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The Unassisted Birth of Buchannon Scott
I had been EAGERLY awaiting labor for 3 weeks, because all my other babies were born (induced) at 38 weeks. Saturday night I used my breast pump for two hours, alternating between breasts to try to bring on labor, seeing that I was already a week overdue and barely able to move any longer! Went to bed quite depressed that I felt nothing, and I mean NOTHING. I awoke about 4:30 am to quite a nice contraction. Not unbearable, but I was wondering if this was finally the real thing. I got up to go pee, and when I started walking around, BOY, I was sure this had to be the real thing. I was sooooo excited! I tried just walking around by myself and letting my hubby sleep, but I wanted to share my excitement. It didn't take long before the contractions were getting intense. I was TRULY hoping for one of those "orgasmic" or "painless" labors I had read so much about, but no such luck. By about 6 am the contractions were quite intense and painful, and I was feeling some urge to push, but when I did I felt quite a bit of pain, so I thought I was just rushing things. I decided to just let my body do its thing and wait to push until I felt a definite urge. Well, that time never came.....and boy, these contractions, rushes, whatever you want to call them were INTENSE!!! I did my best to just ride them like waves, and actually envisioned waves sweeping over me in my mind. That, and just staying on my hands and knees most all of the time (I always have bad back labor) helped me to stay on top of the contractions. I had a distinct feeling that I was already fully dilated, and wanted to push, but it really hurt, and something just didn't feel right, so I didn't. The contractions just kept coming, and I just had a feeling that something wasn't right, and I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I felt that the baby was okay, and I wasn't really worried about her (yep, we were so sure it was a girl), so on I went. Really, now, I think I just was scared it was going to go on forever. Lots of you ladies know the feeling! I was sooooo tired too. I wanted my DH to check my dilation, but I thought my water had already broken so I wouldn't let him check. Secretly I wanted some drugs, and that made me somewhat disappointed in myself. I do believe that I said it out loud a couple times, and Shane, who was doing his very best and really was wonderful, proceeded to tell me that no I didn't really want any because they would get to the baby, blah, blah, blah, all the things I already knew in my heart and head. Mainly I stayed on the bed, by myself, where I was able to concentrate.
About 9:00 am I was tired of this. I stood up thought it was VERY painful and tried walking around to try to bring on that urge to push. I did that for a while, then I tried squatting for a while, then just standing and trying not to make and noise at all, as even my own noise interrupted my concentration. None of that was helping me feel the urge to push, so I got back in the most comfortable position for me, which was on my knees with my head lying down on a pillow. I was so tired of all of this, so I tried just pushing without the urge, and with the next contraction I gave a push, and WOW, it was a truly awesome feeling to actually FEEL what I assume was his head going through my cervix and into the birth canal. I just yelled "BABY" and Shane came running! With the next contraction he moved through the birth canal and I could feel him crowning. I did feel that ring of fire, but I just acknowledged it and kept on. I didn't hurt so much that it would have made me want to stop pushing. I pushed again with the next contraction and out came not the top of his head ladies, but his FACE. Shane didn't say anything at the time, but he told me later that he couldn't figure out at first what he was seeing until the rest of the head came out, and it was his NOSE. Out came all of his head, and Shane told me the head was out. I asked about the color, and all he would say was "you need to push". I told him I had to wait for the next contraction, and he said again that I needed to push. I just waited. The next contraction came and I gave a push, and my water broke and out came his body! Shane yelled "ITS A BOY!" We couldn't believe it! He was quite blue, and not breathing well, but his eyes were open. I turned over and asked for him, and that's when I noticed that his cord was around his neck. It was tight enough that it couldn't be seen until then. I removed it and just started rubbing him all over and kissing him. He was born face up while I was on my knees, face first (not the top of his head), and with the cord around his neck, but he was absolutely perfect, and I have a wonderful story to tell him when he gets older! The placenta came about 10-15 minutes later while dad was holding him in the next room. I didn't bother to check it, and just wrapped up the whole mess and laid back down. He was a strong nurser from the start!
Dawn
Copyright © 2002 Christian UC All rights reserved.
