There's a Baby in the House! My Natural Birth Story

There's a baby in the house!

What a transition. We were a threesome family for so long, that this little one has really added such a new dimension to our lives. I am in such a state of bliss, I can't even express! I knew adding another life to our family was what was meant for our lives, but I never could have imagined how complete it would make me, neh, us feel. For a while we were content having an only child. Now we find ourself spouting that old cliche, "I can't imagine life without her in it now."

She did not want to face the world, however. Her due date came and went and so did my ankles, my sleep, and my patience. I was very determined to have this baby naturally with zero interventions. However with my last sonogram, she was weighing in at 9 lbs already, so I knew if she didn't begin to make known her intentions to come into the world, I would have to make it known for her. I did not want to be induced. I read (too much knowledge is a bad thing sometimes) that statistically, women who are induced have a much higher chance of getting an epidural and even a c-section. Bummer! But, the day came that I knew if I wasn't induced, she probably wouldn't fit through the birth canal without the doctor getting A LOT of stitching practice afterwards. So I decided it was time to induce.

My husband and I took a yoga workshop and The Bradly Method to help with natural birthing. So we had, in our arsenal -along with massage gadgets, a fully loaded ipod with awesome music, and coconut water- some tricks and tips to get through a natural birth together. The first couple of hours were free-flowing. We were peaceful and giggly with friendly comings and goings of our AWESOME nurse dotted in between semi-intense contractions. Chris kept me comfortable with the warming up the rice sack, massages, making silly jokes, handing me the ipod, gum, water, small snacks, raspberry leaf tea, and little magical kisses for both me and the belly. I walked around the room and we rocked together like we were doing a birthing waltz.

Then transition!

WOWZA! Here we go!

I was told I was 6 centimeters when the transition contractions hit. The nurse turned up the pitocin and it began to rock my world. I was told that I would dialate quickly if I turned on my side, so I did. This was the most pain I'd ever experienced. Chris was there, holding my hand, coaching me on. I remember groaning. "I can't!" "It's too much! I just can't" I told myself over and over I wouldn't say 'can't'! Of course I could, women have been through this since the beginning of time - I CAN! But boy, it sure felt like I couldn't! My husband, bless him, was there. He kept reminding me that I'm doing what is best for me and the baby and that I COULD! He remembered everything we learned, while I couldn't remember so much as my name. I remember one particular thing he told me in the middle of all that pain. He said, "You're doing it! You're almost there! It'll be over soon. Not every woman can do this and you are doing it!" It makes me cry now just typing that. He was a rock. I was a mess. It was totally normal and natural. He kissed me when I needed him to kiss me and he did not faulter. We have been through hell and back together in our relationship through the years and this only sealed our bond tighter.

There was no going back now!

It was time to push. The nurse told me not to push because I was only 8 centimeters and if I pushed I would swell up my cervix and that would make it hard to dialate fully. I was sitting up now. I felt so much pressure, but I breathed, err, groaned through them. I tried not to yell because I was told it is counterproductive to yell. It basically tells your body you are in danger which is the last thing you want your body to think! I sat up straight and told the nurse I need to push. She called the doctor to come right over. I kind of just said to myself, "I don't care what y'all WANT me to do...I'm freakin' pushing!" It was an urge that is indescribable. I just yelled, "I am going to push, I need to push!" It was at that moment, I felt no more pain. The pain just kind of...disappeared. I felt excited, almost like I could run up Mount Everest in 10 minutes! I loved it. All I could think was, 'I am actually doing this!' I heard the nurse (did I mention she was amazing?), yelling out items on my birth plan. "Keep the overhead lights off", "She wants us to not cut the cord right away", "Don't count while she's pushing", "She requested that the baby be put on her chest right away". I was pushing and groaning and I could feel her head, YES! FEEL her head. It was the best feeling in the world. I pushed her out in 4 total pushes. I looked over at Chris and with tears in his eyes told me, "She looks just like Leahness!" Then....

the doctor came in. The nurse had delivered my baby. She. Was. Awesome. The sweetest nurse I could have asked for. They respected all my crazy birth plan requests and I was so happy. I held her on my chest. This raw, perfect, chubby little gooey ball of baby. I couldn't stop smiling and giggling. Chris kept telling me, "You did it honey! She's perfect! You did it! You were amazing!" The nurses kept congratulating me and telling me how good I did. I told them I'd bake them all a cake for having to listen to me birthing!

Lorelei had joined our ranks. She did and still does look remarkably like her big sister. Her big sister who had wished her into existance. Her big sister who loves her more than she imagined she would and who takes such good care of her and who is one of the best helpers in the world!

I recovered so quickly. I still can't believe how good I felt after such a short time. We were released from the hospital the next day. I was walking to pick up Leahness from school a week later and a week after that I was joking that I wanted to have another baby! JOKING -you read that part, right?


That's my birth story for baby #2. Quite different from my first birth that felt dramatic and out of control. I felt like a science experiment with wires and tubes coming from every crevice of my body. Chris wasn't scared this time and he knew I would try to give up again. He knew he had to be brave for me and keep my sights clear. With my first birth experience, the result was exceptional, but the experience to get Leahness here was very odd and quite unnatural. I swore I wouldn't let science do that to me and my child again. We, as women, are stronger than the medical profession gives us credit for, we just have to remember that...and have a good man to keep reminding you over and over again!