When I got pregnant, I had never really thought about what type of birth I wanted. I just figured I would show up at the hospital and have the baby. But as I read more and learned more about the birthing process, my mind started to change. Side note: I'm fine with how anyone wants to give birth... this is just my story for this birth.
I began to realize that I wanted a natural birth. I wanted as few interventions as possible. I don't even like having a paper cut, so wanting to have a natural birth was a shock to me... and to Doug. I'm a wimp when it comes to pain, but I somehow felt that I could tackle birth. I read and read and read, practiced breathing at home, did prenatal yoga, took the normal hospital class and an 'advanced class' and I even did a few kegel exercises every now and again. We hired an amazing doula and we were set. I didn't tell a lot of people about my birth 'plan' or 'preferences' because I would often get a look like I was crazy. And... I didn't know if I really could do it, so I kept a lot of it to myself.
Labor did not go in any way as I had 'planned.' I thought I'd spontaneously go into labor at home, we'd labor at home as long as possible and then head to the hospital. That did not happen - at all!
On Friday, 10/12/12, I had an OB appointment. I was due in two days and ready to have little George. On the way to the OB, my car started puttering. Great timing. I made it to the OB and entered the appointment in tears over the stupid car. My OB checked me. I was about 2 cm. dilated and 60% effaced, pretty much what I was the week prior.
I headed home and made it to the car repair shop. Never have I seen men so nervous as when I told them I was due in two days and I needed my car! Hahaha!
My good friend Mary sent me a 'it will all be ok' text and asked if I wanted to go to breakfast. Yes! If I had to take the day off of work for my car, then I wanted to do something fun. We ate and chatted and when I was getting back into her van after breakfast, I noticed I felt... ummm... wet. I knew I hadn't gone to the bathroom - or had I? I ran back into the restaurant and I was kind of in denial that my water had broke.
I sent Doug an email. "Honey... I think my water has broken. You might want to head home." I wish I could have seen his face too! I called our Doula to let her know I was 'leaking'.
So... My friend didn't take me home. Instead I called the OB back and told them that I had some 'clear fluid' leaking from me. I'm sure they were laughing. They told me to head on back to the office. They checked me and my waters had in fact ruptured. My OB sent me home. She said she'd check in with me later that day and that I'd need to come to the hospital on Saturday if nothing had started.
I spent the rest of the day doing some last minute nesting. Doug arrived home early from school. We tried to take a nap. I couldn't sleep a wink. We took Daisy to doggie camp and went on several walks. We picked up my car, had some dinner and just waited.
And waited. And waited. And waited. And yet... nothing.
My parents arrived from Ohio. I think we all expected I'd be going into labor at any minute. Nope.
My OB and I spoke that evening. She said she wasn't on call the next day, but would head in late afternoon for the birth. She said to check back in the morning. But surely I would be in labor by then... right?
Nope! I tried to sleep that night. That was a joke. I think I might have had a few contractions - maybe 4 total. But nothing steady. We woke up and got ready to go to the hospital. It was a really strange feeling. I was nervous and excited and already exhausted. I was disappointed in a way that I wouldn't be laboring at home and such. But Doug and I talked and he calmed me down. He said that however George entered the world would be great and we just needed to go with the flow. My OB had wanted us to bring in a typed 'birth preferences' since she was not on call. I edited it before we went in - took out all the stuff about wanting my waters to rupture on their own - already did that... took out no piton... I needed that, etc. Hahaha!
We had a little breakfast and headed into the hospital. Soon George would be here!
Part II coming soon!
Right before heading to the hospital.
