my "unnatural" natural birth story

As anyone who has read this blog before knows, we had planned and prepared for an unmedicated birthing experience. We had taken classes, read books, hired a doula, and mentally prepared for the pain I was about to experience.

So, when I woke up on Sunday, June 20th with contractions starting at 5 minutes apart, I called on all my resources. Within 2 hours, our doula was at our house. The funny thing was that I really just wanted to labor alone for the most part. I spent significant time in the bathroom and just tried to think about all that we were going to need for the hospital (interesting side-note, I was not hungry and hadn't eaten much since Friday). Eventually I figured out what was comfortable for me and what I wanted from others and we hung out in the baby's room, rocking in the chair, getting my feet rubbed, and waiting for things to progress. And they did fairly quickly. At noon I decided I was ready to be at the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital by 1 and it was determined I was already at 8-9 cm, which was good because the baby was having small decels after each contraction. Since I was so far along, it was just a waiting game. Within an hour I was at ten, but my water had not broken yet. We decided to push to see if we could get my water to break. After 20 minutes of that and no movement, the doctor decided to break my water, convinced that the baby would then come very quickly. An hour and 40 minutes later, the baby hadn't budged a millimeter and the doctor managed to break the news to me that she wasn't coming vaginally. She was stuck on something and no position we had tried had moved her at all. Even after breaking my water, my contractions slowed and became less painful. We still have no idea what happened.

Within minutes my room was flooded with doctors and nurses and all ability I had to work through my contractions was gone. I wasn't scared, just ready.

After working through another 45 minutes of contractions and relaxing enough to get a spinal, I was strapped down in the OR with Joel standing at my side. Spinals are pretty incredible things as I felt none of the tugging or slicing or anything. Within 10 minutes, our baby girl was being pulled from my womb. They positioned her in a place where I could see her. She didn't cry immediately, but Joel was calm, so it kept me calm. Within minutes she was crying. She was having a few problems breathing, so they explained to me that she was just fine, but they were going to take her to the special nursery (not the NICU). I sent Joel with her so that she could have a familiar voice and presence and I just waited patiently while they finished me back up. The doctors and nursing staff were wonderful and I was back in my room quickly.

Thankfully, Joel and Annabelle Juliette were back with me within minutes and I got to hold my girl immediately.

The stupid cliche of love at first sight has never been more true. She is beautiful and truly a little miracle. We love her with all of our beings and love each other more.

The road to recovery may be a little longer, and clearly the C-section was unexpected and not wanted, but my little burrito is here and making my life more full of love. And modern medicine has created wonderful medication that doesn't harm her and makes mommy able to help raise her child.

After 4 days in the hospital, we are home. There is much more to tell and remember and document including the tale of breastfeeding, but that is for another time. Daddy and Annabelle are watching Saturday morning cartoons and Mommy is desperate to join them!