So, I had my last appointment on Monday 10/18 (EDD 10/22). I was 70% effaced, 0 station and 1 cm dilated at the time. I went to my prenatal water class that night even though I was pretty tired and a tiny bit crampy. Everyone told me good luck and that they figured they wouldn't see me. I just figured I would go on time and dismissed the comments. Little did I know the baby had other plans. My crampiness continued and I started to wonder if it was becoming the real thing. Turns out it was labor. I stayed in bed breathing through all my contractions until my husband woke up for work at 4:30 am. I told him we needed to pack the bag and he wasn't going to work. I went to the bathroom during that process and I found bloody show. Things were really progressing quickly (I thought) and I soon had to work through my contractions from my bathroom. The toilet was the only place I felt any relief of the pressure of the head. After talking to my midwife she wanted me to stay home a while longer and try to sleep some. I evidently sounded too chipper to be far along. I tried to stay home the 2 hours she suggested, but could not tough it out.
The car ride was the worst part for me. I threw my calm breathing out the window and really made some Hollywood kind of labor noises. I continued to make a scene when I was wheeled up to L&D. The man pushing me tried to tell me how to do Lamaze breathing. I was not amused. I met my midwife at 9 am and we found a room to check my progress. To her surprise (and mine too) I was a full 10 cm! That was all I needed to hear and I started using all my techniques again. We moved to the l& d room and started to prep for the big event.
I breathed the baby down to crowning. My midwife did not think it was possible to do so, but I proved her wrong. I did not have as much urge to push in the bed so I went into the bathroom again. I promised I would come back to the bed for delivery. Once I got to the toilet again I threw my promise out the window.
I ended up birthing the head on the toilet and had to walk to the bed to deliver the rest of the body. I guess I scared the bejeezers out of the midwife and she pulled the emergency cord for back up. In the end I was thrilled to have fulfilled my wish for no interventions or medication. I am so much braver and tougher than I thought I could be. It was all worth it when I got to hear my husband exclaim, "It is a GIRL!" Zoe Grace was born at 11:02 am on 10/20/2010 (two days early). She was 6 lb 12 oz and 20.5 inches. She is beautiful and we are so in love. She is a strong willed baby for sure, so she is testing my strength even after labor.
HypnoBirthing truly was amazing for me. I am so grateful for taking the class and learning I could do this without medication or intervention. I will recommend the class to anyone wanting a natural birth. Thanks again.
Welcome to the world Zoe Grace and congrats to Kira and her family!
