So I have felt compelled for a time to tell my birth story with whomever would want to listen. My beautiful daughter Kyla came into the world on May 5th 2008. Her birth was not what I expected nor had planned in my mind for the eight months prior to her coming.
It started almost at the beginning. I had grand plans to work with a local midwife and have a dream waterbirth. I had been doing tons of research on both and really felt compelled that this was the way to go. My Husband Dustin was behind all my decisions and was in complete agreement. At my 16 week appointment my midwife had some news. She was closing her practice in Hudson and moving it to Woodbury, MN. I was devastated. The next closest midwife was in Menonmonie,WI and after a brief counsult I just didn't feel a good connection. Stephanie, the midwife, had mentioned to me Dr. Dennis Hartung of Hudson Physicians clinic. She was confident that he would still give me a midwifery experience even though he was an OB/GYN. I had my suspicions, but I made and appointment and felt completely at ease with seeing him.
Onto week 36. This should have been a routine visit. Just a check of the babies heart beat, size and a weight check for me. Dr Hartung began with the usual find the babies head and heart beat. This time it something had changed. Head up........
This couldn't be happening to me! I wanted a water birth. I wanted a completely non medicated birth! i wanted a baby head down! Dr Hartung was so gracious. He gave me the news that no, i would not be able to do a water birth. Tears of frustration..... we did an unltrasound and saw that the baby was not very big. He gave me the option of an inversion. I turned him down. I knew the risks of inversion and i was unwilling to go there. So to home i went. I called my Doula Ruth crying. She was amazing. She was also my bradley instructor and she immediately went online to find videos and websites that told women that they can still have a completely natural breech birth. I also began going to a local Chiropractor who knew a technique that could possible move the baby. It didn't work. Ruth once said to me, " This little one just doesn't want to be normal, it wants to be unique and tell the world to "kiss its butt", its coming out backwards.
At my next appt Dr. Hartung and I talked more indepth about what i wanted to do. I wanted to let labor happen naturally. I did not want any medical interventions unless something was going terribly wrong and I was going to have this baby on my own. He agreed as long as i had an MRI to verify that the baby was not too big for my hips. I conceded to it( I cried and prayed for the Lord to protect my child through the whole thing!) The result was that i would be ok for a normal vaginal delivery.
Week 41 1/2. My water broke at 5pm. Since she was still breech we were told to go the hospital immediately. My birth plan in hand, along with my bag we headed in. At the hospital we found out that i was already dilated to a 4. Good news. only 6 more to go. I called Ruth. She got there within the hour. At first the RN was telling me that I would probably have to deliver in the OR just in case something went wrong they could get in quickly. Dr. Hartung nixed that idea immediately and said I could deliver in the regular room. I was relieved. I had to use the fetal monitor every thirty minutes. it was annoying to have to stop walking to check, but again, I was willing to do it if it meant i would be free to labor on my own. Dr Hartung came in at about 9 pm. by then I was in the tub and labor was progressing faster.It was nice to at least labor in the water. my only hiccup in the whole process was that she had begun to descend before i was completely dilated, Dr. Hartung had to help push my cervix, which was a most unpleasant experience. By 3 am it was time to push. My hips were on fire. Dustin Sat behind me holding them through every contraction. For three hours I pushed. When at last she came out. Butt first. Perfect in every way.
I am glad that I stuck to my convictions. I am glad that I had the support of an amazing Dr. who,by the way, never left the hospital once he got there. He took some snoozes on the couch but beyond that he was always there for me. I am glad that Dustin and I took the time to learn the Bradley method. I am glad that we had an amazing doula who went above and beyond for us. But mostly I am glad that God, my creator, was in all of it. With His strength I was able to push beyond myself and what I believed i could do. NO Medications, no interventions. just me and my baby and a team of people surrounding us with love, support and alot of PRAYER!
is a good shot! It was only about 6:15. plenty of light to still trek up the hill and back to his parents house to get Kyla. It was such fun and I am hoping to get another tag before the season is over!
