I've never posted, but this board has been so helpful to me during my pregnancy. The best part was reading all of your birth stories, so I thought I would add mine. On Wednesday, I was 11 days past my due date with my first baby and just starting to get really impatient. I watched Baby Story all morning, which was probably a bad idea, but I decided to let myself have one more episode. The next show was Birth Day, and by coincidence, it took place at my birth center--I even recognized the midwives! It was either a sign or a cosmic joke, but I enjoyed watching.
By 3, the show did the trick and my contractions had started. I wasn't convinced that it was really happening until after dinner, when they picked up. My husband started timing them around 9 with our ipod app, and they were already 4 minutes apart. They stayed that way for an hour, so we called the birth center. The midwife suggested I take a hot shower and see if they continued to pick up, which they did. Things were still completely bearable, but a(nother) snowstorm was approaching, so we decided to go to the birth center on the early side.
When I got there around midnight, I was dilated 2 1/2, which wasn't a surprise--our only fear was that they would send us home. But the midwife said we could hang out, but wanted me to know that she expected labor to last through the next day and evening, so we should gear up for a long journey. She gave me a mild shot so I could sleep in between contractions, and that helped for the next few hours. Around 4am, I asked to get in the tub.
The rest of this part of labor was a blur of pain and sensory deprivation--I had the lights off, whirlpool on, and sent everyone away. I only had people around when they came in to check the heartbeat. I put my ears underwater and moaned through every contraction. The pain--especially back labor--was bad but didn't make me despair. I was only worried that I was getting close to my limit and I could still be many hours away from pushing. But already I was getting pushy feelings, and starting to boil myself in the tub, so I got out around 8.
I had my first check since the night before, and everyone was surprised to see that I was almost ready to push. They were all congratulating me for doing it all by myself in the tub. I got in bed on my side and I pushed for about 2 hours. The first part actually did feel good, like other people have said, and pushing on a birth stool really helped. The last part did not feel good. I kept thinking "ring of fire" makes it sound so much better than what I was feeling (Then again, "pooping a watermelon covered in glass shards" is not so catchy and is not a Johnny Cash song for a reason.) The midwives were so supportive and were a perfect match for me. The moment the baby came out, that pain was over and I felt exhausted but great.
It was 11 am, just 11 hours after arriving at the center. We found out it was a boy and named him Elliot. The snow was picking up outside, so we decided to leave at 5pm, and were home in time for dinner.
In all, it was a fabulous experience. I was mentally prepared for any problems or interventions, but I had a textbook-perfect natural birth. I couldn't have scripted it better and feel so lucky that it all played out that way! I'm feeling pretty good now, and by "pretty good" I mean the worst I've ever felt physically--I didn't realize how much my arms, back, and even jaw would hurt. It feels like I was in a really sadistic triathlon overseas--pain, soreness, and jet-laggy. But I am thrilled with my new little guy and cozy at home healing up. Thanks to all those ladies who went before and shared their stories, and good luck to all of those still waiting.
By 3, the show did the trick and my contractions had started. I wasn't convinced that it was really happening until after dinner, when they picked up. My husband started timing them around 9 with our ipod app, and they were already 4 minutes apart. They stayed that way for an hour, so we called the birth center. The midwife suggested I take a hot shower and see if they continued to pick up, which they did. Things were still completely bearable, but a(nother) snowstorm was approaching, so we decided to go to the birth center on the early side.
When I got there around midnight, I was dilated 2 1/2, which wasn't a surprise--our only fear was that they would send us home. But the midwife said we could hang out, but wanted me to know that she expected labor to last through the next day and evening, so we should gear up for a long journey. She gave me a mild shot so I could sleep in between contractions, and that helped for the next few hours. Around 4am, I asked to get in the tub.
The rest of this part of labor was a blur of pain and sensory deprivation--I had the lights off, whirlpool on, and sent everyone away. I only had people around when they came in to check the heartbeat. I put my ears underwater and moaned through every contraction. The pain--especially back labor--was bad but didn't make me despair. I was only worried that I was getting close to my limit and I could still be many hours away from pushing. But already I was getting pushy feelings, and starting to boil myself in the tub, so I got out around 8.
I had my first check since the night before, and everyone was surprised to see that I was almost ready to push. They were all congratulating me for doing it all by myself in the tub. I got in bed on my side and I pushed for about 2 hours. The first part actually did feel good, like other people have said, and pushing on a birth stool really helped. The last part did not feel good. I kept thinking "ring of fire" makes it sound so much better than what I was feeling (Then again, "pooping a watermelon covered in glass shards" is not so catchy and is not a Johnny Cash song for a reason.) The midwives were so supportive and were a perfect match for me. The moment the baby came out, that pain was over and I felt exhausted but great.
It was 11 am, just 11 hours after arriving at the center. We found out it was a boy and named him Elliot. The snow was picking up outside, so we decided to leave at 5pm, and were home in time for dinner.
In all, it was a fabulous experience. I was mentally prepared for any problems or interventions, but I had a textbook-perfect natural birth. I couldn't have scripted it better and feel so lucky that it all played out that way! I'm feeling pretty good now, and by "pretty good" I mean the worst I've ever felt physically--I didn't realize how much my arms, back, and even jaw would hurt. It feels like I was in a really sadistic triathlon overseas--pain, soreness, and jet-laggy. But I am thrilled with my new little guy and cozy at home healing up. Thanks to all those ladies who went before and shared their stories, and good luck to all of those still waiting.
Tee hee!
