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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I felt like I was in labor off and on for a week or so prior to Theo's actual arrival. Being lumped in the "high risk pregnancy" and the VBAC categories, I was heavily monitored with lots of doctor and midwife appointments throughout the pregnancy, so I was on high alert as to all the signs and changes my body was experiencing in the last few weeks, hoping to go into labor naturally rather than be induced at 39 weeks. In mid-late pregnancy, I began to show signs of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and by the end of week 38, my husband and I consulted with several doctors and midwives before making the decision to move forward with a "low and slow" induction to prevent possible health risks to our baby. In the few days prior to my induction being scheduled, I had been having regular and sometimes intense practice contractions, particularly in the late evening, and had lost my mucus plug and had bloody show as well. I believed my body was already very close to early labor and this was confirmed when we arrived for the induction I was almost fully effaced and just shy of 4cm dilated.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
One of the greatest challenges was that due to having Type 1 Diabetes, IHP and being a VBAC patient, I was on continual monitors and told their telemetry unit was broken, so no option for use of a bath/shower as pain relief. I started to feel fearful in the early evening that I would not be able to succeed in my greatest goal - VBACing a healthy baby - due to the monitors slipping off every time I tried a new position, bouncing on the ball, etc.
As labor progressed, I also found myself beginning to worry about the intensity. Once I felt confident that I was in transition, I began to feel like I could not continue without more relief. I started talking through the option of an epidural between contractions and felt controlled, logical and really like I was able to weigh my options. In my first birth experience, the epidural left me completely numb, dropped baby's heart rate and I had wanted to avoid it this go round. However, I could feel my baby working with me and I knew my body was progressing rapidly - I used the BRAIN method to weigh the options and felt confident that if I could not rest before pushing that the pain would leave me in such a panic that I would tense up, become too fearful and end up with another c-section. We began nitrous oxide and then I did end up receiving an epidural shortly after. The epidural did not take away my ability to move my legs or feel some intensity from contractions which I was so incredibly thankful for. I was able to rest some and then refocus myself during contractions and prepare for what was ahead. I truly do not regret the decision now looking back although it was not our initial plan. My doula helped me prepare for this early by asking what my ultimate goals were - I knew that in the end, I wanted to avoid a c-section by any means needed.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
We took the Mama Natural class and read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and did everything possible to increase our odds of VBAC and strong labor (chiropractic care, doula, RRL tea, dates, proper posture, whole food rich diet, etc). We hired a midwife who served as a doula was she was so helpful in alleviating my discomfort and encouraging me from start to finish that I really could achieve a hospital VBAC.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Only about an hour after I was given an epidural, I was checked and found to be at 10cm dilated. I felt so encouraged that I was right in listening to my body and my baby and trusting my gut. The midwife on shift stepped out and said she would be back in to break my water and I threw up, at which point my doula said, "I'm surprised that didn't break your ---" she couldn't finish because my water broke in the middle of her sentence. To which she laughed and said, "Well you can't get much more natural than that!"
At 2 AM, roughly 4 hours after strong contractions had started, the OB and midwife came in along with the L&D crew for pushing to begin. The whole team surrounding me felt like personal cheerleaders and I was so thankful for their enthusiasm and encouragement as I worked to bring my baby out. While pushing, his heart rate began dropping rapidly and the OB made a comment to us about considering the use of a vacuum as an option to avoid an emergency c-section. I had only pushed about 4 times by this point and his head was nearly out. I heard the words c-section and it was all the motivation I needed to use every ounce of my strength. I think I pushed through roughly 6 contractions total and then was hearing the words, "You are doing it! We can see his head. His head is out!" and felt the wonderful release of pressure that was his body following. He was born at 2:24 AM - pushing in total for only about 15 minutes. His cord had gone around his neck after my water broke which had caused the dip in heart rate but he recovered quickly and was brought straight to my chest and into my arms - something I had mourned over not experiencing with the birth of our first son.
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The class really helped me to narrow down what was most important to me, to feel educated about risks and benefits of every intervention and to truly believe that my body could complete the process from labor to birth. I felt prepared, empowered and supported as a result.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I disconnected from the monitors periodically and took my time laboring on the toilet as much as I could. This was intense but definitely made a huge difference in bringing the baby down quickly and efficiently. I vocalized through the intense contractions while my husband and doula supported me with counter pressure and encouragement to make low sounds to help with the intensity. Scripture cards and a worship playlist I had brought along were extremely helpful focal points between contractions as was telling myself, "This contraction is going to end. In a minute, it will be over and you will have a break. It won't be forever. Don't be fearful, be focused." I was constantly reminding myself that the pressure and pain were working to bring my baby down.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back in the hospital bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I felt high with joy and complete and utter shock that I had just birthed this tiny human! My husband and I were so elated, relieved and thankful to God and to our birth team and I couldn't believe how wonderful I felt for having just given birth. Theodore means "gift of God" and the awesome experience of his VBAC birth only deepened the sweet meaning of his name.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
The class really helped me to narrow down what was most important to me, to feel educated about risks and benefits of every intervention and to truly believe that my body could complete the process from labor to birth. I felt prepared, empowered and supported as a result.
