| It was the day after my due date at about 9 p.m. I was a little worried since I hadn't felt the baby move for a while. (People told me later that babies move less right before labor.) My husband got down and talked to my belly. He told our baby that he had to come out sooner or later and that he was worrying his mama, so it might as well be sooner. I had the first contraction about 30 seconds later! We called my mother and my friend, Shirley, who acted as my doula and alerted them that things were in motion. The first part of labor wasn't bad, just like really intense and targeted menstrual cramps. I was able to get a little sleep. Then at around 2 a.m. they got a little more intense. When we timed them they were five minutes apart. So off we went to the hospital with Shirley as soon as she arrived. My mother met us there. Once at the hospital they wanted to put me on an IV or at least a HepLock, but I wasn't interested in going down that path. So I wouldn't let them. I stayed hydrated on ice chips, which we (OOPS!) allowed to melt so I could have sips between contractions. My labor stepped up to the next level. I couldn't believe the pain could get any worse (it does, of course). But I was so exhausted from the timing of the whole thing that after each contraction I would fall back asleep then wake up for the next one and so on. I did that pretty much until the end. Oddly, I didn't want my husband near me (I always thought I would). I wasn't mean about it. I just wanted the women with me. So Shirley and my mom took turns holding my hand and telling me I could do it. They also made me get up and go to the bathroom periodically, just to get me going. When I reached the third stage of pain it was so bad I could hardly believe it. I continued with the hardest labor for about three hours. Then on a trip to the bathroom I had so many contractions in a row I couldn't go at all. Suddenly I realized I was pushing. All that time I had always heard about the "urge to push." What an odd term! It isn't an urge � one second you are not pushing and the next you are pushing. There is just no question. So we called the doctor. In she came, checked me and said we were ready to go. My mom was on one side and Shirley on the other helping me hold my legs. I pushed so hard that I broke a bunch of blood vessels � one in my eye, and I had red freckles from my boobs to my forehead. I was MOTIVATED to get that baby OUT OF THERE. I pushed for 10 minutes. The baby crowned, and then Ned popped out all at once with a big BLOOP and peed all over the doctor, crying the whole time! My husband sounded like a hyena at the moment of birth. He was trying to laugh and cry at the same time and ran over to be with me. It was very funny and sweet! I tore a tiny bit, but no big deal. And the pain of labor goes away IMMEDIATELY! It was so great! I would absolutely do it the same way again. Ned was so alert and calm when he came out. It was wonderful. He got to visit with everyone. He is almost 3 now and a total joy! This story was written by Cate |