3rd time is a charm, my first med-free birth!

mrsblueeyes · October 2013

I did it! I had 2 previous vaginal births with epidurals, and though they were not bad experiences I wanted so badly to go med-free this time to see if I could do it and also to not have to worry about being stuck to the bed and monitors, unable to move around, etc. Though I've not been a frequent poster, I'm a frequent lurker

Just wanted to share my story, since I love reading birth stories.

Emmett's Birth Story

At 38w1d I went to the zoo with my sister, daughter, and nephew-we had a great time and all that walking was causing some pretty regular contractions that evening, but I was easily able to sleep and the next morning they were gone. At 38w2d I woke up to bloody show, I had never had this before so I had no clue if that meant labor was imminent or a few days to weeks off.

I had a scheduled OB appointment that afternoon and was told I was 2cm dilated, 50% effaced with a nice anterior cervix, I was placed on the monitor and told my uterus was "irritable" but no real contractions at that time. I went back home with a plan to return in a week.

Around 5pm that night I started to have pretty regular contractions out of the blue, every 4 minutes lasting 45 seconds. If felt like labor. I put on my hypnobirthing tracks and was managing well, I got in the tub which wasn't overly helpful because the tub is small and shallow, and the other kids were taking baths and I didn't want to use all the hot water. My sister came and did my hair in braids so I wouldn't have to worry about it and my doula arrived and immediately began to calm me down with her gentle voice and pressure on the shoulder telling me to relax deeper. I have to admit I was very calm and almost serene at this point.

Around 8:20pm we decided to head to the hospital. The car ride wasn't bad, I just kept listening to the tracks and trying to breath into the contraction. When it was time to move out of the car, I was hit with contractions which made me stop and sway. Then having to sit in the waiting room while they processed my "paperwork" was so annoying, especially since I preregistered. Finally I was taken back(the nurse was going to initially take me to triage, but I begged her for a room and promised this was "real labor"). Once in the room I had to be monitored for 20 minutes and was given a heplock. I was 4.5cm and 100% effaced at the time with bulging bag of waters.

Then the nurse pretty much let me be with my husband and doula. I was amazing by how little I wanted to move, I pretty much layed like stone on the bed. Initially, I had thought I'd want to be up and moving around. After a while the contractions were getting hard to handle and I was really losing my relaxed, concentrated state and felt my pelvis and hips getting tight.

DH and my doula filled up the giant jacuzzi tub and it did feel much better, though I naively thought it would make all the discomfort go away. The contractions changed in intensity from a horizontal band-like pain, to a vertical, whole abdomen contraction. It really took my breath away. I assume I was in transition at this point since I put a wash cloth over my head and refused to look at anyone. I just held my husband's hand and said all kinds of mean things to him. Some of the gems included "I hate you" "give me your hand so I can hurt it" and "Dear God save me" DH and doula were great and kept telling me I was so close and I could do this. I could feel my bag of waters bulging out and I kept thinking that if it just ruptured it would be better or different or something.

I was ready to be done, I was no longer calm, focused, I just felt miserable, when out of no where I let out a tennis player grunt. I was completely and involuntarily pushing. I surprised myself. The nurse just happened to walk in and that moment and told me "don't you dare push" but my doula was whispering to me that I could push if I wanted to. The nurse started to freak out (no tub births at the hospital) and she, DH, and the doula hauled me out of the giant tub. I practically ran back to the bed, because I was feeling very pushy and didn't want the baby to fall out on the floor.

I got in the bed and the nurse was trying to put my monitors back on when I started my grunting and pushing. I had ZERO control over my body at this point. She called for nurse back up, and her and my husband put on a pair of gloves. DH looked so cute at the end of the bed in his gloves ready to deliver our baby. Contraction started and I felt the push coming, I screamed out "his head isn't going to fit" and with that my water broke as he shot out onto the bed. Emmett Francis was born at 12:11am and weighed 7lbs exactly and was 19 inches long. We had immediate skin-to-skin with my slimy, wet baby. It was wonderful. Also, had a nice delayed cord clamping since the OB didn't show up for 8 more minutes. I apologized profusely to the OB and staff, but everyone said not to worry. I had a second degree tear, which was stitched up after receiving some lidocaine. Pretty amazed and in love with our little guy. DH is really proud of me too, and told everyone he knew that I went med-free, even though he was pretty against a med-free birth at first. Lastly I couldn't have done it without the doula, she knew just what to do and say when I doubted myself. Also, recovery has been a breeze.