I have to say, I had a dream birth experience. Had I know labor would be like that, I would't have hesitated to deliver my other two naturally. Oh, the things we discover when looking in the rear view mirror....
I'll give you background first. We closed on a house at 37 weeks. It took forever, and I was convinced we were going to be in between houses when I delivered, but we made it. We moved in on Monday and that Tuesday night my in laws brought my kiddos to stay. I put them in the bathtub and got them in bed. About an hour later, Austin walked down the hall and freaked. The tub had flooded under the floor into the hall. By morning the carpets were flooded in all 4 bedrooms and the hall and living room hardwood squished water. So... Out we went. We lived between a hotel and my in laws house for a week. Again, I just KNEW I was going to go into labor while the tub and floors were being ripped out of my new house. But, I made it to 38 weeks and still no baby. I was having consistent Braxton hicks through all of this - daily. They would get intense at night but after I would walk/eat/drink/ shower, they would phase out. I was in a constant state of panic because 1- my plan was to labor at home in the tub, but we had no tub and only sub floor/concrete in the hall bathroom/hall/living room and 2- my doula was leaving town for her sisters wedding Tuesday sept 25-Sunday Sept 30 (my due date). I assumed I would not get past 37 weeks since my other two came so early, so we weren't worried.... Until we got to Thursday, sept 20 and Anna Massey was holding her ground in utero. I went in for a check up and saw the NP (my dr was at the hospital) I had not been allowing checks, but was starting to panic so I caved and she checked me. According to her, I was 5 cm and 90%. She sent me in a wheelchair to the hospital claiming I was "in active labor". I assured her I was not and thankfully my dr came in and said "umm, you are NOT in labor." He checked me and said I was a generous 4 and 80% and to go home and walk. I did. She still held her ground. Friday my mom took Addison and my mother in law took Dossett so we could unpack/paint/etc. The tub was being installed Saturday morning and sheetrock that afternoon, and I didn't want the kids breathing it all in. Saturday morning my doula messaged me and said "ok, time to walk, have sex, and get a massage". So... I walked a mile, made a reflexology appointment for 11:00, a prenatal massage for 2:30, sex sometime that afternoon (tmi, sorry) and walked again that evening a mile. I went to my doula's house and took a warm bath (since mine wouldn't be useable until the next morning), but by 10:00 I was in tears. I was angry that God had allowed all terrible things to happen. I was angry that he hadn't allowed me to go into labor kowing how uncomfortable I was and how much I depended on my doulas support. I was angry because I felt like I was finally giving birth the way HE intended .... And He was just sitting back letting me worry and be miserable. I told him all of these things and I literally felt his arms around me and heard him say "trust me." You trust my plan, my design for you. Trust me to bring this baby in MY time, because my timing is perfect." For the first time in weeks, I felt at peace and I said out loud, ok God, I trust you to bring her here in your time and as a beautiful healthy baby girl. (I had been told the previous week she was "too big for my body to deliver" so I was worried about that).
I went to sleep about midnight and slept great. I woke up at 5:30 and jumped out of bed thinking I was tee-teeing on myself. I ran to the bathroom and sat there unsure of whether my water broke or I had an accident. I convinced myself there wasn't enough fluid for it to be my water and I wasn't having contractions so I laid back down, but to be safe I put on a pad. I was a bundle of nerves because I just had this "feeling". I roused Austin and said "I think my water broke...." He said "Wake me up when you are sure". A few minutes later I said, " babe I really think this is it but I'm not having contractions." He said "Carley, you've been sure this is it for 3 weeks. It is 6:00 in the morning. Lay down and wake me up when you are 100% sure." So I laid there and just couldn't rest. I got up and got dressed and said "ok, I know you don't want to do this but we need to go walk." He (very dramatically) threw off the covers and said "fine, but if I'm walking at 6 am it better be to Starbucks.... I need coffee." So off we went to Starbucks. I had my first real live contraction at 7:00 in the parking lot of Starbucks. I called my parents and told them to get Addison up and get packed and make their way to Hattiesburg. I was having contractions 7-10 minutes apart and I assumed I had lots of time. We walked back home and I took a long shower. By 7:30, Austin called Elizabeth our doula and she was there by 8:00. I was having hard contractions every 3-4 minutes and some were double peaking. By 8:30 I was in a lot of pain and could no longer talk through contractions. I spent a lot of time laboring on the toilet and then wanted the bathtub like nobody's business. Austin literally rigged the tub (it was a basin with sheetrocked walls and piping but no faucet/knobs) with a wrench to run water. I soaked until a little after 9:00 and said "ok it's time to go." We got to the hospital at 9:20. I got out and while Austin got the bags, I began feeling the urge to push. Elizabeth said "drop the bags... She's pushing!" I swear I would have delivered her in the parking lot had they not MADE me walk inside. I walked inside and didn't even stop at triage desk. I helped myself to the nearest room... The nurses followed me in fussing behind me the whole way... I. Did. Not. Care.
I got checked and was between a 7-8. I went and sat on the potty again to labor... They came in and checked baby girl with the EFM and gave me a hep lock in the bathroom. At about 10:00 I was really hurting and feeling the urge to push so I got on the bed. They lowered the bottom and raised the top and I leaned against the headboard and was on my knees. The nurse checked me- I was at 10!! Austin and Elizabeth convinced me to squat and face the end of the bed. It worked.... 8 pushes later, my beautiful baby girl made her grand entrance. The nurse caught her as the doctor walked in. I was in love. She was perfect, so pink, so fat and READY TO NURSE! She latched within 5 minutes. They weighed her and she was 9lbs even. God's timing was perfect. He promised to be faithful if I would trust Him... And he delivered as He always does. He allowed my body to defy all the doctors and deliver a 9 lb baby girl in less than 4 hours and 8 pushes with no tearing. I could not be happier about the choice to deliver naturally. I can tell a difference in Anna Massey and a HUGE difference in me. No PPD!!! I'm still on a "high" from the birth and want to shout to the world that it IS possible. I was told I'd never be able to deliver a baby bigger than Dossett or Addison unless I had a section. Addison was 7.6 and Dossett was 7.8.... I pushed for over an hour with Addison, directed by my OB and close to that with Dossett. I pushed on my own when my body "told me" and it only took 15 minutes and she was over a pound and a half bigger than my other two. I had a major episiotomy with Addison and I tore with Dossett. I say all that to say... Natural birth is really as good as it is cracked up to be. I wasn't sold. I was going out on a limb to avoid PPD. I didn't buy into all the hype... Until I witnessed it, experienced it personally.
Enjoy The Journey!
2 comments:
congratulations to the beautiful mother and healthy baby girl! What a story!
I love that she walked right in the hospital straight into a room! You go girl!
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