Dana's Story- 9 lbs., 6 oz.- Home
Monday, August 4, 2008 at 9:20PM 9 lbs., 6 oz.
20 inches
14.5 inch head
Home
Mother's height: 5' 10"
How was your pregnancy? LONG! My son was 13 days late. He was born on a Sunday night and I would have had to schedule my induction Monday morning if he hadn't arrived. I was uncomfortable only toward the end (last 3 weeks), though, and most of that was because he had dropped, and I walked around the last week and a half dilated to a 4 and starting to efface. He just didn't really want to leave yet.
How did you feel about your upcoming birth? I felt very positive about delivery, but the baby's possible size hadn't really been a factor for consideration. My midwives never suggested that it could be a problem. I was starting to be concerned with the lateness, since I REALLY didn't want to have to schedule an induction.
Description of your birth experience:
My son hit the door running. I woke at 1 am to head to the bathroom and had a massive contraction on the way back to bed. I knew the baby was coming right away! I lay there for about 10 minutes waiting for it to happen again and had just about convinced myself that I was imagining things when another hit and I woke my husband and told him I was in labor and to call my midwives. He asked if maybe we should time contractions first and I said sure lets get up... then had 3 more large contractions in the 20 foot walk from bed to kitchen. He realized I was serious and called the midwives. I think I went through transition about 5 minutes later and had a panic attack that the midwives wouldn't get there in time and I would deliver my baby on the dining room floor (which was where I had dropped as the contractions kept coming). One of my midwives arrived 10 minutes later and after examining me asked where I wanted to deliver, telling me I had better get there soon because I was progressing fast. My other midwife arrived about 20 minutes later and the two of them had just enough time to get me in the tub and get situated before my water broke. Since there was meconium in my water I wasn't able to have the underwater birth that I had hoped for, but my 9 lbs, 6 oz. son was born at 2:40 (just an hour and 40 minutes after my first contraction).
How did you feel after the birth (first month)? I felt fine! I actually felt good enough to overdo it a bit in the first week and then spent a couple of days taking it easy.
How did you feel six months after the birth? One year? Now? I felt great from about 8 weeks after his birth
What did you learn from this birth? That babies will come when they are ready and some take longer than others. My first was a week early and determined to come out! She was an active participant and pushed with her feet during labor ( much to my dismay ). I was told that second babies are likely to come earlier and was braced, and then hoping for it - meanwhile, my son decided he was quite happy to stay where he was for as long as he possibly could. I was very fortunate that my midwives and their backup physician were confident in my ability to deliver (and therefore made me confident) and weren't trying to hurry things along.
Any words of wisdom to impart? Find birthing assistants (whether they be midwives, doctors, doulas, partners, family members, or whatever combination of those) that are confident that birth is a natural process and that you can do it; that are supportive without being overly worried and can support YOU while you work at giving birth. The people around me empowered me and were confident from the start that I could do it - both times. They were great at banishing whatever worries ( and there are many, during certain parts of labor especially) and telling me that I was doing fine.
Don't feel obligated to have people there who will worry and expect to be reassured by you during the process of delivery. I told my mother that she couldn't be present for either of my births. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. The first time I had no way to predict the timetable, so it wasn't as big a deal. The second time she was already coming down to stay with us for Thanksgiving and I had expected to have delivered by the time she got here. I hadn't but I knew that she would visibly worry (she is very much a believer in modern medicine and hospitals, and was uncomfortable with my birthing choices from the start) and worry me during delivery when I should be focused and have supportive people with me. I made her stay at a hotel for the first few days she was here, until my son was born.
Your body was designed to give birth! I will never discount or disparage the advancement of medicine - it has saved many mothers' and babies' lives. I do however disparage their intervention levels, and their lack of faith in the human design. Natural bodily functions, including birth, do not need to be treated in the same manner as illnesses. UGH! I could stand on my soapbox all day it makes me that angry...
Bottom line, believe in yourself and your body's capabilities.