Sophia's Birth Story: Part 2

Click here to read part one.

So, to recap: I labored at home for 16 hours, I started having pushing contractions in my bathtub, and when I got into the car to go to the Birth Center, my water broke.

[I vaguely remember someone, maybe my midwife, telling me that I could have wet myself, and I remember feeling insulted. I know the difference between the two. I felt several big gushes of fluid. It was definitely my water, not my bladder.]

My friend Sozan recalls that, in the car, I was still chatty between my contractions, but she didn't really respond to anything I was saying because she was so afraid of saying or doing something wrong and having me yell at her. I guess her fears were valid, considering how I had yelled at Art. I should clarify that I was never angry with anyone. I yelled because it was all so intense that speaking at a normal volume was impossible.

Once we got to the Birth Center, things get a little bit more blurry in my memory. I remember that my midwife wanted to check me, but I could not be made to get into the bed. I remember getting into the tub and being on my hands and knees, and my midwife had to really coax me to get me to turn into a sitting/lounging position. And once I did turn, she and Art both exclaimed that they could see the baby's hair!

That's when it really became real to me. Believe it or not, a woman can be so focused on her labor that she forgets the reason she's going through it. When I heard the comment about the hair, I looked at Art wide-eyed and exclaimed, "We're having a baby!"

Things I don't remember: my midwife lighting candles. I didn't notice any candles. I don't remember Sozan putting my hair up, but apparently I thanked her three times. I have no idea where anyone was sitting/standing/kneeling once I got into the tub. Later on I had to ask Art where he was when I pushed our baby out (he was by my head).

I continued having pushing contractions in the tub for a while. My midwife had to call an assistant, and once she arrived, I was finally able to actively push through my contractions, not just grunt whenever they came. I don't know how long I pushed, but I know that it wasn't very many pushes where her head was kind of coming out then going back in. Twice my midwife told me to feel my baby's head. (It felt squishy.)

[Also? I don't really remember the pain during the pushing. I know I felt some, but my focus was on pushing the way my midwife was directing me, so I didn't really notice the pain. Or maybe I just didn't care by that point, knowing that I was so close to the end.]

Soon her head stopped going back in every time I pushed. I remember thinking about the term "Ring of Fire" that everyone uses to describe that moment when the head comes out. You know what? The ring of fire starts before that. I'm probably scaring all the non-mothers out there from ever having kids. So let me tell you something else: the pain lasts mere seconds (or so it seems). And you are motivated to keep pushing because you know that's the only way to make the pain go away. Not to mention the reward of holding you newborn child in your arms.

A few pushes later (and with a high-pitched yelp from me) and her head was out, and her body followed immediately after. [I was very thankful that I didn't have to push her shoulders out.] My midwife lifted her out of the water and placed her in my arms, and started rubbing her with towels to keep her crying. She encouraged me to talk to my baby, and all I could think was, "This is MY baby. This is the baby I was pregnant with, and I just gave birth and I have a baby!" It was an incredible and surreal moment.

Once that moment passed, my next thoughts were, "Everyone stop fussing with my baby so I can turn this slippery little body and see what I had!" Sozan was busy snapping pictures, and she has one of me in mid-sentence, when I announced to the room that we had a daughter, and that her name would be Sophia Grace.

At one point while I was still in the tub, I remember exclaiming that it was all over! I was done being pregnant, and I was done with labor, and I had my baby! My midwife pointed out that I wasn't quite done, that still had to deliver placenta. I wanted to tell her to shut up and let me celebrate for a minute. But I didn't say anything. :)

Eventually I did have to get out of the tub (because she doesn't deliver the placenta in the water). They helped me over to the bed, covered me and Sophia with blankets, and made quick work of delivering the placenta, cutting the umbilical cord, and palpating my uterus to make it contract. (Their pressing on my uterus was something I was dreading because I just wanted to be done with the pain. And yes, it did hurt. Sozan continued to take pictures, and she captured one of me grimacing.)

After they were done fussing with us, they helped me sit up so I could begin breastfeeding, and then they left us alone for an hour so we could concentrate on bonding with our daughter. That hour passed quickly, especially for Sophia, who screeched loudly when I took her off my breast so my midwife could weigh her, check all her vitals, inspect her body, and test her reflexes.

Once she was thoroughly checked out, Art put her in her first diaper and her going-home outfit. And he did a fantastic job. He made it look like it was something he did everyday. Once she was dressed, he had the luxury of sitting on the couch with her in his arms, and they fell asleep together. I, on the other hand, did not get to relax or sleep, because it was my turn to get checked out.


Hat courtesy of my sister, outfit courtesy of my mom.


She looks like a little bear!


First of many naps with daddy.

[I'm afraid those are the only pictures I can post. There are lots of me with her, but I am not dressed, and though I am covered, I still don't feel that those pictures are appropriate for the internet.]

My midwife was very gentle, and she took her time. She explained how I had torn and what she was doing as she was stitching me up. I didn't hesitate to tell her if something was tender or downright painful, which she appreciated. However, she didn't tell how many stitches I got, which I appreciated. I don't understand why a doctor would offer that information, or why someone would inquire. In my mind, it's just one more number to needlessly obsess over and cause unnecessary fear or worry. (And yes, I was frozen for the stitching. They do have some drugs at the Birth Center.)

Then it was time to don those attractive mesh panties with a giant ice pack/pad, get dressed, and sit through an explanation of postpartum instructions for the next few days (Art and Sozan slept through most of it, and I was barely awake myself). Thankfully, we didn't actually have to remember every detail, because she gave us papers that said everything she was saying.

Finally Art and Sozan packed up the car, put Sophia in her car seat (which she hated, and still hates), and my midwife wheeled me out. It was 5:00am, and we were finally going home.

When we got home, we went straight to bed, called our parents with the news, and went to sleep.

So how do I feel about the whole experience? I keep telling people that my labor was perfect. I wouldn't change a thing. People are usually astonished when I say this. It's like they can't imagine that a woman wouldn't hate labor. And then they typically make comments about how strong and tough I am, or how I have a high tolerance for pain, or that my labor was pretty easy.

I hesitate to agree, because that isn't something that can be measured. It's not like we can take my labor and give it to someone else, and see how they do. Also, I think it diminishes my experience; as if my labor wasn't painful, or that I didn't have to work hard. (Labor does hurt, and it is work.)

I think it went so well because I was so well prepared. I spent nearly my entire pregnancy researching and reading about natural childbirth, imagining myself in labor and using the different techniques to cope with each contraction. Also, I think a person's mindset makes a huge difference.

I told myself over and over and over and over that, "Labor is a natural process, that it isn't something to be feared."
"Labor pain is a good pain, because it means that I'm bringing forth life."
"I only have to have one contraction at a time."
"I trust that God created my body to be able to do this."
"Each contraction is bringing me closer to my baby."
"It's only for a minute."
"I can do ANYTHING for a minute."

These thoughts were so deeply instilled in my mind that when labor started, I was able to listen to my body and do what I felt I needed to do, and just let it happen. Which is exactly what I had wanted for my labor.

So that's the story, those are my thoughts, and now I can concentrate on posting a bajillion pictures of my sweet baby girl. :)