I was using Fertility Awareness Method to concieve, so I knew when I er, I mean WE concieved so the EDD (Oct. 18) was amusing to me. When anyone asked, “When are you due?” I would say “October…,” when pressed for a day I would say, “oh I dunno, babies are on there own schedule.” Well, I did not know then how much truth was in those words!
Well, I had an absolutely amazing pregnancy; I started the self study at 8 weeks! Just a couple waves of mild nausea during the first trimester, I taught yoga up to 38 weeks, I practiced yoga up to 40 weeks. Then at my 41 week appointment my midwife started talking to me about going to an OB-GYN and getting a check up at 42 weeks. I still wasn’t concerned because I was born 2 weeks “overdue” and so was my younger sister. I thought surely I’d start birthing by that Monday.
Well, Monday came and we found ourselves in the doctor’s office. I was trying to tell myself it didn’t matter how our baby came to us, but I was sick with worry; I didn’t want to be induced. They gave me my second ultrasound of my pregnancy. The doctor said everything looked good and they were measuring our baby at 39 weeks so I could go back under my midwife’s care. They also did a cervical sweep, which was not any more uncomfrtable than a pap smear but everyone kept asking me if I was ok with the p**n during the procedure.
After the doctor’s visit I was elated I had more time, but more determined than ever. I ramped doing everything I had been doing; acupuncture, chiropractic, sex, walking, and listening/practicing Hypnobabies. I also tried going up in the mountains hoping the altitude would move things along (btw, it just made me have to pee more than I already had to and I only had two good pressure waves), and I purchased and began listening to “Baby Come Out!” I listened to it for a couple days and thought, “Ugh! NOTHING is working!” So I stopped everything.
Then another day passed and I decided to try the “Baby Come Out!” track one more time because I truly believe Hypnobabies had made my pregnancy so easy up to that point. There is a part of that script that directs you to have a conversation with your baby about being born. I distinctly heard “I’ll be out tomorrow, Mama,” and I started crying hysterically. Just about that time my husband came home and asked what was going on. I told him I was hallucinating and I probably wasn’t even really pregnant! To which he replied, “Oh, honey!” I’m sure that must have been hilarious to see me with red swollen eyes and a giant belly saying I didn’t think I was pregnant!
The next day I woke up and went about my business as usual but crabbier than ever. I was so resentful to have to do laundry with my big belly! My husband came home in the afternoon and we decided to watch a movie. Then, I had a pressure wave that made me moan and get up and rock my hips, then another, then another! I told my husband I couldn’t possibly go to our midwife’s appointment like this, so he called her. She said she would call and check in a couple hours -if we didn’t call her first.
We continued to watch the movie, pausing more and more often for me to moan and wiggle; not because of p**n, but kind of like when you have to lift something REALLY heavy. Then I wanted to take a bath, the PWs started getting closer together so I decided to get out and move around some more. My husband and I decided to get the birthing tub going. I thought, “Well even if I’m not in my birthing at least I’ll be in a bigger tub!” A short while after we started setting up I had to stop to focus, and I was shaking during PWs.
My husband called the midwife to tell her. She had given us explicit instructions to call her about shaking, vomiting or water breaking (she had missed a hypnomom’s birth before 😀 ). I thought, “Is this transition-it’s only been an hour and a half?” She said she was on her way!
Her assistant arrived first-two hours after our first phone call. I told her, “I don’t want you to be here for nothing,” she said “Um, it doesn’t sound like nothing!” The midwife got to our house 30 minutes later, and I said the same thing, so she offered to check me-I was 9 cm. She said I just needed my water to break so the head would engage.
Well, I normally took a nap the time of day when my birthing began, so I ran out of steam and began to nap between PWs. This slowed things a bit, but I believe my body knew what it needed to do. A few hours passed and it really only felt like one hour. My midwife suggested I get out of the tub and try a change of scenery, but when I began to get out I said no way! I really was so sick of being heavy the water felt so nice.
Then, a few minutes later-POP-my water broke. The midwife told the assistant, “Hmm, a 42 week baby with vernix.” I remember thinking,”That’s because I’m only 40 weeks and 5 days!” Then I was ready to get out and get in the shower. After showering for some time I said I wanted out, so out I came and my midwife began to talk to me about pushing.
I’m glad she did because I never had any overwhelming urge to push. So I pushed on the bed for about four pushes-hated that! Then I gripped a sheet they threw over the door and squatted and pushed for some time and said I wanted to dosomething to push where I didn’t feel like I had to stand back up, so my midwife suggested my husband sit on the edge of the bed and hook his arms under mine while I squatted deeply. This was the magic position!
I pushed a few more times, my midwife said to give it all my Mama Bear strength I pushed again. I pushed one more giant push expecting to just get his head to crown, but WHOOSH! He came out all at once and suddenly there was a baby in my arms! All I could say was, “HOLY SH*T!” over and over again. I was so surpised-I think I really think part of me believed I wasn’t pregnant and the other part (that actually believed I was pregnant ;D ) was so surprised he came in one giant push! Maximos was born November 6th 2010 at 12:31am!
It has now been two months of the most amazing experience in my life. I’m so proud of my body for growing a baby and pushing him out without drugs or medical intervention! In addition, I LOVE the look of awe on people’s faces when I tell them I had a natural childbirth and only felt uncomfortable when he crowned!
Thank you so much Hypnobabies!
So if you are still reading this, particularly if you are “overdue,” your baby will come, and your birthing will be beautiful!
Beautiful birth story! Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing 🙂
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael Robertson and ®Childbirth Hypnosis, Sheridan Ripley. Sheridan Ripley said: Whoosh, the whole baby slides easily out in one push!: I was using Fertility Awareness Method to concieve… http://bit.ly/f2P67e Enjoy! […]
What a wonderful birth story!
My little man was born at home, exactly 2 years before yours.
Thanks for sharing.