Kelsey's Surprise Labor

When did you realize you were really in labor?

When I was at the doctors office for my 35 week check up. I had been having Braxton Hicks for a week or so and the doctors, nurses, midwife, doula, and chiropractor all said that it was braxton hicks. I made the midwife check me just in case and turns out I was 100% effaced and dialated to a 7! I had no pain and had worked all day at my house cleaning business.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Nothing was challenging about the natural part of it. I went through almost my whole labor without knowing it. I only knew since I was at a check up and she said I was about to have him. The hard part was that he was footling breech and I had done everything the previous 2 months to flip him but he didn't flip. So when they checked for dialation he literally kicked the midwife fingers! I had an emergency c-section since he was breech. That was the hard part

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

Had a baby shower early & packed my bags way in advance. Also we had went to the fire station 2 days before to make sure we knew how to install the carseat correctly. I'm thankful I'm an early planner or I wouldn't have been ready in time.

What surprised you about your birth?

That I had no pain & was cleaning houses up until a couple hours before my doctors appointment. If he was head down I probably wouldn't have pushed my doctors on getting me in and checking for dialation that day so I could have ended up having him at home accidently if that was the case.

Keep busy during labor. I love cleaning and work so I was busy with that and didn't even know I was in labor.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I guess just staying busy. I kept working and I did feel extra bloated and a little pressure but I told my friend I felt like I just ate 3 Thanksgiving dinners in a row. Apparently that's what labor feels like to me :-)

What position did you end up delivering in?

On my back from a c section. But my plan was squatting and having my husband and my doula support me.

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

I saw a photo of him & they held him next to my face. He was so beautiful I started tearing up. I was super nauseous from the csection & he was a month early so they rushed him to the nicu so I didn't hold him til a fee hours later. At that time I was even more nauseous and dizzy so I could only hold him for a few minutes at a time in between being sick. It wasn't until the next evening that I could get out of bed to go to the nicu and really hold him. I couldn't believe that little man came out of me! He was so tiny and frail. It was hard for me to connect with him for about 3 to 5 days since I hade a c section and didn't get to hold him and bond and he had to stay in the nicu. But we started going every 3 hours to the nicu to hold him while he was tube fed my pumped milk, and trying to breastfeed directly, and then I started bonding with him. Now we are inseparable!

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

I would say to stay positive. Even though my son was breech I had faith that he would flip so I practiced everything for a natural birth.

Also get a doula. Ours even went into surgery with us for the csection and stayed the night in the hospital with us. I was so sick that I couldn't pump so her and my husband would pump me every couple hours. Because of her I have a great breastfeeding relationship with my son now.

Keep busy during labor. I love cleaning and work so I was busy with that and didn't even know I was in labor.