My Birth Story
If you would like to learn more about me, I thought it would be helpful to read about my birth story (I’ll give you an edited version!)After trying for only 2 months to conceive, I was elated to see that the pregnancy test was positive! A blood test confirmed it, but my sore boobs and consistent urge to pee had already done that. Not a thin woman to begin with, I got a little concerned when I was ready for maternity clothes so quickly. I swore to my OB that I wasn’t eating pizza pies and gallons of ice cream and wept uncontrollably after he told me to “control myself” or I would end up the size of a house! Like that wasn’t a red flag to find another provider…
Anyway, I followed his instructions to the best of my ability and went for all the normal testing. After finding the results of the AFP test were abnormal, it was an emotional three day wait for a sonogram to determine the cause of the elevation. Could it be Spinal Bifida? What provisions would we have to make to care for a disabled child? Would our baby survive? I was never informed that the elevation could be due to twins. The waiting was pure agony. Finally, the sonogram day arrived, and I laid there staring at the screen trying to figure out exactly where the baby was and
straining not to pee my pants from the pressure. When the technician asked, “How many babies were you expecting?” My heart skipped a few beats and I fearfully whispered, “How many are there???”
Twins solved the elevated level mystery and although I was relieved that there wasn’t a medical issue, I have to admit that the thought of twins terrified me. It’s amazing the things that run through your mind…How the heck did this happen? Where are we going to fit two cribs? How can we afford two more cars and college tuition? It was all flashing through my mind like lightning. The grandmas, aunts and sisters were ecstatic…”Oh, how cute! Now we don’t have to fight over just one baby – we’ll have two to share!” I wasn’t so convinced. I was in shock. I wish someone had suggested a support group or reading material to better prepare me.
After my OB apologized for making me feel ashamed from gaining too much weight too fast, I was immediately labeled "high-risk”. Other than starting to waddle at an usually early stage in my pregnancy, I felt really good! I was lucky and never have morning sickness and had a surprising amount of energy. I became skilled at balancing my tea cup on my stomach when reading and finally got accustomed to the constant rolling, kicking and elbowing…those boys never stayed still! I did have to withdraw from my night time college courses, because I couldn’t fit behind the wheel of my Camaro any more (that was an esteem breaker).
But while thinking to myself, ”this isn’t so bad” I started to run into some obstacles. I eventually developed gestational diabetes and my feet swelled so bad, that I had to stop working at 22 weeks (I was planning on working until 36!).
The night of my shower, I went into early labor at 32 weeks and began medications to stop the labor. I don’t even want to get into the effects that had on my body…let’s just say it was not pleasant. An amniocentesis showed that the babies’ lungs were not fully developed and they could have major breathing complications if born this early. After a long ride ambulance ride to a hospital equipped to handle premature births, the contractions were eventually controlled. Due to preeclampsia, I was put on bed rest in the hospital. I no longer had my original OB that knew me and my history. Whatever attending Doctor happened to be on duty would deliver my babies…not very comforting. They each had different views on pain medication and delivery options. It was like a roulette wheel. To make matters worse, my husband at the time bluntly stated he hated hospitals, and he wasn’t there enough to support me like I needed (yup, another red flag). Luckily, my parents visited me often and were my salvation to my sanity. Sometimes when visiting, my mom had to pull the blankets over my belly, because she said it looked like aliens were trying to force their way through and it freaked her out just a bit. (She’s a nurse now, so that’s pretty funny when I think back at that). They brought me books, magazines and kept me occupied. I couldn’t have gotten through that time without them.
Finally, it was getting harder to control the contractions, so at 36 weeks another amnio was performed. This one showed the lungs were now developed. Ironically, a couple of hours later my water broke and labor began….then stopped…then started….then stopped again. After hours of little progression, Pitocin was started. I had no idea how that was going to affect me and was totally unprepared for it. Every shift change I would ask the nurse, “How many children do you have?” If they answered more than one, I asked them “Why would you go through this more than once?” The pain was unbearable and I had no idea what to do to help make it better. After begging for relief, I was given an epidural and spent the remaining 12 hours in bed lying on my side.
When it was finally “time”, more complications arose. Baby “A” was stuck on the lip of the cervix and was facing the wrong way (I had no idea what that meant at the time), so they kept going in and trying to turn him and help him descend. They ended up using forceps and vacuum to deliver him and I was the not so proud recipient of an episiotomy. Now for baby B…he was breech. They told me if they couldn’t turn him, I would have to have a C-Section – “WHAT? Deliver vaginally and then have a C-Section? That’s crazy!” In response to my slightly magnified cries of “Oh, no you won’t”, they managed to turn him and out he came. Whew… it was finally over. But when they laid those babies against my body, I was so overwhelmed with emotional I could hardly breathe………….
Despite the complications, the interventions and the fear of the “unknown”, giving birth to my beautiful sons was a miracle. I know now, that if I had a Doula to offer me information, emotional support and techniques to help ease the pain and fear, I would have had a more confident and positive birth memory.
As your Doula, I can help you understand your birth journey. I can provide you with information to better educate you and your partner on different options available for your pregnancy and childbirth.