Every mom has a war story…I mean birthing stories. And it is as individual as your kids. When you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you want to deliver your bundle of joy, it helps to hear other’s stories.
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Even after all my kids, I still read stories. They are helpful. Give ideas on questions to ask and other ways to give birth. Like you don’t need to give birth flat on your back, and it is actually a better experience if you are sitting up.
The way we give birth is a constantly changing field. So it is important to keep up with the latest news. What was accepted when I gave birth to my first son has changed by the time I had baby number 6.
Let me give the obligatory statement that I am not a doctor, nor is this intended to be medical advice. These are just my stories and my personal experiences to give you ideas of questions to ask and to give ideas. Remember, these are experiences personal to me. Your experience won’t be the same, but it helps to hear someone else’s birthing stories.
Resources for Your Birthing Stories
Here are a few resources that I found helpful for my different deliveries. Because I’ve had 6 kids, I had a lot of time to read and watch a lot of material. I like to be well-educated.
Posts for Pregnancy: Exhaustion and Nausea and Cravings…Oh My!; How to Combat Pregnancy Exhaustion; Favorite Pregnancy Exercises that You will Actually Do
Posts for After Birth: A Tale of 3 Feedings—Why I had to Triple Feed My Daughter; Essential Oils for Anxiety—Getting Through the 4th Trimester; Best Baby Gear Working from Home.
Websites and Apps: BabyCenter and What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Books: What to Expect When You’re Expecting; Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth; Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth; Betsy Bosom’s Baby Book; The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy
My Birthing Stories: The First Litter
Mom, now I want to share my stories with you. I hope you will gain some benefit from them. My stories include almost everything, except a c-section. Including almost delivering in the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City.
1. The first born: Epidural
You never know what to expect when it is the first one. It doesn’t matter how many books you read or videos you watch. Until you experience it, you have no idea. That’s how it was with our first one. I had no idea what to expect.
My blood pressure started going up in the final weeks, so I was on bed rest for the last two weeks. Honestly, it was kind of a relief. I was so tired and commuting by subway was not fun. Those subway stairs. We had to climb 3 flights out of our station, and they were long flights.
It was in the morning. My husband left for work, and I was making my breakfast. I stood up and my water broke. Yes, it felt like a scene from the movies. There was no warning. I didn’t have any contractions. My water just broke. And my husband was on the subway, riding into work, with no cell phone service. So I did the next best thing. I called my mom. But she was on the other side of the country, so she couldn’t do anything except talk to me.
By the time my husband finally came home. My contractions had started and it was time to head to the hospital. As I was laying on the floor, waiting for the contraction to pass, it was at this point that I decided that I was going to get an epidural.
Once we arrived at the hospital, and I finally got my epidural (I was 7cm by the time I got it). It felt amazing. I went from breaking out in a cold sweat to calm and almost pain free. Baby boy arrived without a hitch. Labor was about 8 hours from the time my water broke, until he made his grand entrance.
2. The second born: Induced and Epidural
His birth was very different from the first one. I was 5cm along without any contractions, so my doctor was concerned that I would deliver on the way to the hospital. So we decided to induce two days before his due date.
The doctor broke my water, the contractions started, then the Pitocin was ready, I got my epidural, and he was born 1 hour and 30 minutes after it all started.
3. The third baby: Natural Birth
This one entered the world with more of a bang. She decided that she was ready to arrive 2 weeks early. We already knew that I have very fast labors. My doctors always told me to come on the first contraction. Don’t wait. Come to the hospital as soon as they start.
So the first one came, and I waited to see if it was actually labor. The second one came 10 minutes later, and I told my husband I was having contractions. By the time we got into the car, 5 minutes later, I had another contraction. It was late Saturday afternoon, and we needed to drive from New Jersey to mid-town Manhattan. The plan was to drop the kids off with our friends on the way to the hospital. But once we started heading into the City, I knew that we wouldn’t have time to make a stop.
Yes, this was definitely a scene from a movie that all that books tell you never happens. Well, it happened to me. We are driving through the Lincoln Tunnel, and the only thing I am thinking about is that I won’t get my epidural. My husband is thinking, “Oh no! I am going to deliver this baby in the tunnel, and we are going to end up on the news.”
We make are way out of the tunnel and turn onto 42nd Street, and my water broke. Things were getting very scary now. When we reached the 9 blocks left mark, I started saying, “I don’t think we are going to make it.” But we did make it to the hospital. We pulled up in front, and my husband grabbed the first random person in scrubs. He got a wheelchair and took me upstairs. My husband had to park the van and stay with the boys. This random person is forever a part of our story, and I never saw his face.
Our random hero gets me up to triage, and I start yelling at everyone. I’ve been around enough to know that they don’t always take everyone seriously. But I needed them to take me very seriously. They wheel me into the room and start calling around to find my doctor. At this point I am done with the delays. The baby is coming whether my doctor gets there or not. The nurse starts yelling that she sees the head. My doctor rushes in, throws plastic down, and I deliver her in the wheelchair.
My labor was 1 hour and 15 minutes. The baby arrived 2-3 minutes after we got to the hospital. This was definitely better than any movie scene Hollywood could come up with. The remarkable thing about this delivery was I had no medical interventions. I did not get an IV or an epidural, and I delivered totally upright. You know what I discovered, the recovery process was so much better than the first two. The difference in the recovery was starkly different than recovery with the first two.
My Birthing Stories: The Second Litter
There were a few years between the first 3 and the next 3. My husband was traumatized by the third birth. But then we had baby number four.
4. The fourth baby: Induced, no Epidural
Since the third baby was so lightning fast, we didn’t want a repeat of almost being born in the car. So he was induced a week early. The Pitocin was started, but they waited to break my water. The doctor broke my water, asked if I wanted an epidural, called the anesthesiologist, and when he arrived 5 minutes later. I was ready to get ready to push. So we sent him away.
Baby boy arrived 30 minutes after my water was broken, delivered without an epidural, and everything they say about Pitocin labor being more painful is absolutely true. This was the most painful delivery I experienced. I am just glad it was over quickly.
5. The fifth baby: Induced and Epidural
His delivery was very similar to baby number 4. Except I asked for the epidural before the doctor broke my water. He arrived 30 minutes after my water was broken, and it was painless.
The hospital did hold me hostage for 48 hours, which I was not happy about. This led me to make some changes for the next baby.
6. The grand finale: Water Birth
Because of my last experience with the hospital, I didn’t want to deal with it again. So I decided to change things up and go with a birthing center. Now, remember that my husband was traumatized from baby 3, so he took some convincing (a lot of convincing actually) to agree to it. We could get there in 15 minutes, so we had plenty of time.
Birthing centers focus on natural deliveries. Typically, no drugs, no IVs, and just a natural approach. I delivered two babies without an epidural, so I knew that I could do it. I decided that I wanted to try a water birth. And it was amazing. I wish I discovered this earlier.
It was a Saturday morning, I was 4 days overdue and ready to have this baby. My water broke. Again, no contractions beforehand. We raced to the car. I called the midwife and said we were coming. I already warned them that I have very fast labors, and I would be coming at the first sign of delivery. We arrived before the nurse and midwife, but the nurse was just a minute or two behind us.
Baby girl arrived in the water. It was so nice to pick the position that was the most comfortable to deliver in. And then I got to go home 4 hours later. It is so much better to recover in your own bed than in a hospital bed.
From start to finish, my total labor was 40 minutes with her. It was the fastest labor the midwife ever attended.
Conclusion: What are Your Birthing Stories
There are a few things that I can look back in hindsight and think, “I wish I had done that a little differently.” Not that I can change it, but I can share with you what I’ve learned from my own experiences.
You are in control of your birthing experience. There are times when emergency interventions are necessary, and I am grateful for the tools doctors have. But you can be in control of your birthing experience. If you don’t want to deliver flat on your back, then say something. Speak up for yourself.
Also, I wouldn’t induce so early. I was done being pregnant and glad to be giving birth. But I think the extra time inside, even if it is just a few days, makes a big difference. Babies 4 and 5 both had speech issues that they needed help with. I am not saying this was a result of delivering a little early, I am just wondering if there is a correlation.
It’s ok to say no. It is important to educate yourself and to ask all the questions, so that you are in a position to refuse certain treatments if you want to. Again, this needs to be based in knowledge and talking it through with your doctor. These are just the lessons I would tell my younger self.
We all have a story to share. What are your birthing stories? What is one piece of advice you would give to an expectant mom?
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