Background:
This was my second pregnancy and after my experience with my first labor I decided that the next time I do this I want the experience to be different. What do I mean by this? I was over due with Carter and induced and did not feel in control of my body or mind during my labor experience. Sure my labor was less than 6 hours with him but I didn't feel like I was really experiencing one of the most beautiful things life has to offer. I did a lot of reading and talked to other friends who have had babies and decided it was the drugs and my next birth I wold do whatever I could to feel in control of my mind and body. The answer was all natural birth no DRUGS. YIKES was I crazy??? Jordan was very supportive and we signed up for a 12 week Bradley Method Class. This was life changing!
Here is our story:
My journey throughout my pregnancy and birth of Stella was similar but yet so different from my experience with Carter. Pregnancy wise I felt the same way - morning sickness and major headaches in the first trimester, feeling great in second and even feeling great in the third trimester. I was really very lucky! The big difference this time was I did not swell at all and only gained 37 lbs (I gained 53 lbs with Carter). I really feel this was due to my high protein diet I followed from the Bradley Method!
June 23, 2012 was a date that had been on all of our minds the past 9 months - it was my due date! However, when I woke up on June 23, 2012 it felt like just another day.... I was still pregnant, still huge and had NO signs of labor what-so-ever. I called my mom and had a moment that I felt sorry for myself and after that moment I decided to carry on like it was just another day. Except I ignored my phone, email and Facebook as the endless messages from people about the status of Baby Gorsh was driving me insane! I was over due with Carter so why won't people just leave me alone!
My sister and her family came over for a visit, as well as my mom and grandma and Jordan's friend Neal was in town and wanted to check out our new house. We even were hanging pictures and other decors items to make the house more of our own till we paint. My mom offered to watch Carter for us that evening so we could go out for one last dinner before life got hectic. Of course we were excited to take her up on this offer as going out to eat with a 2 1/2 year old doesn't leave you with many choices.
I put Carter down for a nap and as much as I wanted to take a nap myself (I spent the entire day before cleaning my house top-to-bottom and over did it). I decided to finish packing my hospital bag and double check my 'to-do-list". Looking back I remember when I was laying in Carter's bed with him I was having braxton hicks but they didn't feel different and I didn't think anything of it since I had been having bh for weeks. I decided I would actually do my hair for dinner and started to get ready for our dinner date!
We took Carter to my parents house around 5 and we just snuck out with out saying good-bye (something I regretted later on - but at the time we thought we would be back in a couple hours to take him home). As we were driving into town and we were discussing where we were going to eat I got a "different" contraction at 5:18PM and I was like "ohh that's something different". I didn't want to jinx myself because I felt that I had done that several times in weeks prior. So we just continued on with date night and decided to go to the Filing Station.
As soon as we got to the Filling Station I went to the bathroom - only to discover that I lost my mp (mucus plug). A shock of excitement went through me... I did not lose my mp with Carter so maybe I was in the early stages of labor? But than I remembered that sometimes you can go into labor 1 week or more after you lose the mp so the excitement quickly left. When I got back to the table I shared the news with Jordan and he was like "do we need to leave?" My response "No - I'm hungry and have no other signs of labor". However, "different" contractions continued and Jordan and I decided we should start timing them. Thanks to technology we found a contraction timer app and started tracking. I still was hesitant to think I was in actual labor... yes - I had lost my mp and yes my contractions were different but I could talk through them, walk through, laugh through them and felt like I could do anything. The first thing they teach you in any birth class is - if you can talk through your contractions etc it is not active labor. Our meal came and I was starving so I think I ate every last bite. The contractions continued and were averaging to be about 5 minutes apart according to the handy app we found. I still felt normal but we decided that we should call my mom and let her know what was going on and that it was probably best if she kept Carter over night. We finished dinner and decided to head home.
On the way home the contractions started to last a little bit longer and I found myself having to stop and concentrate on my breathing and position when the contractions came. I looked at the clock and it was 6:30PM. At this point I told Jordan "I think we are in the early stages of labor". We were excited, scared and determined to stick to our labor plan. When we got home we decided to go on a walk and I changed into more comfortable clothes and we even took a couple of pictures in front of our house of my big belly! We started on our walk and the contractions continued, now about 4 minutes apart but more intense and I had to stop and concentrate when they started. We weren't even a half block away when all of a sudden I felt a huge gush and I said to Jordan "Oh my gosh my water just broke" and I even think I started crying. Jordan was like "this is great Steph and you are doing great"! It was 6:50PM. We thought it was best to go home and call the mid-wife since I was positive for Group B Strep and need antibiotics administrated during labor to prevent the baby from getting a infection.
When I was talking to Jenny (the midwife) I recognized the excitement "sign post" of labor. I told Jenny about the contractions and my water breaking but could still talk through them so just could not believe that I was in actual labor. Even though Jenny knew I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible she advised that I head to the hospital soon to make sure I was able to get the antibiotics. She really wanted me to get 2 doses (you receive 2 doses over an 8 hour period) but she really felt I wasn't going to make it 8 hours with my under 6 hour labor with Carter... no way I thought to myself. In excitement I called my mom and my sister to let them know what was going on and I of course had to fill them in on when this all started. We still all couldn't believe it was happening and how quick things were moving. The excitement sign post was in full effect! I continued to leak and had to change my pants several times and finished packing my bag. I told Jordan I wanted to go on a walk and even though he was hesitant we did. The contractions were stronger and still coming about every 4 minutes. We walked around the block and decided that we should probably head to the hospital to get the antibiotics.
I still was feeling great and because I was feeling so great I just couldn't believe I was in active labor. We checked into the hospital at 8:25PM and the nurses said Jenny was on her way. They started the first dose of antibiotic and we did all the admin stuff. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor (even though I didn't want this originally) we decided that it was ok because we wanted to make sure baby was doing ok. And of course baby was doing great. The nurse got the go ahead from Jenny to check me only to discover that I was 5 centimeters! We couldn't believe it - we were officially in active labor and I was feeling great and halfway. But I knew in the back of my mind the hardest part was ahead of me. The nurse told us that contractions were about every 4 minutes and pretty much the app info we had was right on! Once the first dose of antibiotics was complete I wanted to walk the halls of labor and delivery. Jenny arrived and said that was fine and also informed us that we were the ONLY people in labor in delivery... the place was a ghost town. It was 9:15PM and Jenny said "let's meet back in the room at 9:30PM". So we started walking. The contractions were steady about 3 minutes apart but more intense. I had to stop and found the most comfortable position was wrapping my arms around Jordan's neck and just letting my belly hang. I focused on my breathing and worked with my body. We continued this for the next 15 minutes and met Jenny and the two nurses - Brittney and Nacny back in the room. They wanted to hook me up to the monitor again and I agreed that was ok. I also remember I kept telling everyone I was so so hot. So I took the gown off and decided I was going to labor in my tank top. I also mentioned that I regretted ordering what I did and eating all that I did. Jenny said everything looked good so just continue doing what makes me comfortable. So we decided that we would continue walking.
The contractions were very intense now very painful but manageable. They were coming back to back and every 2 minutes. We made it 1 lap around l&d before I told Jordan I didn't want to walk anymore. We got back to the room and Jenny suggested that we start filling the birth tub since this was part of my plan. Contractions kept coming and I think it was obvious to everyone I was in second stage - I wasn't laughing anymore - I was very serious and in pain. Jenny told me to sit on the bed so she could check me again. I agreed. I was 7CM and it was 9:50. The tub was still filling so I was doing my best to find a comfortable position as the contractions were right on top of each other. I tried all fours, I tried the wall, I tried the birth ball, the most comfortable position I found was wrapping my arms around Jordan and letting my body hang. After the last contraction I told Jenny that the problem is I have to poop (I probably repeated this to the room 50 times). Jenny kept telling me "no you don't have to poop it's the baby". For whatever reason I did not believe her and kept telling her I had to go to the bathroom. I remember I was just kind of bouncing around the room in every different position and asked if the tub was ready (it was not) and Jenny said "Steph we aren't going to be able to use the tub". I was confused. She told me to sit down it was time to check me again. She said "it's time to have a baby! You are 10CM". It was 10PM and I was in shock no way I kept saying. That was a fast transition. Now it was time for second stage!
The nurses got everything ready and Jordan was at my left side and one of the nurses was at my right side. They told me to push when I was ready and to hold my legs up and out. This was NOT working for me. Are they crazy they need to hold my legs for and I told them that! I felt the urge to push and gave it all that I thought I had... I was doubting myself and remember telling Jordan that I couldn't do it and he needed to help me. He was great and looked at me and told me I was doing amazing and I can do it! I just need to concentrate on all that we practiced and got my mind back to focus. I felt the urge to push and pushed will all that I had and OMG this was painful. The head was right there!. Jenny kept telling me I was doing great and to give another push like that and baby will be here. I had a rest and Jordan kept me on focus and it was time to push. This time I truly gave everything that I had... even screaming, yelling, cussing you name it. I felt the head, shoulders and Baby was born! It was 10:10PM (only 10 minutes of pushing). I truly now know what the saying "ring of fire" means. I couldn't believe it baby was here and I stuck to my labor plan... NO drugs and I never even asked or considered taking them!
They handed the baby to me and there are no words to describe this moment. Jenny asked us "well what is it"???? I looked at Jordan and we opened the legs and said to the room "it's a GIRL" "Oh my God it's a girl". Jenny and the nurses cheered. We had a beautiful daughter! This is another one of those moments and one of life's true surprises that is hard for me to put into words. We enjoyed skin to skin contact and the first few moments of life with our daughter.
Stella Ann Gorsh was born on her due date 6/23/12 at 10:10PM, weighing 7lbs 9 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. She had a head full of dark hair (way more than her brother). She was beautiful and perfect!
I was on such a natural high after the birth and couldn't believe how fast things happened and how quick things changed. In less than 2 hours from checking into the hospital I gave birth and I remember and felt everything about it! I had a baby less than 3 1/2 hours after my water broke! The experience was amazing! I seriously don't think I could of written a better labor. Of course it was painful - actually the worst pain I have ever experienced but I really feel that my research and BM class helped guide me with working with my body and not against it and gave me the tools to deal and work with the pain. Contractions were very manageable this time around, it was the pushing that was the hard and most painful part for me (thank God it was only 10 minutes).
I felt physically and mentally great after birth (minus the stitches and pushing they had to do on my stomach). I got up and walked and showered on my own and even walked to the pp room. I was ready to sleep and spend time with my husband and new baby girl!
I couldn't of done my NATURAL DRUG FREE labor without my birth coach my husband Jordan. He was not very excited about taking a 12 week class that met every Sunday for 2 hours but he knew how important it was for me to have a better labor experience. He was amazing - he encouraged me when I didn't think I could do it, he learned and used techniques to help me through pregnancy and labor, he put up with me (not an easy task) and most importantly supported me. I couldn't of done this without him.
If we are blessed with any more children I will be a natural mama again. It really was a life changing experience and I think is part of the reason I felt good after birth and the weeks to follow. In combination with breastfeeding I can wear my pre-prego jeans at 5 weeks pp... don't get me wrong I still have a muffin top but I know that will go away in time.
I now know I can do anything I set my mind to! My next goal is a 1/2 marathon.... I'm giving myself 2 years to do it but I am excited about it!
We have so many great pictures and video but cannot find our video camera cord since we moved... these are from my phone!
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| Stella Ann - 10 Days |
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| ME at 6:30PM - 6/23 |
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| Me - In front of labor & delivery... Stella was born less than 2 hours later! |
What a beautiful story!! So VERY proud of you that you stuck to your plan and were able to do it au natural! You looked awesome 9 months fully pregnant :)
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