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When did you realize you were really in labor?
This is our 6th baby - we have 3 on earth, 2 in Heaven, then this precious rainbow. Due to our 2 losses (1 in the 2nd trimester in 2017) and some borderline lab results at 38 weeks, our MFM felt we medically should induce at 39 weeks and our midwife was supportive. So, we went in on Monday 4/30 around 10 am to start the induction. I had never been induced full term, so it was a new experience for us. First, they used cervadil for almost 12 hours.. just before the 12-hour mark, my water broke.. big time...and then they couldn't find baby's heartbeat for about 7 minutes, which was terrifying. It seems the sudden lack of fluid caused her to drop and once the nurse placed an internal monitor they found her again and all was well, but we were 3 minutes from a cesarean. I was so scared in those moments of losing another child. After that, I had an internal monitor until pushing. It was about 11 hours from water breaking until baby girl was born. At some point, they started me on low dose Pitocin, raising it every half hour until we got to a 4. But until the last 40 minutes, contractions were sporadic through some intense. About 9:15 am on 5/1, I went to the restroom and then contractions suddenly picked up in both intensity and frequency and I hit a point minutes before pushing that I didn't know if I could do it... it was a different transition on chemical contractions than the unmedicated natural contractions I had with my previous births. Just when I knew I couldn't go on, my midwife came and checked me and it was time to push! Pushing was about 10 to 15 minutes. Baby girl was positioned a bit off so crowning was a bit long and very painful, but my midwife and doula were so encouraging and I pushed my baby girl out into my own arms! I was just elated and looked at my husband as I wept for joy and said through joyous tears "She's alive!!!" We are so in love and grateful for this rainbow girl who has filled our arms and been a balm to our aching hearts.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
This was our 4th unmedicated birth, but our first full term induction. The pitocin contractionswere more intense and harder to manage over hit transition. But we did it!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Hire a doula!!
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What surprised you about your birth?
Getting to really feel pushing. My other indicated babies flew out so fast, but this little one made her mama work.
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I was overjoyed and full of emotion that she was alive!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Moving positions, hands and knees, a doula, ina may breathing, and an informed husband
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Seated
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I was overjoyed and full of emotion that she was alive!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Take a quality childbirth class, like Bradley, hire a doula, read Ina May's guide to childbirth
