I totally loved my birth experience! I had no idea it could be this Amazing, this powerful, or this profound!
At 12:30 I saw my midwife to follow up on some high bp. My bp was back to normal but since I was complaining about this feeling of "anxious crawl out of my skin-ness" (I was also very cranky!) she asked if I wanted to be checked. What the hell.. I was only 38 weeks, but I felt ready, in a strong way, and was curios. She asked if I wanted my membranes stripped, she said I was a 3cm, and very anterior. Again with my what ever, knock yourself out attitude. We left the parking lot by 1pm. I got home, and got dd#1 to nap by 2. Lurked the MDC, had a snack and laid down with dd. by 2:45 I was up with contractions. By 3:20 I was pacing and thinking, if this is some sort of false labor because I let her mess with me I am going to be so pisssed. I kept thinking about that thread that had just been on the board a few days prior about not doing any internals.... By 3:30 I called and asked my dh to come home. I tried getting in a bath, at that point I was actually hoping to slow things down, I was alone with my 2 year old, and things were going so fast. I considered going to my neighbors house, but they don't speak english so I let that go. When my husband got home I was in the shower saying "open, open open" through my contractions. It was really a big help. (I should look up who it was in this DDC who wrote that and give her a very big thank you.) I asked him to call the birth center and let them know it was time. A little bit of bla bla bla here. Where they asked how far along I was, and I was far enough along to tell them all I wasn't going to time, I was coming in.. bla bla bla... So by 4:30 I was on all fours in the front seat of the car. Using "wa" sounds along with the "open open open". This was the most challenging part of my birth experience, and if we have another baby I will totally stay at home. We hit rush hour and it took about an hour to get to the birth center. When we got there (5:30) my doula was waiting out side for us. I started crying when I saw her. She completely brought a sense of relaxation to me. I waddled up to the Birth Center where a nurse was waiting at the door, I was still crying and said to her " Hi, I think I am in labor" She said "looks like it honey" and then I replied "I really like your shoes". She checked me, I was a 6cm. She asked if I wanted my waters broken "No, No, No" I just wanted the tub. She said it takes a while to fill up, I said I will hop in while it fills, no problem. This is where I think things got so awesome....
It was pretty much just the doula and I in the bathroom. She was pouring water on my back. When she would hear me start to say "open" she would whisper "wide open" and helped me with my "wha" sounds. She helped me to relax my face and soon I didn't need her encouragement. I was in a place so deep within. As the contractions came on in waves I could feel my body open up, my fingers would uncurl. I totally gave in to the experience. I got to a place where there was no pain. There was only love. I could hear the women behind me, my husband coming in and out of the room (we were waiting for someone to get there to help with DD, and I had asked that she not be there, I wanted to be able to stay focused. Having her in the room I would have been to concerned about how the experience was for her) At one point I heard the midwife ask my doula if my contractions had slowed down. She told them that she thought they were more spaced out. I knew that they were wrong, and I could feel that it was almost time for my son to be born, but I didn't dare tell them, I didn't want to loose my place. I turned around and told them it was time to push. They were all very shocked. My husband was there now. The midwife checked me, I was complete. And Cyrus was born in about 5 pushes. The pushing and crowning was a feeling of pleasure and power. I had been at the Birth Center for 45 min.
I was completely influenced by that article in Mothering a few months ago about the language of labor. I didn't allow myself to ever think the word "pain". Also, I had read a birth affirmation once saying something about the contractions in labor can not be stronger than me, because it is me. I totally owned this experience. After the birth of my first DC I felt like it was something supernatural that happened to me. My mindset was so different this time around, and I think that is was brought me to this experience. Thank you to all of you on this board who have been so forthcoming about your experiences, I went into labor with all of you as a part of my birth team. A bit rambling I know, but I am dead a$$ tired. Its hard having no sleep, and two children. I guess I should start lurking the life with a baby board....
Amanda
At 12:30 I saw my midwife to follow up on some high bp. My bp was back to normal but since I was complaining about this feeling of "anxious crawl out of my skin-ness" (I was also very cranky!) she asked if I wanted to be checked. What the hell.. I was only 38 weeks, but I felt ready, in a strong way, and was curios. She asked if I wanted my membranes stripped, she said I was a 3cm, and very anterior. Again with my what ever, knock yourself out attitude. We left the parking lot by 1pm. I got home, and got dd#1 to nap by 2. Lurked the MDC, had a snack and laid down with dd. by 2:45 I was up with contractions. By 3:20 I was pacing and thinking, if this is some sort of false labor because I let her mess with me I am going to be so pisssed. I kept thinking about that thread that had just been on the board a few days prior about not doing any internals.... By 3:30 I called and asked my dh to come home. I tried getting in a bath, at that point I was actually hoping to slow things down, I was alone with my 2 year old, and things were going so fast. I considered going to my neighbors house, but they don't speak english so I let that go. When my husband got home I was in the shower saying "open, open open" through my contractions. It was really a big help. (I should look up who it was in this DDC who wrote that and give her a very big thank you.) I asked him to call the birth center and let them know it was time. A little bit of bla bla bla here. Where they asked how far along I was, and I was far enough along to tell them all I wasn't going to time, I was coming in.. bla bla bla... So by 4:30 I was on all fours in the front seat of the car. Using "wa" sounds along with the "open open open". This was the most challenging part of my birth experience, and if we have another baby I will totally stay at home. We hit rush hour and it took about an hour to get to the birth center. When we got there (5:30) my doula was waiting out side for us. I started crying when I saw her. She completely brought a sense of relaxation to me. I waddled up to the Birth Center where a nurse was waiting at the door, I was still crying and said to her " Hi, I think I am in labor" She said "looks like it honey" and then I replied "I really like your shoes". She checked me, I was a 6cm. She asked if I wanted my waters broken "No, No, No" I just wanted the tub. She said it takes a while to fill up, I said I will hop in while it fills, no problem. This is where I think things got so awesome....
It was pretty much just the doula and I in the bathroom. She was pouring water on my back. When she would hear me start to say "open" she would whisper "wide open" and helped me with my "wha" sounds. She helped me to relax my face and soon I didn't need her encouragement. I was in a place so deep within. As the contractions came on in waves I could feel my body open up, my fingers would uncurl. I totally gave in to the experience. I got to a place where there was no pain. There was only love. I could hear the women behind me, my husband coming in and out of the room (we were waiting for someone to get there to help with DD, and I had asked that she not be there, I wanted to be able to stay focused. Having her in the room I would have been to concerned about how the experience was for her) At one point I heard the midwife ask my doula if my contractions had slowed down. She told them that she thought they were more spaced out. I knew that they were wrong, and I could feel that it was almost time for my son to be born, but I didn't dare tell them, I didn't want to loose my place. I turned around and told them it was time to push. They were all very shocked. My husband was there now. The midwife checked me, I was complete. And Cyrus was born in about 5 pushes. The pushing and crowning was a feeling of pleasure and power. I had been at the Birth Center for 45 min.
I was completely influenced by that article in Mothering a few months ago about the language of labor. I didn't allow myself to ever think the word "pain". Also, I had read a birth affirmation once saying something about the contractions in labor can not be stronger than me, because it is me. I totally owned this experience. After the birth of my first DC I felt like it was something supernatural that happened to me. My mindset was so different this time around, and I think that is was brought me to this experience. Thank you to all of you on this board who have been so forthcoming about your experiences, I went into labor with all of you as a part of my birth team. A bit rambling I know, but I am dead a$$ tired. Its hard having no sleep, and two children. I guess I should start lurking the life with a baby board....
Amanda
hey that was me 
: Welcome Cyrus!! (Love his name!)
