Lisa's Home Birth Story of Madelyn
Madelyn
is our 4th daughter. She was another home birth, born in my
bed, surrounded by
all of her older sisters and Daddy, of course, and my mother.
Madelyn
was 8 days late and born from a very unhealthy pregnancy. I
wasn't eating enough, wasn't eating very nutritious foods,
never got enough exercise and sleep, and up until 2 days
before she was born I had been working 50-70 hours a week as
a waitress.
Being "late"
drove me mentally
insane. I wanted her out. I woke up the day she
was born, wondering if today would be the day. When
contractions began (ever so slowly) I did everything I could
think of to sped them up.
I
wasn't
determined to see my beautiful baby. I was determined to end
this gigantic, uncomfortable pregnancy that should have
ended over a week ago.
Labor
was so very hard
and painful. I leaned into my husband's lap, tense and crying
for hours. The bath wasn't comfortable, standing wasn't
comfortable, sitting wasn't comfortable.
Transition seemed to last for 4 hours.
Finally,
contractions changed. They were coming every 5-10 minutes and I was
able
to rest a bit before moving from the bathroom to the bedroom and
calling in
all of the kids. I felt better, so much better and stronger.
I
didn't rest between contractions, I busied myself with the business of
covering
the bed with CHUX, explaining to my other kids about birth and making
sure
everyone else was ready.
When
everyone else was
ready, I sat on the bed and with the next contraction, I pushed
with all of my might. Nothing happened.
I
didn't push because I was feeling an instinct to push, I pushed because
everyone
was ready for the baby to be born (especially me).
As
each contraction came for the next hour, I pushed with all of my
strength. I strained every muscle in my legs and crotch
pushing for no reason.
Finally,
after over an
hour of fruitless pushing, my water broke- exploded everywhere,
and she slid out without the slightest bit of my effort.
All
that pointless pushing gave me the only hemorrhoids I have ever had in
my life. Recovery was the most painful thing, I
was bedridden with muscle pain everywhere.
Madelyn,
at this writing, is 4 and the absolute sweetest, slowest-moving child
ever.
She flits along, smelling the roses, enjoying each moment, and is never
in
a hurry for anything except food.
