NannyWhitney
Mommy to Gloria
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2011
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I woke up with slight pains during my regular Braxton Hicks. Assuming they were the annoying false starts I'd had for the past couple weeks, I went to work. Once I got there, the contractions became more regular and slightly more painful. I texted my doula, Meg, who suggested I go home so I could rest before the real labor began. I left work around 9:45am. I was so excited I of course didn't sleep, but just tried to stay mellow.
My husband and I tried to go to sleep around 10pm, but the contractions got too painful for me to sleep. We called my doula around midnight to come to our home to help me labor.
I labored at home until around 3:30am when my doula suggested we transfer to the hospital. I was only about 4cm dilated, so I got really bummed since I thought I was a lot further along. The overnight nurses and doctor let me wander the halls through labor, but once the shift changed they wanted to monitor the baby. I was SO miserable in bed for contractions and I had to stay for 2 hours. Finally, they got a good read on baby and I could walk around again. It was such a relief!
The nurses began to talk about breaking my water to speed up labor. At that point I'd been in labor for about 20 hours, so I was happy to have that discussion. My doctor came in and it was decided that not only would we break my water, they would also do internal monitoring, which I was also happy to get as it allowed me to be mobile.
Around 8am they broke my water, and after that, HOLY MOLY! The contractions were fast, intense and powerful. The whole labor was very manageable until that point. As my husband put it, I was out of my mind in pain. He came up with a mantra that we used for almost the entire transition period that really helped me because I'm such a "time" person, and I like to know how long things are going to take. My husband had me moan "soon". I barely remember much else during this time, except for my husband's loving support and our doula's simple and gentle guidance. I never once asked for drugs, only for "help", and only a couple times did I say "I can't do this".
I felt an incredible urge to push and they checked me and I was still only 8 cm. The nurse said I could give some gentle pushes to alleviate the pain, which I gladly did on the delivery table. As I pushed, I pooped, which at that point I didn't even care because it felt SO GOOD. I even cried out, "Oh my god, I pooped and it's awesome!" Trust me, in the throes of labor ANYTHING that helps you, you will be grateful for! I probably pooped on the table about 8 times, and though now embarrassing, I am so glad I did.
Around 11:05am I was pushing! It was such an incredible relief to push! As a lot of natural birthers tell you, it's nothing compared to the contractions during transition. They put up a mirror so I could see her come out and it was such a motivator for me to push.
Gloria Anne was born at 11:38am on July 18th and weighs 8lbs 11oz, 20 3/4inches long. She was laid on me, skin to skin, but the nurses quickly realized she wasn't breathing correctly. They scooped her up and determined she needed to be transferred to the NICU. My husband went with her, and they found a little bit of fluid in her lungs. It was so hard watching her go and not being able to follow!
I had to stay and finish getting stitched (I ended up with an episiotomy) but thankfully my doula was able to stay with me. Just for that reason I am glad we hired a doula, because she managed to keep me calm and keep my mind off the fact my baby was in trouble.
Gloria had to stay in the NICU overnight, and we weren't able to hold her until the next morning. I am so glad I went all natural because just two hours after the birth I was able to stand by my baby girl's bedside. The next morning I was able to walk myself down to the NICU (I had used a wheelchair the day before for comfort) and I saw another mother that had been in labor the same day as me. Her baby was also in the NICU, but she had an epidural. She was still in a wheelchair and couldn't stand up to see her baby. At that moment I was SO happy with my choice to go all natural because I could have the freedom and mobility to visit my baby, where this mom had to rely on others to see her baby. Even the doctors and nurses were amazed at how great I looked after birth, and I really truly felt great. I sometimes wonder now if Gloria would have had more breathing problems at birth if I had an epidural, and for that I am also happy with my decision.
Gloria was released the next day from the NICU at 12:30pm, and is perfectly healthy now. My husband and I are still talking about how amazing the experience was. It was difficult, frustrating and incredibly painful, but completely worth it. We have already decided without a question we will be hiring our doula back for our second child (way down the line, haha) and go all natural with the next as well. The benefits far outweigh the pain of labor.
I also feel like the labor brought my husband and I closer together. All those stories people tell you about you screaming how you hate your OH...they just aren't true. I have never been more in love with my husband than when he was holding me through powerful contractions. He really got me through the toughest times, and I know I can depend on him for anything.
Fellow natural birthers, you can do this! Trust me, I am a big baby when it comes to pain, so if I can do it, so can you! And, just look at the results. It is the best pain relief to see your baby for the first time!
My husband and I tried to go to sleep around 10pm, but the contractions got too painful for me to sleep. We called my doula around midnight to come to our home to help me labor.
I labored at home until around 3:30am when my doula suggested we transfer to the hospital. I was only about 4cm dilated, so I got really bummed since I thought I was a lot further along. The overnight nurses and doctor let me wander the halls through labor, but once the shift changed they wanted to monitor the baby. I was SO miserable in bed for contractions and I had to stay for 2 hours. Finally, they got a good read on baby and I could walk around again. It was such a relief!
The nurses began to talk about breaking my water to speed up labor. At that point I'd been in labor for about 20 hours, so I was happy to have that discussion. My doctor came in and it was decided that not only would we break my water, they would also do internal monitoring, which I was also happy to get as it allowed me to be mobile.
Around 8am they broke my water, and after that, HOLY MOLY! The contractions were fast, intense and powerful. The whole labor was very manageable until that point. As my husband put it, I was out of my mind in pain. He came up with a mantra that we used for almost the entire transition period that really helped me because I'm such a "time" person, and I like to know how long things are going to take. My husband had me moan "soon". I barely remember much else during this time, except for my husband's loving support and our doula's simple and gentle guidance. I never once asked for drugs, only for "help", and only a couple times did I say "I can't do this".
I felt an incredible urge to push and they checked me and I was still only 8 cm. The nurse said I could give some gentle pushes to alleviate the pain, which I gladly did on the delivery table. As I pushed, I pooped, which at that point I didn't even care because it felt SO GOOD. I even cried out, "Oh my god, I pooped and it's awesome!" Trust me, in the throes of labor ANYTHING that helps you, you will be grateful for! I probably pooped on the table about 8 times, and though now embarrassing, I am so glad I did.
Around 11:05am I was pushing! It was such an incredible relief to push! As a lot of natural birthers tell you, it's nothing compared to the contractions during transition. They put up a mirror so I could see her come out and it was such a motivator for me to push.
Gloria Anne was born at 11:38am on July 18th and weighs 8lbs 11oz, 20 3/4inches long. She was laid on me, skin to skin, but the nurses quickly realized she wasn't breathing correctly. They scooped her up and determined she needed to be transferred to the NICU. My husband went with her, and they found a little bit of fluid in her lungs. It was so hard watching her go and not being able to follow!
I had to stay and finish getting stitched (I ended up with an episiotomy) but thankfully my doula was able to stay with me. Just for that reason I am glad we hired a doula, because she managed to keep me calm and keep my mind off the fact my baby was in trouble.
Gloria had to stay in the NICU overnight, and we weren't able to hold her until the next morning. I am so glad I went all natural because just two hours after the birth I was able to stand by my baby girl's bedside. The next morning I was able to walk myself down to the NICU (I had used a wheelchair the day before for comfort) and I saw another mother that had been in labor the same day as me. Her baby was also in the NICU, but she had an epidural. She was still in a wheelchair and couldn't stand up to see her baby. At that moment I was SO happy with my choice to go all natural because I could have the freedom and mobility to visit my baby, where this mom had to rely on others to see her baby. Even the doctors and nurses were amazed at how great I looked after birth, and I really truly felt great. I sometimes wonder now if Gloria would have had more breathing problems at birth if I had an epidural, and for that I am also happy with my decision.
Gloria was released the next day from the NICU at 12:30pm, and is perfectly healthy now. My husband and I are still talking about how amazing the experience was. It was difficult, frustrating and incredibly painful, but completely worth it. We have already decided without a question we will be hiring our doula back for our second child (way down the line, haha) and go all natural with the next as well. The benefits far outweigh the pain of labor.
I also feel like the labor brought my husband and I closer together. All those stories people tell you about you screaming how you hate your OH...they just aren't true. I have never been more in love with my husband than when he was holding me through powerful contractions. He really got me through the toughest times, and I know I can depend on him for anything.
Fellow natural birthers, you can do this! Trust me, I am a big baby when it comes to pain, so if I can do it, so can you! And, just look at the results. It is the best pain relief to see your baby for the first time!
