Natural Birth

I’ve tried to write this story many times, but it never comes out as eloquent as I would like it to be.

Her birth wasn’t a beautiful birth and I wasn’t graceful about it, but it was a strong labor with a baby determined to come into this world. This is actually my shortened version of the story:

I received the natural birth I wanted. I was struggling not to pass out, and begging for an epidural– all while feeling incredibly ill due to a high fever, but I still managed a natural birth. I went into labor at 3:02pm– literally two minutes before I had found myself saying “Okay, you can come out now”.
I was in labor for 7 hours and 20 minutes. I started contracting at about 6 minutes apart and ended up having a minute between contractions for the next 6 hours until the moment Marlowe arrived. My doula, Mindy was my voice— I was unable to speak because of pain. She was able to read my thoughts and let the nurses and midwife know what I wanted. I couldn’t have done it without her. In the end I never got the epidural, which I truly find to be a miracle. I always wanted a natural birth and I thought I wouldn’t be able to have one because I pass out quite frequently from pain.
Marlowe was on a mission to be born, and I don’t blame her, I was sick and miserable all day with a fever. I was given an episiotomy and still had trouble pushing her out. As soon as I heard my midwife call for a c-section I pushed like the world would end if I didn’t. I had already been through so much pain, that there was no way I would let myself be taken in for a c-section– I needed to get her out. I didn’t find the relief I hoped for once Marlowe was born. I wasn’t able to hold her as soon as she was born like I asked for. She was born with a fever and was taken to be washed off immediately (luckily just a few feet away from me). Her fever relieved itself pretty quickly. I, on the other hand, was lying in the bed shaking in pain. My placenta refused to come out. There was a 2 person max rule and that had been filled by Mindy and my mother, but somehow Nicole (my sister-in-law) had snuck into the room…. followed by Mark (my brother), and Eric. I screamed in pain with every attempt that was made to get my placenta out– it wasn’t exactly the image they expected to see upon entering the room. I asked the staff to make them leave– I knew my pain would cause them unneeded fear. After a little bit over an hour with my placenta still deeply planted inside me and with my fever not subsiding I was taken to the OR to have it removed. I had asked to keep my placenta to bring home (but thats another story) and I was told I wouldn’t be able to because “it was infected” and would have to be taken to the lab to be tested, when in fact it was actually just thrown away. My surgeon was a doctor I had met with once before and I really did not care for him or his personality. The one visit I had with him he laughed at me and told me there was no question I would need an epidural. Well, I made sure to let him know how we had met before and how he was wrong, I never got the epidural. Unfortunately, I had to get stitches, not just once, but twice. I was stitched up after Marlowe was born and then cut again by the surgeon, only to be re-stitched minutes later. Instead of being brought back to Marlowe like I had hoped I was brought into recovery where they said it would be at least an hour until I could leave– I would have to be able to move my legs first. 20 minutes later I showed the nurse how I could move my legs… it was really only one leg, but still, I did it– I was desperate to get back to Marlowe. I was brought into my hospital room where Mark, Nicole, Carlitos (my step-dad), and Eric were waiting and Marlowe came shortly after with my mom. I don’t think I really have to say how happy I was to see her– it should be pretty obvious the joy I felt when she was brought to me. I was unable to walk after the surgery and was pretty out of it from everything that happened, but the happy feelings I had were incredible and never went away. Visiting hours were until 9pm, but everyone had stayed well past 1am. And because of the surgery I wasn’t able to spend the night with Marlowe in the room unless someone was able to stay with me and I was lucky to have my mom stay the night with us.
I know every mother probably says this about their child, but Marlowe came out a perfect baby. She was very healthy and incredibly beautiful. She wasn’t purple or blue like I expected and her only wrinkled features were her hands and feet. She slept peacefully, hardly cried, and only woke up to feed— and she is still very much like this. I’m still feeling the after-effects of labor, yes– 6 weeks later, and it still hurts everyday down there. I find myself complaining about it constantly– until I pick up Marlowe– she really seems to ease the pain. Everyday I am thankful I made the choice I did. Marlowe is such a joy and I swear everyone who meets her instantly falls in love— I know I did.

Drea
ohdeardrea.blogspot.com