Here I go. After my little rant about my frustration with the reactions I was getting about my decision to go natural I'm sure you're all wondering if I did it. And the answer is:
YES. Was it easy? Not at all. Was it worth it? Yes, it was. Will I do it again? Most likely.
Now for the story.
I started having contractions at about 11pm on my due date, Sept 6th. By 4 the next morning, they were 10 minutes apart. I had a scheduled appointment that morning so we went to that to see what was up. I was about 4 1/2 centimeters and 90% effaced. The midwife was confident that I would be having the baby that evening.
We went home to keep waiting. By about 1pm the contractions were 5 minutes apart and fairly hard. They had been that way for about an hour so we decided to head to the hospital. My mom and I speculated that I had made good enough progress since the appointment. When we got to the hospital, we discovered that I was still at 4 1/2 cm. The nurse talked to the midwife and she wanted to just send me home but we figured we would just be back in a couple hours so we didn't want to do that. They had me walk around for an hour to get the contractions going to see if I would start making progress. I got to 5 centimeters so we had the midwife come in to break my water.
After she broke my water, contractions got stronger and closer together. I was able to handle it for a few hours and then it became more than I could handle. I really wanted to ask for an epidural but I was about 8 or 9 cm so it was too late. My only option was to hang in there.
I started pushing at about 11pm. I wasn't making much progress just laying in bed so they had me up and about trying different positions. If it weren't for the fact that my body just automatically did the work, I don't think I could have done it. I was so exhausted I was at the point of delusion. Finally, we found that squatting really worked while I was pushing but at that point I had been pushing for about an hour and a half and was convinced that I couldn't go any longer so I asked to have him vacuumed out (a decision that will probably always haunt me but, as I will discuss in a minute, might have been the best decision).
Once I had been pushing for 2 hours and his head was low enough, the midwife called the doctor in. Just as he was getting everything set up, the nurse said the baby's heart rate had dropped during one of my contractions (his heart rate had been doing great up until then). Then during the extraction, we found out why I had pushed for 2 hours and the baby had a hard time progressing. He was transverse (sideways). Baby's are supposed to be facing down.
After a few more big pushes, Jarek finally arrived! They laid him on my stomach right away to check him out and do the various procedures they needed to. He was only there for a minute before one of the nurses noticed he was very blue and whisked him away to put him on oxygen. Once they got a bunch of gunk out of his airway and got him weighed and everything else, they brought him back over to me for some skin on skin time to warm him up. The minute he was laid on my chest and I started talking to him he stopped crying and just looked around for a long time. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. One that I will never forget.
Looking back now, I am very grateful for the birthing experience that I had. If I had had an epidural, I wouldn't have been able to up and moving while I was pushing. Because he was sideways, I most likely wouldn't have been able to push him out laying in bed. That means I probably wouldn't have been able to have a vaginal birth. And if I hadn't asked for help with the vacuum when I did? With the way Jarek's heart rate had dropped, he probably would've been put into a dangerous situation before something was done about it. I know that is true but I think I will always feel a little guilty about that decision.
Despite that, I am very grateful for Jarek's safe delivery. These last 3 weeks have been the best 3 weeks of my life. I love my little guy so much. I feel so blessed to have a wonderful husband and such a good baby. They make my life so much richer. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for both of them.
And now a few pictures:
Chad and I getting settled in the labor and delivery room right before the midwife broke my water. Chad was so amazing through the whole thing! I wouldn't have been able to do it without him! He stayed calm (well, on the outside) and was so encouraging the whole time. My mom kept trying to get him to eat but he wouldn't leave my side. The midwife kept going on about what an awesome team we were. My mom kept bragging about him to everyone she talked to. I am so blessed to have in by my side for the rest of eternity!
Jarek right after he was born. Notice the swelling from the vacuum. He had a nice bruise for a couple days. I feel so bad I put him through that. You might be able to also notice how blue he was.
Jarek on oxygen. I'm so glad it was just gunk blocking his airway. Luckily, it wasn't something worse.
All cleaned up. He's such a handsome little guy!
It was a very hard delivery but I think I would like to go natural again. The midwife said he really paved the way for any more children we have. She was very confident that I would only have to push a few times with the next one. I sure hope so!!!!
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