A Wonderful Birth Day!

Grace Aileen Weight joined us Tuesday, September 16, 2014. She was 9 lbs 5 oz and 21 1/4 inches.

Giving birth was really an incredible experience. I labored at home all night thinking I may be getting close to going into labor. My midwife told me the rule and to wait until my contractions were consistent. Especially being that I wanted a natural birth it was important that I was as far into labor as I could stand before going to the hospital.

 

I called the hospital twice before they said, "I think you should just come in." My big complaint being that I really felt like I needed to have a bowel movement but could not. The last hour before pulling into the hospital was nearly unbearable. And thinking I was only halfway through labor I wasn't sure I could do it without an epidural. While walking from the car to the hospital doors my water broke, that was a fun feeling. And once I got to the labor floor they were waiting for me. They quickly got me in a gown, on a bed, and checked my cervix. Turns out I was completely dialated and effaced; even if I wanted an epidural it was too late to have one. It was time to push the baby out. My midwife was not there yet, so then they told me not to push (easier said than done). She arrived quickly and we began the pushing process. Grace has a big head like her mama and daddy, so I pushed for nearly 2 hours. And it hurt. I had a great nurse who was very coach like and demanded of me what I needed to do to get baby out. "Erika. You pull up on your legs and push as hard as you can!!" She was awesome! And Brian and my midwife were calm and soothing. It could not have been more perfect.

 

We arrived at the hospital around 7:00 am and Grace was born at 9:20 am. I must say I much preferred labor and delivery over pregnancy. But you can't have one without the other.

 

 

Later I learned the reason my labor was so inconsistent was because in back labor you don't get that consistency. Back labor is painful, but I am glad to know that for the future. And the funny thing is, I was in a lot less pain once I began to push, it was just contraction, push, rest.
Another funny thing was sometimes when the shift would change the nurse I had would be explaining me to the next nurse and some would say, "She was the one that came in completely ready to push.." and the other would say, "oh.."
I would hear the staff talking about how I had a 9 lb 5 oz baby the first time with no drugs. They also thought it was impressive I could do it and not need a C-Section.
I had such a great experience at Madison Memorial. The staff was incredible and my baby is the most beautiful, amazing daughter in the world!!!