Vincent Matthew's Birth Story
The day my son entered into this world through natural childbirth was the most exhilarating and amazing experience of my life! I am so thankful to Hypnobabies for helping me find the strength and confidence I had within myself to birth naturally and calmly.
On Saturday September 8th (Vince's Due Date) I was having a lot of crampy pressure waves that were regular for about three to four hours and then kind of dissipated to irregular Braxton Hicks. On Monday September 10 th I had another spout of regular pressure waves for about 4 hours but nothing too intense. At this point I was so full of anxiety for my little baby to arrive that I think I was hindering the process. On Wednesday I decided to do some major relaxation techniques and just rocked on my birthing ball to the sounds of an ocean waves CD I had purchased for the birth. Then on Thursday September 13 th, I had this feeling that I was going to meet my baby soon. I told my husband, "I hope you are ready because we are going to have this baby soon." He said "What do you mean soon? Do we have to leave for the hospital now?!" No, I told him that I just had a feeling that the baby was coming tonight.
We decided to go to Target so I could walk around (it's very hot here in Texas, even at night and walking outside was out of the question for me). We ate some Pizza Hut at the Target cafeteria and as I was eating I had a strong urge to go the bathroom (#2). I said "Matt, uh, I have to go!" So I left to go to the restroom and as I was walking there my first real pressure wave hit! It was very strong and I was shuffling to the restroom as I did not want everyone in the store to freak out if I was in labor. I came back to the table and told Matt we had to go home NOW! However, my body was choosing to empty itself of any waste material at this point so I couldn't even make it home. Thankfully, my sister lives in between my house and Target so we stopped at her house. Once we did finally make it home it was about 9:30pm and the pressure waves were coming more frequently. (about 10-15 mins apart) By 10:30 that night they were increasing in length and intensity so I decided to pack up and last minute things I needed for the hospital. I kept telling Matt that I wanted to stay home as long as possible but we both worried since this was our first baby that we wouldn't know when we should go. I told him we should try to sleep and get rest before we left. He fell right to sleep (of course!) and I laid in bed and listened to the Birthing Day Affirmations. I felt like I had all of the CD's memorized as I started listening to them at 32 wks and I was now at 40 wks 5 days. I was very diligent about listening to the CD's once a day (sometimes twice if I felt the need). I also started with the Birthing Day Affirmations at 38.5 wks.
I kept track of my pressure waves with the Contraction Master ( www.contractionmaster.com) and that helped so much. I really wanted to stay at home but was noticing that some of the pressure waves were as close at 2-3 minutes apart. I woke up Matt and told him how close they were. He insisted that I go to the hospital now; so he called them and told them how many I was having and the time intervals of each. They suggested I come on in. On the way to the hospital I listened to the Birthing Affirmations (again) and would periodically open my eyes and take in the scenery of the drive there. It was so amazing to just breathe and savor in the moment of the ride to the hospital, knowing I was going to meet my son face to face. We arrived around 2am and they put me in a room. I changed into the hospital gown while Matt spoke with the nurse about me using Hypnobabies and going all natural. Of course, they were shocked that I even wanted to try this, but were accommodating anyway. I was assigned a nurse who loved natural childbirths—although she hesitant at first to do the things I requested (no IV fluids and intermittent monitoring). At one point she even said "Have you ever considered a Birthing Center?'" Uh, yeah, but kinda late now honey! (I had gone to the hospital at 37 wks thinking that my water had broken so they already had a bunch of info in their computers about me not wanting an epidural and I specifically told them I didn't even want to meet the anesthesiologist!) The nurse called my doctor and my doctor approved all of my requests—I had given my doctor the Hypnobabies info paper that came with the CD's.
They hooked me up to the monitors and gave me a Hep-lock (I requested it). I was on the monitors for 10 mins at a time then they let me walk the halls. I put on the ocean waves cd and every time a pressure wave would occur, I would say to myself "deeper and deeper" or "open". I would also do deep breathing and lean against the bar on the wall. They checked me right when I came into the hospital and was at 3cm and didn't check me again until later that morning. They asked if I wanted my doctor to come in and break my water later on. I said okay. The pressure waves were becoming quite intense and I decided staying in the room on the birthing ball was most comfortable to me. I only used the finger drop once and just kind of assumed I was always in center the rest of the time. At 7am I was assigned a new nurse who was absolutely wonderful! She really helped us out. I remember really trying to be kind to her and my husband using 'please' and 'thank you' a lot when I needed things. I just wanted everything to be calm and peaceful. I decided I wanted to brush my teeth as I new I was progressing pretty far (still had not been checked since 3cm-which was great! I felt like as time passed I knew how far along I was anyway). I then put on lipstick and Matt was videotaping this part. It was pretty funny to look back on. One minute I am putting on lipstick, the next I am having a pressure wave! At 8:20am I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and I moved from the ball to the bed and my water broke gushing everywhere! It had a lot of blood that was really dark and I was worried that it was meconium so I had Matt get the nurse. This part threw me off since I started to worry about the well-being of the baby. Thankfully, it was just bloody show/mucous plug stuff. The nurse then checked me and I was at 7cm! Yeah! I was so proud of myself for making it this far while still being able to talk and move around between waves. I had asked the nurse for a basin to throw up in really early on b/c I thought I might need it for transformation. Sure enough, 8:50am, transformation hit with me throwing up! This whole process became somewhat of a blur. I tried listening to Hypnobabies and it wasn't working, tried the ocean waves-not working either. I remember holding onto Matt while I was practically hanging off the side of the bed with one leg way up in the air. Each wave was like a thunderous motion that moved throughout my entire body. I would not say that I experienced any p**n, just very intense pressure. It was like my body was doing the work without asking me first. Matt would whisper in my ear with each one "RELAX" and rub my hair or back. That was very helpful. The nurse would also say "Breathe Amy, just keep breathing. This part will go really fast okay." I was constantly saying "Peace" as I was doing deep moaning. This helped a lot! I also would look at Matt and say "I can do this. I know I can do this." He said "I know you can!" How wonderful to be able to say those things while birthing your child!
At about 9:10am I said "Ugh, Pushy!!" The nurse then checked me and sure enough I was complete and ready to push! (Total transformation time of only 20 minutes) I tried the exhale pushing technique and really could not master it and I was not able to get enough force between each push. I felt like I was pushing forever and kept asking where my doctor was. She came in right away and started helping me by doing perineum massage and periodically would hold one of my legs while Matt held the other while I pushed. Matt got me a cold wash cloth and placed it on my forehead. Unfortunately, the A/C in the room was not working properly and it became VERY hot in the room. My doctor was trying to fan me and Matt was giving me ice chips. The doctor suggested that I change positions for pushing. I was on my back at this point. I told her I'd like to try another position but the pressure waves kept on coming and I'd rather just stay where I was. I was getting excited as the nurse and the doctor where prepping things for the birth. My doctor was using a quiet voice the whole time and telling others to keep their voices down or leave the room. She had them open the LD&R door to circulate air in the room but had them close it again to keep it quiet in there. (She was just absolutely amazing! I am her first Hypnobabies patient) I finally figured out the whole breathing pushing thing and was able to push him down farther and farther. I kept my eyes closed the whole time. I could just hear people telling me to keep pushing and what a good job I was doing. The baby was stuck under the front of my pelvic outlet and having a hard time getting under that bone. When he started to crown the doctor said she was going to have to do an episiotomy and was I okay with that. I have to say that I did not feel any burning or anything like that when the baby started to crown. When I'd practice visualizing the birth I would imagine ice chips flowing out of me before the baby's head to numb the area. Maybe that helped? I finally pushed his head out after an hour and ten minutes of pushing. I still had my eyes closed and the doctor said "Open your eyes Amy, he's beautiful! Open your eyes!" I said "No! I can't—I am scared!" I heard some laughs from the Pediatric nurses and from Matt. I did the whole blow blow blow thing while she suctioned his nose and mouth then I said "I can't hold it anymore! I have to push again!!' And after that I pushed out his little body. She quickly clamped the cord and Matt cut it. We were both crying so hard! The doctor then put him on my stomach and I cleaned him off with a towel. I would just grab a hand and look at him so intently. This little being that was inside me for so long and we finally meet face to face. A moment I will always remember forever.
The nurses and the doctor were so impressed with me and the whole birth. They said I did an amazing job! I even said "I am so happy! I did it! I did it!" as the doctor was stitching me up. (this was more uncomfortable than parts of the birth!) I was thanking everyone in the room and telling them how grateful we were for them helping us have our perfect birth. They were amazed at how Vince's heart rated stayed normal and consistent the whole birth and how he had a great color. He was just beautiful—not puffy or swollen—just perfect! His Apgars were 9/9. I think it's funny how shocked the nurses were about the baby's health and my ability to give birth this way. Once we were in the post partum room I looked at Matt and said I would do this all over again and not change a thing! I can't wait until my next baby to have the same amazingly wonderful birth experience I just had. I attribute it to Hypnobabies! No pain for Mommy! No drugs for Baby! YEAH!
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