I felt my first wave at around 2am, wasn't sure it was true
labor so I tried to go to sleep but couldn't. I decided to get up
and some things ready in case this was the real thing. During this
time I found my switch to be effective but the excitment and
uncertainty of what to do kept me from sleeping. My husband got up
around 6:30am to use the bathroom at which time I told him what was
up. He asked what I needed him to do and I said for him to sleep, I
would need him rested for later. By 7am I called my doula who
arrived around 8am. The waves were minor and 15min apart or so. At
this time Matt was up and showering and was going to run into work
to get things ready for him to be gone for a while (we own a
restaurant and he's one of the main chefs) and then shoot back to be
with me.
By 9:30 my water broke and the waves became very close and
intense, much more orgainized. At this point my switch was no longer
really effective and I was feeling a lot of discomfort and pain BUT
I was never scared or nervous and what I was feeling was tolerable.
We finally left for the doc's office (group practice with 3 midwives
and 4 md's)around 12:30. The ride in the car was brutal, we live 35
minutes from the hospital, but we made it! My midwife checked me at
the office(attached to the hospital)and I was 3cm. They checked me
into a birthing suite (the hospital has a women and childrens center)
and we were on our way!
I had to be on the monitor at first but after 30min or so
they let me off. I got into the tub for a little while but couldn't
get comfortable so I tried the ball, then the rocker, then standing
etc...the best position was on the edge of the bed leaning on my
husband's shoulders. For a little while I was lying on the bed
supported with a lot of pillows, just trying ot relax as much as
possible and began to shake and hyperventilate, so we thought I was
heading into transition BUT in hindsight it was exhaustion. I asked
to be checked and was 5-6cm, at this point it was 6pm, almost 16
hours into it all. My midwife suggested the tub again so I tried it
with great success. The trouble for me was the waves were 3 min
apart and lasting for over a minute so I was not getting any rest. I
beginning to get VERY exhausted. It was in the tub that I was able
to get some real relaxtion in between waves and it seemed to calm
them down a bit.
It was here that Matt sweetly suggested asking for some help
with the pain. He said he was very proud of me and that it was not
defeat to ask for help. I refused to get an epidural, besides I was
too far for one anyway. I later found out that my midwife took Matt
aside at one point (don't ask me when- lol)and suggested it simply
b/c, as she put it, she needed a Mom who could push. So at the right
time Matt did suggest and I am glad he did. I got out of the tub and
asked my m/w what me options were at this point, she checked me and
I was at 8cm, it was 9pm (19hours in labor). She said I could get
novacine on my cervix and would have relief for 1 hour, and could
get some much needed sleep. I said yes and was SNORING within 5
minutes.
By 10pm it had worn off and I could feel the need to push.
By 11:34pm she was here! I tore a little but healed quickly. It was
an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. I realized that
although I didn't have a pain free birth, I still had an intense,
almost natural, wonderful birth, and that is what is important. What
I did get out of the Hypnobabies course (home study)was the
empowerment and knowledge to have the birth that I wanted with
little or no drugs or interventions, and in that I was a success.
I'll practice more next time around, and maybe now that I have had
my first, the next won't be such a long journey and I can get
through it pain free! IF not, that's okay too.
Jess
Proud mommy to a 8lb 8oz baby girl!
(she is now 7 weeks and almost 12lbs)