My Darling Daughter's Birth Story
Submitted by brunette1984
Like all typical first-time mommas to be, I browsed the website time and time again to find out and learn all about child birth experiences. Well, needless to say, the majority of the stories I read were scary, and all the stories shared to me by others were just as bad. YUCK!
But there's hope!
I am 26 years old and was terrified, absolutely terrified of giving birth vaginally. I was even weighing my options and thinking of requesting a C-section (yeah it was that bad). I mean I had to eventually deliver my child, but doing it naturally scared me to death! What to do, what to do?????
I hired a doula, and she talked to me about giving birth naturally, I mean no drugs, just me and baby. "Ha!" I said at first ... Three hours later, she convinced me. (Crazy, right? I mean, one extreme to the to the other!)
Let's get to the good stuff. Please keep in mind, even while you read my story, don't be scared: If I did it, we all can do it. I want to be honest ... I think after reading my story (well, I hope anyway) you won't be as anxious.
****************
At 40 weeks, I tried everything (except castor oil) to start labour; nipple stimulation, sex, hot bath, membrane sweep ... nothing worked.
I was overdue, and at 41 weeks my doctor told me I was going to be induced. My cervix was ready, but I was only dilated 1cm. (I had been like this for three weeks). Induction is a bummer because you cannot walk around and you have an IV attached, as well the two fetal monitors. But I was able to bounce on an exercise ball beside the bed.
Thursday, March 10, 2011, at 6 AM, I was induced. Keep in mind that I am not taking any pain medication at all.
9:00 AM I was 3 cm, and my doctor broke my water (this was not painful at all). In fact, I didn't even know he was breaking it until I felt a warm surge of water. Contractions were not bad at this point, very tolerable.
12:00 PM, 4 cm. My contractions were not regulating, so as per my doctor's request, the nurses continued to increase my Pitocin. As the Pitocin increased so did the intensity of the contractions. Still tolerable.
3:00 PM, 5 cm. I continued to bounce on my ball, drink LOTS of water, and focus, focus, focus when a contraction came; still tolerable, I had conversations in between each one.
6:30 PM I requested an epidural.
6:45 PM I received the epidural (no one checked dilation so I was not sure how far along I was). The contractions at this point were painful. I felt a dull pain begin in my mid- to lower back radiate to the front lower abdomen, then tighten. It was bad. HOWEVER, if you relax your body, you'll get through them.
So at 6:45 the epidural was placed and I was told it could take 30 minutes approximately to start feeling relief.
6:50 PM my dr. came, and I was 10 cm ... the epidural was useless. It came too late, and I felt EVERYTHING!
7:00 PM starting pushing, it felt wonderful!!!!!
7:26 PM, I gave birth to my darling daughter, at 9 pounds, 2 ounces, 21 inches long.
Now, at the end of it all, my doctor was suturing me up because I had an episiotomy. Prior to giving birth, I was petrified of getting this; and while I was pushing, I didn't even know I HAD one because of the pressure of the baby. The suturing didn't hurt either. COMPLETELY bearable!! :)
You see, I had the baby naturally, no drugs (b/c the epidural was placed when I was 10 cm), lol AND I got to experience the needle from the epidural. The epidural does not hurt either—it's like giving blood for a blood test.
Here I was petrified of everything: the birth, epidural, episiotomy ... for what? The only really painful time (which was only like 10-15 min.) was the transition into labour ... other than that, it was doable, and I would DO natural ALL over again.
Don't be scared. The only tips I can provide are these:
-bring your own pillow
-listen to music
-drink lots of water with the contractions
-breath, focus and prepare while the next contraction is coming. (the pain only lasts 30 sec. of the 2-min. contraction.)
-stay on top of all your contractions, stay in control.
Remember, every contraction is bringing you that much closer to the baby. Each breath you take, the baby takes with you. If I can do this, SO CAN YOU!
Read more birth stories or share YOUR birth story now!
But there's hope!
I am 26 years old and was terrified, absolutely terrified of giving birth vaginally. I was even weighing my options and thinking of requesting a C-section (yeah it was that bad). I mean I had to eventually deliver my child, but doing it naturally scared me to death! What to do, what to do?????
I hired a doula, and she talked to me about giving birth naturally, I mean no drugs, just me and baby. "Ha!" I said at first ... Three hours later, she convinced me. (Crazy, right? I mean, one extreme to the to the other!)
Let's get to the good stuff. Please keep in mind, even while you read my story, don't be scared: If I did it, we all can do it. I want to be honest ... I think after reading my story (well, I hope anyway) you won't be as anxious.
****************
At 40 weeks, I tried everything (except castor oil) to start labour; nipple stimulation, sex, hot bath, membrane sweep ... nothing worked.
I was overdue, and at 41 weeks my doctor told me I was going to be induced. My cervix was ready, but I was only dilated 1cm. (I had been like this for three weeks). Induction is a bummer because you cannot walk around and you have an IV attached, as well the two fetal monitors. But I was able to bounce on an exercise ball beside the bed.
Thursday, March 10, 2011, at 6 AM, I was induced. Keep in mind that I am not taking any pain medication at all.
9:00 AM I was 3 cm, and my doctor broke my water (this was not painful at all). In fact, I didn't even know he was breaking it until I felt a warm surge of water. Contractions were not bad at this point, very tolerable.
12:00 PM, 4 cm. My contractions were not regulating, so as per my doctor's request, the nurses continued to increase my Pitocin. As the Pitocin increased so did the intensity of the contractions. Still tolerable.
3:00 PM, 5 cm. I continued to bounce on my ball, drink LOTS of water, and focus, focus, focus when a contraction came; still tolerable, I had conversations in between each one.
6:30 PM I requested an epidural.
6:45 PM I received the epidural (no one checked dilation so I was not sure how far along I was). The contractions at this point were painful. I felt a dull pain begin in my mid- to lower back radiate to the front lower abdomen, then tighten. It was bad. HOWEVER, if you relax your body, you'll get through them.
So at 6:45 the epidural was placed and I was told it could take 30 minutes approximately to start feeling relief.
6:50 PM my dr. came, and I was 10 cm ... the epidural was useless. It came too late, and I felt EVERYTHING!
7:00 PM starting pushing, it felt wonderful!!!!!
7:26 PM, I gave birth to my darling daughter, at 9 pounds, 2 ounces, 21 inches long.
Now, at the end of it all, my doctor was suturing me up because I had an episiotomy. Prior to giving birth, I was petrified of getting this; and while I was pushing, I didn't even know I HAD one because of the pressure of the baby. The suturing didn't hurt either. COMPLETELY bearable!! :)
You see, I had the baby naturally, no drugs (b/c the epidural was placed when I was 10 cm), lol AND I got to experience the needle from the epidural. The epidural does not hurt either—it's like giving blood for a blood test.
Here I was petrified of everything: the birth, epidural, episiotomy ... for what? The only really painful time (which was only like 10-15 min.) was the transition into labour ... other than that, it was doable, and I would DO natural ALL over again.
Don't be scared. The only tips I can provide are these:
-bring your own pillow
-listen to music
-drink lots of water with the contractions
-breath, focus and prepare while the next contraction is coming. (the pain only lasts 30 sec. of the 2-min. contraction.)
-stay on top of all your contractions, stay in control.
Remember, every contraction is bringing you that much closer to the baby. Each breath you take, the baby takes with you. If I can do this, SO CAN YOU!
Read more birth stories or share YOUR birth story now!
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