After a few false alarms and one hard pregnancy, finally at 1:00 a.m.- I wake up having contractions that I have trouble breathing through. Poor Devin hadn't slept much already so I let him sleep.
5:00 a.m.- Devin wakes up and can see that I'm in pain. We time the contractions and they are about 3 minutes apart lasting a minute and a half long. 5:45 a.m.- Off we go to the hospital to be checked for the 6th time. "You're at a 4 and 90% effaced, and have a bulgy bag. We'll come back and check you in an hour."
6:45 a.m.- "Sorry, the bag has receded and you’re at about a 3 and 90% effaced. The cervix can open up more when the bag is bulgy, but since it went back up its not as big. Here is a prescription for some Tylenol 3. Go home take a warm bath, take the drugs and try to relax. “
Seriously?!? Relax, how is that supposed to happen when I'm having constant contractions! Not to mention that pharmacies don't open for another 2 hours!
Devin takes me to my parents house where I can take a nice warm bath in the extra deep tub that allows water to cover most of me, and has jets. The water is SO soothing!
After my bath Devin is out cold on the couch, so I take up the sofa and try to do the same thing. Sleep isn't coming and my mom's phone (that she forgot to take to school with her) continues "alarming" to remind her to send her classroom kids to various places. I decide take the phone over to her at school and help for a couple of hours in her classroom.
By 2:00 p.m. I was back home at my house and had taken the tylenol 3 prescribed this morning, and was trying to relax but being very unsuccessful. We get home from lunch, I notice that I am bleeding. I was told that this could happen and that it was very normal, but if the bleeding got bright red and/or heavier that I should be checked again.
7:00 p.m. hits and I'm quite certain there is something not quite right so we're off like a herd of turtles for the second time that day. The nurse comes in and checks me: "You're maybe a 3 but I'd say a 2+ and 85%."
-Hold it! I thought once you started progressing there were no take backs!-
"We'll keep you for a while and see what happens. There are some concerns with the bleeding but we'll let you know."
9:00 p.m.- "You've been checked quite a few times and that can cause the bleeding, so we're really not concerned about that anymore. You're also still at a 2+ and 85% so there isn't a reason we can keep you. Your contractions are about 2.5-3 min apart lasting about 1.3 minutes so take Tylenol 3 every 4 hours so you can get some rest tonight and your Dr. would like to see you first thing in the morning."
At this point I'm so tired and CRABBY and in the utmost denial. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had decided this traipsing back and forth to the hospital is for the birds and I'm NOT going back until my water breaks. I kept following their directions and they kept sending me home. I was NOT amused.
10:00 p.m.- The contractions became much stronger. I stopped keep track of how long they were lasting because it didn't matter. They were already close together and not making me progress, so what was the point of timing them? Devin was playing games on his phone and watching t.v. while I was writhing in pain on my side of the bed. I didn't want to complain or say anything to him because we were {again} just sent home only a short time ago. I really thought I was a pansy. Why didn't anyone [Mom, sister, grandmother, friend...?] tell me it would be like this??? Time continued on and I was getting annoyed that I was having to breath myself through the contractions and I was starting to shake. Devin wasn't paying any attention to me. Woe is me!
11:00 p.m.- I finally gave in and told Devin, "I have to have you put your hand on my back right here!" ( I showed him where the pain was.) The pressure and the heat of his hand made the pain at least somewhat bearable and we continued doing this for a bit longer.
April 22 2011
12:00 a.m.- I ask Devin to give me a blessing. In the blessing, I was told that I would be able to deal with the pain of the labor for however long necessary, and when baby was born, no matter what happened, she would be alright.
1:00 a.m.- I didn't think I could take anymore of this. Devin's hand on my back wasn't helping as it had to begin with and I was shaking so violently I could hardly breath. Devin called the hospital and was told, "She was in only 4 hours ago. She hasn't slept in 24 hours.... When did she take the Tylenol? ... 3 hours ago? ... Ok, Give her the Loratab at 2am and go see your doctor first thing in the morning. "
1:30 a.m.- I start to tell Devin that I feel like I need to use the restroom. {However, I feel to lousy to get up and do so!}
2:00 a.m.- Devin gave me the Lortab even though I argued and told him if the Tylenol 3 wasn't doing anything what would ever make him think the Lortab would help? I still need to use the bathroom.
2:15 a.m.- That's it! I need to go use the bathroom no matter what. I need to have a bowel movement and Emily (my sister) said that would happen before my labor would really progress anyway.
I strip down to my birthday suit because I'm hot and sticky. Not sweaty, just sticky. I proceed to use the facilities in the comforts of my own home. I take a seat minding my own business waiting for the contraction to stop when I feel this phloosh. No water, but there was definitely a drop. I slowly check my southern regions and feel a squishy bag and a hard spot inside the squishy bag.
"DEVIN! We have a problem!" I yelled from the bathroom. "What's wrong? Get in the car! We'll go now!" he tells me. I quickly respond back. "We don't have time for that. I don't think I'd make it if you drove. Call 911.""Call 911, are you sure!?!" "Devin, I can feel her head and the bag of water! CALL 911!" As Devin is doing as instructed I have this sudden urge to push. I yell to him that I have this urge to push and the Dispatcher, on the other end in her calm voice is yelling "DONT LET HER PUSH! They are on their way and will be there in about three minutes."
Devin starts to run downstairs to let them in when I scream, "Where do you think you're going! You can't leave me! I need to push!"
Devin comes rushing back and tells me not to push then hands me the phone and tells me to talk to the nice lady while he lets the EMTs in. Again, I tell him not to leave me so instead he wakes up Brandy to let them in and comes back to help me breath through my pushing urges. At this point I realize that I am still completely naked and I tell Devin I needed something to wear! Quickly he takes his own shirt off, that says, "Life is Good in Newton!" and throws it to me. I get it on just as the EMTS get there.
The paramedic in charge checks me and says, "Good the water is still intact and we're going to keep it that way. I don't want to deliver a baby tonight. We can't the gurnie up the stairs, do you think you can walk?" I get help up and walk down the stairs with an EMT on either side while another EMT holds the "Life is Good in Newton!" shirt down so I stay somewhat modest. Once in the ambulance they quickly and efficiently hooked me up to all the monitors and started an IV. "Your contractions are about a minute apart, and lasting about 2 minutes," said the EMT. I, again, have the urge to push so I start breathing the way I was told in my Lamaze class just the Monday evening before. The EMT looks at me in the eye and says,"Anna, look at me. You can't breath like that. Breath with me. In through the nose, deep breath, out through the mouth slowly."
"What do you mean I can't pant. That is what they taught me in Lamaze!"
"Listen to me, you can do this, breath with me." He repeats totally ignoring what I just told him.
I decided it was better to listen to him and complain later. Once on the main street I heard the sirens go on. Why sirens are needed at 2:30 in the morning I have no idea, alas they were on anyways.
They got me to hospital bypassing Emergency, and took me straight to Labor & Delivery. The nurse assigned to me quickly checks out the situation and says, "You're at a 9 1/2. How do you feel about a natural delivery?"This didn't upset me at all because it is what I wanted from the beginning.
"Well, I better get the delivery stuff out and call the doctor." she says. The nurse started pulling out everything as the EMT finished up paperwork with Devin, who made it to the hospital before the ambulance did. I was admitted at 2:47 a.m. My parents arrived very shortly after I arrived at the hospital as well. Mom and Devin helped me breathe through the contractions as the nurse continued to get ready for the doctor. After 15 minutes when we hadn't yet heard from Dr. Firth the nurse, Dee, picked up the phone to call again. Just as she started to dial, s Dr. Firth walked in and said, "I had a feeling it was you."
He checked me and smiled saying, "Let's get this baby here!"He quickly donned the Dr. Delivery outfit and broke my water. I felt this immediately relief. "Oh that felt so good," I sighed. Then the next contraction started. "Can I push!?" I squeaked. "Not yet." was my answer. I was allowed to try on the next contraction then told to stop. Just for the record, trying to stop pushing after you start is near impossible. I had to breath through another two contractions. "Ok start pushing." ~ I blew out all my air instead of taking a deep breath and had to start all over again.
I pushed for all I was worth for about 20 minutes (mom says only 5 contractions) and at 3:31 a.m. Cora Adeline Reeder was born weighing in @ 5 lbs. 12 oz. and measuring 18 1/2" long.
1. When did you decide you wanted to deliver your baby naturally?
I was always told growing up I was always told that I would be able to just whip the baby out naturally, without medications, because of all the medical issues I've had. I decided to have a natural labor mostly because I don't do very well with drugs and or anesthetics. That gave me the thought, "If I have a low tolerance for them what about my baby?" How was I to know how she would react to an epidural or any of the other drugs they give you during labor. Sure I've heard "Epidurals don't effect the baby in any way." I'm still a bit skiddish on that subject. I have personally seen babies born both ways and there is a difference. It may be slight, but a difference nonetheless.
2. What reasons or factors went into your decision?
My mom had all 4 of her children medicine free. One 8 lb 13 oz. baby that was sunny side up, and one that was breach. Still without any type of medications. It may sound silly, but if she can do it, so can I. The biggest factor, other than my ego, was the issue I have with medications. That was really the biggie. I may not have been 100% against medications, but I truly wanted not to have any, just in case she has issues with them like her momma.
3. What did you do to prepare for natural childbirth? (midwife, classes, methods, books, etc.)
Ha! Prepare? Nothing can truly prepare you for this wonderful experience. I did however read, Thank You Dr. Lamaze by Marjorie Karmel. It helped me have the mindset of I can do this. I also took a Lamaze class offered by our hospital but we didn't make all 6 classes. We only got through the first four.
4. What was the hardest part of your experience - before, during, or after childbirth?
The hardest thing for me was I was in labor for more than 2 weeks and I was told that even though your in labor it's not active labor so go home. Had I known I was in active labor I would've had a much easier time dealing with the contractions.
5. What was most helpful to you during labor to help make pain from contractions manageable?
My husband put his hand on my lower back for me during the contractions. Again had I known I was in real active labor I think there would have been a few other things I could've done to help with the pain.
6. What do you wish you would have known going into delivery?
There really isn't anything about the delivery I wish I would've known. I talked to my Dr. quite frequently about how I wanted the delivery to go. I talked to him during delivery as well so I continued to know that we were on the same page.
7. Is there anything you would have done differently?
I would've gone to the hospital a little earlier, and not taken the ambulance.
8. What did you feel were the positive benefits to your natural childbirth - were the benefits what you expected?
My daughter suffered something called Persistent Pulmanary Hypertention of the Newborn (PPHN). It was very serious and she had to be Life Flighted to Primary Childrens Medical Center. Since I had her without an epidural I was able to get out of bed and go to the NICU before Life Flight got there and spend time with her. Stand by her and hold her hand. If I had an Epidural that wouldn't have even been an option.
9. Is natural childbirth something you recommend to other mothers, or something you'd do again?
Natural medicine free, is the way to go! I wouldn't want to go any other way. It's a choice and one I'm glad I made.
10. What advice do you have for other mothers interested in natural childbirth?
It's a choice. My Dr. told me if you want to do it medicine free it's your choice, but keep your options open. It's different for everyone. Everybody has different pain tolerances. I decided I wanted to go Med Free since I didn't know if there would be problems with medications in my child's system. It was a very fulfilling experience having a baby, especially without the side effects of drugs in my system. I had already been in labor for more than 2 weeks. It just wasn't considered "Active Labor". I was getting close to my wits end because the contractions had remained constant and although they kept getting closer together, nothing was happening.
Anna can be contact with questions at her blog http://24piecesofpie.blogspot.com/
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