Christian UC: Unassisted Childbirth

The Surprise Unassisted Birth of Aizec

I was one week overdue, and although I didn't want to be induced, the doctor ordered it because of personal reasons. I prayed and prayed that I would go into labor before then.

I was told to go to the hospital Thursday evening to be gelled. The Dr. had ordered a lot of gel (I heard the nurses talking about it, wondering why he had ordered so much). He knew that I wanted to avoid pitocin, so he was trying to put me in labor with the gel. I told the nurse that I was having contractions, but that it was nothing new since I had been having them constantly for weeks. She said that they were too far apart to matter. She did an exam and then told me that there was no way that I could get the gel because I was already dilated to four and "soft as butter". She asked if I felt ok and sent me home. I was supposed to go back the next morning.

My husband and I got something to eat and rented a movie. I could barely sit through the movie because of the contractions, but again, they were pretty much the same contractions that I had been having for weeks. After the movie was over, my husband went to bed and I got online. My friend Jean and I were both having contractions together (quite comical really). I got offline and laid down on the couch. I snoozed, but didn't sleep deeply.

At 1:30 am, I woke up "singing" AAAAHHHHHHH. I turned on the TV Guide channel (my friend Denise had suggested it) to time the contractions. Up to this point I hadn't been timing them because I was afraid they would stop (that had been happening a lot). I walked back and forth in my house, tried squatting (can we say OUCH!) got on hands and knees, and sat on the toilet. You know - all the things that SUPPOSEDLY make you feel better. It hurt sooooo bad, but I figured this was just the beginning. (I am not smart seeing as how this same thing happened with my second son.) I tried to hum, but that didn't help much either.

At 2:00 am, I went upstairs to wake up my husband. He was the biggest crab!! He didn't want to wake up. I told him to go out to the car to get the number for the hospital. They had told me to call before coming in. He got really angry and kept yelling about how he didn't understand why we had to make an appointment to have a baby. At this point I was at the top of the stairs on my hands and knees screaming my lungs out. I couldn't move at all. He handed ME the phone to make the call. I said "forget the phone" (only in not quite so polite terminology). As soon as the contraction let up, I headed out to the van. I remember the cool air felt really good, but it was only seconds before another contraction hit, so I got in the van because I knew I was going to start screaming again. My dh was still in the house.

He finally got in the car and with the next contraction, I put my feet on the dashboard (yes I was in the front seat) and started to push. All I had on was a denim dress so I reached down and felt that my skin was bulging. I let my body do the pushing and soon I felt his head crowning. I stroked his head and felt that he had hair, soooo soft. After another push or so, I felt something slimy and cylindrical and ridged on the top of his head, so I started to push really hard. I felt his cute floppy ears and after his head was out, my dh looked over and said "Is that the head?????" The only other thing he had said the whole time was "Why do we keep hitting all the red lights?" After his head was out, I pushed some more, caught him under the arms and lifted him to my chest. A little bit later, we arrived at the hospital.

Aizec wasn't crying, only staring straight into my eyes, so I pumped his legs a little bit and he let out a teeny squeak. My husband ran in to get some help and after a bit of coaxing several people came out. Once they saw that I had already had the baby, they started moving. I kept Aizec with me the whole time and delivered the placenta in labor and delivery. I had a very small tear which never hurt and a non existent recovery. I refused the pitocin shot and only had mild after pains, none when I went home. Of all 3 of my children, this experience was the best.

Kat

~ top of page ~