This is a non-Hypnobabies birth story, so put up that Bubble of
Peace, Hypnobabies Mama's! :) I feel it important to share because it
shows where I started and the process I have gone through in changing my
beliefs, as well as food for thought on why we encourage Moms to avoid
unnecessary interventions.
I
grew up in a very medical family. (for which I am grateful for!) My
Mom actually teaches Labor & Delivery nursing at our local
University. My step-dad is an RN and so far all 5 of us siblings to
earn a college degree have become RN's. Medical procedures and anatomy
and physiology were our most frequented dinner conversations.
I grew up with beliefs such as the following:
As your "due date" approaches, you can know the day your baby will be born by pulling out your calendar and
Circling the day your favorite OBGYN is scheduled
Circling the day your favorite nurse is scheduled
Circling the day your favorite anesthesiologist is scheduled
AND the day that overlaps is the day your baby will be born.
My Mom literally had her epidural as soon as she was admitted to the hospital (at 1 cm) with the last few of her babies.
This
is just the way things were and all I had been exposed to at the time.
There was no questioning or sorting of beliefs at this point. The
start of my journey with natural birth reminds me of when I went to
college. I thought all Moms had PhD's because that was how things were.
Now I know that it was my upbringing, as it is for all of us, that had
given me the beliefs.
 |
| About 20 weeks...and graudation |
It's probably no surprise to
read that when my guess date of my first little one approached, I
schedule an elective induction for 39 weeks. There was no "reason"
other than I wanted my favorite OBGYN to attend my birth.
 |
| About 37 weeks |
At 38 weeks I was not dilated
or effaced. My Dr. stripped my membranes. We scheduled an office visit
at 39 weeks and a folly induction for that evening of the appointment
followed by a pitocin induction the next morning.
The
night before my appointment, I received a phone call around 9:30 pm from
one of the other OBGYN's in the practice. He was upset that he had
been "waiting for me for several hours" and asked where I was.
Confused, I asked where I was suppose to be. We were in a nearby city
and just getting on the road to head home. There had been a
mis-communication between the Dr. office and the hospital when it was
scheduled. I was told to go to the hospital Wednesday night AFTER my
office appointment, then have the pitocin started Thursday night. Here
it was Tuesday night and I was on schedule for Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning. As I understood what was happening, I asked the Dr.
if he still wanted me to come in (and told him I was not dilated last
week) or if I should keep my appointment with the office tomorrow.
Imaginably frustrated by this point, he told me that the schedule was
full for the rest of the week and if I wanted an induction, I had better
come in the morning. I told him I was almost back home and my bags
were all packed and I could be to the hospital in about 15 minutes. He
said, "don't bother" and hung up on me. Stunned, sick, stomach
churning, I tried to get some sleep that night. I was very uncertain
how the next day would go for me and my little one.
 |
| I was actually
returning home from THIS photo shoot when the Dr. called me. These
pictures were taken about 24 hours before she was in my arms! Kinda
fun! |
I went to the hospital early as
instructed. My favorite OBGYN was on that morning and after I changed
into the gown and got settled in the room, he came in. He brought a lot
of excitement that "this is the day," but I literally saw the
excitement turn into worry as he announced that my cervix was still
completely closed and hard. He seemed to perk up a bit as he said, "I
will go check the schedule to see if we can't get you in for a folly
induction tonight." As he left the room, I restrained myself from
repeating his partner's words of "don't bother."
He
returned with a grim look on his face. "Well, the schedule is full SO
we are going to break your water and start the pitocin now." He
instructed the nurse to hold my baby's head down while he broke my
water. At the time I didn't understand, but later, I pieced together
that my baby was up so high her head was not at all engaged against the
cervix. He was afraid of a prolapse cord, or the umbilical cord coming
out ahead of her head, because she was up so high. Before leaving the
room, he turned to my nurse and in a low voice said, "let her have her
epidural whenever she asks for it. It's going to be a long day and she
is going to need it."
The contractions began coming and
after a short time, our excitement and anticipation turned to fear and
overwhelm. We were planning on an epidural, but I knew the longer I
could labor without it, the better my body would be able to progress.
Fortunately, we had taken a childbirth course from the hospital. At
the time I had rolled my eyes at the relaxation techniques because of
planning for an epidural, but the counter-pressue saved my sanity
through the 12 hours of back labor. Finally at the point, I could not
endure the pain and still only at 3 cm, I received my epidural.
The
epidural did help to relax me and I tried to get some rest. I heard my
Mom & sister speaking in whispers back and forth. Assuming I was
asleep, they talked about how I needed to get past 6 cm or I would end
up needing a c-section. My pitocin had been upped to the max dose hours
ago.
Scared, discouraged, defeated I wondered what I
had done. My husband gave me a Priesthood blessing. Shortly after the
blessing, my nurse checked me and I had progressed to 6 cm. WHAHOO! I
was out of the c-section "zone."
About 20 min after she
had checked me, I began to feel pressure. When I hit the button to
release more epidural medication, it still didn't relieve it. A bit
annoyed, the nurse came and checked me and to my great delight and her
utter astonishment, I was 8 cm. About 20 minutes later, I told her I
was feeling more pressure. Again, rolling her eyes, she checked me and I
was completely dilated and ready to bring our baby into our arms.
I pushed for about an hour and after a total of about 17 hours on pitocin our beautiful baby girl came out
screaming.
Her arrival reminded me of a few years later when she came bounding
into her nursery class around 2 years of age saying "I'm here!" That is
definitely her personality!
To
my great heart-ache, we discovered that our little one was actually
closer to 37 weeks gestationally than the 39 weeks we had measured with
ultrasound. She was strong and a fighter. She was very small 6 lbs, 10
oz and was jaundice to the point she needed a billirubin blankie. I
remember feeling so sad that it felt like she was on a leash. I
couldn't carry her around the house in those first few days home because
she was hooked up to the blankie. She was also extremely colicky! It
seemed that no matter what I ate or drank, even WATER and she would
still be gassy and cry and cry. I would wake my husband up most nights
around 2 am because I had literally been rocking her for hours
downstairs and felt like a zombie or that I would go crazy. I can't
tell for certain if these things are related; however, I noticed a
difference in my babies that were closer to 40 weeks.
Despite
the challenges getting started, we have loved being her parent!. She
is such a vibrant soul and a wonderful little girl. We are glad she is
ours!
I
truly regret my choices! I have actually been able to go back and heal
her birth using Thetahealing. It was an emotional and healing
experience for both her and myself. After that session, I have seen her
less angry towards others and more willing to compromise. I didn't
understand until more recently how much pregnancy and birthing time
effects our little ones! (That will have to be saved for a post in and
of itself!) I forced her to come and she wasn't ready. That makes a
little sense why she has been so fiery and, at times, completely
obstinate! It must have been similar to how she felt in being forced to
come when she still needed more time!
As
we teach in Hypnobabies, you will have the birth you and your baby
needs. Although not what I would choose for myself now knowing what I
know, this was the birth I needed. I am grateful for the contrast and
the personal experience...although I will not be repeating the lessons
learned! :)
~ Katy
