My goal with Jane's pregnancy was to keep Jane in as long as possible. I was not too concerned about how she was going to get out. Once we reached full term, I was finally ready to think about a birth plan. To be honest I hadn't thought much about a birth plan because I thought for sure she would be early too. Jane's due date was August 14, 2011. My doctor scheduled a c-section for August 15, 2011. I agreed to the scheduled c-section because my doctor informed me of the risk of a ruptured uterus when attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). As the due date approached I became more and more adamant about having Jane as naturally as possible. Attending a birthing class refresher course for parents really created this drive for a VBAC. Of the ten women in the class, not one had a natural birth with no intervention. This struck me as odd. I always thought natural was the norm and interventions like Pitocin and epidurals happened only when necessary. A few women had the same story that worried me. They were past due, doctor used Pitocin to induce labor, labor pain excruciating, opted for epidural for pain, mother fine but baby becomes distressed because of strong labor pains caused by Pitocin, resulting in c-section. I do not have positive associations with a c-section. To me it was unplanned, scary, painful with a long recovery. After hearing these other birth stories with lots of interventions, I finally spent some time researching VBACs and the best ways to avoid interventions. Online resources like VBAC.com helped immensely in educating myself, but the most empowering and enlightening moment came after watching the documentary, The Business of Being Born. The film validated all my feelings and gave me the confidence to fight for the birth I wanted. And often times it did feel like a fight. On August 12th, my doctor recommend inducing me on the 13th. Jane wasn't even past due yet, what was the hurry? I pushed my doctor off til the 16th. That day I also canceled the planned c-section for the 15th. On Monday the 15th I cancelled the induction wanting more time for labor to happen on its own.
Tuesday the 16th I went to see my chiropractor. Last I saw him was in May, to which his parting words were, "When you are ready to go into labor, come see me." I was ready, so I went. My appointment was 2:30 by 5:30pm I had started contractions. I do not count this as an intervention because it did not involve drugs, but it is a fine line. I went to the hospital around 1:30am. When I arrive and checked in, I was told I was 4cm and promptly threw up. Not my last time either. My water had not broke yet so I labored and waited. With Thomas I showed up at the hospital 5cm dilated with virtually no pain. Not the case with Jane. I labored from 1:30am to 4:00am with little progress. Rule of thumb is a cm/hr, I went 1cm in 2.5 hours. At 4am I agreed to have my water broken but no Pitocin. The labor pains intensified. I tried several positions, they all provided little relief. I thought I would want to walk around, but felt that I could not move off the bed. Tom was great and just rubbed my back when needed. The most comfortable position for me was sitting straight up with the exercise ball between my legs (I was supposed to lean over the ball but couldn't manage to bend over). Time just stopped. The nurse said she would check in on me in a few hours. As I went through a batch of bad contractions I thought surely that must have been thirty minutes, no it was five. Litterally no joke it was only five minutes later. After that, I shut my eyes and barely opened them until Jane was born. I couldn't stand to look at the clock or anyone's face for that matter. When the nurse came back I was caving on the pain front. I started asking about epidurals. It had been two hours and if I hadn't gone past 6cm, I was going for the needle. So when the nurse said 8cm, I had a resurgence of confidence that I could do this and go another 2cm. Another bout of vomit and 2 bouts of eliminating on myself (so not prepared for that aspect of labor, had no idea that happened), it was time to push. I felt like pushing at 9cm but the nurse yelled at me saying, if I pushed now at 9cm, I would hurt myself and the baby and probably end up in surgery. Scary part was that it actually crossed my mind that if I allowed that to happen, this labor thing would be over after a thirty minute surgery. Luckly cooler heads prevailed and I focused on my breathing until 10cm.
At 7AM it was time to push. Pushing was not painful like the contractions but physically exhausting. After an hour I was getting discouraged but my nurse and Tom stepped up, told me I was doing great and got me threw to the end. I have to admit that I one point I stopped pushing. The nurse was saying push, push, push and I was like f-you women I am tired. I felt the contractions and did not push. The nurse asked, "Are you contracting?" I lied and said no. She totally knew I was lying because they have those monitors on you, I am sure if I had my eyes open she would have been giving me a nasty look. My doctor came in around this time about 8:30AM. Since I was taking a "breather" the doctor left. After a few moment I felt my resolve come back and wanted Jane out. I started pushing harder and Jane was born, 9:10AM. By the way the doctor did not come back in time, the nurse barely caught Jane and then almost fumbled her. Tom was ready to either deliver the baby or making a diving catch to prevent her hitting the floor. Alas, all was well and Jane was born a healthy girl at 7lbs 9oz and 21 inches. My husband was a God send throughout the delivery and my Mom was so patient in the waiting room. Thomas spent the night with Grandma Annette and was introduced to Jane in the afternoon. The Kortes are now a fabulous foursome!
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