I- like many other overly organized and planning obsessed teachers- had a birth plan. I had every important, well-researched detail written down. I had printed multiple copies, and e-mailed myself, my sister, and my husband each a copy. I actually had my sister distributing them at the hospital like flyers. Every nurse and doctor that we came into contact with got one (Think Oprah: “You get a birth plan, you get a birth plan!!”). What did they do with this plan? Absolutely nothing. I don’t think anyone even read it! However, it wasn’t a complete waste of my time, because it helped me to know what I wanted and gave me the opportunity to research what types of things may occur in the delivery room. However, nothing could have prepared me- nor was I forewarned about how my labour would possibly play out. Spoiler alert: It, like my pregnancy, S U C K E D! Or shall I say HURLED?
3 weeks prior to my due date, my husband and I attended a labour and delivery class. We learned about the various stages of labour, ways your partner can help you through the labour, ways to ease the pain, what to expect, and let us know what to do in the case of emergencies. I studied those little booklets they gave us for weeks. I had my husband purchase all sorts of pool noodles, tennis balls, and a yoga ball. I was fully prepared. I honestly did not think I was going to make it to my due date and was thankful I was able to even attend the labour and delivery class so close to my due date.
I knew exactly how I wanted my delivery to go: I wanted a peaceful room with prayers playing in the background, with my sister and husband by my side. I was hoping for a vaginal birth with no epidural or other types of medication (I’m scared of big scary needles that go into your back). I was willing to try laughing gas if needed. I was planning to stay calm and collected and sit in a hot water bath. I was scared and nervous- but prepared (at least I thought). As the weeks neared, I began sleeping with a soaker pad on my bed in case my water broke. I listened to my body intently to see if anything felt different. I monitored my baby daily by counting movement. I packed a hospital bag. My anxiety grew as each day brought me closer to my due date. Then my due date came…. and passed. After my due date passed, it began to feel like I was going to be pregnant forever. We began thinking about membrane stripping and induction. I spent my days drinking raspberry leaf tea, walking as much as I could, eating spicy food, and having my feet rubbed. Nothing happened for days. Until that Sunday morning when I woke up around 11 am. My stomach aching like my dinner did not agree with me. After a few seconds, however, it stopped. Then 10-15 minutes later, I had the same feeling again. Again, only lasting 20-30 seconds. I was ridiculously excited for someone who was about to experience the worst pain of their life. I knew I was in labour. I opened my contraction timing app around noon and began to record my contractions. I jumped into the shower when they were lasting about 20-30 seconds and were 10-12 minutes apart. I was so excited to not be pregnant anymore!
My husband made me my morning smoothie, which was the same recipe I drank every morning for years. We laid together in bed, apprehensive about the day we were about to experience. Around 12:30 pm, the contractions began to get a little stronger and I had to use the bathroom every few minutes. It almost felt like I had diarrhea- which I knew was very normal thanks to all my research. However, around 1 pm something happened that I wasn’t so sure of. My contractions became more intense, to the point where I was getting nauseous. I vomited. I figured it was just because of the smoothie and didn’t think much of it. A half an hour passed, and I vomited again. Spoiler alert- the vomiting never stopped!
By 3 pm my contractions were strong- lasting about 30-45 seconds- and about 8-9 minutes apart. I was exhausted from vomiting every 15 minutes. I was incredibly dehydrated. My husband spoke to the hospital staff and they suggested I come in to be assessed. So my sister, husband, and I grabbed all of our hospital bags and got into the car. I vomited twice on the 10-minute drive.
The doctors and nurses instantly saw my state of distress and dehydration and decided to admit me at 1cm dilated. It took 3 different doctors/nurses and an ultrasound machine to find a vein so they could start a saline drip to hydrate me. During this initial assessment, I went to the bathroom to find my mucous plug had passed. The doctors suggested that I have Gravol to help with nausea and allow me to rest. It did not help. I spent the next 1-2 hours struggling to stay awake in between contractions. I was jolted awake with pain every few minutes, unable to move much. I also continued to throw up.
By 5 pm, I was about 2 cm dilated. At this point, the effects of Gravol were beginning to wear off. The medical team now suggested a morphine injection. I was desperate and agreed. For 1 full hour, I did not vomit. I was feeling a lot better, I was able to have conversations with my husband, sister, and medical team. I would breathe through contractions every 5 minutes or so- but I felt great. Then around 6:30-7 pm, I began to vomit again (yay…). At 8 pm I asked for laughing gas. It really didn’t have much of a silly or laughing gas effect on me. However, it helped to ease the pain of each contraction. By 8 pm I was 3 cm dilated. I thought I was going to suffer this way for at least another day- if not more. Around 10 pm, the tub was filled with hot water for me. I brought the laughing gas into the bathroom with me. I was in the tub for 2 hours. I sat in the hot water, with the handheld shower head pouring hot water on my stomach and back. When I would have a contraction, my husband or sister would put the gas mask up to my face to help me through it. PS-yup, still throwing up- even in the tub. By midnight, a big scary needle in my back wasn’t looking too bad. The contractions were lasting 2 minutes, with barely 30 seconds in-between them. I inquired about an epidural. The nurse helped me out of the tub and laid me back down on the bed. The doctor checked to see how far along I was. I was fully dilated- which explained the intense contractions. It was time to push…except my water was still intact. The doctor had to break my water for me- which was VERY uncomfortable.
I pushed for 2 hours. I tried multiple positions. I pushed on my hands and knees, I pushed on my back while holding a bar, I pushed sitting upright on my knees, and I’m sure there are some positions I can’t even remember. I have to be honest though, pushing was a lot better than sitting helplessly in pain, contraction after contraction. It was nice to be able to do something during the contractions. 2 hours didn’t feel like 2 hours, I thought only 20-30 minutes had passed. The bonus was I didn’t vomit again once I started to push!
During the latter pushing portion of labour, my baby’s heart rate would drop with every contraction. I did not know this at the time, but I could tell that everyone in the room was getting nervous. Another OBGYN came in and took over as the lead doctor, so I now had two doctors in the room. Nurses began to fill the room with equipment. One even rolled in with an incubator. It was becoming apparent to me that something was wrong. The doctor explained to me that the positioning of my baby was causing her head to hit my pelvic bone, which was causing her distress and making it harder for her to come out. They wanted to use the vacuum suction. I agreed to this- however, it was really stressful trying to understand what was happening while I was in pain and pushing. They told me that I was going to push one last time and on the next push they would use the vacuum to help. I pushed really hard and then closed my eyes because I knew I was in for some discomfort. I then felt something on my chest and the nurse yelled, “Open your eyes!”.
I opened my eyes, and this sweet little angel was looking up at me. It was 3:37 am, and my beautiful, healthy daughter weighing 7lbs 7oz, was on my chest. What I thought was the discomfort of the vacuum, was actually my baby coming out. I didn’t even end up needing the vacuum suction. She was here. She was FINALLY here. My sweet little love that I had dreamed of for so long was laying on me, and we were about to start our life long journey together. There are no words to explain what that moment felt like. It was the purest joy and beauty I have ever experienced.
The next moments were a blur of happiness. The post-birth oxytocin injection worked wonders- my endorphins were running high. I was just so darn happy. I gave an acceptance speech as if I was a celebrity winning an oscar. I thanked all my doctors and nurses and apologized for all the profanities I used during the process. I was so thankful that my daughter and I were healthy and happy, that I got through it without an epidural, that I was no longer vomiting, and that I was no longer pregnant!
There is nothing that can prepare you for labour. It is so very unpredictable. It is hard. It is painful. It is scary. Yet I would do it again in a heartbeat because it brought me the greatest joy I have experienced. My nurse had told me she was a mother of 4, and about 15-20 minutes after giving birth I remember saying to her, “Why the hell would you do this THREE MORE times after you experienced it once??”. She explained that you forget the pain and become so overwhelmed with love. She told me that I may one day forget how horrible it all was, and decide to do it again. She was right. Although I have not forgotten that awful experience, I would do it again in the future to bring another sweet little human to love in my life. If I’m blessed enough to experience labour and birthing again- I might skip out printing multiple birth plan copies!
PS- no explanation was ever given as to why I vomited throughout my entire labour. If anyone else has experienced this or knows why it happens please contact me!
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