Birth Story

I've tried to keep it suitable for the public, but this is birth we're talking about. If you are squeamish, you might want to skip this one. I have left some details out.

*Note- all times are approximate because I couldn't be bothered to take notes.

Wednesday, April 9: Doctor tells me I'm beginning to thin but no dilation.

Monday, April 14
5:15 pm: I'm sitting in the waiting room of my chiropractor's office when I feel my first ever real contraction. A couple more sporadic ones and I begin meditating to relax myself. I'm sure this isn't labor but I want to practice for the real thing.

6:30 pm: Ted is driving us home from our adjustments and I cannot talk to him during contractions. He begins timing them. They are averaging 5 minutes apart. I tell him not to worry, this isn't the real thing yet.

7 pm: We arrive home and I begin to finish the chicken curry I had going for dinner. My contractions hurt too much to stand at the stove and I realize that I don't even want to eat. I sit down, drink some Laborade, and start timing contractions- just so I have proof that this is not the real thing.

9:20 pm: Contractions are still coming regularly. I decide to take a bath to relax and get them to stop. In the bath, I listen to my relaxation cds and prepare myself for a night of restful sleep because, you know, this is not the real thing.

11 pm: I get out of the tub since contractions have slowed and the water is not so warm anymore. I put on pjs. I'm not tired yet, so I return to the recliner and resume contraction timing while Ted sleeps on the couch next to me. I leave him resting since this is not the real thing.

Tuesday, April 15
12:30 am: I can no longer deny that I am in labor. I gently wake Ted up and tell him "it's time." We gather our stuff, get into the the car and slowly head to the hospital.

1:30 am: We pull up to the hospital and I am taken to admissions. Ted parks, joins me, then we are escorted to Labor and Delivery. It's a very busy night. I get the last bed. A surgical tech hooks me up to a monitor and tells me that they will not admit me until a certain point so I am just there for monitoring. So, officially, this is still not the real thing.

4 am: Contractions are getting stronger, still about 3-5 minutes apart. I'm dilated to 2 cm. Doctor on call admits me. Ted calls our parents- reminds my mom to file taxes, then adds, "Oh, and Ash is in labor." I'm officially in labor! I'm also officially in pain and worn out from 11 hours of unmedicated labor. They give me Stadol so I can sleep. In a few seconds, I'm out like a light.

8 am: I wake from the Stadol haze in major pain. The drugs have worn off, but my contractions have only gotten stronger. I'm now 4 cm dilated. Going from no pain to strong contractions (again) is not fun. They offer me an epidural and I accept.

9 am: Anesthesiologist finally shows up to give me an epidural. I've now completed 12 hours of unmedicated labor with a 4 hour reprieve. The epidural kicks in fairly quickly and I am glad to have the pain gone but still have the awareness of contractions. Labor is kinda fun again. Doctor breaks my water since I am progressing so well.

My parents show up to the hospital and I am so happy to see them. They don't stay long- just wanted me to know they are there and rooting for us. Ted begins calling siblings.

11 am: I'm dilated to 7 cm now! I'm still feeling pretty good but tired. With all this progress, we're expecting baby before lunch is over. I decide to try to get a little nap in. Nurse gives me a bolus (like a booster of pain meds) to keep me comfortable.

1 pm: I wake from an on-again-off-again nap in pain. My epidural has worn off. The doctor okays another bolus. I'm still at 7 cm. They decide to try some Pitocin to get my contractions stronger so I can progress. I agree.

2 pm- 5:30 pm: My contractions don't get any stronger, but I can feel every bit of them because the epidural is only up to my thighs. Doc orders an internal monitor for my contractions, hoping to pick something up. It hurts. I beg the nurse to remove it.

Doc comes in to check me. Thinks I'm just feeling contractions until they move the monitor and I can point to the exact place they move it to. They remove it immediately and I feel a little better. Epidural is still not working above my legs.

My mom and sister are in the room with us- really helping me get through the pain.

Anesthesiologist is called in around 5. He's got to attend a c-section and then he will be in to pull back my catheter. By the time he arrives, only my feet are tingly. I still have not progressed and my cervix is now thicker than it had been.

Doc is ok with my slow labor but begins to worry when baby shows some distress. He leaves the decision up to me and says "We can wait, or you can have a section- either one makes sense at this point." Everyone leaves the room to let us discuss.

I turn to Ted and say "I don't know if I can keep doing this." He silently prays that we can have this baby as planned. At the same time, my mom and sister are in the hallway also praying. 2 hours away, my other sister is sitting down to dinner with her family. Her gratitude for the day (part of their evening grace) is "I'm grateful Charlie is on his way."

The doctor comes back. I tell them to start prepping me. The nurses buzz and calls are made for c-section drugs for my epidural. Now, we wait for the anesthesiologist to arrive. Pitocin is stopped.

6 pm: Still no drugs. I can feel and move my legs. Contractions are very strong and frequent. Everyone in the room is cheering me through each one. Doctor checks me one more time- I'm fully dilated. He looks up and says, "Next contraction, I want you to push" and tells me how. I'm in stirrups before the next contraction. Everyone is cheering for me. As I let down to relax for the next one, Ted whispers "You can do it. You're doing great."

I get almost no rest. The next contraction comes and I am ready for it. I push with all my might. The doctor gives me a local- I don't even notice.

Next contraction I give it my all. I'm not even thinking "I could be doing this for hours." I'm totally focused on that exact moment. I start to slip during one push and the nurse keeps me focused. I collapse after the last push and again Ted tells me "Good job. You can do this."

I feel so empowered that I want to keep pushing. Doc tells me that I don't have to wait for a contraction- just push whenever I'm ready. That next push was my son's head crowning. The relief of that push was amazing. One more push to deliver his body and I was done!

Charlie's first order of business was to pee on the doctor. Then he landed on my chest, was rubbed down, and latched on for his first meal in less than 30 minutes. I was refreshed and alert and so was my baby. No tears, just an amazing sense of awe.

My parents and sister came into the room once my legs were covered again. We celebrated this teeny-tiny boy.

I know it seems like I had a terrible time and that almost nothing went like I wanted, but it was all ok. I stayed flexible- as did my doctors- and so nothing was disappointing for me. We were lucky to have wonderful staff at the hospital. The delivery nurse, Suprena, even gave me a hug when it was all over. It was by far the hardest thing I've ever done, but with each passing hour the wonder of it grows and the bad stuff fades. Our little guy is the best prize I could ask for.