Birth Story

Thanks to all of you sharing your stories with me, I went into giving birth with a super open mind. Of course I had my ideal plan, but I knew that having a healthy baby had to be my #1 priority. Yes we tried it all to get him to come out on his own: The Induction Salad, dates, chiropractor, acupuncture (which for sure helped and I think is a big reason it went so quick), walking, uphill walking, downhill walking, birthing ball, spicy food etc.

We went in to be induced at 41 weeks and 3 days at 10 pm Monday, June 24th. This was not something I wanted to do, but I felt it was the right time and best thing to do for little Benjamin. I pushed the original induction date two days because I just did not feel like he was ready. I am so glad I did. I was pretty emotional Sunday night and woke up Monday ready to do it! My body felt ready!

We started with just the Foley Bulb to get things going in hopes that my body would take it from there, but contractions slowed down after a little bit so we started Pitocin on level 2. I breathed through them in bed and quickly they upped it to 4 and then to 6.

Contractions got to a point where I could not stay in bed, so I moved to the birthing ball, then to standing and leaning on Greg, then to my knees on pillows leaning on the bed, then back to standing leaning on my mom and Greg while Greg applied intense pressure on my back. The little guy was partly sunny side (which is why I went to the chiropractor to encourage him to turn. He turned a little after that, but not quite all the way so I experienced back labor. If you have a sunny side baby make sure your partner or support person knows about counter pressure techniques! Life saver! I had no idea the true wave each contraction would have. It helped me breathe through them knowing there was an end and I just had to take one at a time. Not thinking about the last one or the next. Just being in that very moment.

My water still hadn’t broken and all of the sudden I felt something different. I thought it was his head, but instead my water was bulging between my legs. We waited for it to break and instead it came out and just hung there. This provided a good laugh for everyone, including the 10 residents they sent in the room to see it! Haha. Quickly after that I felt the urge to push and couldn’t stop it! That is the most insane feeling I have ever felt! I was sure he was going to come out my butt and my breathing completely changed. I physically could not do the short breathes anymore and had to push. They sent in the midwife before my doctor arrived and she put me on the bed to check me. (Bag of water still in tact and hanging.) As soon as I got on the bed, fighting it because I was sure I was going to squash his head, I felt another contraction and went to stand again. She grabbed my hand and said “That’s his head PUSH!”

My doctor made it in after about two pushes and little Benjamin arrived at 7:09 AM with his hand over his face. Like your pregnancy story, everyone’s birth story is different. Listen to your body, your care provider and DO YOU! Everyone has different pain tolerances, different bodies and the most important thing is your healthy little one. Be proud of your birth story! I can’t believe our body’s are capable of such an amazing miracle.