LONG labor - natural birth

ssemovsk · June 2013

I posted this in June but i forgot to post it in here. I was in labor for a good 30 hours prior to delivering my daughter. For a little bit of background, i am a pretty healthy person- i had first tri morning sickness but 2nd and 3rd tri were a breeze. I was doing yoga up until 37 weeks and seeing a chiropractor so i think that helped a lot. I only gained 20 pounds and i think i lost most of it already. I started having contractions that felt like menstrual cramps and over the next 12 hours they got closer together and more intense. I never took any pregnancy classes but i did read a hypnobirth book but didnt listen to the cd. I wish i would have done more of that. My baby was head down face up so the crown of her head would hit my spine during each contraction. It felt like someone was taking a sledgehammer to my back. I labored at home for as long as i can stand it. I did the whole deep breathing and groaning and my contractions were eventually 4-1-1. Checked into L and D at 6cm. I was group b so i needed peniccilin and i threw up a decent amount so they gave me some IVs. I immediately told them i didnt want any medical intervention, esp pitocin and an epidural. Realistically i told myself that if i needed it, i would take it but i think voicing that i didnt want it made the nurses and docs not push it. I labored in the hot tub at the hospital for a few hours and on a labor ball and pretty much anywhere else where i felt some release. It was the longest process of my life. My water didn't break. I stayed at a 6cm for a very long time, about 12 hours. My nurse was a hypnobirth teacher so she showed my husband some great moves. They broke my water (didnt hurt at all) eventually and contractions got much worse. Doc even told me i would prob need pitocin to which i replied 'hell no' When i thought i was at my breaking point the nurse checked my and she said baby was still high up but i could push because i was around a 10. I pushed her out in 45 minutes. Pushing was awesome. Placenta came out right away, i had a minor labia tear and barely lost any blood. I am not superwoman but let me tell you, i sure as hell feel like it now after going through all that. My recovery was pretty non existent - some minor bleeding and mild soreness down there but everything else has been a piece of cake. If i can do it, anyone can.