Positive Birth Stories
Women can overcome the fear surrounding labor and birth by hearing or reading Positive Birth Stories. I have asked a number of my Bradley Method® and Prenatal Yoga students to write their experiences down to share with other couples. Most of these stories on my blog http://prenatalyoga.wordpress.com are stories of natural birth. A couple of them are not, but these mothers were able to turn their baby's birth into an empowering experience and bring their babies into the world in the best, safest, and gentlest way possible.
"Women need to hear positive birth stories. Sadly, women who have positive, transformative, challenging but amazing births usually don't tell their stories. They may think it's not normal, or may not want to make other women feel inferior. Women need to share their birth stories, both positive and difficult, and when they're difficult, we should examine why and what could have changed. These stories have the power to transform how society looks at birth, to dispel the myths and relieve the fear." Debra Pascali-Bonaro
Henry Judah Vaughan arrived November 14th at 5:32 a.m. and weighed a WHOPPING 9 lbs 13 oz… that big belly definitely had a big person tucked inside!
Labor began the previous day at 3 a.m. but as Liza suggested in class, I went back to sleep and was able to get through what I thought were stronger Braxton Hicks contractions (and by the way, mine never really radiated into my back like you usually read signals “real” contractions). By 10 a.m. it was evident that they weren’t slowing so Justin came home from work. We had been faithfully practicing relaxation by lying down but in the throes of real labor I wanted to walk around and not be touched.
We called our midwife around 4:00 p.m. because the contractions were a minute long and five minutes apart, and by the time she arrived they were a minute long and three minutes apart. We had an Aqua Doula tub set up in our bedroom and I got into it shortly after Michelle arrived, and when she checked me I was already at 5 cm. Let me tell you, the tub is great – after weighing X amount of lbs for so long, being able to maneuver easily was great! I never had any real emotional signposts or indications that I was going into transition.
I labored like that for hours, alternating between the tub and the birthing stool, and around 2 a.m. Michelle checked me because I was feeling the urge to push – but I was only dilated to an 8 and had a cervical lip that was preventing Judah from coming down. It was so frustrating to have to breathe through those urges to push! At around 3 a.m. Michelle gave me the go ahead to try pushing – talk about INSTANT pain relief – but after I wasn’t progressing, Michelle broke my waters. It was clear at first but gradually began turning a darker brown. I was so scared that the baby was in distress but his heart rate remained steady; we could see the top of his head after a while but then he was stuck! I ended up pushing for 3 hours – again, it was very hard work but painless – and delivered him on the birthing stool. The first thing I said when he arrived was “He’s HUGE!” The meconium never made it into his lungs so we are so thankful for that.
After we were both safe and done with the process was when things went a little off-kilter – I was moved to the bed and Justin cut the cord when I began a random grand mal seizure – from that point on all I remember is being in the ambulance on my way to the ER. Turns out I had a completely unexpected and undetected case of ecclampsia… thank God for medical interventions when you need them!! Tri-City was actually awesome despite all the horror stories I’d been hearing. I was released the following day and am now back at home safe and sound with the baby!
Things that helped during my labor were sounding through contractions, the low sounds helped tremendously. Being at home made the experience beautiful and prevented me from feeling self conscious – we’ll definitely have our following births at home, hopefully with Michelle! The ecclampsia was definitely scary but it’s most common in first time mothers and those who have super long labors. Also having a third pair of hands to apply hip squeezes was like an epidural during contractions! I wish Justin and I would have practiced them more so he could have done more of them.
The Bradley method really helped us to loosen up and enjoy the birthing process – it really is miraculous! And I agree, I would love to have a reunion with all of you to see all your beautiful babies!! 
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Sharon & Steve had a baby girl delivered on Nov. 4th at 7:19 PM. (Actual due date was Oct. 27th.)
Sharon had an uncomplicated pregnancy for most of the 9+ months. Her due date came and went without any signs of delivery. Finally, just after midnight Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov. 1st/2nd) Sharon began having contractions. She began getting back pains when the contractions started, and it became increasingly uncomfortable to lay down. The contractions were spaced between 5 and 10 minutes, and lasted from 30 to 60 seconds, creating an incredible urge to pee during each one. Needless to say, she got no sleep that night, mostly due to the back pains.
The contractions stopped Monday morning, started again Monday evening. Still, very little to no sleep. Sharon was a trooper and complained very little despite her obvious discomfort. We called the doctor at 2:00 AM to “get on the radar”. Warm epsom salt baths helped soothe and relax her (Rite-aid sells nicely scented lavender epsom salts). Back rubs and heating pads helped a lot, as well. Eating and drinking juice & water, sitting and bouncing on the birthing ball , standing against the wall like she was under arrest, the one-knee up on a chair lean all temporarily helped ease and soothe the pain.
Tuesday came, and it was the same. We loaded up the car and went to see the doctor at approximately 4:30 PM and discovered Sharon’s cervix was at 3 cms. We also found out the baby was in an occiput posterior position, with the back of the baby’s head against mom’s back (also called “sunny-side up”). This was what was causing the back-labor pain. Still, it wasn’t a huge crisis, just because the excitement of giving birth was drawing near. We were both ecstatic about the pending arrival of our baby! We had already packed bags and bought food and supplies, so we were ready. All we had to do was load up the car when it was time to go the doctor. The doctor prescribed some sleep medication that he said would help her sleep, but not to where it would interfere or stop real labor. We went home, had some dinner, and a warm salt bath, took the sleeping pill (ambien) and waited for sleep. It never came!! The contractions increased in intensity (Sharon joked, “Now I know why women get epidurals!” and the laugh that followed only made her have to pee). And the contractions remained about the same, with some being 3 to 4 minutes apart, but most between 5 and 10 minutes apart with an occasional lapse of 15 to 30 minutes.
Wednesday morning we went to see the doctor again, and the 30 to 40 minute drive was excruciating for Sharon. The slightest little bump or jostle was completely unbearable on her back. The actual contractions were intense and painful but for the most part, bearable. It was the baby’s head pushing up against her back that was so extremely painful.
We got to the doctor’s office around 9:30 AM, and Sharon was dilated to 6 to 7 cms. The doctor said “It could be tonight, it could be tomorrow…) and suggested waiting it out a bit longer, …if we could! Sharon agreed, even though it hurt. Instead of having that long, painful drive back home, we checked into a hotel near the hospital in Encinitas. This turned out to be a great idea.
During the next few hours at the hotel, the labor pains were still only occurring between 5 – 10 minutes apart. The majority of them about 7 minutes apart. So, we anxiously awaited for the contractions to go 4-1-1. In the meantime, I drew Sharon a salt bath so she could soak for awhile. We ordered pizza and salad. Ate. Sharon tried to get some sleep, but every position was just too uncomfortable. She bounced on the ball for a while, and during contractions, bit down on a towel so the other hotel guests wouldn’t hear agonizing moans and wails. When she wasn’t in contractions, we had some pretty good laughs about it, and what they must be thinking if they could hear her.
At about 4:45 PM I called the doctor just because Sharon couldn’t take it any longer. He agreed to meet us at the hospital to see how she was doing. After putting our gear back in the car (just in case we might actually stay at the hospital), I called her parents to let them know they might want to start heading to the hospital (they had an hour drive). We arrived there at 5:20. I ran in and got a wheel-chair for Sharon and pushed her to the doors of the birthing center of the hospital, where a nurse took her in while I ran back and parked the car. When I got to her room, less than 4 minutes had passed; she was already in her hospital gown and just getting onto the birthing bed. We still didn’t know if we’d be going back to the hotel or not because the contractions were still occurring at 7 – 8 minute intervals. The doctor had not yet arrived, so the nurse checked and Sharon was at 9.5 cms! The nurse could feel the head of the baby!
The doctor arrived shortly thereafter and said, “Well, I guess you’re ready!!” We all laughed, and Sharon asked if we could wait until her mom got there! He said, “Sure! You’re the one giving birth!!” It was funny, and helped relax her, and it added to the excitement. By that time, it was about 6:00. The attending nurses and doctor were amazed at how far Sharon had gotten on her own (with some help from her coach!). “Nine and a half centimeters! Wow! You are one tough girl!” they would tell her.
Her mom came into the room just after 6:30 (dad stayed in the waiting room). The doctor asked if she was ready, and of course she was. He raised the back of her bed as far upright as it would go, and explained some of the positions Sharon might be using during birth. Then asked her to turn over and face the back of the bed on her knees. He was calm and nonchalant about it, I thought he was just showing her some positions she might want to try, to see how comfortable they were. Instead he said, “On your next contraction, push!” I was amazed how quickly things got under way! I stood by her on the left and her mom was on her right for support. Sharon pushed a few times that way, then the doctor had her get on her side, with the nurse and him applying counter-pressure to her legs, and push a few times that way. Then finally on her back and push that way. I was holding her left leg, the nurse her right. The doctor had a towel slung over his raised left forearm and had Sharon grab the two ends of it so she could pull on it while she was pushing. We all supported her and encouraged her to PUSH! I could see the baby’s head. Now came the “Ring Of Fire!” Sharon actually only screamed loudly twice during the whole time; it only took a few more pushes and the baby’s head was completely out (the hardest part). It was simply amazing!! Between contractions & pushes, Sharon would take some breaths and relax. (Later, Sharon told me that pushing the baby out was less painful than her back pain).
The doctor got up to change gloves (I think…, I’m really not sure why he got up …maybe to get an aspirator to clean the baby’s mouth); anyway, I took Sharon’s hand and guided it to her baby’s head. When she cupped the baby’s head, her eyes got really wide with awe, and I think she completely forgot about her pain. Her back had definitely stopped hurting by now. The doctor came back, and Sharon pushed again as he guided and twisted the baby’s shoulders out. After another short rest, she pushed again, and at 7:19 PM, with one fell swoop, the doctor caught the baby and instantly put it on Sharon’s chest! It was just one fluid motion. I walked around behind Sharon’s head to see the baby. It was just incredible!! This tiny little being resting on mom’s chest. Sharon was repositioning the baby, and that’s when I noticed it was a girl! We were all so caught up in the delivery, we hadn’t even thought to see if it was a boy or girl!! Sharon picked her up to make sure I had it right! A girl!
After the cord stopped pulsing, I was allowed to cut the umbilical cord! What a feeling! I was so proud of Sharon. There is no way I could have done what she just did, even if I was a woman! And the amazing thing is it all happened in less than 35 minutes!! From the time she started pushing to birth was just over a half hour!
Family came in and visited for a while, her mom and dad stayed until about midnight, and I was able to give them the keycards to the hotel room, and they stayed there for the night. It all worked out great!! And, of course, I’m a daddy now!!! Sharon and Autumn are doing great!!
Today Autumn is two weeks old, and weighs 9 lbs 8 oz. She’s gained almost a pound in two weeks.
Liza, Sharon & I want to thank you so much for all of the information we learned in your classes. Without the classes, we would not have known what questions to ask; we would not have changed doctors during late pregnancy; we would not have met Dr. Biter and Dr. Cap (who were absolutely fantastic! Dr. Biter was amazingly wonderful in the delivery room); we would not have been able to stay so calm and relaxed; and we would not have had such a wonderful experience! Being prepared was so helpful; we could not have done this without the knowledge gained from you!
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Liam’s Birth
Kris and Stefan met their baby boy on Wednesday morning, October 7, 2009 at 3:35 a.m. I miraculously, like God sent me on special assignment, was present for the big event! Kris had hand selected Kayti as her doula! So that when labor started in the wee hours, Monday October 5th, Kayti got a heads up call. When labor seemed to get serious Kayti joined Kris and Stefan. She spent many hours beside Kris, providing emotional support, fun conversation, plain good womanly company and comfort techniques during contractions. They went to the hospital when Kris’s contractions were powerful and coming quick. They returned home when the contractions didn’t produce a baby. The next evening Kayti became ill and called me to take her place at Kris and Stefan’s home. When I arrived at 10:30PM Tuesday night, Lisa, a family friend, was spending contractions with Kris. They sounded great! They were making deep Ahhhhh, ending with OOOOut sounds with each contraction. Stefan met me at the front door and he tried to bring me up to speed on their two days of labor but he was past exhausted, he was almost incoherent, and had a hard time talking. It’s amazing how women can keep on laboring when everyone else needs sleep – the hormones of the labor cocktail are strong! We all developed a quick bond and I did just what a doula does. My mantra is “change positions often, go to potty often, drink and eat often”. Pretty boring, but add to that, extreme relaxation in between contractions, as in actively relaxing and our moments are full! Time takes on new dimensions. Deep, deep relaxation in between helps the body recover enough energy to bring on stronger contractions. Sometimes Kris would sleep in between which is the best way to get a body relaxed – Sleep! She would wake to a GOOD contraction. By 11PM Kris mentioned that she felt an urge to push. That was a wonderful sign, but to me it wasn’t a scary sign or an imminent sign that baby was coming. As I mentioned to Stefan, “birth is not an emergency, it’s an emergence”. During the next bathroom visit Kris had a ‘stronger urge’ so we felt it was time to head to Scripps Encinitas, where the baby catcher would come in handy : ) Before leaving the house I coached Kris on blowing through contractions, which helped her not push. When we arrived and Kris was checked she said, “Last time, to hear I was 4 centimeters was discouraging so please do not tell me unless I’m complete and can push.” So we did not know how far along Kris was (it’s not about numbers). Kris just kept blowing through (literally and figuratively) one contraction at a time. First she was on the bed on her back, then on her hands and knees on the bed, then in the shower. Also standing beside the bed, rocking and leaning on anything or anybody worked. The hardest part was that the urge to push was powerful and the cervix was not open enough to push with that urge. That was because baby was very low in the pelvis. This sometimes happens. Since Lisa and I were still pretty fresh, we encouraged Stefan to get a nap. He lay down for a little while. When the urge grew and grew and then grew some more, Kris was ready to be checked again and know where she was at in her birthing process. She was 7 centimeters. I think that is when she had an “Ah Ha” moment. She made the decision to go to the next level and birth her baby. We talked about 7 cms. being transition and she remembered that some women go through that part in 15 minutes. I had a sense that she was determined. It was about 2:30AM. Kris decided to labor standing, giving her baby gravitational help. Just about then Dr. Biter showed up and asked to check her again, with that Kris’s water released and the baby moved down even more. 10 minutes later Kris was completely dilated! Dr. Biter never left after that. He whispered encouraging things to Kris and coached her pushing. Stefan also never left Kris’s side and I could see the adrenalin rushing through Stefan’s body at the thought of meeting his son. Wow! The energy was so high! Stefan didn’t have to wait long; Liam was born in a few short minutes. Wow again! All that long first stage labor and such a short second stage! Liam was a light haired, quiet and very long baby! The first thing I noticed was his long fingers! Then I was almost blinded by the smiles on mommy and daddy’s faces. Their smiles were on high beams! Kris was in wonder of her body every step of the way. Now she wondered again at how the placenta was born. Kris needed a little stitching for a small tear. The nurses and I then left the family to spend their first moments together…oh wait, first we have a little ‘latching on’ practice session for Liam. When I returned an hour later, those smiles were still there to greet me. I greeted Liam again with another ‘latching on’ practice run, then pried myself away from the loving energy of this new family. Welcome Liam! Congratulations Mommy & Daddy! Bless you all! Love, Rosie Peterson, the doula
Posted in Natural Birth Stories |
Hospitals to crack down on induced labor
WASHINGTON – Hoping to schedule your baby’s birth while your mother’s in town, or before the doctor goes on vacation? Labor is becoming less of a late-night surprise, but some hospitals are starting to tighten the rules for elective deliveries — because some babies are being delivered too early.
More hospitals are expected to crack down as regulators begin new quality measurements next spring that aim to reduce too-early elective inductions and first-time cesareans.
Induced labor is on the rise for lots of reasons, some medical and some not. But recent research shows a troubling link between elective inductions and these so-called “late preemies.” These aren’t the dire too-small babies that the word premature conjures, but near-term babies who nonetheless are at higher risk of breathing disorders and other problems than babies who finish their very last weeks in the womb.
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“It was an ‘aha’ moment for me,” recalls Dr. Bryan Oshiro of his visit to a Utah intensive care nursery several years ago, where neonatologists pointed to babies there simply because they’d been induced too soon.
New guidelines will require that a mother’s cervix be nearly ready for natural labor, and limit the hospital beds available for elective inductions.
More hospitals are expected to start enforcing that criteria this spring, when the Joint Commission that regulates health quality will require hospitals to report all elective deliveries and the gestational age to its public database, providing peer pressure for improvement. Hospitals also will have to report cesareans for first-time mothers, too often a result of a failed induction.
“That’s not a good outcome for the baby or the mom,” says Joint Commission President Dr. Mark Chassin. “We believe this will be a very important driver of improvement in perinatal care.”
1 in 4 inductions were before 39 weeks
National guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have long discouraged elective deliveries before the 39th week of pregnancy. But some hospitals that took a close look were surprised. At Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare, for example, 28 percent of elective deliveries were breaking ACOG’s rule in 2001, Oshiro told a March of Dimes meeting on preventable prematurity this month.
Most were being induced in week 37, such a small difference that local obstetricians argued it wasn’t a problem. So Oshiro pulled the medical charts and found those near-term babies had more than double the risk of ending up in neonatal ICU, suffering respiratory distress, even needing a ventilator.
It took several years of policing: Inductions now are allowed only after meeting a checklist of requirements. But today, only about 3 percent of Intermountain’s elective deliveries occur before 39 weeks — and infant hospitalizations have dropped, saving money, too, says Oshiro, now a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Loma Linda University in California. He’s about to pilot a similar program at hospitals in that area.
“If there’s no need to intervene, please don’t intervene,” is Oshiro’s message.
1 in 5 new moms induced
Labor is induced in more than one in five births, double the rate in 1990, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many cases are for clear health reasons, such as a problem with the fetus or a sick mom or a pregnancy that has dragged well beyond the woman’s due date.
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The story of the Day Isabella Johanna was born
May 8th, 2009 My pregnancy with you was so different than it was with Jessica. Starting with morning sickness, to not being as tired, to getting WAY bigger but gaining less weight, to being SO over it so much sooner- it was a total different ride. I knew that you would be a different person for sure. Labor was also so incredibly different. This is the story of the day you were born- May 8 2009. Your due date (I’ve heard only 4 – 8 % actually come on their due dates- look at you being on time!). I had been measuring almost two weeks big almost the entire pregnancy, so I thought for sure you were going to come early. I was starting to dilate at 37 weeks! At 39 weeks I was 4 centimeters dilated, 80% effaced, and your head was at –1 station. My midwife stripped my membranes at my appointment and I thought for sure that you would be born soon after! I actually started to have contractions, regular contractions, that night. I got everything ready, but they never got stronger. I was very disappointed when I went to bed and woke up the next morning with no more contractions. That last week was one of the worst of my life! I had contractions on and off all week, I was achy, uncomfortable, hot and HUGE- not to mention still running Shuckleberries and chasing after your two year old sister Jessica! Thank God Nana and Papa were there to help out. When I went to my 40 week appointment, I was hoping I was at least at 5 centimeters or something! I was very disappointed to hear that I was only a bit more effaced. I ended up bursting into tears at my appointment when my midwife brought up inducing me in a week. She swept my membranes again, but I left the appointment feeling deflated and thinking you were never going to come. I took the rest of the day off and hid in my room- and that night Daddy and I decided that I would close the preschool the next week so I could rest these last few days. I went to sleep finally letting go of “when were you going to come??” to knowing that you were going to come when you were good and ready……… I woke up at 5:45 am (for the 3rd time that night, I’m sure) to go to the bathroom, and then as I was walking back to bed I realized my shorts were soaked. I was scared that I had started to bleed- so I went back and turned on the lights. Realized- my WATER BROKE!!!!!!! I woke up your daddy, and called doula Becky. She had thought my water was going to break since it was a full moon that night. She was right! I called the doctor and he said “Sounds like you’ll be having a baby today!” I hadn’t started contractions yet, so he told me to come when they got stronger. I was relieved, I was worried that they would want me to come in and they would give me pitocin to speed it up. I watched my tivo-ed Greys’ Anatomy and ate some breakfast while I waited for labor to begin. Jessica woke up and I told her that I was going to be going to the hospital to have the baby! I was surprised at how well she accepted it. She gave me a hug and said “I love you mommy” and skipped downstairs with Nana to have breakfast. Turns out she had her best day at Shuckleberries ever according to my assistants- guess Mommy should go and have babies more often 
Contractions finally started around 7:30- Doula Becky arrived a little later, and Daddy, her and I sat around and got some last minute things together and just chatted. By 12:30 my contractions were coming every 3 minutes for over an hour- the thing was, they weren’t’ very intense. I could still have a totally normal conversation in between them. Becky and Daddy thought it was about time to go the hospital, but I was feeling so normal I was scared it was too early. Becky said that I should get to where I was going to birth because when hard labor kicked in it was going to be fast- and they wanted to get some antibiotics in me because of Strep B. So off we went to the hospital! The ride was so much easier than with Jessica. I walked up to the 4th floor at the hospital and had conversations with all the nurses as I checked in. Occasionally I had to breath through my contractions, but was still feeling pretty normal. I was still at 4 centimeters, 90% effaced and –1 station. Once we were done with the nurses, they had gotten my antibiotic IV in (which HURT!!!!!!), and we were left alone to labor- Becky gave us a few exercises to speed up labor. We did “lifts” then tried squats. After my second squat I stood up, felt a POP and a gush of more water and the most intense contraction I almost fell over because I wasn’t expecting it! That was at 3, and hard labor had begun. I asked to get into the shower shortly after. As I was getting ready I could feel the pressure of your head- I had the nurse check me out and I was still on 6 centimeters so I was told not to push. Even though I didn’t have the urge yet, I knew that I would be pushing soon! I got into the shower, sat on the birthing ball and went through transition in the shower. I was in about 15 – 20 minutes and apparently was done being in the shower- it was time to push! And I was right, I was fully dilated! (Went from 6 – 10 centimeters in less than 20 minutes!) I got back on the bed on my hands and knees (the same position I started pushing in with Jessica). This time the pushing contractions were much easier and I knew how to push. I actually looked forward to pushing and could tell I was doing it correctly. I pushed for about 45 minutes- and at one point I did think “Um, Don’t know that I want to do this again” but I never complained once. I knew that you were close! During the pushing phase a midwife offered her services instead of the doctor on call, and she did an amazing job! I never felt pressure to push a certain way or to count to 10 or anything. She encouraged me to turn onto my side (which I also did with Jessica). Turning over was incredibly uncomfortable, but once I was on my side I only pushed two more times, and you came out perfectly!!!! Daddy called it out “It’s a GIRL!!!!!” and I laughed that everyone was wrong- and pulled you up into my arms. I actually had to push out my placenta- turns out it was huge!!!! Probably 5 pounds- everyone was commenting on how big it was. I tore a little bit, a first degree on my scar. Impressive since you were so big! Your birth was just perfect- 9 pounds 13 ounces, 20 inches long (14 cm head!)- Isabella Johanna. So happy to finally have you here!
Posted in Natural Birth Stories |
Gavin’s Birth Story
Friday: false labor in middle of night
Saturday: yoga, nap, 3pm bloody show which continued every BM, 4pm family BBQ, 9pm Bath and read in bradley book that bloody show means absolutely nothing, false labor all night, took Tylenol PM and helped a little – got more sleep than friday night
Sunday: 6am Starting to cry b/c I’m tired and annoyed with false labor, text my doula, she comes over at 7:30am to comfort me
Breakfast and fathers day gift at 8:30am: contractions are not bad, not lasting long, infrequent, not regular
Rosie does – whats that giggling called with the fabric under my hips? feels good
Pain is still shooting right straight out front of belly instead of low in bones/vagina- feels wrong and annoys me =)
8:45am leave house w/car for a walk – just me and Rosie. I take her to our favorite spot near a park, 2.3 mile loop
9-10:20am casual walk 2.3 miles – feels GREAT to walk and didn’t have to stop with contractions except slow a little. we had good conversation, water, a few pictures, and a nature pee in the forest =). By the end of walk I am very happy the pain is pointed DOWN – feels right and like it might be true, still not sure
10:30 Rosie prays in car before we park : asking the Lord for real contractions, bring the baby quickly, even this afternoon – 1 minute later I have my first REAL labor contraction! Yeah Jesus!
I walk in the house and can not handle the kids there – call my sister, Mike leaves at 10:45am to meet her and drop them off, says he’ll be home in 1/2 hour
Rosie starts to time contractions b/c she can tell I’m working now. I get in TUB and BEE breathe through them, still in good spirits
11:30 – I tell Rosie, we need to leave now, we might have to leave w/out Mike, get out of Tub, he shows up a few minutes later, we get ready to go. Feeling pressure in bottom. Happy it’s finally the real thing. Standing and swaying back and forth feels best thru contr
11:45 I blow dry my bangs really quick inbetween contractions so i don’t have crazy hair! They are 5 min and sometimes 3min apart lasting 1 minute or so.
12pm leave for Pomerado, texting people in the car ride down =), contractions 3 min apart, BEE breathing, arrive in ER 12:25pm
They can see I’m working and when I say I feel bottom pressure and this is my 4th kid they are good to get us up stairs quickly
DOES NOT FEEL GOOD TO SIT, SO I WALK TO ELEVATOR and to the birth center, contractions very close now and I stop to sway each time
Rosie went through drive thru to get food for Mike and her so she is not with us yet
12:30 ish (I have no idea time now) – in my room, go straight to potty and pee I tell nurse, “we need to hurry!” as I get stuck at the potty with urge to bear down
1st nurse checks me: not sure, can’t feel cervix
2nd nurse: there is no cervix, that is just a bulging bag of water! they are calm and sweet and hurry with antibiotics for GBS
Doc has not come in yet
I lay on my side, close my legs, and try not to push…2 contractions later, Rosie arrives and I announce, I’m complete and waiting for antibiotics and doctor
Doctor arrives and calmly tells me to make it through 3 more contractions so meds can finish and then I can sit up. Baby is perfect on heart monitor
Antibiotics finish and doc sits me up, breaks water (wasn’t in birth plan but it felt so good I was glad he did it!), says that baby is still transverse and a little high so might take a few pushes. he is very calm and doesn’t put on his gown, wearing golf shirt still. lets me rest and says to go ahead when I feel like it
Contraction comes and so does baby! ONE PUSH and baby is born. Everyone is stunned. Me especially. I have no idea you can birth a baby like that! I felt like I ripped in 2 b/c so fast but NO TEARS. Doc says, what a sweet delivery Robin. It’s because you are healthy and very fit. Good job!
12:57pm time of natural bradley birth: 2 1/2 hours after first real contraction, arrived complete to hospital, and gave one push
Gavin Edward 7 lb 7 oz 19 1/2 inches long, healthy and happy, milk came in 48 hours later =)
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