10 lbs., 12 oz.

22 inches

15 inch head circumference

Hospital – Water birth suite with a midwife 
 
Mother's height: 5' 9” 

 
How was your pregnancy?

Generally speaking my pregnancy was a piece of cake.  My body seemed to adjust well to the weight, hormonal, internal, etc. changes without complaint or concern.  By 38 weeks my blood pressure was starting to rise and my midwife didn't want to push it over the edge so I was put on modified bed rest for the remaining 4 weeks of my pregnancy (which was really just fine because I had already decided that I would take leave from my job prior to the birth and I love to nap anyway!).  I also began having trouble with my sciatic nerve in the last 1.5 months of the pregnancy but I went to see a chiropractor right away (and this was my first time ever to see a chiropractor).  I believe that the regular appointments that we maintained for the month prior to my son's birth helped to keep the pain from growing worse and helped prepare my body all the more for the birth experience. 

How did you feel about your upcoming birth?

Excited.  There were the few times that the reality that this baby had to come into this world literally through me was a bit overwhelming, but I felt very prepared for the birth.  I was really excited about having a water birth.  I believed in my ability to birth my child and I tried to take each day as it came rather than anticipate the possibilities. 
 
Description of your birth experience:  
My son arrived into the world at exactly 42 weeks.  Though I was working with a team of midwives, even they could not allow me to go past that mark in pregnancy.   I desperately did not want to be induced (and I was willing to fight for it).  My son had received two bio-physical profiles in his 41st week indicating that all was well (and also indicating that he was likely a 10+ pound baby and therefore I was eligible for an elective c-section).  On the Thursday before my son was born, the team discussed and decided they would allow me one extra day—they would induce on Monday rather than Sunday.   That day made all the difference.   

The first step in encouraging my baby into the world was the application of prostaglandin gels.  These gels help to kick a ready cervix into gear and thankfully they worked for me.  By evening I was experiencing regular contractions and after doing figure eights on the birthing ball I believed my water had broken (though it wasn't that much).  Long story short, after a night of on again and off again contractions we were told to head to the hospital by noon if we didn't feel the need to come in sooner.  We met our doula at the hospital.  Shortly after our arrival a sample was taken to determine whether or not my water had broken, and it hadn't, it was apparently a small tear in the amniotic sac that I experienced and that explained why labor had never kicked into high gear.  We made the decision to have my bag of water broken.  About 4 hours later my son was born after several hours of labor in the tub, on the toilet, and on my hands and knees, with 30 minutes of pushing, and completely natural.  He wasn't born in the water because his estimated size made it potentially more dangerous so after laboring in the tub, I moved to the toilet and before I knew it I was in the bed and ready to push.  I wouldn't have had it any other way.  The water was incredible for moving and floating through contractions and transition but the grounding of gravity outside the tub and the connection I felt with both my husband and our doula allowed the actual birth to be a beautiful shared experience.   

How did you feel after the birth (first month)?

Immediately after the birth I was very dehydrated and I actually passed out as they moved me from the water birth suite to our room.  This, of course, scared every one.  Thankfully time in bed with lots of rest and water helped me recover from this exhaustion by the time we left the hospital.  As the pregnancy and birth had gone so well, so did the recovery.  Everything seemed to flow naturally.  There were no concerns with latching and nursing.  Despite tearing I felt that my body healed quickly and fully.  My husband was able to be home with us for a week and we had meals provided by friends for several weeks.  I had the time to rest and bond with my baby. 

 
How did you feel six months after the birth? One year? Now?

I still feel really great.  Since about 4 months after my son was born I developed an ache in my right hip which is related both to birthing a child and carrying a large baby around on my hip a lot of the time.  Now that I am expecting our second child I am already having recurrence of my sciatic nerve pain and the sore hip continues but again I am trying to maintain my physical activity and I am seeing both a chiropractor and a physical therapist to work to prevent the problems from growing worse as my body grows and changes yet again.  I have realized that ignorance really is bliss and that heading into round two I carry more mental baggage having been through this once already.  I am working to really trust my body and to trust myself as I did so well the first time around. 
 

What did you learn from this birth?

You can do it!  I can do it!  I strongly believe that our bodies are made to deliver our babies, regardless of their size.  Certainly there are situations that call for medical intervention on all levels but to hand out elective c-sections because someone might have a 10+ pound baby is ridiculous.   

Any words of wisdom to impart?

There is no use anticipating something you don't know – when people heard that my son would likely be 10+ pounds they would gasp.  I didn't let it get to me.  I had never had a baby before, for all I knew an 8-pounder would feel exactly the same as a 10-pounder. 

Trust your body.  Trust your instincts. 

Hire a doula and seriously consider using a TENS unit to balance the intensity of contractions. 

Be sure of what you are hoping for in your birth experience but be flexible.  And have people around you that know your hopes too (write a birth plan). 

Don't be afraid to make noise as you need to during the labor process. 

Take a Bradley class. 

Read about and watch videos on natural birth and be inspired!