Ava's Birth Story

From the time I found out I was pregnant, I spent a lot of time preparing to become a mom. But, I wasn't just preparing for diaper changes, breastfeeding, and baby care. I spent a lot of time preparing for the birth. I do believe that the birth is a huge milestone for a woman. I did my best to approach it with confidence and with courage. I envisioned myself enduring the pain of childbirth peacefully and with the help of my husband and my doula. I prepared myself to endure the pain of childbirth with no unnecessary interventions. I watched countless videos of women enduring childbirth in the way that I intended to. Let me go ahead and say that I did accomplish this. I certainly didn't have any unnecessary interventions. I also don't know what shape I would have been without mentally preparing myself and without my amazing support system.

At 25 weeks, I switched doctors. My new doctor was a sweet, patient, and understanding man. He understood my goals for childbirth and encouraged me. He constantly reassured me and told me that I would easily birth my child. He said that my height and my hips were great for childbirth. He was right. Unfortunately, my cervix was the one part of my anatomy that was not willing to cooperate. As my due date came and went, I still never dilated. But, that's not entirely abnormal. I was told that my cervix was "grisly." I still have no idea what that really means. All I know is that I spent 38 hours in labor. Yes, 38. That's just counting the time when my contractions were actually coming regularly and consistently.

Throughout my pregnancy, I went to prenatal yoga classes. These classes kept me strong, flexible, and (most importantly) sane. The classes were taught by my superamazingfantasticdoula and I would recommend them to ANYONE. It was a time to focus my mind, envision the birth and my sweet baby, and to prepare my body for the most challenging thing it would ever endure.

At exactly one week past due, I sat down for my last prenatal yoga class. We began the class in our usual way of going around the room and telling how far along we are and how we're feeling. The other women in the room all knew that I was past due. Everyone smiled as I said "41 weeks." The class I had attended two days before had been challenging. I was almost in tears as I moved through poses and felt weak and exhausted. But, this class was different. I moved through all of the same poses and felt confident and strong. Immediately after class (at 6:30 PM) , I started to have contractions. Afraid that the contractions would stop if I rested,
I kept moving. At 11:45 that night, they were stronger and were coming at 7 and 8 minutes apart. I tried to sleep and was too excited for that. I stayed awake all night, giddy every time I felt a contraction coming on. Yes, giddy. At 6 in the morning, they were coming 4 and 5 minutes apart. I still couldn't believe it was real. Part of me was convinced that I would never go into labor. I thought that I would be pregnant FOREVER. When we got to the hospital, I was immediately taken to a room. My contractions were coming 2 minutes apart. I thought to myself, "This baby is coming fast! She'll be in my arms today!." I was a little disappointed that she was coming the day before the brand new women's hospital was opening.

I spent the day doing yoga poses, breathing through contractions, and chatting away happily in between contractions. I started to have back labor pretty early on. At first, it just felt like a bad kidney infection. By the end, it felt like I was being repeatedly stabbed in the back. 11 hours later (17 hours into labor) I was only at 4 centimeters. That's where I stayed for 20 hours of my labor. My sweet doctor left for vacation assuring me that I would be in good hands. The on-call physician spoke to me briefly in the hallway. Then she went home. I spent all night long being told repeatedly that I was still at 4 centimeters. I begged to have my water broken or to have something done that would help me make some progress. But, nothing could be done without the doctor present. She was at home and could only be called in case of an emergency. I couldn't lie down because of the intensity of the pain in my back. I hadn't slept the night before and I certainly couldn't sleep at this point. So, I walked and walked and walked. I walked and talked with my mom, mother-in-law, and my dad. I walked in circles around a table in the cafeteria. I giggled because a security guard eyed me and probably assumed that I was an escaped mental patient. At some point in the night, the nurses finally figured out a way to fill my birthing tub. The water was warm and amazing. It was the only place I really could get comfortable. I floated, relaxed, and even got a tiny bit of sleep while in the tub. But, soon I was made to get out to get checked. My 15 minute intermittent monitoring turned into 45 minutes at a time pretty early in labor. Once I was able to get back into the tub, the water was practically icy. The nurses tried to empty some water by dumping it into the sink using bedpans. I was amazed that they didn't have a way of pumping itout and pumping new hot water back in. The water was never really warm again. Sadness. My only true relief from some of the pain was gone. Shortly after, I had another cervical check. I had just endured two hours of very very very intense contractions and several emotional breakdowns. Everyone thought that I had surely made some progress. Two nurses checked me. I was told that my cervix was stretchy and that my bag of waters was bulging. But, they thought that I was at nine centimeters! My doula turned and told me that I was almost there! The two really intense hours had been transition! I was almost ready to push. I was ELATED! I was so relieved and excited. It had been almost 30 hours. 10 of which had been excruciating. I had not slept in about 40 hours at that time. But, then, I was checked by a third nurse. The third nurse sighed and said "I'm sorry sweetie. You're still only at 4. It was just hard to tell because of the bulging bag of waters." Being checked THREE times is bad enough. But, being checked and told you're at nine centimeters and then being told that you're only actually at 4 is just AWFUL. Well, if that wasn't awful enough, the doctor entered shortly after. He was extremely agitated and told me that I would have to "start thinking about the baby." I'm not sure what kind of information he was given. But, he seemed to think that I was in the predicament I was because of my own stubbornness. He was abrupt and rude. We assured him that we had been asking for something to be done all night and that there was no doctor there to do it. He then said "You're not in labor. You're in labor when there are active changes being made to your cervix. There are no changes in your cervix." Tears came to my eyes. I couldn't take much more. I decided that I needed an epidural. Within minutes the angel in the form of an anesthesiologist appeared. He was not only nice and gentle. He was also DAMN GOOD at his job. The epidural was perfect. I felt relief almost immediately. My husband, family, and doula could finally all rest. It was just in time for me to be moved to the new women's center. You see, I was in labor for so long that one hospital closed and another opened. Relieved and relaxed, I was taken to my new room. I took a long nap while hooked up to a pitocin pump. I woke up to watch the contraction monitor rise and fall. I was SO GLAD that I wasn't having to endure the pain of those contractions.

I then had the anesthesiologist turn my epidural down. I had never wanted to be completely numb. I had gotten the rest that I needed and was ready for my baby to come. It was getting closer. I was going to be the first person to deliver in the new hospital. Nurses and doctors were excitedly waiting. A woman from marketing came and asked me if I wanted to be a part of the publicity for the new hospital.

By the time it was ready to push, the rude doctor was replaced by the most amazing doctor I've ever met. His name is Dr. Banks and I would recommend him to anyone. He made me and the nurses smile and put everyone at ease. My epidural had worn off and I was feeling the contractions again. But, I felt no no pain in my back. I pushed for about 35 minutes. I watched in the mirror as I pushed. It was AMAZING. My doula and my sweet husband, rested and rejuvenated, held my feet and legs as I pushed. My doctor was right, I wouldn't have any problem pushing. It was painful but not nearly as painful as the contractions. It was actually fun. Strange, huh? As I delivered the head and shoulders, my doctor had me reach down and grab my baby girl under the arms. I was able to actually deliver her myself. I reached down and pulled sweet Ava to my chest. It was the most amazing moment of my life. I was the third to deliver at the new women's center. An emergency c-section and the birth of a woman's 12th child came before me. It was difficult getting to it. But, it was all beautiful and amazing in the end.