My birth story: humbled

(The beginning of labor) 

I'm probably going to make a lot of typos, it's 2:30 AM but here we go!

Through my birth story I learned birth can go multiple ways, I didn't even pack a hospital bag because I felt confident I would be able to birth at home. You can't go into it thinking that everything will be "perfect". That was what I did and it was a very humbling experience. I learned a "perfect" labor and delivery is a heathy mom and baby. A lot of things went "wrong" but I have my beautiful baby girl sleeping next to me right now, 4 months later! Modern medicine truly is a wonderful and amazing thing and I think I used it the way it was intended to be used (when all else fails haha). I have a lot of gratitude for my hospital and my awesome midwife and student midwife! Thank you ladies :) let's hope I can birth at home next time!

When my labor started I didn't believe I was actually having contractions because it felt like very low period cramps. I thought I was having Braxton hicks contractions because they were not the way people had described them to me. For example, everyone kept telling me I will feel tightness and pain at the top of my abdomen and the pain will go downward (kind of like my body is squeezing the baby out slowly) but for me the pain just felt very low and sharp. My midwife checked me and I was only a few cm dilated so we set up the birth pool and I tried getting some sleep.

I didn't fall asleep at this time but the pain kept getting worse and worse which caused me to throw up a couple times. (One on my comforter upstairs, gross) My midwife suggested I start walking, so Matt and I would go about 15 feet and then I would have to hug him and basically hold onto him because the pain was so strong. We kept going so the baby would move down and I could dilate more and more. I felt absolutely horrible and nauseous from the pain....I threw up on my neighbors garage door a bit but most of it made it on their driveway! Opps! Matt was such a blessing, he held my hand and walked with me the whole way! I then got to go into the birth pool and oh my goodness it was like heaven! I still was in a lot of pain but not nearly as bad as before, the warm water was so soothing and the cushioned bottom felt amazing! The rushing contractions kept coming sporadically and Matt would massage my hips and hold me, which did make me feel better. If I was having a contraction and Matt wasn't there to support me (it only happened a few times, like when he was getting water) I felt lost and out of control. I kept trying to focus when a contraction would come, it made things easier and less scary too. 

Time was going by so fast and at the same time felt very still and never ending, it was the strangest thing I have ever experienced. In between contractions it was very peaceful, beautiful actually. I will never forget that feeling, I could fall asleep instantly after a contraction. My midwife and husband told me later it was a little humorous to watch. My midwife checked me periodically and I started to stall at 8cm but she didn't make it seem like a big deal so I didn't let it get to me. She had me climb stairs, change positions, sit on the toilet (that was my least favorite!!) and after almost a whole day of active labor I was at 8cm STILL. My water broke when I was climbing the stairs, it wasn't like I expected...in fact I thought maybe I was crazy thinking it broke. After 7 hours of being stalled at 8cm she checked me again and my cervix was swollen on one side and so I had to lie on the couch with my bottom elevated to take pressure off it. Both sides had swollen and I was still at 8cm, after some time we noticed I was leaking meconium (it means the baby passed poo while in the womb). My midwife watched me for awhile and after being stuck in transition at 8cm for 10 hours and active labor for 21 hours at home she made the decision to transfer me to the hospital down the street. Matt started crying because he was scared and he was worried too since we don't have insurance and he knew it was going to be a lot of money and potentially dangerous.

The hospital was a 20 hour battle not to have a C-Section. They really do pressure you! For me it literally started the moment I met the doctor. He told me basically I was going to have a C-section, my chances of having one was over 80%. My husband was truly my hero during this, he was able to help me avoid an unneeded surgery by questioning their procedures, which seem to be 1. Start women on pitocin 2. It makes the babys heart rate go up 3. C-section needed. Instead I got an epidural to ease pain to help me relax so my cervix would soften and I would dialate more (it did end up softening my cervix some but not enough), and after hours of that not doing much asking them to limit my pitocin and add more slowly over time so I could dialate without over-doing it and harming the baby. 

That's when things got very stressful, they told me if I didn't dialate more in 1 hour they were doing a C-section. They gave me another pain med (I forgot the name) because I was in tremendous pain at this point...I was pushing my head into the plastic railings and crying. I then was able to sleep and woke up an hour later, just in time for then to check me. I was ready to push!!!!!! I pushed 1 hour and holy ring of fire....that's real haha! I made sounds I didn't know I could make....and faces too!! I didn't tear but man it sure did feel like I did. When they pulled the baby out it was a huge relief to know everything ok was.. I found out I had a gorgeous girl (yay!!!) with a head full of hair to my surprise! We named her Paisley Olivia Powell (POP).That was on September 11th, 2013 at 3:08AM! She was 7lbs 2oz and 19.5 inches long. I feel so blessed and happy, she truly brings our little nest so much joy! She is worth every bit of pain, fear and extra debt ;) 

Matt finally getting rest, he stayed up through my whole 42 hour delivery!

My midwife and Paisley :)