This is Part 2 of our birth story. Please read Part 1 here! Tomorrow I will share Part 3 and tell you where I am now in my thoughts on natural childbirth!
Even though I was going to have to be induced, I did not want Pitocin. I knew it would make a natural birth unbearable with pain, and my plan was still to have a natural, water birth. I received another medication to induce my labor, and so it began.
I labored in the water. I labored in the bed. I labored on the birthing ball. And I labored some more.
It was hard. The hardest thing I’ve ever done. And each contraction pushed out a little more of my pride. I was helpless.
For over 24 hours I labored. But Baby Girl had a happy home in there, and she did not want to come out.
I got to 8 cm. dilated, but my contractions still varied from 2 minutes to 5 minutes apart. They were not coming close enough to make much progress.
At the end the moaning started. I was exhausted. I had not eaten since Friday or been asleep. I looked up into John’s eyes, and he was exhausted too.
I started to cry.
At one point I saw the midwife and the nurse look at each other. It was a look I had seen before from doctors. I’ve seen a lot of looks from doctors. Forty-three days with your husband in the hospital undergoing a heart transplant will do that.
I know what those looks mean.
I asked, “What’s wrong? I know something’s wrong.”
They wouldn’t tell me, but in my mind I knew we were heading for a c-section if Baby Girl didn’t come soon.
My midwife left the decision up to me, but she said it was best to try to get the contractions closer together. She told me how hard I had worked, and that in her best judgement it was time for me to rest.
I knew I could trust her, but I cried anyway.
Once again I looked up at John.
With an epidural you cannot birth a baby in the water for obvious reasons.
I had envisioned in my mind for months me delivering our baby girl into the water and the midwife sweeping her up and putting her on my chest.
But this was God’s plan, not mine. A plan He knew about with each sentence of my birth plan that I typed.
Early Sunday morning I received an epidural in order to receive more forceful medications to get my contractions closer together.
And then I slept. And John slept. And we watched a little football, too.
It was wonderful. Honestly. We were finally enjoying the moment. Savoring it.
Later that morning it was time to push.
I could feel my legs and even move them. I could feel the contractions. With each contraction I would say, “Here’s another one”, and John, myself, the midwife, and the nurse would get to work.
Finally, after 36 hours, Baby Girl made her debut.
And the midwife still swept her up and put her on my chest.
She didn’t cry at first. She didn’t seem alarmed at all. For nine months she was the most easy going baby. And now was no different. She just laid there and rested and looked at me. And looked at John.
I patted her bare bottom and kissed her wet head.
She was perfect.
I swallowed the slice of humble pie I just delivered.
Please join me tomorrow when I share Part 3 and explain my thoughts now on natural childbirth!
Have you ever experienced something that humbled you to your core? Share with us in the comments!
Delivering a Slice of Humble Pie {Our Birth Story Part 1}
Delivering a Slice of Humble Pie {Our Birth Story Part 3}
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