After arriving at the hospital and finding I had dilated 8 centimeters, I was sure I would be meeting my baby within a few hours. Instead, my labor had slowed as a result of having to lie down at the hospital strapped to monitors so the nurses could hang out at their station elsewhere in the building. To learn more about my experience, you can check out my previous posts: My Natural Childbirth Story Part 1 of 4 and My Natural Childbirth Story Part 2 of 4 — Active Labor.
Sometime after 7 p.m., the doctor came in and broke my water. I had no pain from the process. She said I could go ahead and start pushing, and then she left. I felt no urge to push, but my doula said it would help relieve some of the discomfort I was feeling.
At this point, I did take a little control of the situation.
I stood up in my bed, turned around, and started squatting and pushing. It was one of the birthing positions my doula had taught me. The motion and position made sense, and it felt so good to do. My doula slipped me some more food and drink, but I threw it up. Apparently this is also very common at this stage. It actually helps you push the baby out!
Unfortunately, as soon as the nurse came back in I sat back down. I knew they would have freaked out if they saw me standing up on the bed, and I was afraid of causing a fuss. I had said in my birth plan that I was to choose the position to deliver in, but this was yet another request that was completely ignored.
I wish I had had the courage and presence of mind to insist on doing the things that would have helped me during labor and delivery.
The doula took a sheet and gave one end to my husband and the other end to me. She instructed me to pull with every contraction to help push the baby out. I think my husband pulled on that thing harder than I did!
Finally, I had pushed the baby far enough that you could see the top of its head. I was so glad to see the progress because it felt as if I was getting nowhere with my pushing. The nurse decided it was time to get the doctor so she could get ready to catch the baby.
They got the bed prepped for delivery, and suddenly everyone was giving me directions on how to push the baby out. Honestly, none of it made sense to me at the time. Don’t push with your face, don’t push with your legs, look at the mirror on the ceiling to see your baby’s progress. I wished the doctor and nurses would go away so my doula could deliver the baby.
I felt like giving up; I was so tired from my early morning and full day of labor. My doula said it was a good sign, because just when you feel like giving up, that is when your baby is the closest.
Read my next post — My Natural Childbirth Story Part 4 of 4 — Delivery at Last!
Or read the book! My Natural Birth Story: The Birthing Book I Wish I’d Read
