The Birth Story

For those of you who do not care for the gory details of childbirth, here is the short version:

I went to the doctor on Wednesday (Oct. 23rd). I was dilated 2 cm and 80% effaced. Megan was still riding low. I was having painless contractions every 8 minutes that night and into the next morning. So I decided to go into work since they weren't getting closer together. We had a field trip and by the end of the day, I knew my time at school was finished. So I did some last minute things for my long term sub and went home around 4:45. I started having painful contractions 7 minutes apart once I got home. By 10:30, the contractions were 3 minutes apart, so we headed to the hospital. I was dilated 8 cm. The nurses rushed around thinking I was going to deliver any second, but Megan was not born until 4:12 the next morning.

Okay, now for the longer version. . . .

Just a quick background - Justin and I prepared for this birth by taking Bradley method classes. This method encourages no medication/intervention because our body is already set up to give birth. So we talked to our doctor and he was on board with us. We made a birth plan that he signed and sent to the hospital so that when it came time to deliver, everyone would be on the same page. Also, my doctor assured me that if he was in town, he would be at my birth. My name was on a list of patients he should be called about when they got to the hospital. So when we got to the hospital, we assumed Dr. Miller had been contacted and he was en route to us. However, the nurses waited to call the doctor (not realizing we were on Dr. Miller's list), and they said he would not be able to make it because Megan would be delivered before he arrived. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor and put an IV in. I had requested that I just have an IV port (agreed upon by my doctor), but the nurse said the doctor on call would not allow and she did not think even Dr. Miller would allow that. I said I have a birth plan signed by Dr. Miller, but she said it did not matter. I was getting the IV. So I cried. It was so defeating to have planned and prepared for 9 months and then told in no uncertain terms that it was not possible. We knew that the birth plan was flexible and it was just a place to start. However, after working all day and being in pain for many hours, I was very upset. Anyway, my labor seemed to slow down. I was not given the freedom to move around and when it was time to start pushing, the doctor had me lay down (not ideal). I didn't feel like I could ask to change anything. I really just wanted to be finished with the whole process. They broke my water and we waited for my cervix to finish opening. There was a lip on it that would not seem to move, but I felt the need to push. So I ended up pushing for 2 hours. It went fast and slow at the same time. By this time I started pushing, it was 2:00 in the morning and my energy was gone. The pain was awful. My hips hurt so badly even between contractions. I was not expecting that. My legs were up in stirrups and I think they were too high for awhile because I felt like I was hanging from them. Finally, I asked if they could be lowered and they did. It helped a little. It was silent in the room and I felt like the nurses and doctor were just staring at me. They were encouraging while I was pushing, but between felt awkward. Looking back, I really wonder why they did not offer anything but verbal support - especially after pushing for so long. Justin was amazing! He was sweet and encouraging and supported me the whole time. He physically supported my right side and I could tell after the birth because my left side was so sore for days! Again, what was the nurse doing? Finally, the doctor pulled my hand down and I touched my baby's head. I couldn't believe it. The end was near. He said two more contractions and she would be out. I was so ready, that she came out after one contraction. Justin said she kind of popped out. As a result, I tore pretty badly and have some healing to do. But, the minute she was out, I could have cared less. It felt so good to be relieved of the pain and it was amazing to look at my daughter on my stomach screaming her head off!! I hope this narrative does not sound too bitter. I have spent a lot of time processing through thinking about what else I could have done and running different scenarios in my head of how it could have been better. There is definitely fault on both sides of the table. The day before, my doctor said that if I could stop working, he would strongly recommend it. I made the right decision a day too late. I was sooooo tired by the time Megan was born. If I can avoid that the next time, I will. The hospital staff was not as cooperative as we had been led to believe they would be. However, our doctor was very upset that things did not go as we had planned. He apologized many times and his acknowledgment that things should have/could have gone differently really made us feel better. Now it is all behind us and we are enjoying our little girl. Every pain and tear and feeling of frustration was completely worth it to have her in our lives!!