Rachel's Birth Story..

Where to begin... When I went in for my 34 week appointment, my midwife told me that Rachel was breech.  She finally flipped at 38 weeks which was a huge relief.  When my midwife was feeling Rachel's position she briefly mentioned that she could be face up because of where I was feeling the kicks and other movements.  I didn't think about it again.

I went in for my last appointment on Thursday March 31 at 10:30 am, 1 day over due.  My midwife checked to see if I was close at all.  I was just about dilated to 3 centimeters.  She said that if I walked around a bunch that day I could go into labor any time.  She also scheduled me for an induction on Tuesday of the next week (office policy to only let you go over 1 week).  I really didn't want to be induced so I was hoping that she would come on her own.  I also wanted her to come before the weekend because I figured it would be the best time for Jared too!  Anyway, I left the office and later that day around 1ish I started feeling like something was different.  I guess I was having a few contractions ever so often.  It wasn't until about 10 o'clock that night that I felt like they really could be something.  I went and packed bags for the kids to go to my parents (just in case), made sure I had everything ready to take (just in case) thinking the whole time that I was going to wake up in the morning still pregnant.  At 11 o'clock I went and laid down in my bed and started reading my pregnancy books.  By 12 o'clock I felt like the contractions were finally becoming more regular.  I decided to time them for a half hour just to make sure.  I knew my mom would have to drive an hour to be at the hospital and I didn't want to call her without being sure... but I also didn't want to wait too long.  At 12:30 I called and told her I thought I was in labor and that I thought we would head to the hospital in 20 minutes or so.  I called down to Jared and said "I think something is happening...". He came upstairs and said we shouldn't wait we should just go, so he called his mom to come watch the kids.  By the time I stood up and got dressed, I KNEW I was in labor.  Contractions were more painful and it was hard to walk, talk, and I had to concentrate.  We got to the hospital, they gave me a room, and I put my gown on.  When I walked out of the bathroom it was 1:20am.
A little history with the births of my other children.  When Jack was born we got to the hospital around 5:30pm, the contractions were hard and I wanted an epidural.  I got the epidural around 7pm and he was born at 7:30pm (2 hours after getting to the hospital) only pushing for 10 minutes or so.  I wondered if I could have done it on my own.
When Kate was born we got to the hospital around 4:30am dilated to a 6, I wanted the epidural and by the time they gave it to me I had dilated to a 10!! I was a little frustrated because I felt like I had come that far... I could have done the rest.  She was born at 6:30am (2 hours after arriving to the hospital) after only pushing for a few minutes.

This time... I decided that since both Jack and Kate were born within 2 hours of getting to the hospital, and because the epidural usually didn't kick in until right before they were born, I didn't want to have the anticipation of the relief from the epidural.  I just wanted to accept that I was doing this on my own and that I needed to just work through the pain.  So no epidural.  Around 2:30 I was dilated to a 9 and 100% effaced.  My midwife said if I wanted I could start pushing.  So that's what I did.  I pushed and pushed and pushed.  I pushed for nearly an hour.  I was beginning to wonder if she was ever going to come out.  I kept waiting for my midwife to say... just one more good push and she'll be out... but she wouldn't.  I wanted to yell at her and tell her to just grab her and pull her out... but I didn't.  I felt like she was stuck!!  I did not anticipate pushing for an hour because of my experience with my other kids.  Anyway,  when her head finally emerged I hear the Midwife and nurse say... "oh...that's why...".  Rachel came out sunny side up which usually means it's a little harder to push them out!  I thought back to my appointment and what the Dr. had said and wished someone would have prepared me for this.  I didn't think I could do it.  I was exhausted... but my little Rachel came out at 3:21am 2 hours after arriving to the hospital as perfect as could be (minus a little bruised forehead and nose, I'm sure she was in pain as well...).  She defiantly made an entrance.  I've experienced birth both with and without an epidural, and as far as I'm concerned, as long as my babies are safe and healthy that's all that matters to me!  I don't feel like there is any "wrong" or "right" way to have a baby.  Just do what feels right for you and your baby... that's my two cents for whatever it's worth!