My due date was April 26th and I started having Braxton-Hicks type contractions on an off all day, about 3-4 an hour. This went on for about 4 days. It made me anxious, like labor was going to come and go and I might miss it. At my pre-natal visit on Monday my midwife assured me that I’d know it when it happened.posted by Roger Dodger at 6:24 PM on November 11, 2008 [4 favorites]
On Wednesday April 30th I woke up at 3:30 in the morning with painful contractions. I woke up every half hour with them. When Brian woke up I said, “Better stay home today.” So he stayed home, I went back to sleep and the contractions pretty much went away. I was discouraged because Brian began his two-week vacation and I was worried this would go on another week.
In the afternoon the contractions picked back up. I called my doula and she suggested we go on a date. So we went for Chinese food and a movie. However, after we ate, my contractions were about 10 minutes apart and we decided to go home. We watched a movie and I labored on my exercise ball and then called the midwives to check in. Bridgett said that I should try to go to sleep. We went to bed but I couldn’t sleep through the contractions. We called my doula. Kate said to try taking a bath to see if I could sleep in the bath.
By 2 a.m. my contractions were 5 minutes apart and getting more intense. We called the midwives to say that we wanted to come to the birth center. Kate came over to our house to help get me into the car and followed us to The Birthplace in Taylor. We arrived around 3 a.m. on April 1st. Having contractions in the car made me feel nauseous.
After getting to the birth center I alternated between laboring on the ball, on the floor on my hands and knees, or on the bed on my hands and knees. Brian was constantly rubbing my lower back, which was very helpful. Kate and Brian’s encouraging words were helpful as well. I was concentrating on relaxing between contractions and breathing through the contractions. The more intense they became the more I used my voice. Kate and Brian would remind me to ‘keep it low’.
Kate encouraged me to change positions every so often. Also, having to use the restroom would initiate a position change. When I had a new position, sometimes it was hard at first to get a handle on the contractions in the new position. Lying on my side was the worst position I tried. I needed to be facing down. I wished I had yoga bolsters because leaning on the pillows felt smothering to me. I had to use the restroom often and the contractions that I had on the toilet were really strong and hard to deal with.
This seemed to go on forever. Kate filled up the tub and I got in and labored there for a while. I was on my side. Things were getting intense. I was using my voice like you would not believe. I felt like I was trying to ‘harmonize’ with the contractions. The water was not as ‘magical’ as I hoped it would be. Lying on my side was hard but seemed like the best position in the tub. At some point my mucous plug came out.
I got out of the tub to use the restroom and Linda offered to check me. I was scared to know. I was 6 cm, 80% effaced, -2 station. I was pretty disappointed, I was hoping for 8. She said, “You’re in transition”. That made me feel better because it felt like transition.
My water finally broke around this time. It felt like it broke several times after that as well. The fluid was clear. I labored out of the water again on the ball. My favorite part was when Linda was behind me massaging my back and Kate was in front of me massaging my arms. Linda suggested that I do some side-lying because it puts lots of pressure on the cervix. I reluctantly did it for a while. It was hard but I was able to get a handle on it.
Bridgett showed up and when I saw her beautiful face I felt like crying. After laboring for an eternity more, Bridgett wanted me back in the tub. So I got back in. I felt like I was in transition forever. Everyone was very hungry and ordered Thai food, except Brian, who stayed with me. It smelled so good, I felt really jealous. I wanted to take a break and eat too!
Bridgett decided to check me. I was almost completely dilated. There was one part of my cervix that wasn’t completely dilated on one side. She decided to push on it while I had a contraction. I guess the baby’s head was turned slightly to one side so I wasn’t dilating evenly. My active labor was 15 hours.
It was push time at last! At first it was like little ‘catches’ where all I could do is push a little bit – kind of like having to cough. Then as the contractions and the feeling came I just went with it. I didn’t push any harder or longer than my body told me to. I pushed for 45 minutes. Brian was behind me (outside the tub). When a contraction came I got into a squatting position and pushed. When the contraction was over I sat down and rested. I was like Jello between contractions.
They told me to put my fingers in and see if I could feel the head. I could. As he got close to crowning they could see that the amniotic sac was still attached to his head. It looked like a veil coming out of me. The lights were on in the tub. They gave me a mirror so I could see. It looked very cool. Brian looked quickly and then said, “ok, that’s enough.”
As he was crowning I was trying to ‘monitor’ it with my hand. I couldn’t really apply pressure, but I could try to feel what was going on. I didn’t want to tear, I wasn’t sure if I was or not. The midwives were giving me so many ‘props.’ They said, “Wow, look at her supporting/protecting herself.” It made me feel empowered. They seemed impressed with my ‘instincts’ and I felt proud of myself. I was a little bit surprised that nobody was ‘doing’ anything at this point. I was in charge.
Finally I pushed the head out. I slumped back down in the tub. Jello. I could see the head sticking out. I heard Brian ask, “What are we waiting for?” Somebody replied, “She’ll have another contraction and the baby’s body will come out.” It was 4 and ½ minutes until the next contraction. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was making everyone a bit nervous that my contractions were slowing down toward the end.
The next contraction came and the body came shooting out into the water. Brian said, “It was like a baby rocket riding on a plume of blood.” I slumped down again. Double Jello. Then one of the midwives said, “Sherlyn, pick up your baby!” I seriously thought, “You’re kidding me.” But I quickly picked the baby up, lifted him out of the water and put him against me. They said the look on my fact was priceless. At first he was blue with big huge eyes. Brian said, “He looks like Gollum!” He immediately began to cry and we watched him quickly turn from blue to pink.
He was nursing within 15 minutes or so. I felt energized. After sitting there for about 30 minutes we got the placenta out and checked it. All there. Brian cut the cord when it was done pulsating. I ended up with a very small superficial tear on one side.
I was so impressed with the support that Brian gave me. He was there for me every moment, massaging me, telling me he loves me, helping me cope. I’ve never felt closer to him. Kate, my doula was incredible as well. Her support, encouragement, and expertise helped me to feel confidant that things were on track and kept me from getting ‘lost’ during labor. My midwives were fantastic and so was the facility. They let me do what I need to do to get my baby out and have an incredibly empowering experience.
Our son was born at 5:09pm, on May 1st. He was 7 pounds 11 oz and 21 inches long. He rocks our world.
I haven't had any kids, but I found the movie a very interesting. It takes on natural childbirth, pain, and medication in a very honest seeming way.
posted by aetg at 4:58 PM on November 11, 2008