My Story
After relocating to a new place where I did not know a soul I found out I was pregnant. It did not occur to me at all until I realized I was late. My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for over 3 years with no success. So even though we were in a tough place the news that we were pregnant was amazing. Shortly after finding out we had a big scare. I began to bleed heavily and was rushed to the emergency room. The nurse examining me believed it was a miscarriage but only the ultrasound would be able to tell. The ultrasound tech was very quiet so I was sure we had lost the baby. Until she apologized for being so quiet, she was just checking the measurements to find out the due date. : ) He was hanging on strong!
We knew we wanted to have a natural birth and so we began to plan. We looked up some classes that were happening in our area and began contacting the instructors. Since we were so early in our pregnancy the instructors told us to wait for the summer classes to begin. The classes would begin about 3 months before our due date. Since the classes were for 12 weeks we were cutting it a little close. After returning home from vacation we contacted the instructors to get the necessary information. This is when we found out they had canceled the class. Oh boy!! We didn’t know what to do. So we went and bought some books and began to read.
One week before my due date we went in for our weekly check up and found out that my blood pressure was really high. The nurse waited a few minutes then took it again and still it was high. They doctor came in examined me and said you’re gonna have your baby today. Ummm huh? But away we went to the hospital and so our birth story unfolds.
As soon as we were admitted, I was hooked up to a fetal monitor and the doctor broke my water. For the next 7 hours I had minor contractions. The doctors didn’t like the slow pace and decided it was best to administer pitocin. WOW! Within 30 minutes I felt more pain than I had ever felt before in my life. I cried, wrap myself around the bedrail, and begged for medication. I learned quickly that when you ask for pain medication in a hospital they are more than willing. Within 15 minutes I was given an epidural and felt practically nothing. So much so that I didn’t even know that I had dialated to 10 centimeters. I never felt the urge to push but the nurses told me it was time. I felt nothing. After 2 hours of this (4:30am), the doctor came in and said “You gave it the old college try, but your baby is in distress and his head is swelling. We want to do a c-section.” That was a NO brainer. First time mom and my baby was in distress.
So we ended up with a c-section, which I didn’t question at the time. I felt they had my best interest at hand and my baby’s. The c-section was not too bad but the recovery was so painful. I had a hard time just holding my son not to mention trouble breastfeeding, urinating, walking, etc. But my baby was healthy so I was okay with the pain.
Fast forward 14 months. We found out we were pregnant with baby #2. Knowing I have low hormones I made an appointment with the doctor right away. The doctor was supportive of a VBAC so I stayed with him. My husband and I decided it was best to do everything we could to have a natural birth. We started taking Bradley classes, hired a doula, and talked to everyone we knew for support. Twenty-six weeks into the pregnancy my doctor says to me, “I want you to schedule a c-sections.” WHAT? At that moment I knew I could not do this. I changed to a different doctor in the practice but had a lot to think about.
A friend of mine was pregnant at the same time and was having a homebirth. I talked with her and asked her as many questions as I could. Finally 34 weeks into my pregnancy I made the decision to do a homebirth. I kept seeing my doctor just in case a hospital visit was needed but knew they would just cut me open.
The birthday came the day after Thanksgiving. I didn’t know if I could do it but I was ready to try. I had a hard labor because she was in the wrong position, but we fought through it. I ended up in a pool that we set up in our apartment and after 12 and half hours of labor I was ready to push. At first I felt nothing. This brought up so much fear in me. What if I couldn’t do it? But a couple more pushes and I felt her move down. There was nothing like it. I felt so empowered. My body did the rest and she was out with 45 minutes of pushing.
My first baby weighed 7lbs. 10 oz. and I was told I would never be able to birth a baby vaginally. My homebirth baby weighed 9lbs. 4oz. and everything went perfectly!! This is where my heart for natural childbirth was birthed in me.
