I think the best place to start is when we found out we were pregnant. I will say it was a bit of a shock, but in an amazing way. We always knew we wanted children. When I found out I was pregnant I did what I think a lot of women do. I researched a few obgyns in the area and decided on one practice covered by my insurance. I also started doing as much research as possible and reading birth stories. After lots of research and thought I decided that I wanted a natural birth and would do everything possible to try and have one. I also noticed that almost every successful natural birth story I read involved a midwife not an obgyn. Combined with the fact that I was not pleased with the level of care I was getting at my obs office I decided to switch to a midwife practice. Long story short I think this was the single best decision I made and one of the key components in having a successful natural birth. I choose Greenville Midwifery care and if you are looking for a great midwife I highly recommend them they are amazing! But enough of a back story lets get to the birth.
Because of the limited amount of sick days I had accrued I knew that I wanted to work as long as I could. My due date was November 11th, a Sunday. I had a doctors appointment the Thursday before midwives do not normally check you before you go into labor, but I asked them to so I could decide whether or not to go back to work the following week. I was shocked to find out I was 2-3 centimeters and 90% efaced. My midwife said she would be shocked if I lasted another week. I left school on Friday relieved and looking forward to some rest before Adelyn arrived, but she had different plans.
I had been having braxton hicks continually for several weeks especially at night (I think this is why I was already 2-3 centimeters). A couple of times I thought they were the real deal, but after a shower and laying down for the night they would always go away. That Friday night was the same as usual. I thought the pains I felt were braxton hicks so I went to bed thinking they would pass. I even made plans to get my nails done with a friend the next day. At 12 am on Saturday morning I woke up uncomfortable and unable to stay in bed any longer. I was still skeptical and decided not to wake Michael yet. I went into the living room, turned on netflix and sat on my exercise ball. It didn't take long before I realized that this was the real deal. I waited about an hour before I knew I needed some support and woke Michael. Timing contractions is not easy on your own :)
Michael was a bit skeptical at first, but got up and helped me. We started timing contractions with my contraction timer app I had on my phone. It was still a bit irregular, but they were getting closer together so after about an hour we decided that this was real and that we needed to call the midwife. I talked with her (as I could still talk through contractions at this point) and she said to take a shower or bath, try to get some rest, and to call her back if anything changes. She wanted us to stay at home till we were further along and we agreed as we wanted to labor at home as long as possible.
I tried taking a bath, but quickly realized that sitting still or not being able to more made the contractions much worse. The contractions felt like bad cramps that started in my lower stomach and radiated through my stomach and back. I got out of the tub and tried walking around and using my birthing ball. I could tell the contractions were getting more painful, and I knew I had a long road ahead so I decided I needed to try and get some sleep. I tried laying down but laying down make the contractions much much worse. I had to keep moving. My birthing classes had taught me to find what works for me and try different things along the way. So if moving helped then I was going to keep moving and use some of the positions we learned what involved motion. I started to get restless and worry becasue I knew I was not going to be able to rest and I didn't know how I would make it though a long labor with no rest (this is me always the worrier lol). Michael suggested a shower and I decided to give it a try.
The shower helped with the pain a little as the warm water helped me relax. I think this is where my water broke as I noticed some fluid in the tub, but it was hard to tell as I was in the shower. I stared to get anxious as my contractions seemed very close together and all the horror stories of not making it to the hospital played in my mind even though I had told myself I was not going to get paranoid about that and I had laughed at all those people telling me not to wait and to get to the hospital asap. Michael decided to call the midwife. I was sure that it was still to early, but a voice in the back of my head kept telling me that we needed to get to the hospital and looking back I am glad I listened to my instincts.
On a side note I have to say that my husband was amazing he took care of everything! I am a natural worrier. I kept asking if he had packed this or done this. All he kept saying was "don't worry I got this" and I have to say he really did an amazing job. He got me everything I needed or wanted as was there as soon as I called him.
Michael called the midwife this time as I was not in any condition to speak in the phone. She said that we could go ahead and come in. I felt so relieved and was ready to go right away. I got dressed in sweats and went to the car. I even beat Michael to the car (I was ready to go!). The car ride was terrible. Not being able to move during or between contractions was terrible and at this point the contractions were about three minutes apart. We made it to the hospital at about 4am. We made our way to the 6th floor stopping to breathe through contractions. Michael had to check me in becasue I was having a contraction during check in. They took me to a triage room where they proceeded to hook me up to monitors and have me change into a gown.
I might be seriously criticized for saying this but the most painful part of the entire experience for me was the next part during intake. They told me I had to lay still for 20 mins on my back while they got a 20 min strip on the baby. Laying on my back was excruciating (yes, I think it was even worse than transition). I just kept telling Michael that I wanted to get up and move and that I could not sit still. When the nurse came back I told her I was in pain and wanted to move. I asked her how much longer and she said they usually like to get a 20 min strip. I just remember thinking that I couldn't do this for another 15 mins. She then went on to say that laying on your back is not a good position for a person in labor. I know that I was in a lot of pain, but I seriously felt like screaming at this lady I mean really? If its not a good idea why am I on my back? My husband helped me on my side at which point the alarms went off because the heart monitor had slipped out of place. The nurse came in and fixed the monitor and said that she was going to check me. I told myself that I was probably not that far along and not to get to discouraged if I was still at 2-3. I knew labor could take a long time and I didn't want to get my hopes up. I was surprised to hear 5 cm and 100% effaced.
Progress I thought. We were already half way there. That thought got me though the remaining minutes of torture as I had to lay still. I have to say that I completely understand why women who stay in bed during labor and have to stay hooked to monitors the whole time need epidurals. I think I would have needed an epidural if I was forced to lay still any longer. I was so relieved when the nurse came in and said that we could go to the birthing room. Really I was so glad that I would be with my midwife who would not force me to be hooked up to monitors and would encourage me to move.
The birthing room was very tranquil. They had lighting that looked like tiny stars all around the room. It felt like I was escaping the hospital and going into space where it was quiet and peaceful. The birthing pool had been set up and was almost ready. The nurse asked me if I wanted to get in the shower while I waited for the water to heat up. I imminently said yes. She started the shower and I got in right away. The hot water helped relax me again and contractions were much less intense with the hot water on my back and stomach.
I don't know if it was just me or if all women get this since after a point in labor, but I really wanted to be left alone. Especially when the contractions got really intense and I was in a lot of pain I really wanted everything to be quiet and I wanted to be left alone. Thankfully my husband stayed with the nurse and answered questions while I focused on letting my body do what it was designed to do. I am not the kind of person who does well with all the visualization or finding a relaxing place. I was never good at the relaxation stuff or meditation. What I think helped me was focusing on taking deep breaths and telling myself to just let my body do what it was designed to. I stayed conscious of the pain the whole time, but I told my self to breathe though it and the it would be over soon. I won't claim that it would work for anyone else, but it certainly worked for me.
Shortly after I got in the shower my legs started to get tired of standing. I didn't want to get out of the shower thought becasue the water made the contractions so much more bearable. I called my husband and he had the nurse bring me a birthing ball and let me use it in the shower. This was the magic combination. I could now sit and rest but still move and have the hot water right where I needed it during contractions. At this point my contractions seemed to be right on top of one another. My husband had gone back to talk to the nurse or something, but that was fine with me. I wanted to be alone and focus on letting my body do its job.
I think this is the point where I hit transition. I'm not sure how long I was in the shower, but it must have been a while. All I know is that my husband and the nurses voices in the birthing room started driving me crazy and I just wanted them to shut up. I also was having virtually no break in between contractions and I started thinking to myself that if I had another 10 hours like this there was no way I was going to make it. I quickly pushed these thoughts down and reminded myself that I could do this. After a few minutes/ hours (I had lost track of time at this point) the nurse came and checked the baby's heart rate and asked if I wanted to get in the birthing tub. I was hesitant to leave the shower, but I thought I would give it a try.
The tub was amazing! plenty of room to move around unlike my tub at home and once again it helped with my contractions to be in warm water. I had been skeptical about the whole water birth thing at the beginning thinking I would only use the pool to labor in, but once I got in I did not want to get out. I had thought of water birth as kind of a "hippie" thing or gross, but I am a total convert on the subject. I highly recommend it.
My husband was great bringing me sips of Gatorade and water. He was my biggest fan telling me how great I was doing. The intense contractions continued in the birthing pool but were not as intense as in the shower. The nurse kept trying to ask me questions and it really annoyed me (I think because it broke my concentration). I think I might have even yelled that I couldn't answer a question now becasue I was having a contraction. She didn't ask any questions after that so I think she finally got the hint lol. My midwife had been around the entire time. I hadn't noticed much since I was in the shower most of the time, but she was in and out checking on me now. I found that the most comfortable position to labor in was leaning over the pool in almost a squatting position. I stayed this way for what I estimated was probably about 30 mins.
All of the sudden, I was overcome by a feeling that I needed to go to the bathroom. I asked Michael to help me out, but before I did he decided to tell the nurse and midwife who had stepped out for a minute. They came in saying "there is no way its way too early, but sometimes the feeling that you need to use the rest room means that you might be ready to push" I was hopeful but skeptical just like the midwife. She checked me and what do you know I was at 9 and 1/2 centimeters. Everyone was shocked especially me since I knew that I had already made it through transition and we were almost ready to push.
My midwife sat in a chair next to the birthing tub and after a few more contractions told me that if I felt the need to push to go ahead. I was so relieved because I did feel the need to push so with the next contraction I started pushing. I knew that pushing could last even a few hours so I didn't get my hopes up that it would be over very soon. I'm not sure if the contractions were less painful or if pushing just gave them purpose and made it seem that way, but the pain was much less pronounced at this point. I'm not sure how long it was as I had long ago lost track of time. It seemed like only a few contractions and it might have been, but I could feel something changing so I reached down and was freaked out becasue I could feel her head! I'm pretty sure the people next door could hear me as I yelled it out loud.
I guess I expected people to freak out and jump up and go into baby mode like they do in the movies when someone sees the head, but my midwife remained calm and checked and then went back to her seated position on the chair next to the birthing tub. She told me to keep pushing with contractions and I did. I think the best advice she gave me came next. She told me that when I felt the stinging pain to push easy. Not to stop, but to push easy. I followed her advice, and before I knew it her head was out. I will have to say that waiting for the next contraction to come so I could deliver the rest felt like forever, but with one more push she was out and the next second she was in my arms.
I could not believe it. She was absolutely perfect! She barely even cried. Michael got to cut the cord and after that we had Michael hold her while I got out of the tub and warmed up. I was anxious to find out if I had any tears as this was a huge fear of mine. Not that it would have been a big deal since I could think of nothing but my baby, but after I delivered the placenta I asked and she said it was perfect. She said that I made the whole thing look easy. I could not believe it! A 7 hour labor from midnight to 6:54 am. Only about 4 hours of which were spent in the hospital. I could not have imagined it going any better. I had a beautiful perfect daughter that I held skin to skin for at least an hour before letting her be weighted, printed, and such. She was 7 lbs 4oz and 20 in long. All I could think was that she was perfect and finally here. We named her Adelyn Kathryn. Kathryn after my grandmother. She is truly a blessing to everyone and so loved.
Surprisingly my parents were the only ones at the hospital when she arrived. Everyone else figured it would be a longer labor than what it was and was waiting a little while before coming to the hospital. Many people are amazed when I tell them that I had an all natural birth. I don't like to think I am a fanatic and I most certainly don't think there is a wrong way for a baby to be born as long as they are healthy. I just know that in my case a natural water birth was best for me. I also know that the two things that made this possible were me trusting my body to do what it was designed to do and having a great support system that fully supported my decision for a natural birth.
First picture
With her daddy
Our first family picture :)
