Edith May's birth story (@cindythelou)

cindythelou · May 2014

TL;DR: I went into labor on Monday 5/19 at 9:30pm. Went to the birth center 5/20 at 3:00am. Water broke at 4:30am. Started pushing at 1:15pm. Edith May was born at 2:53pm weighing 7lbs 13oz. Vaginal delivery, no pain medication, 1st degree tear and two stitches.

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We were watching Star Trek Into Darkness and I started having contractions at 9:30pm on Monday 5/19. I wasn't quite sure if the contractions were really anything, but they were the first time it had been noticeably painful. It wasn't painful that I couldn't deal with it, but I definitely noticed and just casually started looking at the clock. About an hour into it I told my husband I think I might be in early labor and he got really excited. We own our own business so he went in to close and I kept timing the contractions. They were getting close together and increasing in intensity, so when he returned around midnight we called the birthing center to let the oncall midwife know I was in labor. Then we called our doula. I labored at home as the contractions got stronger and longer and closer together. At about 3:00am I decided it was time to head into the birthing center. I was hoping that I was really in labor and they weren't going to send me home. If this wasn't the real thing, then I wasn't sure I could handle a medicine-free delivery like I wanted.

I had a few contractions in the care (ugh!) and when we got to the birthing center the midwife checked me and I was at a stretchy 5! HOORAY!! I was so excited that it was really happening. I went back to my room and got naked. My doula started filling up the tub and my husband dimmed the lights and put on some nice music. I labored in the tub for a while and the contractions were coming on much stronger. There was blood in the water from time to time and my doula and my husband helped me labor through the contractions. I cussed a lot at this point.

The midwives changed over shifts and I was checked. I had gotten to a 7 and was feeling really good about it all. My blood pressure was high when I arrived, and maybe it was due to that or due to the fact that I had GD, the nurses were constantly checking the baby's heartrate with the doppler - especially if I changed labor positions which I did, a lot. I found this to be incredibly irritating as I didn't want to be touched or asked questions. At one point I had to tell my husband to stop asking me questions. He did a really great job supporting me throughout the whole thing.

Two hours later I felt like pushing, so the midwife came in and checked me. I was still at a 7. How disappointing! She also told me my contractions weren't strong enough to bring the baby down, so I needed to save my energy (stop moaning), and really work to get my contractions longer and stronger. So I walked around the birthing center, I went outside for a while, and my husband did some nipple stimulation to get things going. I tried really hard to keep quiet during the contractions to reserve my energy. It was very difficult!

I was having major back labor. Apparently I have an oddly-shaped pelvis that the baby had to maneuver through, and it was causing me pretty excruciating pain in my back with each contraction, especially when I was lying on my side. I was begging to get out of that position, but the midwife said the more uncomfortable I was, the more progress was happening. I was checked again and had moved to an 8! Hooray things were moving along.

At around 1 I really felt the need to push and they let me get started. I tried many different position but had the most success on the toilet - which unfortunately caused me the worst hemorrhoids I have ever ever had. I was probably straining myself way too much but it made sense to me to get the baby down and out! I ended up pushing the baby out on the bed, on my side with my legs up. My husband, the midwife, and the nurses were all cheering me on as I pushed the baby out and I was truly hanging on every word they were saying.

At 2:53 pm the baby finally came out! I looked to my husband and asked, "What is it?? What is it???" and when he said a girl I was totally shocked. Everyone had been telling me I was going to have a boy by the way I was carrying.... so it was a surprise, and a pleasant one!! We were/are so thrilled. We named her Edith May and she hung out on my stomach while we waited for the cord to stop pulsing. Then my husband cut the cord and I got to hold her up close to me and see her little face for the first time. She has my husband's eyes.

I had a 1st degree tear that required two stitches and I bled pretty extensively after I delivered the placenta.

I am recovering from the massive hemorrhoids with some Rx drugs and stool softener. Edith and I are figuring out breastfeeding -- it was definitely a struggle in those first few days!

I have never been happier. Giving birth was the hardest thing I have ever done, but now that I've done it, I know I can do anything!