My little girl was born Tuesday morning this week (I was 39W1D and had to be induced - I was soo nervous and guilty at first, got sick monday night from the nerves, but was able to get my head together before I went to sleep). The only preparation I've had was lurking on this board since I decided to go natural at like 25 weeks, and reading up online. No hypno classes or bradley method, I just decided after reading all of the different stories that "I can do this", which I think is a super important thought to have! Labor was just under 3 hours (I had a 6 hr labor with my first baby, so I knew this would be quick!), and LO was 7lbs 12oz, 20 1/2 inches long. Everything is kind of a blur, but luckily we had a birth story photographer there to keep track of the fun little milestones of the labor, so here is what I can remember on my own since I haven't gotten those pictures yet! :
We dropped DS off with family on the way, checked into the hospital at 7 am, and was in my gown in our room by 7:30. They came in to check me (3cm, 70%effaced) They started the pitocin at 8 am. Contractions didn't hurt for the first hour, I was able to play games with DH on our phones to keep me distracted. Then they got so I had to sit and concentrate. This is where I kept my eyes closed for the rest of the labor! I was sitting in an upright position, legs wide, eyes closed, holding DH's hand on my left (holding his hand on the right wasn't helping -weird! We had to move monitors so he could stand at my left side haha). I just breathed slowly through each contraction, let my body go limp (Knowing that relaxing everything would help things speed up). When they got really bad, I had DH squeeze MY hand so that I could just relax my entire body. At one point, I started nodding my head and rocking slowly back and forth like an exorcism movie! DH asked "Um, are you ok?" I kept going, let my body take over! Then, I started humming through the contractions - it really helps! I had almost no break between contractions by like 9:45. So, when I gave them permission to check my dilation it was PAINFUL having to lay the bed down =-P. I remember being checked at a 5 at about 9 am, By 10:15 I was a 7 and in transition. No throwing up, just shaky, a tiny bit nauseated, but I was able to control that. Just stuck with my breathing I was doing. Finally I had to push! I all of a sudden had a team of nurses around me telling me "No pushing!" since the doctor wasn't there yet! I was like "where is he???" They had me do some breathing techniques to "blow the pushing away" which worked but this was by far the most painful part of the whole experience. I had to resist the pushing through 3 contractions. But I focused - I had come this far I had to stay strong. Everyone told me I had been quiet the whole time until this part. I started yelling that I couldn't hold it anymore! The doctor was walking in and they helped me push! I felt my little girl come out on my 2nd push - such a relief!! Didn't hurt or feel anything when the placenta came out. No tearing, woohoo! I attribute that to the no meds and being able to control my pushes when the doctor told me to hold off for a second and everything.
Bottom line - it was such an amazing experience! I really felt so proud of myself (which I assumed was the "superwoman" feeling I had been reading about). The whole staff was super impressed (I don't think a lot of people go natural at this hospital). But a pitocin birth, no meds, healthy mommy AND baby in a little under 3 hours?? I felt great!
Recovery has been AMAZING. We went home the next day, I'm definitely sore in my tummy after walking around too much, but not tearing has made this recovery amazing compared to my epi birth with DS. Not to mention LO has been an amazing breast feeder! Both of these things were my main reason for wanting no meds - DS had trouble nursing and latching all around. I totally got everything I wanted out of this birth. I could not be happier =-) Thanks to all the people who post here to keep us all motivated.
Re: Another Successful Pitocin Birth Story! Long...
It's kind of a long story I srarted typing it all and realized it's a lot longer and more personal than I thought! But bottom line, I was having some boarder line pre e symptoms that worried me. So hopefully I won't be judged, but I had to trust what I was feeling! It was scary making the decision, but LO did amazing and I completely trusted everyone that was taking care of me! Not using any other meds for pain or anything was IMO what helped LO breast feed like a pro, and come out 100 healthy and happy!