Christy's Natural Birth story

5-7-02

The Natural Birth Story

I have two sons, both birthed naturally and am pregnant again.  My older son was born in a birth center with a midwife and doula, a nurse and several family members were present.  I wanted to have a homebirth, but could not find anyone that would come to my house. 

Overall though, I was very pleased with  the birth center and all their midwives.  They were always so warm, friendly and caring. The only thing I didn't like was the one time I saw their on staff OB a few days before labor. He painfully jabbed my belly and sat down across the room. Thank God he didn't do an internal exam! This was not the gentle palpating I was used to from the midwives.  I had been quite dilated for weeks before labor, yet he was a week late. A midwife had offered to break my water, but I believe in letting nature take its course.  

The first real contraction hit about 8:15 pm.  Within an hour, they were coming fast and hard.  We left for the birth center, about 20 minutes away.  I threw up many times including all over myself while hanging my head out the car window.  Not fun!  I got to the center before the midwife and vomited off their porch.  As soon as I could get inside, I ripped off my vomit clothes, and got in their very large bath tub.  

I had read it was very important to keep relaxed, so passed contractions by looking in the doula's eyes, and keeping relaxed, except for squeezing my husband's hand.  I had to poop and got on the toilet, a position I liked.  But then, the midwife suggested I try the bed. I had 3 contractions on my back with legs up, which I hated, but was too tired to tell anyone. 

Finally, I managed to, and they helped me up to my knees.  They told me I pushed for an hour.  His heart rate was getting low and they were worried, so my midwife said I needed an episiotomy to get him out fast.  As soon as she cut me, he shot out at 1 am. 

So for my first baby, labor took less than 5 hours.  I could hardly move my legs afterward, which I felt was do to the position I was put in and did not like.  It seemed to really fatigue my thigh muscles.  I was able to take a shower and felt fine by the next morning when we went home. 

It never even occurred to me to want pain meds.  I just felt this is what you had to go through to have a baby. I was so glad to have had a natural childbirth and knew I would choose to do so again.

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Page Last Modified by Catherine Beier, MS, CBE