Terran's Birth Story (Part 2)

...continued from Part 1...

We entered West Suburban Hospital through the emergency room. A nurse wheeled me to the triage room on the labor and delivery floor. My contractions were still coming every 4 to 5 minutes apart at this time and I had dilated to 5 cm.

The midwife met us there and we were admitted into the Alternative Birthing Center. The midwife began setting up a yoga ball and a bean bag for me to try out different positions during contractions. And Andy continued to help me manage each contraction. However, I was getting more and more exhausted with each contraction--they seem to be getting stronger but not closer together.

At this point, I took a warm shower and tried to use the yoga ball to help with the discomfort. But as I became more exhausted it became harder for me to relax my muscles and concentrate on our hypnosis techniques. My body started shaking which made all my muscles tense and tight and caused the contractions to be even more painful. And then I threw up. Throwing up is common in labor when a women transitions from active labor to the time to start pushing. However, I knew I wasn't in transition. I think the vomiting was a reaction to the exhaustion.

In the Alternative Birth Center Friday evening

When the midwife explained to us that the transition to pushing might not be until the next morning because of the slow rate of my progress, I knew my body wasn't going to be able to make it on its own. It was hard for me to admit, and I felt like I was disappointing Andy when I verbalized this. We had done so much to prepare, and I so much wanted a completely natural experience. However, I also knew my body. My body seems to shut down with the lack of sleep To think of having two nights (three if you count the night my water broke) with little to no sleep with the physical exhaustion of the contractions followed by pushing for hours to delivery the baby--I knew I couldn't do it without sleep.

The midwife explained I could get an epidural, which would allow me to sleep. I would also be given a small dose of Pitocin to augment the labor--to keep me progressing while I was getting the rest I needed. We decided that is what we would do. When the final decision was made I knew it was right for us. Andy and the midwife were very supportive. The midwife made the arrangements and we were moved out of the Alternative Birthing Center to a regular delivery room at the hospital.

In the delivery room, I was prepped for the epidural. I had to be put on an IV and had to have continuous monitoring of the baby and my contractions. They monitored me and the baby for about 40 minutes before the anesthesiologist came. My contractions got stronger and stronger and a lot of this time felt like a blur to me. My midwife believes I probably was able to get dilated up to about 7 cm on my own by this time.

The epidural was administered. I don't remember feeling it inserted or its effects. I just remember wanting to sleep and just letting myself fall sleep. Andy said there were other procedures done and that I responded to the nurses' questions and directions, but I don't remember it. The midwife monitored me and the baby throughout the night. Andy and I slept.

I woke up early the next morning barely able to move my legs or anything waist down, however, I could feel pressure or the sensation if I or someone touched this part of my body. Around 5:30am, the midwife came in and explained that I was fully dilated and we could start pushing in about ten minutes. She directed me when to push using a monitor that displayed my contraction waves.

The baby's movement down the birth canal was very slow. After awhile the midwife, said we would rest some and start again. Around 6:30am we started pushing again. I began to be able to feel the contractions and the urge to push--I also began to regain control of my lower body. I pushed for over five hours. It was one of the most physically intense things I have ever done.

There was a time towards the end that I didn't know if I could continue. I was very fatigued from the pushing and parts of my vagin became very swollen which also slowed down delivery. I began to feel scared that other interventions would be needed such as suction or even a C-section, however, I was determined to continue with a vaginal birth. At one point, I had severe pains in my right hip and groin area. The midwife suggested taking a break but I asked if we could keep pushing--it felt like the baby's head was pressing on a nerve causing the sharp pain. So I wanted to keep pushing to see if he would move. Those next several pushes were the hardest.

5:40am, Saturday morning, in between a contraction just before beginning the pushing stage

My strength came from the encouragement of the midwife, nurses, and Andy. I loved hearing Andy's excitement and amazement with each step. We persevered through and at 11:34am Terran was born. He was wiped down with a cloth as he was coming out but was immediately put on my chest. It was such an amazing moment.

As I held the baby, the midwife was prepping me to delivery the placenta. I didn't realize it would happen that fast. Andy took Terran as I delivered the placenta. Next I had some tears on the inside of my vagina due to the swelling that had to be stitched. After that Terran return to my chest for his first feeding. He latched on immediately. While I was elated to meet my baby, I wouldn't say the pain all melted away as I held him as some people have described. I was extremely sore and my uterus continued to painfully contract, but it didn't take away from the moment.

Afterwards, the midwife realized one of the reasons for my long labor was because the baby's head was in a military, asynclitic position (cock-eyed or turned to the side), which is a difficult positions to deliver vaginally. This was further complicated by my water breaking so early. Each birth is different, and first births are particularly unpredictable. Although Andy and I did not get the natural birth of our baby we had hoped for, we still had an amazing experience which allowed us to bond with one another and with our new baby.

Terran minutes after birth.