Let me start by saying the key to all birth plans is flexibility... and my birth story is no exception.
I
spent the months prior to my due date carefully writing my detailed birth plan, and taking natural birthing classes. I chose the Bradley Method because it was what my
mother had used and I wanted to walk in her footsteps. I loved reading
stories of other mothers feeling empowered and in tune with their bodies
as they welcomed their children into this world. I was so excited for
my turn that I had my hospital bag packed months before my due date,
just in case. I welcomed the contractions I had in the evenings,
envisioning each pain bringing me closer to seeing my son.
As the weeks
ticked by I prayed for positive news from my OB... this week I would
show progress, my cervix would FINALLY start to prepare for his
delivery. Yet each week brought the same statement, "no change". My due
date was no different, I went to the OB and she said those two
disappointing words one more time, she then went on to schedule visits
for the following two weeks predicting my son would stay put a while
longer. Scared I was headed for an induction I desperately searched my resources looking for
natural methods to start labor, but found nothing I hadn't already
tried... lots of walking, sex, orgasm, nipple stimulation, teas, spicy
food even pineapple.
The next day I woke up and showered,
determined to get some labor inducing exercise in. However, as I sat on
the couch brushing my hair I suddenly felt as though I was leaking.
Despite my medical knowledge I wasn't sure what was happening, the third
trimester offered too many options... So I waited. Not only did the
leaking persist, it increased. Excited and a little nervous I called my
husband, he needed to come home and pack (unlike me, he had decided to
wait until the birth was imminent). Immediately I realized all my
expectations were about to change. My birth plan involved laboring at
home with candles, music, my yoga ball ,and a warm bath; then showing up
at the hospital just in time to push and deliver our son.
Once
at the hospital, now 6 hours after my water broke, still no sign of
contractions-- I was still VERY comfortable, aside from the fact that
anytime I would walk it felt like I was peeing myself. Having my water
break without the onset of labor meant I would have to be induced. It
also meant I was now fighting the clock-- once the amniotic sac breaks
the risk of infection increases significantly; most places try to
deliver the baby within 24hrs and induction is a slow process.
Over
the next 17 hours the wonderful doctors and midwives would try
everything to get my body to start dilating. I was given Cytotec (a pill
placed at my cervix to chemically induce change), then a Foley bulb was
placed (they literally fill a balloon with fluid to put pressure on
your cervix and induce dilation). The contractions were strong and I was
sick from the pain, but my yoga ball brought relief and I charged on focusing on all Ihad learned.
Finally, Pitocin was started and aggressively increased. My
son's heartrate dropped and my movements were restricted, the pain became unbearable. I was informed I still
wasn't dilating. I felt defeated, every other woman in my immediate
family had given birth without pain medications; now my only chance of avoiding a
C-section was to get an Epidural and allow my body to relax.
About
20 mins after the epidural was placed I finally had some relief from
the pain. Exhausted, physically and emotionally I desperately tried to
sleep. Four hours later, the midwife announced I
still had not made any progress, I began to panic. Furthermore, if I didn't make progress
soon I would need a C-section. Fighting back tears of fear, feeling
robbed of the birth story I wanted, my husband and I came together and
prayed. We asked God for wisdom, guidance and His help to keep our son
and myself safe. Feeling at peace I tried to get more sleep.
Waking
from my short nap I instantly knew something was different. There was increased pressure in my pelvis with each contraction. Excited
and scared I asked to be checked again. Her eyes met mine as she
announced I was 7cm. I fought back tears of joy as relief rushed over
me. My body wasn't broken, I COULD do this!
From that
point on things moved quickly. Less than 2 hours later, I
had a sudden realization something was changing. I was overwhelmed. My husband alerted the nurse who checked me and quickly began
prepping the room as she proclaimed it was time to push. I followed my
body's lead in and less than 10 minutes later our son was born.
As
I laid in the delivery room, a rush of emotions covered me. This is my
son. I am a mother. I did it. I realized that while nothing during the
past 48hrs had gone as planned and I had received almost every
intervention possible, his delivery was incredible. My body is not
broken. I am not weak. And I regret none of the decisions I made that
day because the most important goal was accomplished: my son and I are healthy. It truly was a moment I will forever cherish.
