Alex's Midwife-Assisted Hospital Delivery

When did you realize you were really in labor?

After having a membrane sweep and going for a 3 hour walk, I started having mild contractions at 10:30pm about 10 minutes apart. This had happened sporadically over the past 2 weeks so I wasn't expecting much to happen. I was able to sleep through them until 2:00am when I woke up thinking I needed to pee, but actually had my water break as soon as I stood up! That's when things got real for me - it was so exciting!

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

I had a midwife assisted hospital delivery, and our midwife thankfully agreed it would be best for me to labor at home as long as possible. Unfortunately I wasn't expecting to have contractions only 1 minute apart! I labored at home alone with my husband for 3 hours and used a TENS machine to assist with the pain. The hardest part was definitely trying to get into the car and the drive to the hospital. I didn't know at the time, but I was already fully dilated and unknowingly pushing him for the entire 20 minute drive! Then we found out that the baby was actually breech and had to choose whether to have an emergency c-section or continue with the natural delivery I so desperately wanted. Thankfully where we live, they approve of delivering breech babies as long as it's severely monitored so they allowed us to continue. Attempting to push my son out bottom-first was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but the support and encouragement of my husband was the biggest help. He kept me motivated to keep going when after 40 minutes of pushing (with little progress) I was ready to give up and ask for the c-section.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

I drank Red Raspberry Leaf Tea daily, took Evening Primrose Oil twice a day and used a birthing tincture prepared by the midwives. I fully give the credit of my fast labor to the things I was taking. I also read natural birthing stories almost daily and it helped me feel so empowered and excited to have a natural birth!

What surprised you about your birth?

I was definitely most surprised by how awesome I would feel afterward. Not physically or anything, but mentally. It is such a huge feat to be able to naturally deliver a baby, and I was unbelievably proud of myself for actually doing it. I would best describe it as a natural high that I rode for almost a week after delivery. And even 3 weeks postpartum whenever I get to tell someone my birthstory, it comes back. Sorry for the language, but it made me feel like such a badass!

Do it! I do not regret a single moment of my delivery, and it is such an amazing feeling afterwards to be able to have the bragging rights of saying that you did it without drugs.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Trying to concentrate on my breathing and visualizing my lungs filling up with air and slowly emptying really helped distract me from the pain of contractions. Being alone with my husband laying in our bed and just holding hands trying to relax really helped as well.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I had always dreamed of delivering in the squat position, but it just felt more instinctive and easy to lay down. Even for the contractions I could barely stand. I think because he was breech I would have had to deliver laying down anyway so that they could monitor everything more easily.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

Because of the breech delivery, my son was really stressed and not breathing 100%. So they had to put him on oxygen for about 15 minutes and I didn't get to have the immediate chest to chest like I had always wanted. That was really hard for me to watch him in the corner of the room, trying so hard to cry but being unable to breathe. When they finally brought him over to me and I was able to hold him it was such a relief. I didn't have that overwhelming love feeling that you'll hear most moms describe, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I love my son so much, but I just never had 'that moment'. Mine was more of a relief to know that he was healthy, he was safe and I was finally a mom.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Do it! I do not regret a single moment of my delivery, and it is such an amazing feeling afterwards to be able to have the bragging rights of saying that you did it without drugs. I know people will tell you that you forget the pain, and I'm sure for some women it's not true, but I seriously did. I have a really hard time remembering that it was even painful because all I can think about is how empowering it was and that I now have a handsome little boy because of it. My other advice would be to go with your instincts. My midwife kept telling me to just try to sleep at home and that we would go to the hospital later because I probably wasn't progressed enough. But my instincts kept telling me that something wasn't right and we needed to go, and I am SO glad now that we did.