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Birth Stories
24 Hour Labor, Med-Free Birth
I am copying and pasting this from my blog, but I'm adding in some of the good details I know you Bump ladies can handle! I really had the most wonderful experience...I consider myself very lucky because I 100% enjoyed my birthing experience every step of the way.
My Mom had 4 med-free births and I always wanted to do the same. I think I figured if she could, I could too. To prepare, we chose a doula and had a private one hour class with her where we just discussed different relaxation techniques and different positions.
By the end of the last week,
I was beginning to worry that my little girl might not come on her own. I knew I
didn't want to be induced because it can make your labor much more
intense. We had tried all of the tricks in the book to start labor, but
she was not quite ready yet. I had lost my mucus plug the week before and still nothing. Wednesday I had some bloody show, but didn't think it really meant anything. Friday afternoon, while doing some work on
the computer, I noticed I was having very mild period-type cramps. It
didn't phase me though, because contractions had been described to me
as wrapping from your back to your front, and this didn't seem like a
contraction by that description. Adam (DH) and I decided to head out to
dinner and by the time we were eating, I realized that I was having
this cramping feeling much more frequently. We left the restaurant at
9pm, after I used my iPhone app to time the contractions. They were about 45 seconds and about 5 minutes apart. A quick walk
around Target confirmed that they were getting closer and definitely
more intense. We headed home and I sent Adam to bed.
I tried to
get some sleep, but my contractions were coming more frequently...about 3-5
minutes apart lasting about 45 seconds. So instead I wandered around
the house, took a bath and a shower and tried to sleep the best I could
out on the couch. By morning, I knew we would have our little girl that
day and I was so excited! Contractions had intensified over night and
began lasting much longer. I was just breathing through them, really
concentrating on nice deep breaths.
I called my doula, Melissa, at 8:30 am and she came over. I was
also lucky enough to have a doula-in-training come as well. I'm so so
glad that Hannah and Melissa
were both able to be there. We spent the morning chatting away in my
living room. When I would have a contraction, I would interrupt the
conversation and turn and lean over onto something. Then Adam and my
doulas would find their positions: one on each hip and one on my back.
They would apply pressure while I would relax my muscles and breathe
nice deep breaths. I would concentrate on letting my body help her move
down each time. It was amazing...my body was just doing exactly what it
needed to do. So we continued this pattern, chat and contractions, all
morning and into the afternoon. My goal was to labor at home for as
long as I could without feeling like I would have a baby in the car on
the way to the hospital! So by 1:30 pm, with contractions 1 minute apart and lasting about a minute, we decided that it would be a
good time to head over there. We felt fairly confident I was far enough
along in labor that I wouldn't be sent home.
We
got to the hospital and they checked us into a triage room.
Since I was a first time mom, I think they assumed I hadn't progressed
very far yet. They told me I would have to be in the triage room to be
monitored for at least an hour or two. After checking me, I was already
close to 6 cm dilated. The nurse happily decided to admit me to my room
right away.
We checked into my room and I hopped right into the
jetted tub. Water during labor feels so wonderful! I spent a very long
time just soaking away with Adam by my side, encouraging me. After
awhile, my temperature spiked and the baby's heart rate went up. To
avoid putting me on antibiotics, my midwife had me get out and put some
ice packs on me to see if that would cool me down. Thank goodness it
worked! They did a quick check and I think we were all surprised to
hear I was already at an 8. Only 2 cm more to go! I labored some more,
with the applied pressure from my doulas, midwives and Adam. I really
could not have asked for a better group to be with. I actually had my
midwife Kathryn and a student
midwife there. I had so much extra support and encouragement! One of
the things I really enjoyed about having a midwife, was that she was
there throughout all of my labor. Instead of just popping in to
"catch the baby", Kathryn and the student midwife were there to support
me all the way through!
I think it may sound strange, but I was
actually really enjoying myself. I was so relaxed and in the zone. I
was still smiling and laughing during transition. I honestly don't remember even feeling any pain.
Everyone was teasing me because I was still saying "please" and "thank
you". I was even sleeping between contractions. I can't really explain the how or the why, but it was all very
bearable for me. It was a beautiful, natural process that my body was
handling with ease. I had worried that in the heat of the moment, I
would want meds, but the thought never even crossed my mind. I couldn't
believe it when they told me that it was going to be time to push! Even
though I had been laboring for a looong time, I was in shock we were at
that point already.
Pushing was definitely the most challenging
part of labor. I could feel the urge to push, but I didn't know exactly
how to go about it. It took about a half an hour until I finally
figured out the most effective way to push. It really is such hard
work! I was tired at this point and really wanting to meet my little
girl. Thank goodness for my great support team, because they really
helped to keep me motivated! At one point I told everyone "I'm sorry but I think I'm peeing...a lot". Turns out my water was leaking. My water didn't completely break so I had my midwives break it so we could make some more progress. I would describe pushing as pressure, not pain. Finally after an hour and a half of
intense pushing, Adam helped pull her out and onto my chest.
At 8:31 pm on February 20th, twenty-four hours or so since contractions started, we had our little
Rilo Jane. She was 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 19.5 inches. It was the most amazing, beautiful moment of my life. I
still can't believe that Adam and I brought a sweet little girl into
the world. She is so perfect and we really couldn't be two happier
parents!
Sorry for the pics being so large...I didn't feel like resizing. You can see pictures taken by my doula while I was laboring and more of our cute little girl on my blog. Link below.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: 24 Hour Labor, Med-Free Birth
Isn't it awesome! I don't want to have another baby yet, but I'd do l&d a million times over. I went 20 hours drug free and although stalling at 9cm for 2 hours wasn't ideal I wouldn't change anything. It was such an amazing experience!
Congrats mama!