Birth stories
This is a picture of my daughter, Savannah Grace, born May 30, 2006.
My birth stories:
My first pregnancy was pretty typical of a young mother. I wanted the very best for my unborn baby, so I hired a highly recommended OB/GYN in Louisville CO. My pregnancy was wonderful, I never had any morning sickness, and felt great most of the time. I had absolutely every test run..and three ultrasounds. Around 30 weeks I started having swelling in my hands and ankles, no protein, or any other symptoms. I was never given any nutrition advice (other than the typical "eat a balanced diet"). At about 38 weeks, at my scheduled prenatal visit my OB determined I had toxemia due to elevated blood pressure, swelling in my hands and feet, and a trace of protien in my urine. I was admitted for an induction. I was first given Cervidil (to ripen my cervix)...then Pitocin (to induce contractions), then Mag Sulfate, then my epidural, then a huge episitomy...and viola! An 8# 6oz. baby boy we named Jackson Douglas. As soon as the baby was born I heard "Doctor..she's crashing! Blood pressure 40 over 17...get the crash cart.." That's all I remember before passing out. I woke up with a nurse stabbing my thigh with a really big needle.. My son was born October 7, 1997. I left the hospital after three days, my new baby boy on a bottle, because absolutely not one person encouraged me to breastfeed. I could go on and on about the health issues he had as an infant because of formula feeding. I was not satisfied with my birth experience, but I didn't know there were any other options. My birth was just like everone elses birth that I knew. Cold. Impersonal. Sterile. Managed.
Less than 2 years later I was pregnant again. Not having learned anything since the last pregnancy, I again went the medical route. Hired a highly recommended OB/GYN in Crown Point, IN. She was nice. Brief, and business-like..but nice. Once again, my pregnancy was good, no morning sickness, and I felt wonderful. I read "What to Expect When You are Expecting"..again. And thought I was ready for the birth. Around 39 weeks, at a prenatal, my doctor decided I needed to be induced, and sent me to be admitted, because my blood pressure was up. The Pit was started, this time things went really fast. I was told when I checked in "Oh! You are so lucky,,the midwife such-and-such is here..she is your nurse" She was nice..brought me a fan, and a radio. She asked if I wanted to try to do this birth without pain meds.. I said sure. The Pit was turned up.. I was out of my mind in pain. BEGGING for an epidural. She politely told me that we should try something else first..I was given Stadol. So then I was dizzy, and out of my mind in pain. I was literally begging her to get me an epidural, so she "checked me". She told me that it was too late for an epidural, and it was almost time to push. I cussed at her, and told her to get away from me. It was time to push, and I pushed out my 8#14oz. baby boy, who decided to be born posterior (most babies are born face down, he was born face up) We named him Austin Keith, (born December 29,1999.) After his birth, I kicked her out of my room. I told my husband I would NEVER have another baby...I would rather chew off my own left arm than to give birth again. On a happy note.. I called for the lactation consultant, and she taught me how to nurse!! At least I wised up about that one! I nursed him for about 10 months I think.. When he was about a year old I sold all of my baby-stuff. i was NOT having another baby.
A couple years later..SUPRISE!.. I am pregnant again. Well, not a complete surprise, we weren't preventing..I was panicked. I was NOT going to give birth again. I didn't know WHO was going to birth this baby..but it wasn't going to be me!!! I went thru several OB/GYN's in the first 7 months of pregnancy. Then, talking to several of my friends from church, they told me about home birth. I thought they were INSANE! I needed drugs. Is that safe???..I had lots of questions. Thru reading lots and lots of books, and talking to people, I learned that it was the Pitocin that made my pain unbearable. Pitocin makes the contractions STRONGER and CLOSER TOGETHER than they are meant to be. It pushes your uterus to it's limits. It is dangerous, and women and babies have died due to complications from it. I learned about the dangers of ALL of the routine interventions that are performed in the hospital. Women and babies DIE from these interventions!!!!! Then home birth was explained to me. In the privacy of your own home..with whoever you choose to attend...letting your body work...letting the birth process that God intended WORK...birth can be safe, and bearable. I hired a highly recommended DEM (direct entry midwife). She had 28 years of experience, and had delivered 1600+ babies. My prenatals with her lasted 2 hours. She taught me everything about pregnancy..labor...and birth. She empowered me. For once I was ready. I was still scared..but I had a birth plan, and I was ready. At 10 days after my "due date" I felt contractions. I barely recognized them, because I had never went into labor on my own. They started off slow. We sent our 2 sons to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We called the midwife, she told me to call her when contractions got closer together. My husband and I napped. We ate. I showered. I ate again. I napped again, and my water broke. I called the midwife back, and she said she was on her way. My husband set up the birth tub (I planned a water birth). My friend Janet arrived. My doula Robin arrived. Then my midwife Lynda arrived. I asked her "what should I do????" Puzzled, she said "What do you want to do???" I had never been asked that..not in labor. I just usually did whatever I was told. Then it hit me.. I was in control..I was the one in labor...it was MY body and MY BABY!!! And I was was giving birth in MY OWN HOUSE. It was liberating. I got in the birth tub. Then out. Then in again. Then out again. Then to the toilet..then back in the tub. They fed me. They encouraged me. Then it was time. How could this be? Not one vaginal exam to confirm that it was indeed time to push?? My midwife told me I would know when...I could just tell her. I pushed out my third son, all 10# 14 oz. of him!!! I didn't tear. Everything was so calm, and serene...almost unreal. He was beautiful. We named him Adrian Jeremiah,(born Feruary 2, 2003.) I was hooked on home birth. I would never have a hospital birth again... so I thought!
I knew I was having a girl from the minute I found out I was pregnant. Everything about this pregnancy was different. I kept telling myself that it was probably "wishful thinking". I was perfectly content with another little boy.. But I knew it was a girl. I chose my same midwife that had birthed Adrian. I did want to do things a little differently this time. I planned another waterbirth, but I wanted to catch my baby this time. Lynda was fine with that plan as long as things were proceeding smoothly. My pregnancy was much different, I was nauseous almost the entire pregnancy. I couldn't even look at meat. I gained much less weight this pregnancy due to the nausea. I just knew this birth was going to be fast and easy. I actually joked about Lynda (midwife) missing it.. It was a unseasonally balmy May and I was four days past my due date. Lynda never worries too much about "due dates". It was Saturday evening and I had been having contractions on and off for a week. My water broke about 10pm and the contractions got more intense. I called Lynda and Robin. I tried to sleep Saturday night, but I was way too excited. So I was awake. Waiting. Sunday the contractions were about the same. I started taking vitamin C, to prevent infection, since my membranes had been ruptured for some time. Sunday night we set up the birth tub, and I was in there for several hours. My contrations would get strong, then go away completely. I stayed up almost all night. Robin encouraged me to sleep, so I would, a little between contractions. Monday morning I was getting anxious, and emotional. Lynda assured me that everything was fine, baby's heart tones were perfect. I didn't have a fever, so there was no infection from ruptured membranes... Monday we tried everything that was safe to do at home. We walked (it was 90 degrees outside, and high humidity), I showered. We tried castor oil. We tried herbs. We tried homeopathics. We tried massage. We tried hot showers, and the tub. I talked to the baby. I cried, and cried. I was so tired from not sleeping for two nights, I just wanted it to be over. I wanted my baby girl. Robin suggested every single position change possible. I tried all of them. None of us could figure out why she wasn't coming. Heart tones were still perfect. Late Monday afternoon, Lynda checked me. I was only at 4cm. Two days of labor, I was still at a 4??? At some point Monday, Lynda left a couple of times, to catch another baby. She called several times to check on me, and told me to call her the second something was happening. At about 10pm Monday evening, Lynda suggested by phone that I should consider heading to the hospital. At that point I was okay with that. I was so mentally and physically exhausted. I was tired of being in pain. We drove 1 1/2 hours to a home-birth-friendly hospital. They were very kind to me. They told me that they would need to start IV antibiotics, and Pit. I agreed to the Pit. only if I could have an epidural. I remembered the pain of contractions with PIt. I got my epidural, and the nurses went for the Pit. Shortly after I got my epidural, I could feel movement, something was happening. Fortunately for me there was a CNM on call that night. She read my birth plan, and agreed to Jeremy catch baby, if everything was okay. She stood to the side, while Jeremy delivered our daughter. In just a few pushes, she was born. Jeremy said "It's a...girl" I said "You better not be joking!" She was beautiful, and perfect. 8# 14oz, 20 inches long. I asked her what took her so long. :) We stayed at the hospital for 8 hours after her birth, and went home, to sleep. In hindsite, I have my regrets. I wish that I would have made myself sleep that first night of labor. I wish I could change a lot of things about her birth. But, I learned a lot, about my limitations, about patience. I am now at peace with her birth-day. I am just thankful she was perfect, and healthy. We named her Savannah Grace. I know what to do differently next time, if there is a "next time".
Jesse James was born Jun 9, 2009. My water broke on a Saturday afternnoon, 3 weeks before my "due date". I didn't start contracting but called my midwife Cindy to report my ruptured membranes. She encouraged me to rest, eat and prepare myself for the birth. This went on for days! No contractions. Cindy aksed me to take my blood pressure, temperature and baby's heart tones frequently. As long as I didn't have a temperature and baby's heart tones were normal we would remain at home. We were also doing some preventative stuff, Vit. C, etc. to prevent infection. Tuesday morning I was getting rather impatient (and REALLY excited). I (with the midwife's permission) decided to take just a tablespoon of castor oil in the morning. Cindy was coming over anyway to check on baby and I, so I thought "what the heck, it's worth a try.." I took the castor oil, took a shower and took a brisk walk. I started my walk around 11am and the contractions started. I kept walking because I wanted them to get stronger, no go away. Cindy arrived around 11:30am, I made us lunch and we sat and talked and ate while I contracted. I could tell things were getting serious. I called Jeremy home, he had been carting our 4 kids back and forth to Vacation Bible School. He dropped the kids and their grandparents and hurried home. He arrived at around 1:30pm and rubbed my back through some contractions. I made several bathroom trips thanks to the castor oil. After a couple strong contractions in the bathroom, I came out and starting filling my jacuzzi tub for the birth. Both Jeremy and Cindy looked surprised that it was time. I got in the warm water, and I can remember thinking how absolutely amazing it was that the warm water helped with the pain. The tub was not even completely filled and I felt the urge to push. I pushed just a few times and Jesse James was born at 2:20pm. Nuchal cord and hand. Jeremy caught Jesse after Cindy unwrapped his cord. He was such a tiny little guy! (For me anyway) 7lbs 8 oz. This was my idea of the perfect birth. :)
Staci