Levi- Urban Nebraska Hospital with Certified Nurse-Midwife
{Story contributed by Levi's mom, Becky.}
When I look back at myself six years ago, I am unrecognizable. If asked about natural childbirth and breastfeeding, I would have said it was not for me. After all, I wouldn't have a tooth pulled without Novocain, would I? Why breastfeed when formula is just as good? Why would I have a midwife and doula when my someday baby would be born in a hospital with all the latest technology?
Then I got pregnant and had a blow to my way of thinking. Strike one: My infertility doctor simply said, “I don’t do birth. Why don’t you visit with our midwife, you might like her.” Strike two: My insurance company said, “We will only pay for a cesarean.” Strike three: Formula, among other things, is expensive!
My response was, “Well, I better learn a thing or two about this natural business because I’m not paying for more than I have to.” It was the first piece in a small, but ever-growing snowball, the first nudge on a brand new path.
We met with the midwife and decided that she was smart, capable, and personable. Immediately, she began educating me about birth. Not just the physical aspect of change, but also the emotional aspect. She encouraged me to take childbirth classes and hire a doula. She never pushed any topics, but simply gave me the facts: pros and cons, statistics, along with bits of experience and time-honored wisdom. I felt like I was home, right where I needed to be for my first baby. Our families were a bit confused and not too sure about us using a Midwife, but after a time, they saw that my care was exceptional and that we were so happy and peaceful.
I spent the remainder of my pregnancy learning about birth by reading and taking a class. We hired a doula and did everything they told us to do.
July 22nd started like most days. I was 24 weeks pregnant and loving my new little bump. In the course of an hour, I went from having a normal workday to being in extreme pain. I called my midwife and she ordered an ultrasound and check up right away. The ultra sound revealed water around my appendix so I was told to check in at the hospital right away.
That evening, after a very painful day, they took out my appendix and it took about 3 weeks to recover from the surgery. Not only did I have surgery pain, I also had little baby feet kicking my wounds. Just as I felt like my body was coming back into a state of normality, I began feeling very sick, tired, and I was having more pain. I had another ultrasound and this one revealed that my gallbladder was full of sludge and not working, as it should. Since I was in my 3rd trimester at this point and had just had surgery, the surgeon encouraged me to continue on with my rebellious gallbladder. I was on pain and nausea medication for the remainder of my pregnancy.
After so much drama, I expected my birth to be quite a circus. I was not too thrilled about the aspect of laboring with extra pain and nausea. I wasn’t eating well and fatigue came easily to me.
November 11th, 2006. I spent the day wedding shopping with a friend of mine. While in one store, I had my first strong contraction. I squatted down to ride it out and kept going. I only had a few more like it that day, so it didn’t mean much to me at the time. After all, my due date wasn’t for another 10 days or so.
That evening, the Huskers beat Texas A&M in a heart stopper game. I was seriously agitated while we were behind. I even had to leave the room, which wasn’t normal for me. After the game, I was wired so we went to my parent’s house and we all played Yatzee until 10:00pm. My husband and I headed home and around 10:30 I had another strong contraction. We went to bed, but my contractions kept coming this time. They were about 15-20 minutes apart. I was able to rest during the breaks, but they woke me up every time.
November 12th, 2006. Around 3:30 am I began to walk around the house, squatting during contractions and sitting or lying down during the rests. At 4:30am, when contractions were about 5-10 minutes apart, we called our doula and the midwife. The midwife wanted us to go get checked at the hospital, but we took our time and didn’t leave the house until about 5:15am.
We were checked into the hospital, around 6:00am. I was 6cm dilated and 90% effaced with a bulging bag of waters. Wow! I was shocked! I guess this isn’t just a practice run after all!
I walked the hall, but it was too much pressure for me, so I rocked in a rocking chair. Once I was allowed to be off of the monitors I got into the tub. I was in the tub from 7:30am until 9:00am. While in the tub I could feel each contraction shaking my insides. My doula, midwife and nurse rubbed my legs and encouraged me along the way. My midwife told me that my sounds were just perfect! My husband and I laughed and kissed and laughed some more. We couldn’t believe it was happening! Between contractions I would sing along to the music and try to let go of my muscles. During contractions I tried to envision that my body was blue and my uterus was red. The red in my mind was the color of work and blue was the color of calm and surrender. At one point I felt my uterus ratchet down like a little jackhammer.
I became hot and nauseated. I wanted to get out of the tub to cool off. At 9:00am I sat on the toilet and my husband supported me from the front. I leaned into him for comfort and smiled at him between contractions.
When I look back at myself six years ago, I am unrecognizable. If asked about natural childbirth and breastfeeding, I would have said it was not for me. After all, I wouldn't have a tooth pulled without Novocain, would I? Why breastfeed when formula is just as good? Why would I have a midwife and doula when my someday baby would be born in a hospital with all the latest technology?
Then I got pregnant and had a blow to my way of thinking. Strike one: My infertility doctor simply said, “I don’t do birth. Why don’t you visit with our midwife, you might like her.” Strike two: My insurance company said, “We will only pay for a cesarean.” Strike three: Formula, among other things, is expensive!
My response was, “Well, I better learn a thing or two about this natural business because I’m not paying for more than I have to.” It was the first piece in a small, but ever-growing snowball, the first nudge on a brand new path.
We met with the midwife and decided that she was smart, capable, and personable. Immediately, she began educating me about birth. Not just the physical aspect of change, but also the emotional aspect. She encouraged me to take childbirth classes and hire a doula. She never pushed any topics, but simply gave me the facts: pros and cons, statistics, along with bits of experience and time-honored wisdom. I felt like I was home, right where I needed to be for my first baby. Our families were a bit confused and not too sure about us using a Midwife, but after a time, they saw that my care was exceptional and that we were so happy and peaceful.
I spent the remainder of my pregnancy learning about birth by reading and taking a class. We hired a doula and did everything they told us to do.
July 22nd started like most days. I was 24 weeks pregnant and loving my new little bump. In the course of an hour, I went from having a normal workday to being in extreme pain. I called my midwife and she ordered an ultrasound and check up right away. The ultra sound revealed water around my appendix so I was told to check in at the hospital right away.
That evening, after a very painful day, they took out my appendix and it took about 3 weeks to recover from the surgery. Not only did I have surgery pain, I also had little baby feet kicking my wounds. Just as I felt like my body was coming back into a state of normality, I began feeling very sick, tired, and I was having more pain. I had another ultrasound and this one revealed that my gallbladder was full of sludge and not working, as it should. Since I was in my 3rd trimester at this point and had just had surgery, the surgeon encouraged me to continue on with my rebellious gallbladder. I was on pain and nausea medication for the remainder of my pregnancy.
After so much drama, I expected my birth to be quite a circus. I was not too thrilled about the aspect of laboring with extra pain and nausea. I wasn’t eating well and fatigue came easily to me.
November 11th, 2006. I spent the day wedding shopping with a friend of mine. While in one store, I had my first strong contraction. I squatted down to ride it out and kept going. I only had a few more like it that day, so it didn’t mean much to me at the time. After all, my due date wasn’t for another 10 days or so.
That evening, the Huskers beat Texas A&M in a heart stopper game. I was seriously agitated while we were behind. I even had to leave the room, which wasn’t normal for me. After the game, I was wired so we went to my parent’s house and we all played Yatzee until 10:00pm. My husband and I headed home and around 10:30 I had another strong contraction. We went to bed, but my contractions kept coming this time. They were about 15-20 minutes apart. I was able to rest during the breaks, but they woke me up every time.
November 12th, 2006. Around 3:30 am I began to walk around the house, squatting during contractions and sitting or lying down during the rests. At 4:30am, when contractions were about 5-10 minutes apart, we called our doula and the midwife. The midwife wanted us to go get checked at the hospital, but we took our time and didn’t leave the house until about 5:15am.
We were checked into the hospital, around 6:00am. I was 6cm dilated and 90% effaced with a bulging bag of waters. Wow! I was shocked! I guess this isn’t just a practice run after all!
I walked the hall, but it was too much pressure for me, so I rocked in a rocking chair. Once I was allowed to be off of the monitors I got into the tub. I was in the tub from 7:30am until 9:00am. While in the tub I could feel each contraction shaking my insides. My doula, midwife and nurse rubbed my legs and encouraged me along the way. My midwife told me that my sounds were just perfect! My husband and I laughed and kissed and laughed some more. We couldn’t believe it was happening! Between contractions I would sing along to the music and try to let go of my muscles. During contractions I tried to envision that my body was blue and my uterus was red. The red in my mind was the color of work and blue was the color of calm and surrender. At one point I felt my uterus ratchet down like a little jackhammer.
I became hot and nauseated. I wanted to get out of the tub to cool off. At 9:00am I sat on the toilet and my husband supported me from the front. I leaned into him for comfort and smiled at him between contractions.
Then the strangest thing happened. My contractions stopped coming so fast. I informed the ladies that I was going to lay down and take a little nap. They were so kind to me and tucked me in, even though they knew that baby would soon make an arrival. I had a bit of a rest, maybe only a few minutes, but it was wonderful.
Then I felt a whole new kind of contraction. I wanted to push, but I wasn’t sure. My midwife checked me and said that I was clear to push whenever I felt. The next time I felt like it (9:10am), I pushed. I asked for the mirror and I tried really hard to keep my eyes open so that I could see my little babe’s head. Right before my 4th push I said to myself, “This is enough of this. This baby is coming now. I will not push like this forever. Enough.”
After 20 minutes total, with 4 pushes, our babe was born. 9:32am, Sunday, November 12th. It’s a boy! We held him and sang to him. We just couldn’t believe that he was finally here and that he was a he! What a wonderful day!
To learn more about story submission, or to read more birth stories please click here.
Then I felt a whole new kind of contraction. I wanted to push, but I wasn’t sure. My midwife checked me and said that I was clear to push whenever I felt. The next time I felt like it (9:10am), I pushed. I asked for the mirror and I tried really hard to keep my eyes open so that I could see my little babe’s head. Right before my 4th push I said to myself, “This is enough of this. This baby is coming now. I will not push like this forever. Enough.”
After 20 minutes total, with 4 pushes, our babe was born. 9:32am, Sunday, November 12th. It’s a boy! We held him and sang to him. We just couldn’t believe that he was finally here and that he was a he! What a wonderful day!
To learn more about story submission, or to read more birth stories please click here.
