“Inuit people of northern Canada… in large hospitals in Winnipeg… women deliver in a supine position… and also describe being tied up while giving birth” (Berger, 2009, p.117). This is how I felt when the nurses put the fetal monitor on me, making me immobile. “Several new birth centers have now been created [in the Inuit homeland] and nurse-midwives are bringing in traditional midwives as assistants during childbirth…” (Berger, 2009, p.117). I aimed to bring in traditional methods into the hospital, which were not easily accepted. I am recently seeing hospitals embrace more holistic birthing environments. My second birth reflected my determination to stick to my holistic, intuitive birthing nature on the hospital grounds. My first birthing experience had unexpected turns. Both experiences leaves a story that I enjoy sharing.
My mom described me like a cat in labor. Slinking around, quiet, and calm until I found my place (or time) to deliver. This description my be in response to my second labor where she was “slinking” with me much of the time, especially since during my first labor I came walking up her steps announcing “I need to have the baby now” and proceeded to walk back to her bed, leaving her stunned, with her purse in hand planning to meet us at the hospital.
Both of my births can have a lengthy description, I will try to summarize the two most important events in my life. I believe they both reveal nature driven acts.
During my first pregnancy my partner and I practiced the Bradley Method, a natural approach to childbirth. We planned on delivering in the hospital. I knew that giving birth was a totally human experience, therefore I would let my birth take its natural course and if a medical need arose we would have that support.
The morning my water broke I went back to bed to get some rest (not meaning to fall back to sleep) before my long haul ahead. We were abreast of the many facts including: 12 hours of labor, the stages of labor, and the birthing plan ahead for the hospital. About two or three hours later I woke up in my last stage of labor.
As my contractions became increasingly painful I knew that it was time to start our 50 min. drive to the hospital, ASAP. Yet, when I spoke it hurt, so I gathered things to take while my companion put on soft music and called our birth practitioner. She mentioned surely we had 12 minus 3 hours left, so take our time. A bit later I was sitting in the Jeep with some stuff on my lap, when my partner came to the window with a shocked look, “There you are, I couldn’t find you! Should we go now?” I nodded.
The next 1-2 hours happened quickly. As we drove my labor intensified and I no longer kept quiet. I remember ripping off my seat belt, practically arching along the roof of the Jeep, and trying to get out the word “Faster!” as many times as I could. We wouldn’t make it to the hospital in enough time so we stopped at my mom’s. 911 was called, in the meantime my mom and partner gathered a towel and bowl. In near shock and amusement, I swear I saw small smiles on their face, they stared at me. “I can see his head,” stated my mom, and I remember saying, “make sure you catch him”, as I moved in random positions on her bed.
The paramedics got there before my almost unexpected home birth and I delivered the moment the ambulance began to drive. We carried out our post birth at the hospital as intended.
My second birth reveals determination to bring traditional birthing into a hospital full of protocols. Arriving much sooner than I needed to, yet I had learned from my first birth, I immediately frustrated hospital staff. My doctor was busy and I did not mind because I was fine with my husband and family. I also did not seem to care that my nurses were rude either I had my own agenda. I walked or shuffled with 1-2 people at my elbows the entire labor period. The fetal monitor possibly stayed on for a few moments of time because it would get uncomfortable and I’d take it off and leave the room again to do another circle of the hospital. Nearing close to 10 hours after my contractions had started I was intensely fatigued. As I shuffled through the waiting room where my family sat, somewhat amused, I stated, “I’m going to go have the baby now”. With a chuckle they said, “Okay”.
My water still had not broken; he was making his way within the sac (forgot the term). As I kneeled by my hospital bed my husband was a bit frantic, “What can I do?” “I’m thirsty”, and off he went. My water broke and the pain hit. I struggled make my way onto the bed to push the nurse button. My husband returned just before my grumpy nurse. She proceeded to put the fetal monitor on me again and said, “You have time”. As she started to walk away apparently I was bearing down because she whipped around and said “Are you bearing down!?” After that I remember pain, things with wheels flying around the hospital room and her yelling, “Get the doctor, we have a runner!” It was stated that he was born in 5 minutes.
I am not yet sure on the importance of the birthing experience on development, I do have ideas and some facts. I more strongly believe that a mother’s intuition is best, and the nurture and nature that the baby receives as soon as he or she is with the caregiver after birth is more important.
Cassie,
ReplyDeleteMercysakes !!
As I read your post, I could imagine what my mother went through at my birth. First, my dad searched for the fire department's number ( prior to standard 911). When the EMT's arrived, a sheriff's deputy had stopped thus creating more comotion. He was on his simply on his way home from a shift. The EMT's had to asked for directions to the hospital. There was bumber to bumber traffic through the little town , thus slowing them down. When they got close to the hospital, they missed the correct street, so they drove around until is was located. Mom was beyond GRRRRR.... Hilliarous now , but I was almost born in the 'bus' as well. Since I was almost three weeks late when I came, it was in a HURRY.
I am glad for your sake and your baby that help was there when you needed it . I can speak from personal experience and pray I will not ever have to experience childbirth in that fashion! :)
The whole time I was reading your post I held a smile. It made me think back to my mother being nervous during my first birth, so nervous that my grandmother had to come in and my mother stepped out. I think it is always good to have close family members with you around that time to experiences such a joyous time.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading your post, I began to get scared because I don't have any children yet, and I don't like pain.I'm happy to hear that you made it through and have two children.
ReplyDeleteReading your post it sounds you had some experience and close call the first time. I can't imagine what you went through racing to the hospital and not knowing if you were going to make it there in time. I remember when my water broke with my twins and I was so scared. It broke like at 4am in the morning and by 7:30 that morning I was giving birth to them. Nurses don't know it all you are the one with the pain and know what is going on more than they do. Don't it get frustrated sometimes. I want to wish you the best. Also reading what N. Davis said about pain. The pain is rough but when that little bundle is placed in your arms you know that all that pain is worth every minute.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your responses :). I don't really remember being afraid, just engrossed with the act of here this baby comes. Of course in hind sight there is some, wow what a close call or hmmm a homebirth may have worked out just fine. More important though I believe the mental state of the mother as she prepares and engages in childbirth creates the scene, aside from major complications beyond ones control of course. I wish every pregnant mother peace, strength and endurance. I plan to be a child birth practitioner later in my years :).
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