Audrey Elizabeth, speedy Natural birth

Jenny0929 · July 2012

I said I wanted to try a natural birth this time after having epidurals with both of my boys, and although I changed my mind as soon as we got to the hospital, this little girl had other plans.

She arrived Saturday, July 7th at 12:26 p.m. weighing in at 7lbs 13.9 oz, and measuring 19 1/2" and is the sweetest little thing!

I woke up that morning at 4am and was wide awake and starving. I ate and then at 4:22 I started having regular contractions that were averaging 7minutes apart. At 8 am with them still coming on strong I woke up my husband and had him prepare. He took the older boys to my parents house and by 10 I was having contractions that made me cry and were coming irregularly but averaging 6minutes apart. I called the doc/office and said I was going to L&D because this was my third and I knew this was it even though they weren't the magical 5 minutes apart.

The doctor was skeptical to allow me to go and said she would call so it was obvious to me when we got to the hospital that they thought they would be sending me home, my room wasn't ready, it was being mopped and no sheets were on the bed or anything. This was 10:15 am and I finally got to be hooked up on the machines in a room at 10:30, and the nurse noted my contractions were averaging 3minutes apart. The doc on that day came in and checked me and I was 4.5cm dilated. I was already in a lot of pain with my contractions coming so close together that I was requesting an epidural. They told me I could have one after I had at least one IV bag and blood work done.

I could go on in detail for paragraphs about how long this took, how the nurse aggravated me to no end as I told her I was in extreme pain and needed relief immediately and how all she said was I know and that it will be at least a half hour before my blood work is done and then I could get the epidural. That half hour actually took one hour while I labored in extreme pain and could hardly breathe. I was doing everything I could think to do to relieve the pain, chewing ice chips, walking, bouncing, crunching, etc, but nothing was helping. I was crying and begging my husband to get me drugs anything to help me get through the contractions, he felt so horrible and miserable as he tried to help me and calm me. It was 11:30 and I was panting at the point the anesthesiologist came in the room.

From 11:30 to 12 she attempted to give me an epidural. She couldn't get the spot and had to keep pausing waiting for me to be in between a contraction to try again. At this point they were lasting at least 90 seconds and were only a minute to two apart so this was becoming a last ditch effort. I was barely keeping it together as I was asked to stay still while she was trying to do it. I was struggling to breathe, shaking and panting and just wanted the pain to end. Finally the epidural was in but I wasn't feeling relief. I was then told it would take at least 15 minutes to really kick in. I didn't have 15min.

It was now a little after 12 and the pain was bad enough that I was baring down with the contractions because I felt pressure and just wanted to move things along. The nurse paged the doc in quickly to check and I was 9.5cm with my water yet to break. The doctor told me to keep at it and that she would break my water and we could have this baby. It was about 12:15 p.m. and with that I was 10cm and pushing.

5 or 6 good pushes and she was here, 12:26 p.m. As soon as she was delivered I felt so much better and was able to have her on my chest immediately. The epidural never had a chance to take effect so they removed it after she was delivered leaving me with a bruise and sore back and some numbness in my legs.

Audrey scored 9's on both her apgars, passed her hearing test and is just wonderful all around. We came home Monday and she has been nursing well and sleeping well and not to jinx myself has been a very calm and relaxed baby with no fuss.

Although I would have given anything to have some drug intervention, I am happy that I didn't and got to experience the whole thing naturally. It was very difficult for me but I am proud to say I got through it.

The boys are loving their new sister and we are all getting along great. It feels as though she has always been with us. I wish the rest of you the best of luck and hope you have as healthy and happy babies as my little girl.

zaramarie81 · July 2012

Congrats!!!

And you experience re the epidural is one reason I am a bit nervous regarding timing pain meds should I need them. I often hear how long hospitals can take to finally get around to giving you the meds. It's odd... on the one hand, hospitals are so anxious to intervene and on the other hand they often allow you to wait and wait and wait and suffer. It's frustrating to feel like everything is on their terms! But good for you for getting through w/out it! What an accomplishment!