Despite trying to go to sleep around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, I was barely getting short naps in between the 10 minute apart contractions. To say the less, I was beyond exhausted and in so much pain. Nevertheless, I was determined not to get induced. I wanted this baby to come on his timing (and I hate needles).
Prior to going to bed for the night, multiple nurses encouraged me to take a muscle relaxer along with a shot a morphine in order to get a good night of sleep. I was stubborn and determined not to take anything. However, after a few hours of restlessness and pain, I agreed to taking the muscle relaxer around midnight and said if I hadn't slept in a hour, then I'd take small dose of morphine. When 1:00 a.m. hit and still no sleep, I took the dose of morphine all the while fighting the feeling of "defeat" because I had taken a med. Later, God did show me my pride through this process as well. I just wanted so badly to have as natural of a birth as possible... and we were still on that road to make that happen.
Despite the nurse's assurance that the meds would allow me to sleep through my contractions, I was still waking up through my contractions throughout the night. Whenever I'd feel a contraction coming on, I'd wake up, stand/kneel and sway until the contraction had subsided. This was a very, very long night. Praise God that this would be the last of the sleepless (laboring) nights.
Sunday
Around 7:00 a.m., I woke up and was determined to keep this labor progressing. Despite the lack of sleep for the past three nights, I had a renewed sense of energy.
A God-sent nurse, Diane, came in and checked me. I was now dilated to a 5. She looked at me and said, "We are going to have a birthday today!" This comment brought me so much hope, however a dash of doubt lingered in my mind in light of my slow progression over the past few days. But I was not going to let the last two days discouraged me this day. I was determined to deliver a baby today!
Mary, my wonderful midwife, arrived at 7:30 a.m.; between her and Diane, one of them was always at my side this entire day of active labor. From then until Charlie was delivered, contractions were consistently 3-4 minutes apart or less. Yes, this makes for a long (but wonderful) day.
Most of my morning hours were spent on the exercising ball beside the bed, standing in the warm shower, or nibbling on food and sipping on water in between contractions. My wonderful husband was by my side the entire day holding my hand, pressing on my back, and speaking words of encouragement through each contraction. Words are so very powerful...especially in times of pain! I am beyond thankful for his ongoing words of support and encouragement as well as the nurses and midwife's. It truly empowered me.
The afternoon hours finally rolled around. I had progressed to a 7 and contractions continued to increase in the amount of pain and pressure I was feeling. However, at one point I thought, "Labor isn't as difficult as people make it out to be." Little did I know how differently I would think in the upcoming hours.
Around 4 PM, I had progressed passed a 7. This was when Mary and Diane moved me into the next room with the birthing tub. I was so excited at this move- thinking Charlie would be delivered really soon! Perhaps, I was a little to wishful...
Within minutes after making my way down the hall, I was in the birthing tub. The warm water took a bit of the edge off the intense contractions. After 45 minutes of laboring in the tub, I moved back to my good friend... the exercise ball. After some time on there, Mary said it was time to start doing the most painful positions... that meant sitting on the toilet or laying on my back. Both dreaded positions for me. I remembered though back in our birthing classes, the instructor had mentioned the positions that are most painful are the positions that are helping the baby to progress. Makes senses logically but begrudgingly I agreed only under the condition I would do just three contractions on the toilet.
Jimmy sat in front of me and I squeezed his arms as a contractions came on. It took absolutely everything in me not to get up during that contraction. This was the point I thought I could not longer do it. I wanted to give up. I told Jimmy, "I can't do it. I can't do it. I give up!" I remember thinking, I'd do anything to have this baby out of me... even if it meant cutting it out or drugging me up. At this point, I had been dilated at a 9 for over an hour and a half... and I was just so very ready to be done. I had no energy left to continue. I just couldn't do it anymore.... so I thought.
This signaled to both the midwife and Jimmy that I was at the point of transition. While I was saying all of this to Jimmy, the midwife was giving him the thumbs up indicating that I was was transitioning out of active labor into the pushing stage.
Finally, I got the good news that I was at a 10. I could push! I could finally push! Oh was I so ready!! After being in labor for close to three days, I was ready to get this baby out of me! Such a relief to be able to finally push.
I moved back into the birthing tub to deliver. I was in so much pain but I was so determined. At each contraction, I pulled my knees up with the help of the midwife, nurse and Jimmy and pushed with every ounce of energy I had.
After just a few pushes, the baby's head began to appear. What a sign of hope! Jimmy was so excited he was in tears... this too was encouraging. I too was excited to welcome our little son into this world but was not expressing it in the same manner. :)
So close. Almost there. All the hard work about to pay off!
Another contraction. Another set of pushing. Another contraction. Another set of pushing. And in the middle of these contractions, the room was silent. The silence allowed me to focus. It was intense. There was no room for small talk. We were all business!
And finally, the time had come at 8:25 PM... 67 hours after contractions had started...45 minutes after I started pushing, Charles Michael Buehler was born!
Oh what a sweet relief! What an amazing feeling to have the baby outside of my womb and in my arms. A feeling of unbelief came over me...this was really our baby... this was our son.
What a beautiful gift to receive after an "indescribable" experience with an amazing team! So thankful.
A few things I took away from this labor, delivery and birth experience:
- Moving around is so helpful during contractions
- Reminding myself of the beauty of birth in the midst of the birthing process helped keep it in perspective
- Eating and drinking during labor is a must
- Labor is called "labor" for a reason--be okay with it taking longer than expected.
- Listening to worship music and praying often was key in keeping my spirit uplifted
- Words are so powerful... they either can be disabling or empowering!
- It's such a blessing to be a part of bringing a new life into this world!
I'd love to hear anything else that you mamas took away from your own beautiful birthing processes!
Also, if you'd like to read another birthing story, check out the links below. This is a one of the many birth stories I had read that was inspiring to me!
Part One: http://summerharms.blogspot.com/2012/06/due-date-birth-story.html
Part Two: http://summerharms.blogspot.com/2012/06/labor-days-birth-story.html
Part Three: http://summerharms.blogspot.com/2012/06/birth-story.html
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