N's Story- 10 lbs., 10 oz.- Birth Center

10 lbs., 10 oz.

23 inches

Head circumference: 38 cm (at 5 days old)

Hospital Birth Center

Mother's height: 5' 10"

How was your pregnancy?

It was fine! I had no problems except the normal aches and pains and first trimester nausea. I felt pretty good being pregnant and enjoyed it for the most part. It was also one of the best body-image times of my life; I felt good about how I looked.

How did you feel about your upcoming birth?

I was excited and nervous, of course. I was sure I would deliver late, because everyone in my family goes late, and everyone has giant babies, and so was really anxious about not being able to deliver in the Birth Center, because after two weeks past your due date they make you go to Labor & Delivery. That was probably my biggest worry. I really really wanted to have a natural birth, and felt that would be more likely in the Birth Center. I also didn't want to have to deal with anyone wanting to induce labor. Luckily I went into labor naturally before that two week mark! (but not much before)

Description of your birth experience:

I was in labor for three days; it was exhausting - I didn't get much sleep during that time. We went to the Birth Center and were kept there for 12 (?) hours and then sent home to labor more... then back to the Birth Center a day(?) later. It was exhausting.  There was some drama right after he was born, because the cord broke with the placenta still inside. I think the midwife pulled on it to see if it would come out and it broke, which is a little annoying to me, becuause it probably would have come out on its own. Instead she tried to reach in and get it but failed, called in the attending doctor, and she managed to reach in and get it. This was VERY uncomfortable - painful! - I think it was the worst part of the whole thing. I also had a pretty bad tear that had to be repaired. In spite of this slightly rocky ending, I feel really good about L's birth. I got what I wanted - a natural, drug-free birth that was allowed to progess at its own pace, and I got to connect with him right after his birth.

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

I had a very rough first 5-6 weeks. I had a bit of PPD, and was also dealing with the fact that L had a spinal defect that required neurosurgery. They found it the day after he was born, but we didn't know what the surgery entailed, how bad it was, etc., until he got an MRI at three months. So it was hanging over our heads, which was pretty awful. I still felt good about the birth, however.

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

He had his surgery at 6 months, and everything came out fine, so I felt MUCH better then. I still felt good about the birth, but around L's first birthday I was thinking a lot about the birth, and there are several things about the care we received that bug me. I still feel positive about it, though.

What did you learn from this birth?

I learned what I was made of. It was incredibly empowering, and I know with certainty now that at the core, at the gritty center, I am a bad-ass.  I also learned that next time I want to have a home birth.

Any words of wisdom to impart?

I am a firm believer that the vast majority of the time, a woman will not grow a baby that she is unable to birth normally (vaginally.)  If this were not so, the species would have died off a long time ago. I would encourage women to take the opportunity for empowerment that childbirth offers (not to mention how much better for baby vaginal birth is.)