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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My labor and delivery did not go as planned. We took the Bradley Method classes every week for months. I read all of the books, did all of the exercises, and ate the healthy Brewer diet. I was prepared to meditate and breathe through contractions, and focus through pushing. I knew the signs of labor, and had my birth plan completely prepared, but my son had different plans. While enjoying a wonderful Disney baby-moon, I noticed my legs were swelling an alarming amount. My blood pressure was a little high for me, but well within the normal range. My doctor asked me to start monitoring my blood pressure, and to try to limit salt and stress. During my 34 week check up, my blood pressure spiked and I was sent to labor and delivery for monitoring. I was admitted overnight and after several tests, my doctor came to tell me my kidney and liver levels were rising and my blood pressure was not stabilizing. The only option to ensure the safety of both my son and myself was induced. Being an attorney and critical by nature, I asked what the process would be an if there are any alternatives. The doctor rephrased and explained this is not an option and there are no alternatives. This is the only way my son and I would both leave the hospital. We talked through my birth plan and discussed what was medically necessary, what was safe, and what decisions were up for discussion. I was started on a magnesium sulfate drip to prevent seizures, given IV fluids, and strapped to a blood pressure cuff, a fetal heart monitor, and a contraction monitor. My blood was drawn every four hours around the clock to ensure I was stable on the medications. We consulted with a neonatologist to learn about steroids and the effect the recommended medication would have on my son. Finally, my doctor began cervidil at 10am on a Wednesday and by noon I was having contractions. 27 hours and two rounds of cervidil later, the doctor started a pitocin drip, hoping to make some progress. By 2 am Friday morning I was in immense pain, was exhausted and weak from lack of food. I had a very difficult conversation with my nurse about epidurals, and called my Bradley instructor and a best friend. Each person said the same thing, give it twenty minutes. Really think through the pros and cons, and if at the end of those twenty minutes, you still want it, then go ahead. After twenty minutes I decided I needed to get out of bed. Because of my medications, a birthing ball or walk were not options, but a chair was. I also switched my thinking. I only needed to get through one contraction at a time, and so I began to chant through every contraction. "One contraction at a time and everything will be just fine." My contractions intensified significantly, and I was sure I had made progress. A vaginal exam showed I had not progressed enough to begin pushing, but I had progressed, so my doctor broke my water and I was started on another round of cervidil. Saturday morning arrived and I was put on antibiotic to ward off infection and pitocin was started again. We were told that a c-section was imminent, but that as long as the baby and I were healthy we could wait a little longer. Finally, at 6:30 Saturday evening a vaginal exam showed I was fully dialated and effaced. We could start pushing. 5 sets of three pushes and 22 minutes later, our little boy burst screaming into the world. Weighing in at 5 lbs 12 ounces, he lay on my stomach while the placenta finished pulsing and we rubbed in the vernix. Because he was a preemie, our little dude spent a week in the NICU, but he was and still is on his own agenda meeting and exceeding milestones.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
After nearly a week of induction, I was very weak and weary. The temptation to be allowed to sleep and ease through the delivery in a blissfully medicated cloud was enormous, but I kept coming back to the fact that my little boy had to go through so much just to survive a natural birth at this point, how could I put him at further risk, no matter how certain that risk may or may not be, for my own few hours of comfort? Could I really be so selfish as to jeopardize his life so I could take a nap? The answer always landed on "no."
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Research, read, and ask questions. Even when our lives were in danger, we still had twenty minutes to consult with experts and our support team. Read the books, do the exercises, eat the healthy foods, and most of all, learn to meditate.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That contractions and delivery were the easiest parts. I was completely prepared for a low risk textbook natural delivery, but there are very few mothers who are lucky enough to have that experience. The urgent decisions, prolonged hospital stay, incredibly painful cervidil inductions, vomiting, exhaustion, blood draws, and near constant worry once my son was placed in the NICU were much worse than anything for which I could have prepared. Beyond that, I continue to be shocked by how fragile I felt in the month postpartum and the minimal postpartum care offered to American women.
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After you have done the prenatal work, trust yourself and your partner to make the right decisions for you.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Meditation, repeating the mantra "one contraction at a time and everything will be just fine," and talking about my plans after er giving birth, such as a hot shower and eating a meal.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back in a hospital bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
There are no real words to describe the disbelief and relief you feel. A euphoria washes over you and everything in the room fades.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
After you have done the prenatal work, trust yourself and your partner to make the right decisions for you. For me, that involved meditating through contractions, verbal mantras, remembering that millions of women have done exactly this, and taking twenty minutes to check my inner strength when things get hard.
