labor and was asking the baby to give me a 10 minute break to get my wits about me again! Still, I was not in pain, it's just that everything was happening so quickly! With my contractions came an irresistable urge to push. When a contraction would hit, I'd get up and into a squatting position and say over and over "gentle, gentle, come gently baby". I was trying to push in a very controlled manner to avoid tearing badly like I did with my previous UC. After about 10-15 minutes of getting into a squat to push, I decided to get into a more reclining position because I knew baby was coming and I wanted to catch her right after she came out. For the next contraction I pushed and her head came out, I reached down and I felt her head there and an ear. Her head came out facing a bit to my right. Just her head stayed out like that for a minute or so until my next contraction. I gave a push and her body turned to the right THEN it turned all the way back to the left (which was probably the weirdest sensation I've ever experienced) and slid out into the water. In that instant I sat up and caught my baby up out of the water into my arms. She was born at 11:23 p.m. while my hubby took pictures and my 4 year old son watched from the sidelines. I immediately checked to see if we had a girl or a boy and she was a girl just as I had thought! I exclaimed "we got our girl honey!". I was in totaly ecstacy at that moment. The feelings of relief, joy and accomplishment were overwhelming! After about 5 minutes of bonding with my new girl in the water, I decided it was time to get out so I could try to nurse her. She wasn't interested in nursing right away, so I just held her and waited for the placenta to come. The placenta came about 45 minutes to an hour after she was born. It looked a bit mangled, and two tennis ball sized blood clots came out with it. However, it looked totally intact. Once the placenta was out we tied off the cord with some braided embroidery thread and cut it. Sophie started nursing shortly after, and it seems like she has been nursing non stop ever since then!!



Sophie Ann, born July 29th, 2007 at 11:23 p.m.

8lbs 12ozs

20 inches

14.5 inch head

*Birthing Center Birth with CNMs (Original plan was to have a water
birth with hubby catching, but ended up delivering on a birthing stool)





*We prepared by going through several methods--Birthing from Within and Bradley.




*Also, of note, I am a CNM myself, and have been for 5 years, and this
was my first baby. I actually work in a hospital based practice, but I
had always known I didn't want to have my baby in a hospital.


*Delivered July 9, 2007 @ 1250am a baby girl weighing 6-6 and 18 1/2 inches long.



Ok, as promised at one point, I'm posting my labor story.

Well, so much for all my naps and time lounging at the pool prior to my
daughter's arrival! My last day of work was July 3rd. I figured on
Monday, the 9th, I'd actually feel like I had stopped working, and
would be able to get all rested up before my baby girl arrived.





So, it all
started on July 8th at 3:20pm. I had just hung up the phone with
one
of my midwife colleagues and stood up, when I felt like I peed on
myself. I said to my hubby, "Oh, I peed on myself. Man, I keep peeing."
He was laughing and I ran to the bathroom with my underwear soaking. I
sat on the toilet and did pee, but I was very suspicious of what had
just happened, as I hadn't been peeing on myself even when sneezing
during the pregnancy, so to have such a gush was odd. So, being a
midwife, I smelled my underwear (I know, you're thinking gross!).
But,
I wanted to know if it smelled like amniotic fluid...which it did. So,
my hubby comes looking for me, and I looked at him and said, "Um, I
think my water broke. The fluid really smells like amniotic fluid." He
was dumbfounded, and said, "Well, that's not what I was expecting." I
told him that I was gonna leave my pants off and walk around and see if
fluid continued to come out...and we both ended up seeing it dribble
down my leg and drip on the floor. He was convinced!




Of
course, I was now thinking...great, I'm 36 6/7 wks, and I'm technically
now a PPROM--my worst fear. This means Preterm Premature Rupture Of
Membranes...meaning I was before 37 wks and I was wasn't in labor with my water broken. Visions of
pitocin in the hospital were going through my head. I wasn't having
anything in the shape of contractions when my water broke, so it could
be hours or days before I had a baby especially since this was my first
baby. I called one of my other midwife colleagues to see if she
had nitrazine paper so
that I could feel more confirmatory in my diagnosis of rupture (although it seemed
pretty obvious to me already). So, about an hour after the suspected
rupture, she showed up and brought the nitrazine to confirm rupture,
although the fluid continuing to run down my legs seemed a dead give
away. Of course, it turned bright blue immediately.




After
she left, I called the birth center and talked to the midwife on call
to tell her what was going on. She informed me that their protocol was
that I must be in active labor by 24 hrs or they would have to consult
with their physician, which would certainly end up with an induction
with Pitocin in the hospital. Uggh. She told me to call her back
between 8 and 9pm to update her and to keep up with the kick counts of
the baby and my temperature. Since my fluid was clear and I was GBS
negative, I could stay at home. Before leaving, my colleague had
recommended to me and my hubby that we take a nap since I wasn't having
any
contractions, and rest up. Well, we laid there....didn't sleep! Who can
sleep at a time like that?! haha! Then, we thought we'd watch a movie.
We put in "The Pacifier." That worked for a little while, but then my
mom called and a few others called. Then, I just couldn't lay down
anymore. But, we ate some dinner and I started having some mild
contractions here and there over the next few hours, but still very
irregular.




All of the contractions were completely in my
back, which made me extremely uncomfortable. My hubby started applying
counterpressure to my lower back to help with that. And, I was
wandering around the house getting in different positions to help with
that too, i.e. hands and knees, a birth ball, leaning over the kitchen
counter, etc. Around 8:30pm or so, I called the birth center and updated
them and reported that my contractions were still about every 2-10
minutes, but were all lasting at least 60 seconds long and were getting
stronger. The midwife asked if we were gonna head that way (the birth center is about an hour away), because she
didn't want me in transition on the road. I kind of laughed to myself in my head,
and was thinking that surely wouldn't be a problem. But, I said we
would probably stay at home a little while longer and then head to the
birth center, and maybe get there sometime after 10:00pm.





Well, one of my other midwife colleagues came by after getting
off from working, and she stayed a little while and chatted
while I had a few contractions, and then decided to go home and make me
a rice sock for my back. She left just before 9pm to run to her
apartment down the road. Well, in the short time that she was gone
(maybe about 10 minutes), my contractions suddenly started coming right
on top of each other, and were extremely intense! I looked at my hubby
and told him to call her and tell her not to come back, and that we
were leaving to go to the birth center! She showed up about then, however, and I
told her that I could "labor in their tubs and showers just as well as
I could mine!" She asked if I wanted her to check me, but I told her
no, because I didn't want to know that I was just 2 cm! haha! So, we packed up
and headed to the birth center around 9:15pm or so.




First, I told my hubby not to speed... that I was fine. The contractions would still
give me a reprieve every now and then. I even said to him, "I'm sorry
now if when we get there, I'm only like 2 cm." He replied that whatever
I was dilated would be just perfect! Sweet hubby! Well, the
contractions became much worse in the car, and I was all over the place
in that back seat. If anyone could've seen me in that back seat, they
might've wondered what in the world was going on! I was on hands and
knees, sitting up, on my side, etc. I was moaning and trying to breathe
with every contraction. Hubby was coaching me and cheering me on from
the drivers seat. "You're doing awesome. Breathe deep...." Nothing was
helping. The contractions were fast and furious! I then told him to
feel free to go faster! He informed me that he had already been doing
so! He started speeding more though. When we got closer to the birth
center, he also took a red light upon my suggestion! haha!





We made it there and by the time I was able to walk inside
(contraction every few feet) and go to the bathroom and get undressed
for them to check me, it was about 10:15pm. They had already asked me
when they saw how I was acting and contracting, "Uh, when did things
change?" (because, I had just talked to them on the phone and I wasn't
like this). I told them it was pretty much after I hung up with them.
When I got into the exam room, I said to them, "Tell me I'm
SOMETHING!" Well, I was informed that I was 8cm, completely effaced,
and baby was at +1 station...THANK GOD!! I wasn't crazy! (I had thought
in my head prior to this that if I was not dilated much, I really
wanted to change my plan for natural labor, and pack up, and head to a
hospital for an epidural! haha). So, they got the water ready for me, and I
stripped down and was in that tub in no time. I don't know what time I
started pushing, but it wasn't long after that. They checked me after I
started pushing to see if I was completely dilated, and they said I was
a lip (basically like 9 1/2 cm), but her head was lower than the lip,
so I could go ahead and do whatever I needed to (like I could stop what
I was doing anyway!).




They always say pushing feels better
as opposed to contractions. I can't say that anything about this labor
felt better. My back was just killing me! I have to go back here and
tell you that with every single contraction (even the mild ones) from
the get-go I felt like I had to have a BM! I don't wish that on anyone.
Well, the pushing wasn't as fast as I had imagined. I figured with such
a fast labor, I'd push her out in maybe 20 minutes or so. Not so! I
pushed for almost 2 hrs. I kept checking myself to feel where her head was. Her head was in what we call military position
(very erect and straight) as opposed to flexed down with her chin on
her chest. She
also had her hand up by her head. She also had a nuchal cord. So, anyway, she was literally crowning (like up to
her forehead) for about 45 minutes. Boy, were the midwives patient ( I
had a new midwife and an experienced midwife with me). But, her
heartrate was great every time they checked it with the doppler. But, they kept moving me
around...from the water to the toilet, to the water, to the bed, to the
birthing stool, etc, all while I had this "bowling ball" between my
legs! It was not fun! Also, my contractions became weaker and shorter
during my pushing as well, so we were doing nipple stimulation to try to help them to be
stronger. Anyway, I finally delivered
when one of the midwives did something absolutely awful feeling.
She put her hands in, and I think she was trying to separate my ischial
spines to make more room. But, I felt like
I was ripping from one end to the other and the burning was awful. I
think that was the only time I really got vocal, but they told me to
"PUSH!"




Her head finally came out! Then, they told me to
slow down my pushing. Well, I had been pushing so hard, I didn't know
what a small push was anymore. So, her body came out quicker than they
would've liked, I suppose. Then, hubby (who was behind me on the bed,
and I was lying back into him while I was on a birthing stool) says
that I immediately reached down and grabbed her and placed her on my
chest. She screamed immediately, and was perfect! He cut the
cord after a few minutes. The placenta delivered very soon thereafter.
The midwife had already told me that she would want to give me a shot
of pitocin since my uterus had decided to be a little lazy at the end,
and I agreed. She felt like I was still bleeding a little much, so they
also gave me a shot of Methergine (another drug to make your uterus
contract---next drug of choice for bleeding). I actually think that was
probably a little over the top, because the other midwife told her that
I wasn't bleeding anymore once they got the syringe ready to give me
the shot, but she wanted to give it anyway. I didn't care.




I
had a couple of small tears, but no stitches. I looked at the tears
with the midwives in a mirror, and I (being the typical midwife) said,
"does it approximate well? is it bleeding?" When, I saw the answer to
both of those, I said, "leave it alone." She was glad that I said
that, because that was her thought on it as well. Anyway, she was born
on July 9th at 12:50 am. I did ask at sometime during my pushing if we
had passed midnight, and they said yes, to which I replied, "good,
because I don't want a preterm delivery!" And, they replied, "Yeah, and
we don't want you messing up our stats!" haha! So, she made it to 37
wks, and she weighed in at 6# 6 oz and measured 18 1/2 inches. We were
back at home less than 12 hrs after we left to go to the birth center.
So, there we were in our house with a baby about 8 hrs old. It was
surreal!




So, it was a fast and furious labor all in all, but
it was totally worth it! I found it very hard to stay on top of those
contractions, but as the Bradley book
states, many of the relaxation techniques don't work for the
"speedsters." But, my hubby says I was great. He was impressed and
continues to praise me...what a great hubby! I never yelled or said
ugly things to anyone, so that was good! haha. I think I had my eyes
closed a good part of the labor and just tried to breathe through the
contractions. I have to say that it truly was the hardest and absolute
most painful thing I have ever done. If she hadn't been trying to come
out so funny, she would've flown out (sorry for the visual). And, I
wouldn't recommend back labor. I didn't feel a single contraction in my
abdomen. It was ALL in my back! Yuck!




My hubby was the
absolute greatest during my labor! He was so supportive and a good
person to do counterpressure on my back. Couldn't have asked for a
better husband or a better daddy for our daughter either! Also, note to
self in the future, be careful what you say. On Saturday night before
my water broke on Sunday,my hubby and I were watching a movie in our
room, and I told him that I was TOT....he said, what? I said, I am
TOT---tired of toting! Well, be careful what you wish for! :-)




So, you may ask if I'd do natural labor again. You bet. I knew it was
going to involve pain. I never doubted that. Fast labors are definitely
harder though, and I wasn't really banking on me having one of those
being my first labor. I
would say, based on how my contractions went, I was probably in active
labor for about 2 hours. Anyway, I definitely plan on doing the next
one naturally as well. Maybe next time I'll actually get to deliver in
the water.
It just didn't happen this time after all was said and done.





Anyway, that is my long birth story. If you've read this far, congratulations! Thanks for indulging me.

Hypno-Waterbirth in a hospital with a midwife First of all let me say that the waterbirth was absolutely amazing!!! I would def recommend both hypnobirthing and waterbirthing- I feel like I had the best of both worlds. Now- on to my story. Thursday night I lost part of my mucous plug while I was getting ready for bed- I only had 2 contractions that night but didn't sleep a wink because I was so excited thinking "This could be it!" When my husbands alarm went off at 6am Friday morning I told him that I had a couple contractions in the last few hours, but nothing regular yet. He had arranged to work from home for a couple weeks so that he'd be there when I went into labor so he worked on the computer while I tried (unsuccessfully) to nap.



About lunchtime I started having my first surges, but they really felt more like menstrual cramps. They weren't painful, just kind of uncomfortable. I was able to relax through them pretty easily. Josh timed them- they started at 10 minutes apart. After an hour they were up to 7 minutes apart so I called the midwife (the hospital is 2 hours away) and she suggested we wait a little while since they were so weak. By 3pm they were 5 minutes apart and even though they weren't any stronger I felt like we needed to get on the road, so we called the MW and told her we were leaving for the hospital.



As soon as we left for the hospital they slowed back down to 7-10 minutes apart. I started to think we'd left too soon but with 1/2 an hour they were back up to 5 minutes apart. I called our parents (everyone had a 5-8 hour drive) to let them know we were on our way, but that I wasn't really sure I was in labor yet.



We arrived at the hospital at 5pm. My MW checked and I was only 2 cm dilated. I hadn't had any internal exams so she said I could've been 2 cm for weeks, but that they would keep me for a couple hours to see what happened. By 6:45 I still only had the strong menstrual cramps but now they were about 4 minutes apart. I was still relaxing through them very easily. I would tell Josh when one was starting, the relax through it and tell him when it finished. I started to think that I wasn't really in labor and told my husband that I felt stupid for calling and telling all our family to come to the hospital when I wasn't really in labor yet. About 5 minutes later at 7pm I told him a surge was starting, then gasped because I felt a big pop and surge of water. My membranes had ruptured! More than anything I was super relieved that I was actually in labor and hadn't wasted everyone's time!!



The first 4 surges after my water broke were the most painful part of the entire labor. I was still only 2.5 cm and his head was up too high so I was using a birthing ball to try to get his head to come down. Because of my position on the ball I couldn't relax at all- those surges were by far the worst! By the time I had experienced 4 of them the tub was ready for me to get in. What a world of difference!!! I felt immediate relief! For the most part I sat up/ leaned on my back in the tub. Josh said behind him (outside the tub) massaging my shoulders and encouraging me. He had drawn the curtains closed, turned off all the lights except a lamp and had the hypnobirthing cd playing. When a surge started I would tap the side of the tub, relax through it, and then tell him when it was finished. They were much stronger than they'd been before my water broke, but still not painful.



At 10pm, after about 3 hours of laboring in the tub I started pushing. As the surges grew stronger it just felt good to push so I did. They were growing stronger and I was worried about transition because I had heard that was the worst- I asked my MW how far off transition was and she laughed and said I was way past that. She had asked if I wanted her to check to make sure I was ready to push. I hadn't decided yet when the next one came- she glanced down and said "nevermind, you're definitely ready!" I ended up pushing for 2 hours! The first hour and 59 minutes weren't bad, but the last couple pushes to actually get him out burned really bad! I wasn't prepared for that. He was born at 12:02am Saturday morning.



When he came out my MW picked him up and set him on my chest- he immediately reached up and grabbed Daddy's finger! I laid there holding him for about 10 minutes until the cord stopped pulsating. Then Daddy cut the cord. They drained the tub, then I delivered the placenta while still in the tub. My MW checked me and said I had a small tear on the inside that needed stitches. So, I handed baby Jedrek to Daddy, who rocked him while I had a couple stitches put in.



After the stitches were done Daddy brought him over to the bed for me and we started breastfeeding. We left the hospital after lunch- our total stay was less than 24 hours. My labor was less than 12 hours total, and really I only the 5 after my water broke since before then I wasn't even sure I was in labor! Jedrek weighed in at 8 lbs, 8 ozs- which was huge considered I weighed less than 100 lbs pre-pregnancy.



Overall it was an incredible experience! We drove 2 hours and passed 6 hospitals- some of them "top-of-the line" to give birth in a small, county hospital just so we could have a waterbirth and it was SO worth it! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Amazing. And congrats. this is exactly what i'm preparing to do, only i'll be in my home.