I wanted to start my blog at the birth of my daughter Cadence Ainsley because well.... that was an amazing and special moment for Andrew and I.
Let's rewind a year to when I found out I was pregnant! I was full of emotions; happy, sad, scared (name it and I probably felt that at least once through out my entire pregnancy). The first thing I did of course was tell my sister (didn't see that one coming), only because a week before I found out, she too found out she was expecting and told me first. Then I told Andrew, he wasn't as excited as I was. I think if I waited to tell him until he settled down from a crappy day at work he would have handled it better. But alas he did not! Oh well!! Now if anyone knows me they know that I like to know what I'm getting myself into and research until information is coming out of my nose! So...I purchased about 3-4 different pregnancy books. They all pretty much had the same information in them but they had different pictures and I'm a visual learner so I bought them for the pictures.. Funny!!
Now with everything I learned the only thing that scared me the most was the end result! LABOR AND DELIVERY (most women can agree with me). I went on YouTube and watched tons of videos of labors and deliveries. Then I saw one that changed my whole outlook on Birth and that was a Delivery using HYPNOBIRTHING! No, I didn't get hypnotized to birth my baby.
After some more research on Hypnobirthing, I went to Chapters and ordered the book Hypnobirthing: A celebration of Life by Marie F. Mongan. I could not put this book down, it made SOOOOOOOO much sense. Why would god give animals the satisfaction of a painfree, natural birth and not humans. We were made in the image of god weren't we? So why experience pain and have to go through such a traumatic experience to bring his children into this world? Answer: You don't!!! That's right ladies I said it!!
The back of the book gives an excellent description of Hypnobirthing so I'm going to use it!
"Childbirth is not something to be feared; it is a natural expression of life. In this practical guide, Hypnobirthing founder Marie Mongan explodes the myth of pain as a natural accompaniment to birth. She proves that when we release the fear, a fear that is keeping our body tense and closed, we will experience gentle birth.
The Hypnobirthing program outlined in this book is nature, not manipulation. It relaxes the mind in order to let the body work. The HypnoBirthing exercises--positive thinking, relaxation, visualization, breathing and physical preparation--will lead to a happy and comfortable pregnancy. Your confidence, trust and happy anticipation will in turn lead to the peaceful, fulfilling and life-affirming birth that is your right as a mother."
Well Andrew and I fully believed that I could have a painfree, natural birth (or close to it). We did everything outlined, but the book wasn't enough and it doesn't give you all the resources to have a successful Hypnobirth so we paid 500 dollars for a practitioner to come to our home and give us private lessons. It was awesome! Every doctors appointment I went to I was told that she was in perfect position and had the best heartrate ever. I give credit to the relaxation CD's that I listened and fell asleep to every night.
Now Fast Forward to my due date May 10, 2010. She didn't come and I was scheduled for an induction, which isn't part of a natural labor and definately not part of Hypnobirthing. I prayed and prayed that she would come on her own and that I wouldn't have to be medically induced! I heard so many horror stories and I didn't want to be one of them. Well all the praying paid off because on Friday May 14, 2010 I felt a contraction different from all the practice ones I'd been having. It wasn't "knock your socks off" but it was uncomfortable.. I was so excited! I was finally going to meet the little person I had been growing for 9 months. Little did I know it was still going to take days of this to meet her. Yup 3 days of labor and still had to be induced. Here's the timeline of my labor and delivery:
Friday, May 14th
I labored all day, contractions inconsistent ranging anywhere from 10min-3min apart. At about midnight we went to Labor and Delivery, was checked and sent home because I was only 3 cm dilated.
Saturday, May 15th
Contractions slowed down considerably they were slightly uncomfortable, but irregular. By evening, they remained inconsistent, but were getting stronger again.
Sunday, May 16th
Contractions picked up. I would lose focus and they became painful. I went all day long with them getting more and more intense. Decided to go on a walk around Raymond to speed things up. I enjoyed walking/waddling because I could focus on something else and they weren't painful. The contractions finally became consistent going from 10 min to 6 min where they stayed throughout the night.
Monday, May 17th
I didn't really sleep at all and decided to get out of bed at 4:00 am....had a bath and got ready to go to the hospital for my scheduled induction at 6:30 am.
We arrive at the hospital at 6:30 am, register, and was sent to Labor and Delivery.
Nurse did a check and I was dilated to 6 cm! Way to Go!
7:45 am-- Dr. Khan breaks my water... She's says it looks clear.
8:20 am--Pitocin administered (*make shrieking noise)
8:45 am-- I feel a lot of pressure so I ask the nurse to check me, I am still 6 cm's dilated, but baby is coming down the canal.
Contractions intensify and by intensify I mean BRING ON EXCRUTIATING PAIN! Seriously worst thing ever! I never want to be induced again!
9:50 am-- Contractions very intense, I cannot concentrate and remain calm through any of them. I decided at this point that if I was progressing I would just stick it out and continue without an epidural. So I had the nurse check me again. STILL ONLY 6 cm dilated! Dang it! Exact words: "Please give me an epidural, I cannot take this anymore!" They said they would call the anaesthesiologist and he would be there in 10 minutes!
Contractions continued to come faster and stronger and I was not able to tolerate the pain.
10:30 am-- Epidural is administered. Contractions still coming on hard and strong!
10:50 am-- Epidural has kicked in and I was happier than a fat kid eating cake. Now I can finally rest and relax. I was even cracking jokes, and telling the other women that were screaming to get an epidural because it was awesome!
11:50 am-- dilated to 9.75 cm's......WE'RE THERE!!!!!! I don't know what happened, I think it was a side effect of the epidural but my body started shaking and quivering and I couldn't stop. I felt like I was going to vomit. It felt like an outer body experience! I start breathing baby down (technique of birthing used in Hypnobirthing).
11:55 am-- I was given the OK to start pushing and boy did I ever. With 3 pushes she had already crowned.
12:00 pm-- I was allowed to feel my baby's head with my finger, it was such a surreal moment for me. The nurse kept monitoring her heartrate and was amazed that it never decelerated which was common when baby's come down the canal.
12:04 pm-- Cadence Ainsley has finally arrived. She had meconium, so they quickly took her to aspirate her lungs and check her vitals. Andrew got to cut what was left of the cord at the table. They gave her to Andrew all naked to give to me. We had skin to skin bonding and I breastfed her immediately. She weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 2.8oz, 22 inches long. Talk about one big baby!
I have decided that my blog will be about all the adventures The Christensen Family will encounter. Stay tuned....
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