Happy Labor Day

I was due with our first little boy on May 14. On April 30 I had been feeling what I thought to be more braxton hicks contractions than usual. The feelings continued and in the back of mind I kept thinking, "what if this is it?" At my doctor's appointment that week I had only been slightly dilated, and I had heard from many people that with your first baby it's less likely to give birth early, so I went to bed thinking tomorrow would be another normal day. It was supposed to be my last day of teaching before starting my maternity leave.

Around 3 am I woke up for my regular middle of the night bathroom break. Only this time it wouldn't be so normal. When I sat up, I felt a sudden stream of water. I wondered if I had wet my pants! How embarrassing I thought. As I shook off my sleepiness and went to the bathroom I knew by the looks of things that my water had broken. I was suddenly filled with excitement. I went to the living room wondering what I should do. I sat for a while, prayed, got giddy, and then remembered that the doctor said to call when my water broke. After talking to the doctor, my husband who had still been sleeping emerged from the bedroom wondering who I was talking to. I had decided not to wake him because I wanted him to get his sleep and be rested for what lie ahead. We then decided to go back to sleep. For a woman who's water just broke, and she knows she's going to be having a baby that day, sleep was not so easy. My adrenaline had already started pumping. That next morning I wasn't feeling any notable contractions. We went walking in hopes of getting things going. After talking with the doctor more, she wanted us to come in around 1:00 that afternoon. I realized that I didn't have any nursing bras, and I insisted that we go shopping and to Chick-fil-a. We checked into the hospital at 2:00.

They got me ready with the mandatory saline lock. This was almost worse than the labor. They couldn't find a suitable vein and had to stick me a lot. My contractions were still weak and far apart, so Luke and I went to walking. My contractions would become stronger as we walked but would slow back down each time I had to be checked. The talk started turning to pitocin, which I didn't want. We told the doctor that we wanted to wait, so the power-walking continued. I'm sure we tracked several miles before the night was over. Around 6pm, with little progress still being made, the doctor felt that it was time for pitocin. We decided to go ahead with it, and I soon was feeling the uncomfortable labor. I had to have a fetal heart monitor on, but thankfully we were able to continue walking. When the contractions intensified, I spent most of the time on the birth ball. My husband was great at supporting me and encouraging me through the contractions. I found that the thing that helped me cope with and focus was to hum hymns. Our birth instructor had told us that each woman finds their own pain management once they are in labor, and that was mine. As my body started to go through transition, I felt nauseous and then threw up. I had started feeling more pressure in the lowest part of my back. My nurse asked me if I felt the need to push, but I really didn't know. She walked out, and I had a major contraction, she walked back in a minute later, and said "by the looks of that contraction, you're ready."

I got situated in the bed and did my first pushing. I had not realized how hard and exhausting pushing would be. My nurse left us to go get my doctor. She told Luke and I that with the next contraction I should go ahead and push. We laughed to ourselves that we had to do this alone. Luke took on the role as doctor and counted me through the next contractions. With the doctor in place, the pushing continued. I pushed over the course of 50 minutes. As Nathan crowned I experienced pain like never before. I know understood why it is called, "the ring of fire" Crazy! At 11:50 on May 1 every second of pain became worth it as Nathan was placed in my arms. My heart expanded to an understanding of love I had not yet known.

Because of some tearing the doctor sewed me up. This was my least favorite part of the whole birth. After that, they cleaned Nathan up in our room and did all the necessary checks on the baby. We then had our first time alone together as a family...awesome!

In the end, I was so thankful for how everything happened. I amazed myself at coping with the contractions and managing the pain without an epidural (thank you God). I did however learn a couple of things.
1. God has created our bodies to do this amazingly beautiful thing
2. If my water breaks with the next pregnancy, I will wait to call my doctor and will wait to go into the hospital until I'm further along.
3. My husband is my best labor coach!

I would love to read your birth stories. You can link up over at Amy's Finer Things.

Nathan Luke Stevenson
May 1, 2009
6lbs. 9 0z.