Birth story - Erica and baby boy

As with my first two births, the due date had passed and acupuncture, walking, sex, membrane sweep, and other recommendations to naturally induce labour had not gotten things started. Induction was planned to start at the hospital at 6:30pm and on my way to the hospital I was having some mild contractions. When I got to the hospital, I was monitored for an hour and could see the contractions on the monitoring although they were still mild, they were getting more regular. I got my cervix checked and it was still 1.5cm long, but "favourable" so at 8pm we started the Oxytocin drip (instead of the prostaglandin tampon). I was nervous of going straight to Oxytocin because I have read that it makes contractions super strong and I didn't want to rush labour, or be in too much pain, or force baby out. But since it was my third birth, this was recommended as labour was not expected to be as long as the other times. So I trusted in my doctor and we did the drip!

Immediately as the drip started I felt the contractions get strong and regular and I started my Up breathing. The counting really helped me pass the time and made the contractions seem to go by in manageable chunks. They were getting stronger and stronger and I kept telling myself "every contraction brings me closer to meeting my baby" and "my contractions are not stronger than me, they are me." I felt really relaxed and in control. I was amazed by this feeling because this was not at all the case during my two other births.

I was on my knees on the hospital bed with my arms over the back of the bed so that I was upright, forward and open. This was also recommended by my doctor because the baby was looking up to the sky, which is not the most favorable position. Next thing I know, its about 8:45/9pm and the midwife examines me again and I am at 8cm. I couldn't believe that in only 45min I had made so much progress. I felt a boost of adrenaline and power and I knew I could do this just as I wanted to. I got my husband to put the TENS machine on, but didn't feel much relief from it and preferred to just do my breathing and counting and affirmations. My husband put a cool washcloth on my neck, which I was massaging and he was massaging in between my thumb and index finger (which didn't really help with pain this time - it had my first birth and he remembered - but I didn't feel like talking to anyone and was happy that he was trying to help). The midwife told me to tell her when I felt like pushing and she broke my waters to keep things moving along, the doctor was called to come immediately. Another midwife had come in to prepare everything for baby.

Soon after, I felt like I wanted to push. I told the midwife and the doctor wasn't there yet, so my husband was a bit worried, but the midwife said we follow your wife and we are here, if she is ready to push, the she pushes. I was feeling very in control and happy to be so close to meeting baby. I tried to switch to the down breathing when I was pushing but the sensation of burning and pressure was so intense and I got scared to push too much/tear. It felt like baby was coming so quickly and the midwife was telling me to make sure I was breathing so I switched back to up breathing (since I remember Siobhan saying if you don't switch its ok!). I felt the head come out, then the neck, then the body which felt so long. I asked if it was a boy or girl and they said you will tell us and brought baby around so I could see. I was surprised it was boy and so so happy.

I got to hold my son and we waited for the placenta, but it didn't come. My doctor told me I would have to go under general anaesthesia to get the placenta out because the injection hadn't worked and 30 minutes had passed. I was bummed, but there was no alternative. The anaesthesiologist arrived and explained that I would get a very light medicine and only be out for 15 minutes, I would be able to feed baby after (at first the doctor thought I wouldn't be able to breastfeed for 6 hours, which stressed me). My husband and baby left and I went under, got the placenta out and got some superficial stitches. I came to easily and didn't feel bad at all.

I was thrilled with this birth and I was so proud of myself for the breathing and control and poise I felt. Thank you, thank you and to all future mommas - YOU CAN DO IT! I honestly wasn't sure, and this was my third time around, but with the breathing and the mantras it was beautiful