*my birth story*

My life was forever changed on Thursday, August 16, 2012.  I woke up at 4:00 am with contractions.  This was the first time the discomfort/pain did not go away.  I timed the contractions to be about 7-8 minutes apart.   I got out of bed and ate some toast and bounced on a yoga ball.  The contractions kept coming.  I sent a text message to my sister and sister-in-law at 5:30am that today might be the day.  Rick was still asleep at this point.  I decided to take a quick shower.  Rick woke up around 6:00am while I was getting out of the shower.  By 7:00, the contractions were 5 minutes apart and getting more painful.  I began feeling sick and threw up.  I called my doctor.  He asked me to describe how I was feeling and then told me to go in to the hospital to get monitored.  Rick & I arrived at the hospital at 8:00am.  I was sent to triage.  I was dilated to 4 cm. Definitely very uncomfortable during contractions and having some bleeding.  While I was in triage, my sister-in-law, sister and her husband, and my doula arrived at the hospital.  They were not able to see me in the triage room, but I was able to get up and walk to the waiting room after being monitored for awhile.  I was admitted into a labor and delivery room about 9:30am.

Once I was admitted, I sat in the jacuzzi tub for awhile.  This really helped the back pain that I was feeling go away in between contractions.  Rick and Heidi (doula) were at my side while I was in the tub.  Rick brought in a sonogram picture that I was planning to use as a focal point.  I looked at the picture sometimes, but for whatever reason, I found myself really focusing on the faucet in the bathtub during contractions.  I got out of the tub after a bit to be monitored.  I was now dilated to 6cm.  I felt sick and threw up again during this time.  After monitoring, I got back into the tub.  I'm not sure how much time had passed, but it didn't seem like I was in the tub too long the second time.  I began feeling a lot of pressure.  My goal was to have a natural birth without an epidural.  I remember saying several times "I don't think I can do this."  Heidi suggested that I should get out to get checked again.  I was 8 cm!  I labored on my side in the bed for a short time.  Heidi had a visitor tag on her shirt with my room number.  I focused on the numbers during my contractions.  Rick helped by putting pressure on my back and giving me music to listen to.  Soon I was at 9 1/2 cm.  I had a definite urge to push.  I had to keep blowing through the feeling because I wasn't quite to 10cm and my doctor had not yet arrived at the hospital.

When he arrived, I was ready to begin pushing.  At first, it felt good to push as it relieved all the pressure I had been feeling.  But I could definitely tell when the head started to crown.  It was the most intense, painful thing I have ever felt and I definitely wanted it to be over!  Rick counted in my ear and that helped me get through each push.  I would rest for a short time in between until I felt the urge to push again.  I really had no concept of time or what was going on around me.  But I was told it took only about 35 minutes of pushing.  It was a very fast labor and delivery for a first baby!

Rick watched our son being born.  Aunts Mandy & Jenny watched from the side.  Hudson was placed on my chest when he was out.  Rick cut the cord.  I can't begin to describe the amazing feeling that came over me.  Our dreams had finally come true.  We were parents!!

I doubted my ability to give birth without an epidural, but I did it!  And I would do it again.  Hudson was born so alert and healthy.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.