Here is the story..
Isaac was born on January 26th, 2012 at 10:34pm. It was 5 days after his due date and I was getting desparate! I did not want to have to be induced again. I really, really, really wanted to have the experience of going into labor on my own. I tried everything I could think of except castor oil. I walked, (and walked and walked), danced, ate pineapple and curry, spicy jalepenos, went up hills and stairs, danced in my living room to a salsa workout dvd, and yes, even had some marital relations. I am pretty sure the salsa video is what worked for me because at 5am on the morning of the 26th, I woke up with a contraction, then another, then another. On the 3rd one I started timing them. I was so excited!!!
So Jay went to work for a couple hours, and I took Lincoln to school. The contractions were 6 to 15 minutes apart and not too intense. They were more like menstraul cramps. I took a shower and fixed my hair and put makeup on, then Jay and I went to the mall to walk. A friend in my mom's club had labor for 3 days, and I was hoping not to have that experience! So we walked and walked and walked... at noon we ate chinese food because that sounded good. Ashley met us in the food court after driving in from Corpus, she came to assist us, and to be in the room during the birth. We walked some more, including some stairs, then went home. I was getting a little frustrated by this time because the contractions were still very irratic, with no noticable pattern yet. Also, the excitement was wearing off...
Mary arrived at our house, then she and Jay picked Lincoln up from school. While he napped I laid down for a bit... I was nervous to do that because I didnt want labor to slow down, but my contractions continued every 10 minutes during my nap. After we got up, we decided to take a little walk down to the park. When we got there, Ashley pointed out some steps and I jumped right on them taking 2 at a time. On the second step I felt a gush. My water broke! wow!! That really happens in real life, not just the movies!!! I wanted to see if the water was clear, but there is no where you can legally pull your pants down in a childrens playground, so we decided to walk back to the house. (Although Ashley thought I should drop my pants anyway.) Mary and Linc stayed to play and Jay, Ashley, and I hoofed it back to the house. My contractions after my water broke were faster, 5-6 minutes apart, and more intense than before. When we got back to the house, I called Debbie the midwife, and we agreed it was probably time to head into the hospital. We live about 25 minutes from the medical center but left at 5 o'clock so traffic was a bit more, which definatly stressed my coach out a bit, which coincidentally made him drive more eradically which made my contractions more intense.
We arrived at 6 at the hospital and even got a room with a tub! Woo hoo! Sadly, I didnt get to use it. I got in my room and the midwife, Debbie, and my nurse, Debbie, got me settled in. Can I just say, very loudly, WOW!! This experience was so completely different from my experience in a hospital with Lincoln's birth. I didnt have to have an IV, I could wear my own clothes, I could walk around, and eat and drink during labor. It was AMAZING!! Everyone should have choices during labor... and I did this time! It was wonderful!
Debbie checked me and I was only at 3 cm and -2 station. Are you kidding me!? I have been contracting for 12-13 hours and that is it!? My incredulous response didn't change the fact that it was true. Debbie my midwife wanted me to walk to get labor going but not go too far because the baby's heartbeat was a little irregular. Almost right after she checked me, the contractions were coming every 2-3 minutes. They were much much more intense but I could make myself relax and breathe through them. I only sat to be monitored and preferred to labor standing most of the time.
I sent Jay to get dinner and Ashley stayed with me, being a wonderful best friend and doula. She dutifully timed my contractions, organized my things, and fed me water and juice. When Jay came back, I wanted to lean on him during a strong contraction and just as I leaned against him he exhaled a cloud of onion breath that could kill a baby elephant into my face. As my contraction peeked, I exclaimed, "What did you eat!?!?". Poor Jay.
It went on like that for a while... Contractions, juice, onion breath. That sounds bad, but really it was so nice. I mean it was very painful, but bearable. And having my hubby, Ashley, the nurse AND the midwife there was nice. I had support, soothing music and plenty of coaching. After another round do walking in the room, and monitoring, the baby's heart rate was decel-ing. They wanted me to lay on my side to see if that would help and put an IV in because I was a bit dehydrated. Next time I'll drink more during early labor for sure! Putting the iV in sucked. There is no other way to describe laying on your side uncomfortably while having a contraction while a lady pokes you with a needle. I am still glad I didnt have one earlier, because they are so uncomfortable to move with, but I did need it!
Debbie decided to check me - I had been contracting every 1-3 minutes for 2 and a half hours and they were intense! I just knew I was dilated to an 8 or 9. She checked me and I was a 5. When she said that it was like someone poo-pooed on my parade. Popped my balloon. Stole my puppy. I think what I said was "You gotta be kidding me!" and Jay said he could see the fight go right out of me. I forgot about my training at that point, about the natural alignment plateau, and all I could think was that the pain was worse and I didnt think I could go much longer like this. I was afraid I still had hours and hours of labor.
I rolled back onto my side, the baby seemed more comfortable with me in this position. His heart was doing better that way. Unfortunatly for me, laying down was worse than sitting or standing. Around that time, Ashley suggested we get in the shower... which sounded good to me but because of the babys heartbeat we didnt move. The pain got worse, and worse, and worse. My contractions spread out a bit, but were double peaking. I kept thinking that I was stupid for wanting no drugs... and that "they", aka the Midwife, my hubby, and Ashley, werent going to give me any either. I was sure they hated me. I wanted to go home. I think I said that... "I want to go home", "I cant do this", and "auuuuggghhhhhhhhhhhhh". I never asked for drugs they said, but I was sure thinking it. My body was shaking and I was gripping the side rail of the bed for dear life. After declaring again that I COULD NOT DO THIS, the midwife lovingly reassured me that I could then rubbed my leg. My response was, "DONT TOUCH!". Sorry Debby. I sweated like crazy and for some reason that really surprised me. I kept thinking, "WHY am I sweating! This is so annoying." as if sweating was the worst of my problems.
After a while, at the end of a contraction, I pushed. It was subconsicous... I didnt realize that was what I was doing at first but it felt better to do that. Dont get me wrong, it still hurt like hell, but somehow the pushing relieved some of the pain and pressure. I remember hearing Ashley and the Midwife talking and thinking, "How can they just talk as if I'm not here DYING!?!" I heard Debby tell Ashley, "See, she is pushing." but Ashley couldnt tell. Then Debby said, "I think this baby is ready to come, lets roll over." At that moment, I felt like she said "OK, now lets climb mount everest naked, in the middle of winter." It seemed like it would be impossible to move, much less push a baby out at that moment. But she rolled me over onto my back, and checked me. I was complete... ALLELULIA!!! I sat up some and grabbed my knees and started to push. I was dialated, but still at 0 station when I started pushing. I pushed, grunted, howled, pushed and grunted some more. It hurt, but not nearly as bad as those last contractions and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. (So could Isaac - HAH!) I just wanted this to be over, and my baby to be here. I felt the ring of fire, which feels just like it sounds, but blessedly doesnt last long at all. I had my eyes shut when pushing and when resting... I was using all my concentration to do the work. Jay had one leg, and Ashely the other, and the video camera.
After a few minutes of pushing, and after the ring of fire, I heard Debby ask ashley to put the camera away. Uh oh. I opened my eyes and Isaac's head was out. Wow! I hadnt realized that. But I could tell by Debby's voice something was wrong. She looked at me and said, "I need for you to concentrate and push hard. We need to get this baby out. Now." It turned out that he had gotten his little shoulder stuck and wasnt coming the rest of the way out. She had me lay flat on my back with my knees up to my ears, which apparently opens your pelvis up to allow the little guy to get out. I was getting a little panicky and could hear the stress in their voices as they called for backup... I dont know what they said but a minute later tons of people came in. I didnt see them, but could hear them, because my eyes were closed tight and pushing. I opened my eyes when I felt someone pushing on my stomach. She was rotating his shoulder and sure enough, he came out after that.
Now here was the scary part. He was blue and didnt cry right away. They put him on my tummy and started rubbing him down and thank God, quickly started breathing and crying. I was so relieved. He was here! And he was huge!! I got to nurse him right away, skin to skin. He latched beautifully and seemed hungry. The midwife tested his reflexes and he responded well, which meant no nerve damage from getting stuck. However, he did have a broken clavicle... which is thankfully just fine now. I cried and cried for my little baby with the broken wing...
He is great.. now 9 months old, and almost walking. It is wierd to think about his birth because it seems so long ago. It was a wonderful, awesome experience that I will never forget. My husband, midwife and best friend were a great support system and even though I announced to everyone that next time I WAS GETTING AN EPIDURAL, I think I will go natural again. Maybe.
