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Wanted to post this here as it was a very positive experience for me that relied on a variety of inputs to make my plans for a med-free birth a reality.
This is a NCB story 99.9%.
First, let me say I came into pregnancy with EXTREME anxiety. However, once I knew the LO took, I knew I'd have to get him out at sosme point and that I'd want to be as alert and mobile up to, during and post birth.
For me that meant NCB as much as possible.
Throughout the pregnancy I swam, walked, practiced yoga, took hypnobirthing classes, explored my anxieties, massaged my perinium, hired a doula, chose the midwife group and so on.
I sought out as many positive NCB and close-to NCB stories as possible...though I heard plenty of ugly stories too.
Anywho, this is how my labor went...
EDD 1/19
Labor 'began' the evening of 1/20 with more regular contractions than I'd ever had, but they were little more than light mensturual-cramp like.
Night of 1/20-21 I could NOT sleep...baby moved oddly in my pelvis, squirming ALOT and the contractions at time were too strong to sleep through. Still totally tolerable.
Day 1/21...more contractions, but never cloer than 7mins apart and stayed constant in strength.
Night 1/21-22...continued contractions that were strong enough to keep me from sleeping more than a couple of hours...like strong mensturual cramps across pelvis... no back issues and only tightening of belly..no pain there.
Day 1/22...40.5week check...ZERO dialation, very soft cerivx that was still high...baby was doing great though (NST and U/S)...but my midwife said 'definitely the beginning of labor'
By day's end (approaching midnight) I called my doula over as my contractions were staying at about 4-5 mins apart and increasing in cramping pain...we went to the med center just after midnight...again ZERO dilation...I was exhausted. Midwife on call recommended a shot to stop the contractions and something to help me sleep since I'd only slept 5hrs out of 48hrs. She said that baby's head was down, but probably tilted. Stopping the contractions would give him a chance to get into the 'right' position. After this check the mucous plug finally started to release and continued to do so. I took the shots. Baby started squirming all over after the contractions stopped, so he got the message to move about. We went home and I slept straight for 3.5 hours...then the contractions started up again around 4am, but at 10-15min apart. I was able to sleep between them until 8am.
Day 1/23...when I finally got out of bed and started considering the contractions I realized they felt COMPLETELY different...nothing across the pelvis...just a sharper pain in my hips...a pulling pain that was helped by having counter-pressure applied. By noon, the contractions were averaging about a minute long and about 1.5-3 mins apart.
Returned to the med center and I was at 5cm with bulging water. I told the nurse NOT to accidentally break the bag. They checked me in just before 1pm.
I labored using breathing (hypnobirthing technique), counter pressure on my hips, and LOTS of moral support. The contractions stayed close together and increased in 'pain'. Pain is a relative term. There were times where I thought, "This must be the time when someone would breakdown and ask for drugs". I felt it, trust me, but it felt better to move through everything rather than hold still. I couldn't imagine lying on my side for 20-30mins to receive an epi during this time.
Around 5pm (4hrs after checkin) I started feeling some pressure sensations, my midwife checked my cervix...I was 9 3/4cm with a little lip on the left. This check coincided with my water finally breaking...I was glad it waited to the end. She had me labor on my left side for 20mins to get rid of the lip. This time was the most uncomfortable. at moments it felt like my hip would pop out of it's socket...that wasn't fun at all. The contractions themselves felt like a searing pain in the hip, but in between I felt completely normal.
Again, I was surrounded by people telling me how awesome I was doing and that I was progressing...so it felt like all wasn't for not.
I labored on my right for about 20 mins as well then the need to push started. This totally didn't hurt at all, btw, this need to push sensation.
They put me at an incline on my back and put up the squat bar. I pulled on a knotted sheet and pushed with my legs up on the bar.
Okay, at this point I was SOOOO surprised at how much the 'pain' had dissipated. The pushing was 'hard' but not hurtful. He was in the optimal position (face down, top of head leading),, so that helped. Then he started to crown.
The midwife ketp saying "Okay, with the next one he'll be here."
I looked at the clock. It was around 610pm.
Contractions came and went and he still crowned...until 639pm. In between pushing (it was hard catching my breath for the pushes, but I got it together) I'd lay back and think "This is the part I always thought would hurt, but they weren't lying...the pressure eliminates the pain..." I simply didn't feel any real pain at this point...or at least nothing compared to the earlier contractions.
Finally, he came out...his head circ_mference was 37cm (14in) so thank go he took his time. I got a 2nd degree tear, but I didn't feel any of it happening.
I was on my feet an hour later and felt exactly how I'd hoped: alert, mobile, HUNGRY (I'd thrown up the bowl of oatmeal I'd eaten for breakfast much earlier and only had water and ice chips afterward).
In all, NCB is totally doable with the right prep and, of course, baby with the right position..even if he has a huge head.
His weight was 8lb4oz and was 21in long.
So that's the tale...it's 5 days later and I'm feeling about 70% back to my old self.
All the best ladies!
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