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Natural Birth
ophelia190
member
Natural hospital birth story
ophelia190
member
Hi! This is only my second post on TB so I hope you don't mind me posting a birth story here. I found natural birth stories very encouraging while I was pregnant and hoping to go pain med. free!
My last midwife appointment was two days after my due date. The midwife told me that I had 'The Look.' She figured that I would go into labour that night or the following day. She also offered to strip my membranes which I declined. I was still feeling pretty good and I assumed that I still had another week to go because it was my first. I had been having all kinds of BH but nothing really out of the ordinary. That night was quiet but the next day I just felt off.
I went for a walk (as briskly as I could) and then alternated bouncing on the exercise ball and walking up and down the stairs in my house. At around 6pm, I started timing my BH, still not convinced that I was in labour. They were between 6-10 minutes apart and stayed that way for about four hours. I noticed a change in the intensity of the contractions at 10pm. They became slightly painful so I called the midwife to give her the heads-up that we might be going to the hospital that night. Both my grandmother and my mother had super fast labours with their first babies (under 6 hours) so I thought it might be a good idea to let her know.
I laboured on the bed and toilet until 1am. At this point, the contractions were quite painful but I still wasn't convinced I was really in labour. I guess I was just worried I would get to the hospital and they would send me home. I called the midwife at 3am and told her that I had to go to the hospital. We only live 10 minutes away so it wasn't that bad of a car ride. For some reason, when we got there, I refused a wheelchair and told them I could walk on my own. This was a bad idea. It took me about 10 minutes to get to L&D and I had to stop every minute or so and hold the wall.
Luckily, when the midwife checked me, I was at 6 cm. I was so happy that I didn't have to go home! She broke my water (hurt so bad!) and I got on the bed on my side to labour some more. Shortly after that, I felt my body start to push on it's own. I told the midwife "I think I'm pushing...". She checked me and I was complete! I pushed on my side for a while and then she suggested I push on all fours. This was a bit harder because I was so tired and holding myself up was a chore but it sure moved things along! Another two or three contractions and I felt the ring of fire. I remember thinking, this isn't as bad -oh no there it is! DD had the cord wrapped around her neck so I had to not push. I would have had no problem with this but DD had other plans. I could feel her trying to push her way out with her feet! It was the most painful part. One more contraction and she came sliding out into DH's hands. I had a very slight tear with a couple of stitches but all in all, a wonderful birth experience. I wouldn't have changed anything!
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Re: Natural hospital birth story
Thank you for sharing and congratulations !