Tiffany's Story-- 10 Pounds-- Home
Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 11:00PM 10 lbs.
Home (“I GAVE BIRTH in a birthpool set up on my kitchen floor”)
Just wanted to share the story of my first birth…
My mother had 2 cesareans. I secretly vowed I would NEVER want to have one. My mom was 1 day over her “due date” when the doctor sat her in a chair and took and x-ray of her pelvis. She got a call the next morning saying her c-section was scheduled for the next day; she was simply to small to give birth vaginally. Not knowing any better she went in for her C and had the most wonderful baby girl ever (me!), although she had to wait 12 hours to hold her. She also came home with a classical incision that was stapled together…and many questions. She then began to educated herself and read several books on cesarean and realized the unnecessary surgery she had endured. When she asked her doctor, his reply was, “Well, it’s a little late to be asking that now, isn’t it?”
I heard this story for years and never wanted to be treated in such a way.
When I was older (around 12 years old) I started my research into birth and midwifery. I was homeschooled and so I was able to speak to midwives and attend births (at home). I spent many years fascinated by birth. I loved it. I wanted to become a midwife.
I married my Hubbalicious right out of high school and we went away to college together. 3 months later we were expecting our first baby! I was STOKED. However, the “how do you feel about homebirth” question on the Husband-to-be questionnaire was kinda skipped over…and I found that my hubby was far too scared to agree to homebirth. So hesitatingly, off to the doctor I went. At my 8 week visit the OB informed me that I was “to small” to delivery any baby over 7 lbs…and since I myself was an 8 lb baby the chances were slim that I could do it. I REFUSED this comment and told the OB I wanted a natural birth with not even an epidural. He laughed and said that “all moms say that but eventually they all get epidural.” Well, may be so, but not me. I then proceeded to inform him that I also would not consent to an episiotomy, which was the information that sent him over the edge. He literally YELLED at me and asked me how many degrees I had and how many babies I had delivered….oh, and that my baby might DIE because I didn’t want a little cut. After picking my chin up off the floor I had the gall to tell him that I had read many midwifery books and been at several homebirths where moms had given birth to 9 lb babies with not so much as a skid mark. Ummm, note to self: Bad thing to mention to an OBGYN who thinks he is God’s gift to laboring moms.
I am forever grateful to this pompous man. He allowed my husband to see how I would have been treated in labor; and my husband made the profound decision to interview midwives!
Looooong story short, I hired a fantastic midwife who laughed at my “I may be to small to give birth” comment and who trusted that my body was made to birth. At 42 weeks of pregnancy I labored for 44 hours with an OP baby. And I GAVE BIRTH in a birthpool set up on my kitchen floor. To my 10 lb baby boy. Yeah. 10 lbs. So much for me being to small. You can drive a truck through my pelvis you idiot OB!!! my midwife believed in me and that is what I needed to accomplish this lofty goal…and do it with dignity. Praise the Lord for making our bodies capable of giving birth!
I have since given birth to 4 more boys, one of whom was 10.8 lbs at birth. I really should march them all into that OBs office and tell the story to him, his staff and all in his waiting room!
Reader Comments (3)
Love your story!
A very inspiring story, thank you! I hate the condescending attitude that women only "think" they know what they want. "All moms say that, but eventually they get the epidural." Ha. I guess it never occurred to him that moms might be giving in because his attitude is making them crazy and they just want him to shut up already.
You really should march into his office and make the announcement.
Or...at least send him a letter.
Congratulations!
Susan Peterson