Maya's Birth

Long story, but seemed like a short birth to me! Our little Maya was born on July 14^th at 3:20 p.m. in the birthing center of our local hospital.

At 3:30 in the morning, I work up with what felt like menstrual cramps. This had been going on for the past few days, so I didn’t really think much of it, but then I realized they seemed kind of regular. My husband, Noah, had woken up by then, and so he started timing them. When he said they were a minute long and two minutes apart, I don’t know that I really believed him! We decided that we would call the doctor at 6:00 a.m. and see what he or she said. (A side note: In the practice I went to, I alternated between seeing two doctors - a man and a woman. The female doctor had been out on maternity leave and had just come back, and she admitted that she really enjoyed epidurals during her own labors! The male doctor’s wife is also an OB, and she (they) successfully used hypnobirthing during the births of their three children. I really wanted the male doctor, Dr. B., to attend the birth because he is truly warm and wonderful and very understanding.) The female doctor was on call, and she said that contractions typically involved more of the abdomen, not just the lower part, but that everyone was different, so if I felt more uncomfortable, I should go to the hospital. Otherwise, I could just come in to the office (it’s across the street from the hospital) for my previously scheduled 8:30 appt. At 8:00 a.m., we started for the office. Although we had planned to walk to the hospital (it a mile away, and I had walked to all but three of my appts. during the pregnancy), when the time came, I was happy to let my husband drive us there!

At the office, they hooked me up to the monitor and a surge started almost immediately. The nurse said, “That’s the biggest contraction I’ve ever seen in the office!” but I still wasn’t convinced I was in labor! I was dreading the internal exam because I thought they’d tell me I was only 1 or 2 cm. and send me home! When they checked me, though, I was 6 cm.! Dr. B. said he was calling labor and delivery and that I should head over, and that he would be there when I needed him! So happy! We walked across the street, headed on up, met our wonderful nurse, Sherry, and I crawled into bed - again, so happy!

Things progressed well - my husband was absolutely wonderful! Water, wet washcloths, back massages, encouragement, love - you name it, he had it! And I was kind of mean sometimes - didn’t want to be touched, jiggled, etc. - but he was understanding.

The doctor came around 1 p.m. and Broke my water - everything looked fine and things sped up. At 2 or so, I was fully dilated, and starting to push a little. I couldn’t believe how good it felt to do so. When the doctor came back, we got into pushing position and really got going. Although the doctor guided me on my pushing, I still did it when I wanted to, and the baby’s heart rate never changed - Noah called her “our little 135” because she was so regular. The doctor used oil on my perineum, rubbing and massaging it, Noah and the nurse helped me focus and push, and at 3:20 p.m., after 45 minutes of pushing (which seemed like no time), Maya popped out - alert, head up, looking around, and absolutely beautiful - 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 20 inches long.

I had a slight tear that needed stitches, and they used a local anesthetic, but I didn’t care. After I called my mother at 3:30 p.m., I asked when dinner was served, and I was up and around within an hour. It may just be the oxytocin talking, but I loved giving birth. Now, when I look at Noah and Maya, I am so proud of all three of us - we did it together!

I will say that the birth was not “pain-free,” but it was exactly what I needed and wanted, and never more that we could handle. When the nurse asked where I was on a five-point pain scale (0 - no pain, and so on), I said, “A 1, maybe, or a 2.” The worst it ever was might have been a 2.5, and that was during crowning. By the way, I have an EXTREAMLY LOW pain threshold - I’m a huge wimp. I was AFRAID of an epidural - a needle in my spine - too painful! Natural childbirth seemed easy compared to the anxiety I had about an epidural.

Well, again, I know this was long, but I just wanted to get it all down and posted while it was fresh in my mind. Thanks to everyone who posted helpful messages and encouragement on this list - I can say it with confidence now - HYPNOMOMS RULE!

Jessica

Wife to fabulous Hypnoguardian Noah

Mommy to beautiful Hypnobaby Maya