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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My fifth baby was due December 9, 2017. We were planning our second home birth and so excited! I woke up around 6 am, Friday October 13, 2017 with a contraction. I was 31w6d. I thought it was just a Braxton Hicks. Well they came every 9 min for the next hour. Then it stopped. An hour or so after that, I started getting more BHs. I contacted my sister and downloaded a timer and they were coming 5-8 min apart. I was freaking out. My home birth midwife told me to head to the hospital to stop labor. I am a stay at home homeschooling mom and had my three kiddos with me. Loaded them up, drove to hospital and thankfully my husband was in the neighborhood and met me at hospital. That drive there was intense due to being so scared. My last two labors were under 5 hours. Contractions were 2-4 min apart. I kept sniffing my lavender essential oil. We get to the L&D ER and I start bleeding. I was 1 cm. They decided to admit me for the night. Fast forward to October 19 at 12:06 am. I was back in the L&D, had bounced back and forth from post partum to L&D for the last six days- never left the hospital. They were suspecting placenta abruption. So, 10.19.17 at 12:06 I get a contraction. 4 min later another. After a few of those the nurse came in and asked if I was getting any and I told her yup! Lol She said ok let’s wait an hour and see what happens. I called my hubby to give him a heads up to see if he needed to possibly come. We said we would wait till he woke up around 5 am. Welllllll, I get checked again an hour or so later- and I was 2 cm. So I was in fact dilating. The doctor said they wouldn’t try to stop labor now because I was past 32weeks. I was like ok! So I was just laying there hoping I wasn’t in labor and around 2:45 I just couldn’t lay in bed anymore. I contacted my hubby, my sister, and my best friend to make their way down I’m pretty convinced baby is coming. So everyone shows up around 4. By then, I was leaning over the edge of the bed and just breathing through each contraction. My sister, best friend and the nurse were taking turns counter pressuring my back at each contraction which made a HUGE difference. I couldn’t believe that! The doctor wanted to check me for some reason and I didn’t want to be checked but oh well, and I told her not to tell me what I was. I was a 5 cm. That was like 4:45 or so. I requested to not lay down to the checked because that would have hurt. Haha So she did it standing up. Shortly after, I threw up, and shortly after that I started pushing. Our Team Green Rainbow Baby was born at 5:24 am. Like 30-35 min later I was fully dilated! We welcomed our fourth son! It was a quick and easy labor despite him being 7 weeks early. He came to my chest screaming and was so awake! It was amazing to be able to hold my 3 lbs 4 oz baby! Of course they took him to the NICU and he and I only stayed for 19 days. He latched to my breast at 3 days old, all the nurses and team of doctors were amazed at this little 32 weeker breastfeeding. 24 hours after that he was off feeding tube and exclusively breastfeeding. Amazing! God is amazing!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Well I really wanted another home birth so being in the hospital was a little off for me. BUT it was a really great hospital experience for having to deliver there. I cannot complain. But honestly there really wasn’t a challenging part for me, I think maybe because this was my fourth time doing it.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Research how labor works! It was so fascinating to me to know and understand how our bodies work with our babies to birth them. Back when I was pregnant with my second, we went the birth center route and I LEARNED so much! It was amazing to listen in on the “birthing” classes offered by the birth center.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I would definitely have to say how early he came! And how he was screaming when he came out!
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You can do it!!!! I promise!!!! I think it TOTALLY helps to KNOW and understand HOW the body works during labor
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Just breathing for me.
And honestly for me, having my birth people there just engaging in conversation for my mind to focus on that.
Then when it came time for transition- definitely counter pressure on the lower back! It literally made the contraction disappear.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I so wanted a home water birth. But that didn’t happen. I ended up pushing on my side back because his heat rate literally dropped in the 70’s and wasn’t going back up- all during pushing and they freaked out and had me lay down and really start pushing. I so wanted to be on my hands and knees though.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Seriously amazing. He was so wet and warm and oh I will never forget those feelings!!!!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can do it!!!! I promise!!!! I think it TOTALLY helps to KNOW and understand HOW the body works during labor. As well as knowing about different positions to be in during pushing. Hot water helps a ton for a lot of women. And birthing in the water supposedly is amazing. And definitely having a doula if you go the hospital route.
