Well I just had my 3rd natural birth on the 18th. She was 5 days "overdue." That's the longest I've ever gone past edd. By the 17th I was getting anxious b/c my dh was about to have to go back to work and would be gone for 3 weeks. So that day I walked a mile around my neighborhood, went to my church's fall festival (alot of walking and being on my feet), and decided to break down and just have some sex to see what happened. DH and I went to bed and done the deed at 10:30. By 11:30 I was in labor. At 12:30am I got up starving and fixed an egg sandwich. I noticed that my ctx were starting off harder than they ever did with my other two. Around 2:30am my water broke while I was sitting on the toilet. My water has never broke on it's own before so that was quite different than the others. It was quite a shock. It was literally like you see on TV where the woman's water breaks, soaks her pants, and puddles on the floor. I had to change pants twice before we left the house to head to the hospital. By the time we got there I was soaked from the waist down. We got to the hospital around 5am. I was 4-5cm and having some fierce ctx. My nurses were hesitant about my natural birth plan until they talked to my doc. From then on they were cool with whatever I wanted. I tried alot of different positions: birth ball (it sucked!), standing and swaying (it sucked!), leaning over the bed (it sucked!), sitting on toilet (it sucked!), hands and knees (yes, it sucked). The only position I felt somewhat comfortable in was sitting straight up in bed. But that position slowed labor down. Any time I tried something else (that sucked) I would progress faster. I kind of got "stuck" at 9 and my doc suggested I try a rocking chair. I did NOT want to try the chair b/c I hated it when I tried it during my second labor. Fortunately, I did not have to use it. As soon as my feet hit the floor to get up her head was right there and I started yelling and pushing. So I went from 9cm to pushing within minutes. This is gonna sound crazy but I've never felt the urge to push before so that was a completely new sensation for me. I didn't like it but couldn't help it. I sat back in a reclining position in the bed and pushed for another 5-6 ctx. I think altogether I pushed 10-15 min. My doc was great and made me feel as she crowned. That was strange. Kind of made it hurt worse b/c I could feel the stretch 2 different ways. I eventually pulled my hands away cuz it hurt so bad. But then I was able to help grab her and pull her out. I'm glad doc made me do all that though I didn't like it at the time. She was born after 13 hours of HARD labor. I was able to hold her on my chest for awhile before they took her. After they cleaned, weighed, etc they gave her back to me. We put her under my gown so we were skin to skin. Her first time to breastfeed was awesome. She latched on with no problems and hasn't wanted to let go since. She was 8lbs 15.5oz. I tore very minimally. Doc said I would need only 1 stitch but I think it may have been more than that. Like 2-3. Still, nothing major. About an hour after the birth I got up and took a shower. Besides the typical soreness I have felt great sense. No baby blues or anything. The labor was great and uncomplicated. BUT it was my hardest by far. This labor HURT me way worse. From the very beginning the ctx were harder. I was never very vocal with the first two. This one I was very vocal. Lots of moaning and yelling. During the pushing stage I just yelled her right out of there. I'll never look down at a woman who has to be vocal again! Anyway, that's my birth story. I hope it can be an encouragement to someone else. No matter how much it hurts you CAN do it even when u feel like u can't. Here's some pics:
DURING A CONTRACTION
SLEEPING BETWEEN CTX
PULLING HER OUT
BONDING TIME
EMOTIONAL MOMENT
FIRST NURSING
GOING HOME
